Jane Mutasa Zimbabwe Businesswoman

Jane Mutasa is a controversial businesswoman. She is credited for the formation of the Indigenous Business Women's Organisation (IBWO) in 1994. However, Mutasa is often found at the wrong side of the law. Since her appointment as a Telecel Zimbabwe board member, Mutasa had been convicted many times. In 2004 she was convicted and fined Z$8,5 million for illegally dealing in foreign currency amounting to US$10 400. 2014 saw her hogging the limelight again when she was dragged before the courts for allegedly swindling Telecel more than US$1,7 million in airtime recharge vouchers.

Mutasa started off business in the 1980s dealing in the clothing business.By 1994 Mutasa had managed to set up an indigenous organisaton for woman, the Indigenous Business Women's Organisation (IBWO). The latter was to help woman, since they are often marginalised, to start their own businesses as well as offering advice to existing ones.^[1] At the enactement of the Indegenisation act in 2010, Mutasa and her organisation, the drive was framed in said the woman were sidelines. Althogh she admited that the Act was noble, she questioned why manner that does not support the participation of women in the mainstream economy.^[2]She quickly rose to become Zimbabwe's second largest mobile operator, Telecel Zimbabwe board member, after she bought some shares in the company. However it is here that her controversies manifested.

Positions Held

• Acting Chairman, Telecel Zimbabwe
• President, Indigenous Business Women's Organisation
• President, Indigenous Clothing Manufacturers Association
• President, Indigenous Clothing,^[3]

Controversies

Ironically, Mutasa does not only make massive breakthroughs in the business world but in brushing with the law again. In 2004 she became the first person to be charged under under a section of the Exchange Control Act which had just been enacted. She was convicted and fined Z$8,5 million for illegally dealing in foreign currency amounting to US$10 400. In 2010, Mutasa and several other Telecel employees were arrested on allegations of defrauding the mobile phone service provider of US$750 000 in an airtime scams. Mutasa alone was facing nine counts of fraud.^[4] She was instantly suspended as Telecel acting chairperson and had her position on the company’s board of directors scrapped. ^[5] However, at that time Prosector General Johannes Tomana declined to prosecute Mutasa citing lack of evidence, something that did not go down well with Telecel. 2014 started on a bad note for the businesswoman as the The Supreme Court ordered Tomana to issue a certificate for the private prosecution Mutasa.^[6]

References

1. Jump up↑ Trouble multiplies for Jane Mutasa, 'Zimbabwe Situation', Published:14 Mar 2010, Retrieved: 16 May 2014
2. Jump up↑ Support empowerment initiatives — IBWO, 'Herald', Published: 7 Mar 2011, Retrieved: 16 May 2014
3. Jump up↑ Employment History, Retrieved: 16 May 2014
4. Jump up↑ Daniel Nemukuyu, JANE MUTASA ARRESTED OVER TELECEL SCAM, 'Nehand Radio', Published: 9 Mar 2010, Retrieved: 16 May 2014
5. Jump up↑ Telecel suspends Mutasa over fraud, 'Neq Zimbabwe, Published: 20 Mar 2010, Retrieved: 16 May 2014
6. Jump up↑ Fidelis Munyoro, Jane Mutasa faces prosecution over US$1,7m airtime fraud, 'Herald', Published: 29 Jan 2014, Retrieved: 16 May 2014