SACU disbanded despite performing better than NPA

**Prosecutor-General, Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo**

Nyashadzashe Ndoro

Prosecutor-General Loyce Matanda-Moyo on Monday announced the termination of the Special Anti-Corruption Unit's authority to prosecute corruption cases despite the unit having performed better than the National Prosecuting Authority in 2023.

Addressing journalists in Harare after an NPA meeting, Matanda-Moyo said the NPA's economic crimes unit had a clearance rate of 52.8% compared to SACU's 82.5%, ratios that show that SACU performed better than NPA.

“Economic crimes unit at the head office handled 72 cases and completed 42. The clearance rate was 52.8%. Which is not very great. There is a need for improvements in the clearance rate of economic crimes,” she said.

“The Anti-Corruption Unit handled 40 corruption cases and completed 33. The clearance rate was 82.5%. Let me also take this opportunity to thank SACU, which is the special unit in the President’s Office, for the assistance rendered to the National Prosecuting Authority over the years.

Contacted for a comment, SACU head, Thabani Mpofu said: “I do not have a comment.”

This publication, however, understands that there has been a rift among anti-corruption organisation over control, managing and prosecution of graft.

SACU is housed in President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s office. During its commencement, there were public concerns that the organ was duplicating the role of other anti-graft bodies and pursuing an extortionist and political agenda.

But Justice Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Ziyambi Ziyambi defended it in 2020.

“There is absolutely no conflict at all within the functions of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, the Police and the Special Anti-Corruption Unit within the office of the President.

“It is purely a special unit in his office and if they do their work, should they want to go and prosecute, our National Prosecution Authority Act allows the Prosecutor-General to issue prosecutorial certificates to legal practitioners with special skills according to his own assessment where he sees that there are deficiencies and that is what is followed,” Ziyambi said.