FUNDIRA SCANDAL SHAKES NSSA AND ZIMBABWE’S TOURISM SECTOR

A major storm is brewing at the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) as its chairman, Emmanuel Fundira, faces serious allegations of corruption and abuse of power. Police are investigating his role in a suspected extortion plot alongside Paula January, a former top manager at Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG).

At the center of the scandal is an alleged scheme to crash RTG’s market value, allowing Fundira and January to buy shares cheaply. NSSA owns 91.6% of RTG and plans to sell 56% of its shares. Market watchers now fear this plan has been hijacked by insiders hoping to manipulate the share price for personal gain.

January was fired from RTG in 2019 after a tragic incident at Kadoma Hotel and Conference Centre, where she was the manager. Since then, she has reportedly been pressuring RTG bosses to either reinstate her or pay her off. In leaked audio clips, January threatens to expose alleged fraud and money laundering by RTG officials during a trip to Dubai unless they meet her demands.

The plot thickens with Fundira’s alleged role. As NSSA chairman, he had access to private financial and operational data about RTG. Police believe he leaked this information to January. In one audio clip, she even mentions Fundira’s name while discussing RTG executive salaries and allowances. This raises alarm bells about how much influence Fundira had in feeding January sensitive information to carry out her threats.

These claims have deeply damaged Fundira’s reputation. As a former chairman of African Sun Limited, another tourism company, he was expected to avoid conflicts of interest. But the latest scandal suggests he may have used his power not to serve the public, but to help himself and his close business allies.

RTG has tried to defend itself through the courts. A search and seizure order granted to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) was overturned, slowing down the investigation. But ZACC came back with a second warrant, accusing top RTG officials of money laundering and illegal foreign currency dealings. The legal fight continues, but the damage to the company’s image has already been done.

Adding more mystery to the case is the fact that Paula January has disappeared. Reports say she is now hiding out in Malawi. Police have not been able to find her, and Fundira has stayed silent.

This silence, along with his past links to both RTG and African Sun, is fueling public anger. Many Zimbabweans are asking why someone with such clear conflicts of interest was allowed to lead NSSA in the first place. The scandal has exposed deep cracks in governance and accountability at both NSSA and RTG.

The plan to sell RTG shares was meant to bring more transparency and follow stock market rules. But now it looks like insiders have been trying to cheat the system. If Fundira and his allies have been deliberately lowering RTG’s value, it is a serious case of market manipulation — and a betrayal of public trust.

RTG is a key part of Zimbabwe’s tourism and hospitality sector. Any instability at the company affects workers, investors, and the image of the country itself. This scandal shows how dangerous it is when powerful people use public institutions for their own benefit.

As investigations continue, one thing is clear: Zimbabweans need answers. They need to know who is protecting public money and who is looting it. Fundira must come forward and explain his actions. Paula January must be brought back to face the law. And those who are abusing public trust must be held to account.

This is not just about RTG or NSSA. It is about the future of Zimbabwe’s institutions and the fight against high-level corruption. The people deserve nothing less than full justice and transparency.