Online Reporter
Zimpapers Reporter
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) received 517 reports of suspected corruption between January and August this year, with Harare accounting for more than half of the reports.
According to a statement issued by ZACC chairperson Honourable Michael Reza yesterday, 339 reports were received from Harare Province, followed by Bulawayo with 48.
Mashonaland West recorded 35 reports, Mashonaland East 27, Midlands 26, Manicaland 21, Masvingo 14 and Mashonaland Central seven.
During the period under review, ZACC effected 195 arrests, while 128 cases were finalised before the courts.
Of the cases finalised, 90 resulted in convictions while 38 ended in acquittals, giving the commission a 70 percent conviction rate.
ZACC said a further 325 cases were pending before the courts, while 919 cases were under active investigation across the country’s 10 provinces as at August 31.
The commission said it was also intensifying efforts to recover assets linked to corruption.
“Asset recovery refers to the process by which proceeds of corruption are identified, traced, seized, confiscated and returned to the State,” said ZACC.
Cases worth almost US$5 million were referred to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for asset forfeiture proceedings involving unexplained wealth orders and civil forfeitures.
ZACC said it had also secured conviction-based and non-conviction-based forfeitures involving 14 vehicles, a residential stand and cash.
Among the assets forfeited through non-conviction-based proceedings were a Toyota Hilux Double Cab, Stand 913 Mandara Township and cash linked to Daniel Kalira, an Isuzu single cab linked to Benjamin Nyandoro and eight vehicles recovered under the Civil Servants Rebate Scheme.
The vehicles under the rebate scheme included Nissan AD Van, Toyota Aqua, Honda Fit, Toyota Passo, Toyota Porte and Toyota Vanguard.
Other non-conviction-based forfeitures involved funds held in school accounts linked to Yvonne Musoni and a Toyota Fortuner SUV linked to Mathew Musengezi, also known as Memory Shamu.
Conviction-based forfeitures included a Honda Vezel linked to Nyandoro and two Nissan Caravans linked to Tanaka Chiwade.
ZACC urged members of the public to continue reporting suspected cases of corruption through its offices across the country and its digital platforms.
The commission said it remained committed to combating corruption, promoting integrity and strengthening accountability in Zimbabwe.
