A Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) officer is under investigation following allegations of irregular conduct in a cyanide scandal case linked to controversial Italian businessman Francesco Marconati.
Benardate Mukuku, who was acquitted by a Bulawayo magistrate in January after being arrested over the importation of a cyanide consignment, has filed a formal complaint against Zacc investigator Willem Adamu, accusing him of unlawful arrest and detention.
Mukuku claimed that Adamu’s conduct proved that he was on Marconati’s pay roll after he refused to listen to her side of the story and insisted on her detention.
In a letter addressed to Zacc chairperson Michal Reza in July 2025, Marconati’s former employee detailed a series of events that led to her arrest in May 2024.
Mukuku, a former employee at Marconati’s DGL9 Investments in Matabeleland North’s Inyathi area, claimed that Adamu acted improperly because he was allegedly influenced by the businessman.
She was arrested alongside Musozi Miti in the case where they were accused by Marconati of fraud, and lying that the imported cyanide consignment belonged to his company.
However, one of Marconati’s workers Langton Mharira, who was the first complainant against Mukuku and Miti stunned the court during cross examination when he disclosed that the consignment of the dangerous chemical belonged to Marconati’s mine.
Mharira said he did not know why the two were in court.
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Mukuku claimed that she received "numerous weird calls from different people" before being contacted directly by Adamu on May 12, 2024, who insisted on meeting her regarding the arrest of Marconati’s former lover Li Song.
On May 17, 2024, Mukuku met Adamu at the Zacc offices in Harare, where she provided a statement regarding her knowledge of DGL9 and Li's arrest.
“After reading it, he said ‘I am arresting you, give me your phone and call your relatives so that they bring you food!!’" Mukuku wrote.
She said the Zacc investigator refused to consider her statement and claimed, "Musozi Miti and myself were Li Song’s arteries that needed to be cut!"
Mukuku refused to sign a warned and cautioned statement in the absence of her lawyer.
Adamu accused Mukuku of being the owner of the cyanide, together with Li.
She claimed the investigator said he would be in trouble with his bosses if he released her into the custody of her lawyer.
Mukuku was detained overnight at Avondale Police Station before being taken to court the following day where she was granted bail.
She also claimed that false information was circulated on social media, which damaged her reputation.
Mukuku said Adamu's actions were motivated by Marconati, who had a personal vendetta against her.
“I strongly believe he was paid by Francesco Marconati to fix me as he once told me that he would when I was working for him,” she added.
Makuku appealed to Zacc to investigate Adamu and his officers for "wrongful arrest and detention," which she said amounted to abuse of power.
Marconati, representing DGL9 Investments, had accused Mukuku and Miti of fraud, alleging they misrepresented to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority that the imported cyanide for DGL9, which led to a loss of approximately US$40 000 in duties.
According to Marconati's complaint, Mukuku, acting in connivance with Li, imported hydrated lime and sodium cyanide using DGL9's name without authorisation.
“Accused is a former employee and did not have any authority to apply for rebate and import the goods on behalf of DGL9 Investments (PVT) Limited," the complaint read.
In her statement Mukuku claimed that Marconati had a "personal vendetta" against her dating back to April 2021, which related to the non-renewal of his girlfriend's employment contract.
She alleged that the businessman subjected her to victimisation, including involving CID officers and attempts to sexually harass her.
The complaint was copied to Sukai Tongogara, the former Zacc executive secretary, prosecutor general Loice Matanda-Moyo, Judicial Services Commission secretary Walter Chikwanha, and chief Cabinet secretary Martin Rushwaya.
Zacc has already initiated a probe into the matter.
Marconati is in remand prison after he was denied bail and remanded to January 5, 2006 on charges of illegal possession of firearms by an Inyathi magistrate.
His arrest followed the shooting of a local man by his mine security guards while he was walking past his property.
Marconati has several cases involving guns were reported to the police and is awaiting prosecution.
