Online Reporter
Online Reporter
ZIMBABWE Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chairperson Mr Michael Reza has been elected first vice president of the Association of African Anti-Corruption Authorities (AAACA) at the Eighth Annual General Meeting held in Nairobi, Kenya.
AAACA is a continental platform that brings together anti-corruption agencies from across Africa to strengthen cooperation in preventing, detecting and combating corruption.
Mr Reza beat the head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission of Cameroon, Mr Fohtung Samuel Tangan, by 24 votes to seven, securing the position of first vice president of the continental body.
The General Assembly elected a new executive to steer the association over the next three years.
Dr Modibo Sacko of Mali’s Central Office for Fighting Illicit Enrichment was elected president of AAACA, while Mr Khaled Benguernane of Algeria’s High Authority for Transparency, Prevention and the Fight Against Corruption was elected second vice president.
The newly elected executive committee also comprises representatives from the five regions of Africa.
The chief executive officer of the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) of Kenya, Abdi Ahmed Mohamud, will represent East Africa, while Southern Africa will be represented by Gaoretelelwe Leonard Lekgetho of the Special Investigations Unit of South Africa.
They will serve alongside Abdulla Gadir Bo of Libya, who represents North Africa; Alexandra Zoe of Liberia, representing West Africa; and Bénie-Laure Kamwiziku Kusanzakana of the Democratic Republic of Congo, representing Central Africa.
Mr Reza’s election to the continental leadership position is an endorsement of Zimbabwe’s growing reputation in the fight against corruption.
Speaking in Nairobi after the election, Mr Reza said his election as first vice president of AAACA is an acknowledgement of the efforts made by the country in the fight against corruption.
“The results of the election place our country at the forefront of shaping continental policies and strategies to combat graft and strengthen our contribution to anti-corruption efforts across Africa,” he said.
Mr Reza’s elevation comes as Zimbabwe intensifies its push towards Vision 2030, the national development agenda championed by President Mnangagwa that seeks to transform Zimbabwe into an upper middle-income economy.
The fight against corruption remains a central pillar of this vision, with President Mnangagwa declaring zero tolerance for graft.
The assembly also selected Libya as the host of the Ninth AAACA General Assembly.
The three-day assembly, held from June 16 -18, 2026, brought together anti-corruption agencies from 43 African countries to deliberate on strategies for tackling graft and strengthening institutional integrity across the continent.
The meeting was held under the theme “Strengthening Cooperation and Institutional Innovation for Effective Anti-Corruption Efforts in Africa”.
It also saw Kenya’s President William Ruto launch the African Anti-Corruption Studies and Research Centre (CEREAC), which will provide research, training and technical support to anti-corruption authorities across the African continent.
