FORMER Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko faces imminent
arrest after resisting officers from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission
(Zacc) who wanted to pick him from his Bulawayo home over allegations of
criminal abuse of public office.
The ex-Vice President thwarted the arrest on Friday at his
Douglasdale house after dramatically refusing to cooperate with Zacc arresting
officers whilst his wife Laurinda and daughter Siduduzo ordered the officials
out.
A video of the incident has since gone viral. However, Zacc
chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo
said the long arm of the law will catch up with Mr Mphoko as no one is above
the law.
His arrest is historic as he becomes the first such high
ranking ex-public official to be nabbed over abuse of office.
Allegations against Mr Mphoko are that in 2016, while he
was still Vice President, he stormed Avondale Police Station to release former
Zimbabwe National Road Administration acting chief executive officer Moses
Juma.
Mr Mphoko, during that time, threatened to beat junior
police officers at the station if they failed to comply to his demands.
Juma was later re-arrested and sentenced to two years in
prison after being convicted of abuse of office.
In an interview, Justice Matanda-Moyo said: “Yesterday
(Friday), our officers visited the former VP Phelekezela Mphoko at his
residence. The officers intended to question him with a view to record a warned
and cautioned statement. The matter relates to abuse of office whilst he was
VP.
“It is sad that the former VP refused to collaborate with
the enforcement officers. Unfortunately, he and those around him believe that
they are above the law….no one is above the law.
“We will ensure that the long arm of the law visits him in
a manner that he understands and that he answers for his actions ASAP (as soon
as possible).”
Sources said Zacc officers were yesterday planning to
arrest Mr Mphoko.
According to the video on the failed arrest, the Mphoko
family chased away two Zacc detectives out of their house while accusing them
of trespassing and being “very corrupt people”.
The family demanded a warrant of arrest and threatened to
call the police on the Zacc officers.
“You come here on false pretences, you are the one who
pretended. We will put you out on Facebook and see,” says Siduduzo in the
video.
Mr Mphoko shouted at the Zacc officers, “Out of my house
please. Outside.”
The arresting officer then threatened to call for
reinforcements. Siduduzo is then heard saying the Zacc officers’ departure
was an opportune time for the family to regroup.
Zacc has found some teeth after being given arresting
powers through Statutory Instrument 143 of 2019.
The Justice Matanda-Moyo led body has already shown some
sting by arresting former Environment, Tourism and Hospitality Industry
Minister Prisca Mupfumira on allegations of corruption involving US$95 million
misappropriated at the National Social Security Authority (Nssa).
She is currently languishing in remand prison after being
denied bail as she was said to be a flight risk by the High Court.
Zacc also arrested former State residences director Douglas
Tapfuma for abuse of office after importing vehicles without paying duty.
The anti-corruption commission is investigating over 200
graft cases, with more arrests expected soon. Sunday Mail
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