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Nqobile Tshili, Chronicle Correspondent
POLICE will soon arrest corrupt government and parastatal officials who were fingered for abuse of office in a report that was released by the Auditor-General Mildred Chiri.
She, last year, presented her annual audit report in Parliament in which she highlighted corruption in some government departments and parastatals.
Since submitting her report to the government, no action has been taken against the corrupt officials thereby angering legislators.
Minister of Home Affairs Ignatius Chombo told the National Assembly on Tuesday last week the government was slow to act because due process had to take its course.
Minister Chombo said he will task police officers to start arresting those fingered over corruption.
“I also did not get the report, but now that the report is said to be out and has specific names and accusations on the specific individuals who committed the crimes, as soon as we finish this business, I will look for the report and ask ZRP to track all those people and arrest them according to the charges that were presented therein,” said Minister Chombo.
MDC’s MP Webster Maondera had quizzed VP Emmerson Mnangagwa who is also the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs why the police have not arrested corrupt government officials.
VP Mnangagwa exposed the police for ineptitude saying there was no reason why they have not arrested the culprits while the evidence was in their faces.
“I thank the Hon. Member for asking such a pertinent question discussing people who benefited from corrupt activities and these corrupt individuals have not been arrested and yet we have arresting forces. What is surprising is why are these people not arrested and yet we have police around. So we have asked the police why are you not arresting these people,” said VP Mnangagwa.
He said anybody who is involved in corruption should be arrested and taken to court.
“The Hon. Member talked about a report which was tabled in this House from the Auditor General and Comptroller, where these people were mentioned. In government, we have a Ministry of Home Affairs, which is the mother body of the police force. The responsibility of the police is to arrest these corrupt people and whosoever was involved in these corrupt activities should be arrested. The policemen should do their duty,” he said.
Legal experts last year also voiced their concerns on the government’s failure to act on AG’s findings.
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