By Own Correspondent| President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s sincerity to tackle corruption has once again hogged the limelight amid indications by the Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi that the establishment of a special anti-corruption unit in his office was influenced by the realisation that other State security agencies were reluctant to tackle high-profile graft cases.
The Office of the President and Cabinet last Tuesday announced the establishment of the unit whose mandate aims at resolving high profile graft cases which have remained unresolved.
However, the establishment of the anti corruption. unit within the Office of the President was condemned by certain sections of society, with analysts describing it as an unconstitutional duplication of duties for work which is suppossed to be done by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
Ziyambi told journalists in Harare (Wednesday) that the reluctance to deal with corruption cases being exhibited by some bodies had necessitated the need for the special unit, whose establishment also heeds the dictates of the Constitution.
“The manifest reluctance by some relevant bodies to tackle corruption cases has spurred the President to set up a special anti-corruption unit which contrary to some sections of the society is not tainted with any illegality.
It’s business unusual and things will be done differently and expeditiously especially the prosecution of a number of high profile corruption cases,” said Ziyambi.
The Justice minister however said while the unit reports directly to Mnangagwa, it would work in close liaison with other State security agencies.
“The unit will, pursuant to section 263 of the Constitution, read together with section 27 of the National Prosecuting Authority Act (Chapter 7:20) proceed to prosecute matters to finality.
“The unit will collaborate with Zacc and the police and it will also assist other investigative agencies of the State in the perusal and consideration of corruption dockets,” he said.
In 2017, Zimbabwe was ranked 157 out of 175 countries on the corruption perception index, a ranking which according to analysts negatively influences investor confidence in the country.
Source: Newsday