ZACC arrests 60 big fish in 2023

Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission says it arrested 60 higher-ups and referred their dockets to the National Prosecuting Authority this year.

“There were 60 high-profile individuals brought to the courts by Zacc in 2023 and 27 convictions,” said ZACC commissioner Thandiwe Mlobane.

ZACC held this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day commemorations in Gweru where Minister of State for Midlands Provincial Affairs and Devolution of Zimbabwe Owen Ncube signed an integrity pledge.

Comm Mlobane said a total of 235 arrests have been made against a target of 400, with 219 dockets referred to the NPA as of November 28.

She said that ZACC is working on collaborative instruments that will allow it to reach suspected proceeds of corruption that would have been stashed outside the country.

“To date, ZACC has completed 36 case files with an estimated value of US$145 million of tainted assets recovered from corrupt individuals. The reason for the below target is that some of these assets are outside the country where ZACC has no jurisdiction to investigate.

“ZACC however, has signed MoUs with its counterparts in Botswana, Zambia and Malawi to assist in the identification of these tainted assets stashed in their countries,” she said.

In addition, the NPA has been engaged to follow through on what is called Mutual Legal Assistance where countries assist each other formally to identify and ensure court orders for the repatriation of stolen funds back to the affected countries as agreed under the United Nations Convention Against Corruption,” Comm Mlobane said.