Online Reporter
Midlands Bureau
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) recorded 33 corruption cases in the Midlands Province last year.
This was revealed by Zacc Midlands provincial head, Mr Simbarashe Zvidzai during an anti-corruption stakeholder meeting organised by the Gweru Residents and Ratepayers Association (GRRA) in Mkoba 1 high-density suburb over the weekend.
Mr Zvidzai said of the 33 reported cases, 11 had been fully investigated and submitted to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) for prosecution.
“Midlands Province recorded 33 corruption cases last year and investigations for 11 cases have been completed and forwarded to the NPAZ.
“So far two convictions have been secured, one person was acquitted and four cases were dropped due to lack of evidence,” he said.
Mr Zvidzai said the fight against corruption requires a united front hence the need for active participation of members of the public.
“We urge residents to work hand in hand with the commission. Combating corruption is not the responsibility of Zacc alone but a collective fight,” he said.
Gweru district public prosecutor, Mr Brian Muzemba, echoed Mr Zvidzai’s sentiments, warning that a lack of community co-operation was hindering progress in prosecuting corruption cases.
“There is a need for community co-operation when dealing with corruption matters. Once a case has been reported, there is a need for witnesses to attend court because, without witness testimony and sufficient evidence, you cannot secure conviction,” he said.
Mr Muzemba said lack of co-operation from the community is a major obstacle in prosecuting corruption cases.
GRRA executive director, Mr Cornelius Selipiwe, expressed concern over what he termed the “catch and release” trend, where minor offenders are prosecuted while high-profile individuals remain untouched.
“We are worried that the law seems to target small fish while the big fish go scot-free. Corruption is now a cancer in our society.
“That’s why we invited experts from Zacc and NPAZ to educate residents on how to identify and report corruption. Our communities need to understand their role in nipping this scourge in the bud,” he said.
According to NPAZ, it received 314 corruption-related dockets from Zacc in 2024 alone, highlighting the scale of the country’s anti-graft operations.
However, the authority noted that not all cases were immediately ready for prosecution, stressing the importance of due diligence and thorough investigations before going to trial.
