Paul Nyathi|The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on Monday confirmed the arrest of former National Employment Council for Engineering Council secretary-general Pumulani Musagwiza.

Musagwiza was nabbed on fraud charges after he allegedly seized the organisation’s car and a pharmacy. ZACC spokesperson, Commissioner John Makamure said:

We have arrested Musagwiza Pumulani the former secretary-general for National Employment Council for Engineering on four counts of fraud.

He fraudulently transferred two vehicles of the organisation to himself and one vehicle to the former chairperson. He also transferred the organisation’s pharmacy to himself.

He will appear in court tomorrow. Vehicles are all valued at $247 000. He is detained at Mabelreign Police Station.

The arrest comes among revelations by ZACC chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo that she and her team of commissioners have acquired firearms for personal security amid reports that they have been receiving death threats from unknown people over high profile graft cases under investigation.

On Friday, 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.

Despite the threats, Justice Matanda-Moyo said, she will soldier on and fight corruption to the end.

“As ZACC, we investigate all cases without fear or favour. The fight against corruption is a sacrifice and there is no going back,” she said.

Justice Matanda-Moyo said Zimbabweans were peace-loving people but a firearm was a necessary defence tool against the violent characters.

“If someone decides to be violent he or she must be met with self-defence that is equivalent. “Firearms become necessary for ZACC commissioners,” she said.

The arrest of Musagwiza by ZACC follows those of high profile individuals, among them former Tourism Minister Priscah Mupfumira and former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.