Commissioner fights vehicle seizure

Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Reporter
COMMISSIONER Emmanuel Chimwanda of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has filed a High Court application challenging the seizure of his service vehicle by armed police officers in Harare recently.
The commission’s term of office expired in August last year but early this year, the ministry of Home Affairs issued a notice recalling the commissioners to perform their duties pending the appointment of the new leadership.

While Comm Chimwanda was back at work, he claims ZACC acting secretary Senior Assistant Commissioner Silence Pondo instructed the police officers to forcibly take away the Nissan Navara that had been allocated to him for use at the commission.

Justice Tendai Uchena heard arguments of the parties and reserved judgment in the matter for Monday.

According to the urgent chamber application filed last week, Comm Chimwanda said the actions of the commission were unlawful.

“The conduct of the respondents was unlawful because I am entitled to the motor vehicle as part of my conditions of service in terms of my contract of employment which still subsists.

“Respondents have taken the law into their own hands. They do not have a court order to act in the manner they did and they have conducted a classical act of spoliation,” he said.

Comm Chimwanda attached Home Affairs Secretary Mr Melusi Matshiya’s letter dated May 27 2014 that recalled him and other commissioners to work in trying to prove that he was legitimately back at work.

“In this regard, the commissioners are advised to go back to work with immediate effect and must continue to get their normal benefits, inclusive of their salaries for the months of February, March, April and May 2014.

“In addition, the vehicles that were withdrawn must be given back to them,” reads part of the letter.

Comm Chimwanda said he was harassed and intimidated by the police at the time of the seizure of the vehicle.

“I was not armed and I did not even have a knife. My nails were short and could not even harm anyone and yet they thought it necessary for them to bring 14 armed police officers with AK rifles and full riot gear.

“This is nothing but a complete abuse of State resources and machinery,” he said.