ADRA Employees Charged With Defrauding $1.4 Million From the Organization
13 June 2025 |
Two Adventist Development & Relief Agency (ADRA) employees of the Zimbabwe division have allegedly embezzled US$ 1.4 million. Fortune Goredema was brought before Harare regional magistrate Ms. Marehwanazvo Gofa on fraud charges. He was released on $1,000 bail under strict conditions, including a mandatory report to the Commercial Crimes Division three times a week. He has also had to surrender his passport and the title deed to his house.
According to other reports, Judith Musvosvi, the country director for ADRA Zimbabwe since 2013, not only knew about the scheme but facilitated some of the illegal payments. The Zimbabwean states,
Musvosvi, who has led ADRA Zimbabwe since 2013, was found complicit in the scheme. Auditors confirmed she authorised fraudulent transactions and personally received “undue payments and personal loans,” violating ADRA’s financial policies.
She fled the country after Goredema’s arrest. Claiming to leave town for her niece’s wedding, the 65-year-old left for South Africa by bus before heading to Romania. Since Zimbabwe has no extradition treaty with the Eastern European nation, Interpol may be consulted.
The fraud was discovered thanks to anonymous whistleblowers in July 2024. Since then, General Conference Auditing Service (GCAS) has discovered fraudulent charges spanning from 2018 to 2024.
Goredema allegedly misappropriated public funds, specifically PAYE (tax withholding) owed to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), by entering falsified payment records into ADRA’s accounting system. The audit also revealed that National Social Security Authority (NSSA) payments had not been paid, despite Goredema’s claims.
According to The Herald,
The audit team, which included Innocent Muhabe, Paul Johnson, Shane Palipane and Oliver Masuku, found a total misappropriation of US$ 1,209,388 for ZIMRA PAYE and US$ 160,437 for NSSA dues.
Goredema overpaid himself US$ 118,579 from 2023 to 2024. Additionally, collaboration with external auditor Baker Tilly revealed understated figures in periodic financial statements.
In total, US$ 1,488,404 was embezzled from ADRA. Thus far, none of the funds have been recovered.
