ADRA Director Flees Zimbabwe Amid Embezzlement Scandal

Forensic audit reveals alleged $1.4 million fraud, threatening aid programs.

A massive embezzlement scheme has rocked the Adventist Progress & Relief Agency (ADRA) in Zimbabwe, leading to the flight of its country director and jeopardizing critical support for vulnerable communities. The alleged fraud involves $1.4 million, potentially crippling the organization’s local operations.

Director on the Run

judith Musvosvi, ADRA’s country director, has reportedly fled Zimbabwe following the discovery of her alleged involvement in the scheme. Her departure came shortly after the arrest of Fortune Goredema, ADRA’s finance director, on fraud charges.

Reportedly,Musvosvi informed friends that she was traveling to South Africa by bus before heading to Eastern Europe to attend her niece’s wedding. However, sources suggest a different motive.

According to a senior Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) insider,“Powerful contacts within the church warned her of imminent arrest.”

Details of the Embezzlement

The scandal began to unravel after ADRA International received an anonymous whistleblower report in July 2022. A subsequent forensic audit, conducted by the SDA’s General Conference Auditing Service and Baker Tilly, revealed several financial irregularities:

• Goredema allegedly falsified accounting records to embezzle $1,209,387.76 earmarked for tax payments.
• He is also accused of diverting $160,437.57 intended for NSSA pensions.
• Furthermore, the finance director reportedly overpaid himself by $118,578.69 between 2023 and 2024.

Auditors steadfast that Musvosvi, who has headed ADRA Zimbabwe as 2013, was complicit in the scheme. she allegedly authorized fraudulent transactions and received “undue payments and personal loans” in violation of ADRA’s financial policies.

Impact on ADRA Zimbabwe

The massive fraud has pushed ADRA Zimbabwe to the brink of collapse, primarily due to a significant tax deficit and overdue payments.The organization’s ability to continue its operations is now in serious doubt.

Pastor Zibusiso Ndlovu, the executive secretary of SDA North Zimbabwe Union, declined to comment on the matter.

Musvosvi’s husband, jonathan Musvosvi, remains an active SDA pastor in Zimbabwe. As of now, no disciplinary action has been announced by the church.

Legal Challenges

Musvosvi’s relocation to Romania presents a significant obstacle to prosecution, as Zimbabwe lacks an extradition treaty with the country. Legal sources suggest that Interpol might potentially be consulted.

Threat to Vital Programs

The scandal threatens ADRA programs that support food security and healthcare for Zimbabwe’s most vulnerable populations, including those living with HIV. According to UNAIDS, in 2022, approximately 1.3 million people were living with HIV in Zimbabwe (UNAIDS). ADRA’s work is crucial in providing support and resources to this community.

“This isn’t just theft – it’s a betrayal of the world’s poorest,” said a Harare-based aid coordinator familiar with ADRA’s operations.

Past Attempts at Takeover

ADRA Zimbabwe was previously targeted for a takeover by controversial petroleum tycoon Kudakwashe Tagwirei. Musvosvi was reportedly open to a larger role for the SDA “elder” within the organization,but the idea lacked consensus.

After his initial attempt failed, Tagwirei established his own Bridging Gaps Foundation (BGF).However, it has not achieved the same reach or prestige as ADRA within the SDA community, which includes nearly one million members across 2,523 churches.