NPA must run own affairs — Govt

Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
THE Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has said the National Prosecuting Authority, which faces eviction from its Corner House offices in Harare over rental arrears, must run its own administration as it was weaned into a stand-alone institution last year.

The NPA, led by Prosecutor General Mr Johannes Tomana, faces eviction from the offices over outstanding rent amounting to $434 000.

The NPA last paid rent to its landlord, Old Mutual Properties, towards end of last year.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Mrs Virginia Mabhiza said although NPA still fell under the parent ministry, it was now an independent institution running its own vote separately from the ministry.

Mrs Mabhiza climbed down from her earlier promises that the ministry would ensure treasury clears the debt and pays rentals for the offices in advance.

“As you all know, the NPA is now an independent institution that runs its own vote independent of the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

“The ministry still has oversight of the authority, but administratively, they now run their own affairs,” said Mrs Mabhiza.

However, Mrs Mabhiza said if the situation gets worse, the ministry was prepared to accept the prosecuting authority back into the New Government Complex where it used to occupy.

“Treasury is aware of the problems facing NPA, and we hope all will be sorted out.

“If the worse comes to the worst, as ministry, we may accommodate the authority at the New Government Complex,” she said.

A fortnight ago, Old Mutual wrote to the NPA demanding payment of the $434 000.

Old Mutual Property, in the letter in question, had demanded payment of the outstanding $434 475,70 by May 27.

Part of the letter from Old Mutual reads: “According to our records, an amount of $434 475,70 ($222 474 being rent and $211 997,50 operating costs) is reflected as outstanding as at May 17, 2016.

“Please let us have your remittance in full within 10 days of the above mentioned date, that is by the 27th of May 2016, as provided for in your lease agreement.”

NPA spokesperson Mr Allen Chifokoyo confirmed the development saying treasury has been releasing adequate funds.

“We last paid rent late last year and we have not paid our landlord even a cent for this year.

“The $434 000 includes rent for 2016 and arrears for 2015.

“We are allocated only $1,1 million per year for operational costs like rent, stationery, fuel, board fees and many others.

“For the first quarter we were supposed to receive about $280 000, but we only received $46 000, making it impossible for us to pay rent,” he said.

Mr Chifokoyo said when the NPA was weaned from the Attorney General’s office, they requested for $35 million for operations, acquisition of vehicles, human capital development and others, but only $3,4 million was released.

The prosecuting authority, Mr Chifokoyo said, does not have vehicles and other tools of the trade.

In July last year, Prosecutor General Mr Johannes Tomana publicly disclosed that his office was in $146 000 rental arrears.

He appealed to Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who oversees the Ministry of Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for financial assistance to clear the bill.

However, VP Mnangagwa said Government was working towards constructing a building for the NPA to avoid renting other people’s properties.

He said the rented building for NPA was only a starting point for the newly established authority but Government was planning to acquire a building to accommodate prosecutors.

When the NPA Act became operational in January last year, the independent authority recruited its own secretariat.

Government saw it fit to move them from the New Government Complex to some rented offices at Corner House.

Prosecutors moved into the new building in March last year, but the NPA is facing challenges in paying for the rentals.