This came out on Friday during ZACC’s third annual general
meeting in Harare, which was attended by police Commissioner General Godwin
Matanga, Secretary of the Judicial Service Commission Mr Walter Chikwana and
other key stakeholders.
As a result of enhanced cooperation between the prosecuting
authority and ZACC, 72 percent of 134 cases that were brought before the courts
resulted in convictions.
These included the conviction of the former Permanent
Secretary for the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Francis Gudyanga,
three senior officers from the Vehicle Inspection Department and a provincial
magistrate.
In her remarks, ZACC chair Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo said
their efforts in combating corruption were bearing fruit.
“The year under review 2022, the conviction rate went up to
72 percent of all matters prosecuted before our courts and such results are as
a result of ZACC and the National Prosecuting Authority working hand in glove
to ensure that our investigations are quality and that our prosecution is also
of quality,” Justice Matanda-Moyo said.
“I am pleased to report that from the 253 cases approved by
the selection committee for investigations, the commission investigated a total
of 157 (62 percent) and referred 134 (53 percent) dockets to the National
Prosecuting Authority.”
Last year, Justice Matanda-Moyo said, the commission began
its operations on a high note as the country was recovering from the negative
effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
In its strategic focus for 2023, Justice Matanda-Moyo said
the commission remained committed to the constitutional mandate of combating
corruption.
“To make this a reality, the role of all citizens and
relevant stakeholders cannot be overemphasised. Fighting corruption cannot be a
solitary enterprise pursued by hermits in the wilderness,” she said.
Speaking on the sidelines of the meeting, Mr Chikwana
hailed ZACC for collaborating closely with the NPA.
“We are impressed as the Judicial Service Commission that
after some time now we have had ZACC chairperson Justice Matanda Moyo advising
us in her report that they have had 72 percent convictions of matters that have
come to court,” he said.
“This is quite pleasing, it shows that they are doing well
in terms of investigations and also the National Prosecuting Authority is doing
well in terms of prosecuting matters in court.”
Comm-General Matanga said the joint efforts by police with
ZACC and NPA were paying off.
“We have discovered that working independently normally
does not strengthen our efforts, we then decided to come together with the
National Prosecuting Authority as a way of smoothening our operations,” he
said.
“I would want to say our collaboration has paid a lot of
dividends in terms of achieving good results at the end of whatever we have
investigated and prosecuted in the courts of law.” Herald
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