EXPOSED: NSSA CHAIRMAN CAUGHT IN RTG EXTORTION SCANDAL

NSSA chairman Emmanuel Fundira is at the center of a major controversy. Police questioned him about his alleged role in an extortion plot involving Paula January, a former Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) senior employee.

Fundira and January have been accused of trying to push down RTG’s market value so they could buy its shares at a low price. Police are investigating how Fundira might have helped January make demands for money or her old job back.

January’s story is complicated. She was let go from RTG in 2019 after a tragic incident at Kadoma Hotel and Conference Centre where she was the manager. Now, she’s allegedly been threatening RTG executives with corruption investigations unless they give in to her demands.

In audio recordings, January is heard demanding payment or reinstatement. She also claimed RTG bosses committed fraud and money laundering at a meeting in Dubai several years ago. She said she would unleash Zimbabwe’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on them if they refused to comply. Police say January has been using information she received from Fundira to make these threats.

As the NSSA chairperson, Fundira had access to RTG’s financial and operational information. Evidence suggests he shared this sensitive data with January, enabling her to target RTG executives. In one audio clip, January even mentions Fundira by name while discussing the salaries and allowances of RTG staff.

Fundira’s involvement has raised serious concerns. He was supposed to avoid conflicts of interest due to his past role as chairman of African Sun Limited. However, it appears he has continued to use his position to benefit himself and his business partners.

This scandal has brought significant scrutiny to both Fundira and January. RTG, for its part, has tried to defend itself. After a court order nullified a search and seizure warrant obtained by ZACC, RTG managed to temporarily halt the investigations. However, ZACC returned with another warrant, accusing senior executives of money laundering and illegal foreign currency dealings.

Even after these legal battles, the accusations against Fundira and January persist. January is currently out of the country, reportedly in Malawi, and police have not been able to locate her. Fundira, meanwhile, has avoided commenting on the matter.

NSSA, which owns 91.6% of RTG, plans to sell 56% of its shares in line with stock exchange regulations. But market observers believe Fundira and his allies have been deliberately sabotaging RTG’s share value to gain an unfair advantage in acquiring these shares.

This situation not only casts a shadow over Fundira’s integrity but also threatens the stability of RTG, a key player in Zimbabwe’s tourism and hospitality industry. As investigations continue, the scandal raises larger questions about governance, transparency, and accountability at NSSA and RTG.