Paul Nyathi|Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo and her team of commissioners were recently provided with firearms for personal security amid reports that they have been receiving death threats from unknown people over high profile graft cases under investigation.
About a fortnight ago, Justice Matanda-Moyo and the commissioners underwent a firearms training at the Zimbabwe Republic Police shooting range at Morris Depot in Harare before being issued with arms.
In an interview, Justice Matanda-Moyo said she personally received incessant phone calls from members of the corruption cartels involving cases of high profile political figures under investigation and a firearm becomes a necessary self-defence weapon.
“I have received a number of calls from people instructing me to drop certain cases involving political figures and other prominent people.
“I still receive the calls with others threatening my life. Others were trying to influence me on how ZACC should operate, particularly telling me who should and should not be investigated,” she said.
The callers, Justice Matanda-Moyo said, complain about the investigation of certain individuals.
It has since emerged that the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) and President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s advisor Christopher Mutsvangwa is top amongst those people who have been threatening Justice Loice Mtanda-Moyo.
According to weekend media reports, Mutsvangwa is among those who are said to have called the Zacc chairperson accusing her of fronting a G40 agenda following the arrest of the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority board chairperson Callisto Jokonya early last month.
Jokonya appeared in court on charges of abuse of office after reportedly showing favour in extending Zimra Deputy Commissioner General Happier Kuzvinzwa’s contract for another four year term.
“Kuzvinzwa is a war veteran and Mutsvangwa was not happy with what he thought was Jokonya’s harassment over the re-appointment of a member of his association.
“The other thing is that Kuzvinzwa and (Zimra Commissioner General Faith) Mazani are not on talking terms. There is tension between them and she was happy his term had come to an end only to be shocked by the re-appointment,” a top source told online media nEWS263zim.com.
Zacc then pounced on Jokonya who is currently on on bail. Mutsvangwa was unamused and took this as an attack on veterans of the liberation struggle.
“The war veterans think they should not be touched. They want a hear no evil see no evil approach. But its wrong and while a lot more people called Justice Matanda-Moyo, Mutsvangwa also did,” the source said.
Justice Mtanda-Moyo is wife to Foreign Affairs Minister Sibusiso Moyo who is not in the best of relations with Mutsvangwa.