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Tendai Gukutikwa and Lovemore Kadzura
GOVERNMENT has approved the setting up of Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) offices in six provinces, including Manicaland, The Manica Post has learnt.
ZACC’s expansion and opening of permanent offices in Mutare was expected to speed up the investigation of cases involving diamonds, gold dealings and the smuggling of fuel and second-hand clothes from Mozambique.
In an interview, ZACC’s Prevention and Corporate Governance Acting General Manager, Dr Munyaradzi Magiga, said in Manicaland, investigations into diamonds and other precious minerals dealings were among their top priorities.
He said numerous reports on the illicit deals were being received from Manicaland over the past few years.
“We are encouraging more people to come on board and report all corruption activities. We also want to account for people who are illegally dealing in precious minerals as well as smuggling. We want to see that every criminal is brought to book regardless of their nationality and social standing,” he said.
New ZACC offices will be opened in Mutare, Bindura, Bulawayo, Chinhoyi, Gweru and Masvingo.
ZACC offices were scheduled to open in Mutare this week, but will be opened on a later date due to unforeseen circumstances.
“We are glad that the commission will be effectively represented across the nation and by mid-September all our new provincial offices will be operational. We were supposed to open the Mutare office on August 30, but this was delayed due to unforeseen circumstances,” he said.
Dr Magiga encouraged the people of Manicaland to take advantage of the new offices to join in the fight against corruption by reporting all cases as well as being whistle-blowers.
“People are encouraged to visit these new offices and report corruption cases. They can also proffer ideas on how we can effectively deal with this scourge,” he said.
Dr Magiga expressed optimism in the Whistle-blower and Witness Protection Bill that is expected to be tabled before Parliament soon, stating that once it is passed, witnesses will be protected.
“We have noticed that a lot of witnesses remain tight-lipped because of fear of victimisation. A Bill is being worked on to protect them.
“This Bill stipulates that Government will make sure that everyone who reports grand corruption cases can be put in safe houses to protect their lives. This will instill confidence in people to report corruption cases,” he said.
Dr Magiga also called for the fast-tracking of the Bill.
Meanwhile, a Harare man, together with three accomplices who were masquerading as Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission officials was convicted and jailed over the offence.
The other three are still at large, while luck ran out of George Chiroodza who was convicted of impersonating a public official after he produced a fake ZAAC identity card at a police roadblock in Headlands.
Rusape magistrate, Ms Rutendo Machingura sentenced Chiroodza to three months imprisonment which she suspended on condition that he pays $8 000 fine.
Chiroodza who was not represented pleaded guilty to the charge.
Prosecutor, Mr Tawanda Munjanja, said Chiroodza and his accomplices fled from the police, but left his fake identity at the roadblock leading to his arrest later.
“On August 10, police were performing roadblock duties at the 160km peg along Mutare-Harare Highway when they stopped Chiroodza who was in the company of three accomplices. The four were driving in a Toyota Wish vehicle.
“When they were asked why they were travelling at a time when inter-city travelling was banned, Chiroodza and his accomplices identified themselves as ZACC officials,” he said.
Chiroodza produced a fake ZACC identity card.
Further probe by the police revealed that the four were not ZACC officials.
When police tried to arrest them, they sped off, leaving Chiroodza’s fake identity card behind.
Chiroodza was later arrested on August 20.
Online Reporter