Staff Writer
Lawyer Thabani Mpofu, a close advisor of opposition CCC leader Nelson Chamisa, is battling to clear himself of allegations of bribe-taking levelled against him by a former finance officer at mining company, Dallagio Investments.
Joseph Crnkovic of Croatia, formerly of Dallagio Investments in Chegutu, says Mpofu accepted a US$5,000 bribe to cover up racism allegations levelled against the company and its CEO Michael Fowler. Mpofu says the payment he took was not a bribe but was remuneration for presiding over a probe into the racism allegations.
The inquiry resulted in Fowler being cleared and Crnkovic being fired. Crnkovic says Mpofu was paid US$5,000 to exonerate Fowler and lay all guilt on him instead.
The probe came about after workers at the mine – with assistance from independent legislator Temba Mlisawa – complained to the Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission about racism by Fowler and Crnkovic. Mpofu was appointed to head the inquiry into the allegations.
Crnkovic says it was at this point that a payment of US$5,000 was made to Mpofu with the aim of clearing Fowler.
“For what did you receive the payment of US$5 000 … that was agreed personally between yourself and Mr Hossack with the payment administered by myself. On appearance it would seem this payment was a financial inducement to yourself to ignore the allegation against the primary accused to protect him and allow blame to be shifted only to me,” Crnkovic said in an email to Mpofu.
The email was copied to the UK Legal Council, the Zimbabwe Legal Council and the Croatian Consul.
Mpofu, on the other hand, says Crnkovic is trying to extort him.
In an October 4, 2022 letter to the Law Society of Zimbabwe, Mpofu said: “I deny these allegations which are in my view nonsensical … I was obviously paid … for the inquiry I conducted. I had to be paid by Dallagio because it was its inquiry and work that I had to undertake. I could not have been expected to conduct an inquiry for free. In fact, whenever I have conducted inquiries or disciplinary hearings, I have been paid by the employer party. That is how it works.
“I also wish to point out to the absurdity of the allegation that I, a private individual, acting in my own capacity as a professional, could be bribed by another private party. That simply does not make legal sense.”
Mpofu also said his inquiry had cleared Crnkovic and as such his dismissal from the mine had nothing to do with him.
“I have since ascertained from Dallagio that it parted ways with the complainant for reasons that had nothing to do with the inquiry. I challenge him to prove his contrary assertion,” Mpofu said.
