Hidden Company Owners Put Zimbabwe's Public Contracts at Risk

Accountability Lab Zimbabwe has warned that concealed company ownership could expose public procurement to corruption, conflicts of interest and money laundering.

The organisation raised the concerns during its first Beneficial Ownership Transparency (BOT) Learning Circle in Harare on Tuesday, where journalists, civil society organisations and community activists examined how hidden ownership affects government contracts and public service delivery.

Accountability Lab Zimbabwe Senior Programmes Officer Thulani Collins Mswelanto said identifying the individuals who ultimately own, control or profit from companies was key to improving transparency in public spending.

“The name on a company’s paperwork is not always the person who owns, controls, or profits from it,” he said.

Mswelanto explained how nominee shareholders, front companies and complex corporate structures could be used to conceal company ownership across borders.

Journalists also shared insights into how hidden ownership complicates investigations into corruption and money laundering.