PRESS STATEMENT BY THE NEWLY APPOINTED ZACC CHAIRPERSON JUSTICE LOICE MATANDA MOYO
Good morning ladies and gentlemen of the Press.
I welcome you to the first of a series of press conferences that the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) will carry out every month going forward.
Since taking over as ZACC Chairperson, I have been studying and appreciating the status of corruption in Zimbabwe with a view of coming up with a strategy for preventing and combating corruption in order to achieve our vision of having a corrupt free Zimbabwe.
Corruption in Zimbabwe is quite rampant in all sectors of our economy, that is, in Government, State Enterprises and Parastatals, NGOS and the Private Sector.
I can confirm that the economic challenges being experienced in this country are mainly as a result of corruption. Once we join hands in fighting corruption we will win, and our economic challenges will.
If ZACC is to deal with every matter reported, then our prisons should be expanded in order to accommodate the culprits. Whilst other countries are closing their prisons for lack of clients, “Zimbabwe Prisons will be open for business”.
It is in this vain that our modus operandi as ZACC together with all Zimbabweans is to leave no stone unturned to ensure that everybody who is engaging in corrupt activities is brought to book. ZACC has therefore come up with the following steps in fighting the scourge in support of His Excellency’s stance on zero tolerance to
corruption;
1) ZACC will engage the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to reach an understanding on matters that can be handled by the Police and ZACC. Our strategy is to have ZACC dealing with cases involving high level corruption and cases involving high profile members of Society.
2) Let me advise the nation that since my appointment, ZACC has received thirty-eight (38) cases of corruption of which ten (10) are high profile in nature. ZACC has already started thoroughly investigating these high-profile corruption cases. One (1) has been referred to the National Prosecuting authority this morning for trial.
3) I am however concerned that during these investigations ZACC officers met resistance from some individuals in offices of high authority. However, I wish to assure the public that those who had attempted to defeat the course of justice have been dealt with and have subsequently released the documentary evidence needed for investigations. Let everyone be warned that ZACC will not hesitate to do all in its power to ensure that every case is investigated diligently without fear or favour. ZACC will in future prefer charges of obstructing the course of justice to anyone interfering with investigations. Be warned.
4) As you are aware corruption is a global phenomenon that requires qlobalized solutions due to the globalized nature of its activities and the networks of the criminals. I noted that ZACC lacked an investigation crack team that is sophisticated, well paid and technically sound to conduct thorough investigations, asset tracking and asset recovery thus building a strong asset-recovery component in the fight against corruption.
It is in that regard that ZACC is partnering national, regional and international bodies to have our officers trained. I am happy to report that such training has already begun.
5) ZACC will soon be presenting remuneration proposals for its officers’ which is in line with best practices for instance Botswana, Zambia, Mauritius and Tanzania Anti-Corruption Agencies. This will ensure that the officers will not be susceptible to corruption.
6) In-house, ZACC has put mechanism of vetting dockets before referral to the National Prosecution Authority. Be assured that we now have mechanisms in place to ensure quality investigations. As ZACC, we are aiming at 99% convictions for all matters taken to court.
7) When I assumed office, no asset recoveries were taking place. I am happy to announce that ZACC has commenced parallel cases that is, pursuing criminal all its investigations in investigations as well as investigations that will lead to civil forfeiture. No one is going to continue to benefit from ill-gotten wealth. It should be known and appreciated within our nation that crime does not pay. In that regard, I call on the “Powers that be,” to fast track the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Amendment Bill enforcing unexplained wealth orders.
8) The Commission wishes to highlight that some proceeds of crime have been diverted to churches in the name of tithing. We call
upon church leaders to support the anti-corruption drive by Scrutinizing the source of the donations they receive.
9) ZACC wishes to reassure the members of the public that whistle blowers will be protected. The Commission has forwarded to the Attorney General its recommendations for a comprehensive.
Whistle blower framework which is in line with the requirements of the provisions of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) and other best practices. ZACC is in the process of activating all its toll-free lines which will be manned by dedicated officers.
10) Prevention is better than cure as the saying goes. As ZACC we have the mandate to assess systems for both private and public institutions to plug loopholes for corruption. ZACC has conducted six system reviews involving five central hospitals and the Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council. The Commission has also conducted two compliance spot checks on the management of Cyclone Idai resources in Chimanimani and at the National Blood
Service Zimbabwe. In all cases, the findings are of a great concern to ZACC and we implore the Institutions concerned to institute the corruption preventative measures recommended. It is our wish as
ZACC that legislation amendments be made to the Anti-Corruption Commission Act to provide sanctions for non-compliance.
11)We shall advocate for the strengthening of institutions with oversight roles in the fight against corruption like the ZRP, NPA, Judicial Service Commission, Financial Intelligence Unit, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority etc by way of enhancing skills.
The above mentioned institutions should also be fully resourced and capacitated in order to effectively carry out their functions.
12) As ZACC We have also noted that Ministries that have an oversight role on State Enterprises and Parastatals are cause for concern. Equally companies run by majority shareholders or family businesses are of serious concern in terms of their adherence to corporate governance principles. The government needs to urgently review the powers of Ministries over State Enterprises and Parastatals under their purview to stem out this culture of looting in these State Enterprises and Parastatal by parent Ministries.
13) We also acknowledge receiving the reoent report of the Auditor General of Zimbabwe, tabled in Parlament. The contents of the report give rise to a very reasonable suspicion of incidences of either corruption, theft, misappropriation, abuse of power and/or other improper conduct in the public sector.
14) In the circumstances and on the basis of the report of the Auditor-General
Government al Ministries, in investigations departments, State Enterprises and Parastatals implicated in the report with a view to bringing to book, all those implicated in any and all acts of corruption, theft, misappropriation, abuse of power and other improper conduct.
15) From the same report, I noted with concern that ZACC did not submit its Financial Statement for 2018. I have been advised inancial that ZACC has been behind in its submission statements due to incapacitation. ZACC submitted reports from 2012 to 2017 in June 2018 of which the Auditor General’s Office is seized with. We are in the process of finalising the 2018 financial. I assure the nation that going forward the Commission’s financial statements will be submitted timeously.
16) We have also taken note of the trending list of alleged corrupt top government and ZANU PF officials by the ZANU PF Youth League. We are summoning the Youth League to bring evidence of corruption against those implicated with a view to
prosecuting such corruption.
17) Whilst ZACC is happy to announce that it now has powers of arrest, it however, refers all completed investigations for prosecution to the National Prosecuting Authority. Once ZACC has investigated the matters and referred them to the NPA for
prosecution that is the end of ZACC functions. ZACC will take an interest in how the NPA prosecutes its matters and shall be sitting in court for all ZACC cases to observe proceedings in court.
18) We recognise that inorder for ZACC to achieve its mandate it requires a strong communication culture. ZACC will therefore embark on a cocktail of communication strategies including always being available to brief the public through the media on the status of our operations.
In conclusion, I wish to advise the media that the ZACC Interim Spokesperson is Mr. Silence Pondo Secretary to the Zimbabwe Anti- Corruption Commission. He will be conducting future monthly briefings with the members of the press. I am personally available on twitter as @loicematandamoyo.
The ZACC fficial twitter handle is @zacconline and the official
facebook page is facebook.com/zacconline. Zacc will communicate through its rel3vabt channels.
Let’s all resist and report corruption.