ZEC tender scandal: Two suspects not available for...

ZEC tender scandal: Two suspects not available for Zacc interviews

Zim Now Writer

Two suspects in the US$40 million Zimbabwe Electoral Commission tender scandal, Mike Chimombe and Moses Mpofu, have claimed they are currently abroad and unable to present themselves for questioning or arrest by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.

Through their legal representatives, Antonio & Dzvetero Legal Practitioners, Chimombe and Mpofu have notified Zacc of their willingness to cooperate with the investigation but cited their unavailability due to their current absence from the country.

In a letter to Zacc, the lawyers stated: “Our clients have been made aware of the ongoing investigation and the interest in interviewing them. However, they are currently out of the country and will only be available for interviews upon their return to Zimbabwe.”

The lawyers did not specify a timeline for their clients’ return.

Zacc is investigating the alleged corrupt deal and its beneficiaries, who allegedly received millions in taxpayers’ funds for personal gain.

Zacc chairman, Michael Reza has vowed to leave no stone unturned in the investigation, promising that no one will be spared in the crackdown.

Reza stated that initially, the first leaked audio lacked sufficient evidence for Zacc to pursue, but with the subsequent release of a document and another audio, substantial proof emerged, enabling Zacc to initiate a formal investigation.

The scandal has implicated several high-profile figures, including ZEC chair, Justice Priscilla Chigumba, Central Intelligence Organisation Director-General Isaac Moyo, and Chief Secretary to Cabinet Martin Rushwaya.

Wicknell Chivayo, an ex-convict, is at the centre of the scandal and has been linked to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whom he claims to have under his control.

Zacc has announced that it has found additional evidence to nail the suspects and is determined to bring them to justice. The investigation has sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability, with many demanding that those responsible for the corrupt deal be held accountable.