TEN mansions and 22 luxury vehicles worth US$8 million were
recently seized by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) from
high-profile figures who failed to account for their source of wealth.
The yet-to-be-named suspected criminals will soon be
prosecuted. ZACC’s head of legal department Commissioner Jessie Majome said the
ill-gotten wealth will be forfeited to the State.
“We seized and are holding 22 high-value motor vehicles
worth approximately US$2 million. Applications for civil forfeiture (separately
from the criminal trial process) regarding the vehicles are pending at court.
We have a total of 10 high-value houses whose civil forfeiture we have had
referred to court. The approximate value of the houses is US$6 million,” said
Comm Majome.
She said seven asset forfeiture applications had been sent
to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for onward filing to the High Court
in terms of the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act.
Of the seven cases, four are pending at the High Court and
these include applications for properties belonging to former Foreign Affairs
Minister Walter Mzembi; Gender Commission chair Margaret Sangarwe; Russel
Mweye, a former staffer at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals; and former Zimbabwe
National Road Administration (ZINARA) chief executive officer Frank
Chitukutuku.
The ex-ZINARA boss is facing allegations of siphoning US$3
million from the parastatal through civil works projects.
“The estate of the late Nkululeko Sibanda is involved in
this over non-existent roadworks in Umguza and Bubi. This case was erroneously
reported . . . as being pursued by the
State, yet it is not (as it is not a criminal matter which the State
prosecutes), but it is a ZACC matter being argued by the NPA because the Money
Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act gives NPA the right of audience in such
cases, so we pass on files to it,” said Comm Majome.
The corruption-fighting body believes that forfeiting
proceeds of crime is the most effective way of fighting the vice as it makes
commission of offences not worthwhile.
“We want the public to understand that the recovery of
assets gained through corruption is not actually a fleeting operation — a
‘flash in the pan’. The bad news for crooks and looters is that asset recovery
is not something they can hide from until it passes. It’s here to stay as a
twin device to prosecution in order to make corrupt criminals accountable
before the law by making them pay back the loot and not just go to jail then
come out to enjoy their loot.”
The Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act, she added,
was amended to permanently enable asset recovery nothwistanding a criminal
conviction. Comm Majome encouraged
members of the public to actively contribute to fighting the scourge.
“We therefore appeal to the public to tip us off. Members
of the public can whistle-blow anonymously and we promise to protect the
confidentiality of the reports about wealth acquired through illicit means. I
am sure you will agree that disclosing the identities of the people on our
radar now will jeopardise investigations.”
ZACC is targeting to recover assets worth $300 million by
year-end.
A national anti-corruption strategy was recently launched
to fight corruption at all levels as the Second Republic takes a zero-tolerance
approach to graft.
The commission has entered into collaborative efforts with
the NPA and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) to enforce unexplained
wealth orders.
There are agreements with reputable international partners
who specialise in asset tracing and recovery.
President Mnangagwa recently said his Government will
clampdown on corruption as it pursues Vision 2030 Vision, which entails making
the country an upper middle-income economy within the next 10 years.
The pledge has been followed through by arrests of
high-profile individuals such as former Health and Child Care Minister Dr
Obadiah Moyo, former Environment Minister Priscah Mupfumira and former Ministry
of Agriculture Permanent Secretary Ngoni Masoka.
Former principal director of State Residences Douglas
Tapfuma is serving a four-year jail term for criminal abuse of office. Sunday
Mail
0 comments:
Post a Comment