THE Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) has warned corrupt senior government officials and individuals who are in the habit of threatening and victimising witness, saying it derails progress made in the anti-graft drive.
In an interview with ZBC News this Thursday ZACC’s spokesperson commissioner John Makamure said the anti-corruption body is investigating several cases and arrests are imminent.
“It has come to ZACC’s attention that certain individuals and powerful people are issuing death threats while others are victimising employees for giving information to the anti-corruption body.
“We have people who are issuing death threats and we know them. This is a serious offence and we would want to warn perpetrators of this crime as this is a serious offence. Our witnesses are important and we will not allow such retrogressive elements to derail our progress in the fight against corruption,” said Makamure.
The anti-graft body has also expressed concern over delays in dealing with corruption cases at the courts.
This comes in the wake of revelations that ZACC has completed investigating more than 90 cases but trial dates have not yet been set. Such delays have resulted in the public questioning the body’s commitment to fighting corruption.
The anti-corruption body was put in place is in line with President Mnangagwa’s commitment to fighting the scourge of corruption in the country. Justice Matanda-Moyo was appointed ZACC chairperson nine months ago and several high profile people have been arrested since then.
They include former Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister, Priscah Mupfumira, former Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) chief executive, Frank Chitukutu, Zimbabwe Defence Forces director of procurement, Peter Muchakadzi and several senior government and parastatal officials for theft or fraud. Mupfumira is facing seven counts of criminal abuse of office involving US$95 million.
However, most of the suspects have since been granted bail at the courts.
