The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has so far
recovered US$100 million worth of assets believed to be the proceeds of
corruption and expects the total to exceed US$300 million by year end as it
pounces on luxury vehicles and houses in leafy suburbs funded by graft.
Zacc chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo said
collaborative efforts with the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) and
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) should result in the commission exceeding
its target of recovering $300 million in assets by end of the year.
In a statement yesterday to commemorate the first anniversary
of the current commissioners in office, she said Zacc had reconstituted and
strengthened the asset recovery unit, which has since seized from suspected
criminals assets worth millions of United States dollars.
“To date, the commission has recovered over US$100 million
worth of assets. Thanks to the enactment of the Money Laundering and Proceeds
of Crime (Amendment) Act, 2019 which empowers the seizing of unexplained
wealth. Increased collaboration with enforcement authorities of the unexplained
wealth orders housed in the NPA and Zimra will see the commission far exceeding
its target of recovering $300 million worth of assets by the end of the year.
“Recovery of externalised proceeds of crime has also been
given a boost through the establishment of agreements with reputable
international partners who specialise in asset tracing and recovery,” said
Justice Matanda-Moyo.
“Several investigations are underway to bring many culprits
to book. The Commission has set a target of at least 80 dockets to be completed
and submitted to the NPA for prosecution by December 31, 2020.”
On legal reform, Justice Matanda-Moyo said Zacc had
successfully crafted an Anti-Corruption Commission Lay Bill that has since been
submitted to the Attorney General’s Office to be brought before Parliament.
“The Bill encompasses a comprehensive section on whistle
blower protection,” which she said would get over one obstacle in the fight
against corruption.
“The victimisation and intimidation of whistleblowers will
soon be a thing of the past with this piece of legislation coupled with other
efforts such as the deployment of a whistleblower app that will make it easier
for citizens to report cases online and track their progress,” she said.
Justice Matanda-Moyo said through Zacc’s work, two former
Cabinet ministers have so far appeared before the courts for criminal abuse of
office as public officers leading to them being relieved of their duties.
The two are Mrs Prisca Mupfumira who was Minister of Public
Service, Labour and Social Welfare and Dr Obadiah Moyo who served as Minister
of Health and Child Care.
“Currently, a former minister and a senior Government
official are serving jail terms for criminal abuse of office. Many other cases
for senior officials in Government ministries, public entities and the private
sector are pending before the courts. Several investigations are underway to
bring many culprits to book,” she said.
Zacc was committed to weeding out corruption in the country
and complement Government’s resolve to achieve an upper middle income economy
by 2030 in line with Vision 2030.
The commission was carrying out research in key areas such
as public financial management, public procurement, mining sector, health
services delivery, fuel sector and maize meal subsidy whose findings would be
tabled before Parliament. Herald
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