By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on Thursday suspended for three months, 19 investigating officers on a raft of charges that include leaking information and corruption.
The officers will be on full salary, are not supposed to leave the country with ZACC approval, should surrender all commission property and must not interfere with investigations.
However, the suspended personnel accused ZACC bosses of a witch hunt and persecution for investigating high-profile cases and taking a labour dispute to the courts in which they won a $1.5 million arbitral award in outstanding allowances and other perks.
Job Whabira, the ZACC chairperson served the investigating officers with letters of suspension in terms of Section 14 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act (Chapter 9:22) as read with Statutory Instrument 12 of 2006.
“Please be advised that the reason for the suspension is to allow the commission to investigate allegations of fraud, corruption, insubordination, failure to obey lawful instructions, absence from duty without official authority, divulging commission information to outsiders in breach of the Official Secrecy Act, as well as giving false information to outsiders about the commission,” Whabira said.
He added: “Please note that these allegations have resulted in the relationship between the commission and yourself becoming untenable, hence the need for investigations to be carried out.”
The suspended officers are Mathew Sithole, Charles Sepe, Esnath Katsamba, George Murwisi, Rufaro Kunyenda, Soneni Chavizha, Berstern Matope, Antony Gonga, Masimba Victor, Ishmael Mukwasi, Sydney Ushe, Adamu Welemu, Augustine Mahwana, Emmanuel Mutunami, Francis Chuma, Forbes Mupotsa, Isaac Takawira, Cain Madiye and Charles Charuma.
Six investigating officers who distanced themselves from the labour case were spared from suspension.
Joel Mambara and Partners, the lawyers representing the suspended officers, wrote to ZACC indicating that the labour case would not be withdrawn and accused the commission of victimising the clients.
“We advise that our clients are still pursuing this matter. In fact we are awaiting a hearing date for the quantification application given that our efforts to engage you have been fruitless.
“We also note with concern that you have ejected our clients from their offices and withdrawn the vehicles they were using. Be rest assured that no threats or intimidation of any sort will deter our clients from pursuing what is lawfully theirs,” said the lawyers. Nehanda Radio
Discover more from Nehanda Radio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
