ZACC holds national anti-graft dialogue

THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) will today hold a national anti-corruption dialogue to discuss measures to fight corruption.

ZACC said in a statement that the event is expected to be attended by officials from Parliament, the Attorney-General’s Office, National Prosecuting Authority, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Zimbabwe Republic Police, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and representatives of civic and religious organisations.

ZACC secretary Mr Silence Pondo will chair the dialogue.

“The dialogue is to do with the development of the National Anti-Corruption Strategy, which is in line with the Sadc Protocol on Corruption, the African Union Conventions on Combating Corruption and the United Nations Conventions Against Corruption to which we a signatory as a country,” ZACC said.

The organisation said the strategy focuses on anti-corruption measures in the private, public sectors and the civil society.

The main objective is to identify measures that both the private and public sectors have in place to prevent and combat corruption and their challenges.

Recommendations are also going to be drawn up during the dialogue.

The dialogue also comes after the process of reconstituting ZACC to lend weight to President Mnangagwa’s anti-corruption drive has begun in earnest, with Parliament inviting nominations of suitable candidates to replace commissioners that resigned on January 31.

ZACC chairman Dr Job Whabira and his entire commission comprising Dr Nanette Silukhuni, Mr Goodson Nguni, Mrs Christine Fundira, Mr Denford Chirindo, Ms Cathy Muchechetere, Ms Farai Mashonganyika and Mr Boyana Ndou left after being in office for three years from February 2016.

President Mnangagwa described the old commission as “rotten to the core” and its departure paved the way for a clean slate in fighting corruption, which is at the centre of rebuilding the economy in accordance to the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), a shortterm economic blueprint running until 2020.

Some of the functions of ZACC are investigating and exposing cases of corruption in the public and private sector, receiving and considering complaints from the public and direct the Commissioner-General of Police to investigate cases of suspected corruption and to report to the commission on the results of any such investigation.

It is also mandated to refer cases to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for prosecution.

ZACC must also make recommendations to Government and other persons on measures to enhance integrity and accountability and prevent improper conduct in the public and private sector.