Gambling board boss under investigation

THE Lotteries and Gambling Board is investigating its secretary Heavens Gonga for a litany of misdemeanours, including alleged abuse of office.

Gonga, who has served for over 15 years, was last week accused by bookmakers of corruptly running the affairs of the board while usurping the powers of the board in a letter addressed to chairperson Eugenia Chidhakwa.

The letter was copied to Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe, his permanent secretary Aaron Nhepera and other senior officials of the ministries of Tourism and Home Affairs, from the chairperson of the Mashonaland Bookmakers Association, Ronald Ndoro, writing on behalf of other disgruntled operators.

Chidhakwa refused to comment on the matter saying she was ill, but in a letter dated February 17, 2021 and addressed to Gonga, the board demanded vital information that the secretary was holding on to.

“You will recall at the first board meeting of this interim board, the board requested for an entry report,” reads part of the letter.

“This, like any other organisation, will enable the board to appreciate the current status of the organisation and inform the strategic thrust of the new board.

“Among other things, the entry report would cover the state of finances of the organisation, the human resources issues of the organisation, i.e., staffing levels, remuneration, qualifications of the key staff members and their contracts.

“The report will also cover assets of the organisation, projects being undertaken by the organisation if any, banking accounts and bank balances, and criteria used in the disbursement of funds to identified needy areas and projects.”

“Naturally the report should cover issues of outstanding applications for licences and issues around them, litigation if any and briefs on each.”

The letter summarised some of the outstanding applications that Gonga, without the authority of the board, has allegedly been sitting on.

“Finally, we requested minutes of meetings of the first board meeting held in November 2020.

“They are still outstanding. Sadly to date you have not been able to address these pertinent issues.

“I would appreciate it very much if these issues could be attended to as a matter of urgency and submitted to the board by February 24, 2021.”

The letter was copied to other three board members.