By Tendai Matunhu

Today Zimbabwe joins the rest of the world in commemorating International Anti-Corruption Day.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, (ZACC), has posted on its twitter handle saying, “As we commemorate International Anti-Corruption Day, we remain committed to ensuring we promote strategies to destroy sources of corruption; present deterrent sentences for those convicted of corruption and institute an effective asset recovery system. Corruption ends with all of us.”

ZACC has so far handled close to 39 cases since the beginning of the year with most cases implicating officials for abuse of public office, with nine having been finalised, four convictions and two acquittals and three having resulted in refusal of remand.

Speaking to this publication during an interview, one ZACC official who preferred anonymity said to avoid a catch and release situation, they had to first of all investigate and then arrest.

Earlier this year in July, ZACC Chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo said, the mandate of the commission was to combat corruption, theft, misappropriation, abuse of duty and other improprieties in the conduct of affairs in both the public and private sectors. She said it was achieved through three key pillars, which are investigations, prevention, as well as public education and publicity.

She went on to say that there would be no room for corruption by ZACC officials and any allegations of corruption will be dealt with severely. She added that ZACC would prioritise asset recovery and arrest of high-profile persons who were abusing their authority.

Since its inception, ZACC has to date managed to bring to book several high profile cases to court for corruption, with the likes of the former Minister of Climate Change, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Priscah Mupfumira and former Minister of Health and Child Care David Parirenyatwa among several others being some of them.