NetOne Scandal Deepens: Chief Commercial Officer (COO) BEGS for one-on-one with President Mnangagwa

The boardroom at NetOne, Zimbabwe’s state-owned telecommunications giant, has transformed into a theatre of high-stakes political drama. Learnmore Masunda, the company’s Chief Commercial Officer, finds himself at the centre of a storm that threatens to swallow his career and further tarnish the reputation of an already embattled parastatal. After being slapped with a suspension without pay on 9 March 2026, Masunda has reportedly taken the extraordinary step of bypassing his superiors to seek a personal audience with President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

This move follows a damning internal investigation that substantiated 10 serious charges against him, ranging from financial impropriety to the abuse of office. Sources close to the matter suggest that Masunda is now desperately appealing for presidential intervention, a tactic that highlights the deeply entrenched culture of political patronage within Zimbabwe’s public sector. The suspension marks a swift fall from grace for an executive who was once seen as a key player in the company’s commercial strategy.

The crisis at NetOne began to boil over on 2 February 2026, when Masunda was placed on forced leave to allow for an independent probe. That investigation, conducted by DT Guard Security, a private firm, was exhaustive. Investigators reviewed internal documents, conducted structured interviews, and analysed policy compliance. The resulting report was catastrophic for Masunda, uncovering evidence of misconduct, conflicts of interest, and governance breaches that some insiders say border on criminal corruption.

By Tuesday, 10 March 2026, the situation escalated when Masunda was spotted meeting with Martin Rushwaya, the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet. This meeting is widely interpreted as a calculated attempt to climb the political ladder and secure a lifeline from the highest office in the land. By reaching out to the President’s top aide, Masunda has effectively ignored the NetOne board of directors and the formal disciplinary structures of the organisation.

The charges against Masunda are not merely administrative. They include allegations of misappropriating company resources and regulatory non-compliance. Some reports even suggest that the investigation looked into claims of physical threats and sexual harassment, adding a darker layer to the professional misconduct allegations. For a company already struggling to maintain its market share against private competitors like Econet, these revelations are a heavy blow to its corporate image.

Corporate governance experts argue that this case is a textbook example of the systemic issues plaguing Zimbabwe’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs). When high-ranking officials feel they can bypass their boards to seek “presidential clemency,” it undermines the very idea of accountability. “The moment a disciplinary process becomes a political negotiation, justice is no longer the goal,” noted one industry analyst who requested anonymity. “It sends a message that connections matter more than conduct.”

The drama surrounding Masunda cannot be viewed in isolation. It is part of a broader “leadership curse” that has haunted NetOne for years. Just months ago, in October 2025, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Raphael Mushanawani, was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC). Mushanawani faced allegations of fraud involving US$1.2 million related to a Sage 1000 system upgrade. While Mushanawani was later granted bail, the arrest exposed a deeply fractured leadership at the top of the parastatal.

Interestingly, the relationship between Masunda and Mushanawani has been described by insiders as “toxic” and “strained.” During the height of the CEO’s legal troubles, some reports even suggested that Masunda was being viewed as a potential mastermind behind the scenes of the fraud storm that hit Mushanawani. This internal warfare suggests that the current charges against Masunda may be the latest volley in a long-running boardroom battle where personal vendettas and professional duties have become inextricably linked.

The history of NetOne is littered with such scandals. Former CEO Reward Kangai also faced a barrage of graft allegations years ago, leading to a protracted legal and public relations battle. This pattern of behaviour raises serious questions about the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms within the Ministry of ICT and the parastatal’s own board. If the leadership is constantly in court or under investigation, the day-to-day operations of the company inevitably suffer.

The financial stability of NetOne is now at a critical juncture. In a competitive telecommunications market, consumer trust is a valuable currency. Every headline about a new corruption probe or an executive begging for political protection erodes that trust. While private players are investing in 5G technology and expanding their networks, NetOne appears to be bogged down in internal disciplinary hearings and political lobbying.

Political analysts are particularly concerned about the implications of Masunda’s plea for presidential protection. If President Mnangagwa were to intervene, it would signal a significant setback for the government’s stated “zero tolerance” policy on corruption. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has been vocal about its desire to “walk the talk,” but political interference remains a persistent shadow over its work.

“Is this a genuine attempt to clean up NetOne, or just another chapter in a long-running saga of impunity?” asks a corporate lawyer based in Harare. “If the rules only apply to those without the right phone numbers in their contacts list, then transparency is just a buzzword.” The lawyer pointed out that the involvement of the Chief Secretary to the President suggests that Masunda believes the formal disciplinary process is either unfair or can be easily overridden by political will.

The 10 charges substantiated by DT Guard Security are now the subject of formal disciplinary proceedings. Because Masunda is suspended without pay and benefits, the stakes for him are personal and financial. The company is reportedly considering not only his dismissal but also the recovery of any losses incurred through his alleged misconduct. This could involve civil litigation and further criminal referrals to ZACC.

The systemic nature of these issues suggests that the problem is not just about “bad apples” but a “rotten orchard.” State-owned enterprises in Zimbabwe often serve as battlegrounds for political factions, with appointments and dismissals used as tools for patronage. In such an environment, professional managers often find themselves caught between their fiduciary duties to the company and the demands of their political benefactors.

As the NetOne scandal deepens, the focus remains on whether the board will be allowed to complete its disciplinary process without outside interference. The public is watching closely to see if the “New Dispensation” promised by the government can deliver on its pledge of accountability. For the employees of NetOne, who have watched their company lurch from one crisis to another, the uncertainty is a constant source of anxiety.

The impact on the market is already visible. Investors and partners are wary of entering into long-term agreements with an entity whose leadership is in such a state of flux. The telecommunications sector requires massive capital expenditure and stable management to thrive. Without these, NetOne risks becoming a permanent ward of the state, reliant on bailouts rather than being a contributor to the national treasury.

In conclusion, the case of Learnmore Masunda is a litmus test for corporate governance in Zimbabwe. If he is found guilty of the 10 charges and faces the appropriate legal consequences, it may mark a turning point for NetOne. However, if his appeal to the President results in a quiet “arrangement” that bypasses the rule of law, it will confirm the fears of those who believe that corruption and political patronage are still the dominant forces in the public sector.

The story of the NetOne COO is more than just a tale of one man’s fall; it is a reflection of the challenges facing a nation trying to reform its most vital institutions. As the sun sets on another day of boardroom drama in Harare, the question remains: will accountability finally take root, or will the cycle of scandal continue? For now, the files of DT Guard Security remain the most potent evidence in a battle for the soul of one of Zimbabwe’s most important companies.

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