ZACC arrests +235 public officials for murky land ...

ZACC arrests +235 public officials for murky land deals

Zim Now Writer

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has arrested over 235 public officials over illegal land deals among other offences, with record complaints received against urban and rural district councils.

Speaking at a workshop on Land and Corruption in Zimbabwe hosted by Transparency International Zimbabwe in Harare on Wednesday, ZACC commissioner, Gabriel Chaibva said that 36 cases have been completed of the total recorded, with tainted assets of an estimated value of US$135 million recorded, adding that criminal abuse of office and fraud are the most prevalent crimes.

“The reports of criminal abuse of duty and fraud remain the most prevalent crimes reported in 2022. These corruption tendencies were worsened by the emergence of lad barons,” he said.

Harare Mayor, Jacob Mafume also waded into the matter, noting that land barons have been prevalent in the city, taking advantage of weaknesses in the system to sell unserviced land. He also added that invasions have also been prevalent.

“Land barons have been a menace. We need to have a holistic approach, firstly we need to ban any invasion of any sort, and ...” Mafume said.

Host organisation’s Executive Director, Tafadzwa Chikumbu, said land invasions have led to many reported human rights abuses and violations, adding that the recent evictions across the country have not compensated the victims.

“Recently, so many people were evicted but they were not compensated. There are other cases involving the marginalised groups where investments come in the community and no one from that community benefits from those projects. Not even women and children,” said Chikumbu.