Brian Chitemba Investigations Editor
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) splurged US$5,5 million on luxury homes, top-of-the-range cars and executive furniture at a time when the commission was being accused of doing little to fight corruption. A fortnight ago, four top managers were suspended for alleged misappropriation of funds.
The houses were bought in 2009 after the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe provided funding through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the apex bank and ZACC on October 10, 2008.
ZACC chairperson Dr Job Wabhira yesterday said the “commission was looking at the issue to clean up what happened in the past”.
He said although he did not work with the commission in question, his office was seized with dealing with any corrupt activities which might have occurred.
“We are looking into everything; we will look at the issue (procurement of houses and cars).
“The commission is working in liason with the National Prosecuting Authority, judiciary and the police; we are not competing but complementing each other,” said Dr Wabhira.
Those who benefited from the largesse are said to be still occupying the luxury homes – five years after leaving the organisation.
Documents at hand show that former commissioners who left office in 2011, benefitted as follows:
- Prosecutor-General Mr Johannes Tomana got a house at 366 Glen Helenway, Glen Lorne valued at US$280 000;
- Then commission deputy chairperson Dr Rutendo Faith Wutawunashe received a property worth US$200 000 at 42 Stratford Greystone Park;
- Then commission chairman Mr Abdulman Eric Harid was given number 22 Dawning, Greendale(US$100 000);
- Mrs Bessie Nhandara 24 Honeybear Lane, Helenslave (US$180 000);
- Ms Alice Nkomo 8 Uxbridge, Bluffhill (US$90 000);
- Retired Brigadier Elasto Madzingira 11 Iffley Close, Greendale (US$110 000);
- Retired Police Senior Assistant Commissioner Casper Khumalo 50 Garlands Rise, Mt Pleasant (US$150 000);
- Mrs Juliet Machoba 17 Dougal
- Avenue, Mandara (US$160 000);
- Mr Kuziwa Nyamwanza 4 Hilmorton Road, Meyrick Park (US$60 000);
- Jailed former ZACC chief executive officer Mr Ngonidzashe Gumbo reportedly benefited through a US$1 026 912.50 house.
- Suspended ZACC general manager investigations Ms Sukai Tongogara, received a house worth US$637 192.50, while Mr Edwin Mubataripi (general manager prevention and corporate governance) benefited a US$753 267.50 house.
These two are on suspension together with Mr Christopher Chisango (general manager finance, human resources and administration and Mr Gibson Mangwiro (manager finance) pending a hearing over alleged corrupt activities.
They are being accused of being involved in a case in which Mr Gumbo was jailed for two years for defrauding the agency of US$435 500 in a deal which saw the purchase of ZACC headquarters located at 872 Betterment Close in Mt Pleasant.
Apart from the houses, the ZACC bosses also benefited top-of-the-range vehicles such as Mercedes Benz ML 350 worth US$160 000 for Mr Gumbo, and two other same Mercedes cars for the commission.
Other vehicles include Toyota Fortuner worth US$60 000, four Toyota Hilux double cab each valued at US$40 000 and 13 Isuzu KBs each valued at US$18 000.
ZACC also splashed US$558 738.31 on executive office furniture, carpeting, office security and surveillance systems.
Another US$50 629 was spent on cellphones, switchboard, telephone receivers and fax machines
The suspended ZACC general managers also stand accused of allocating themselves 700 litres of fuel per month each while investigations vehicles get 200 litres.
A whistleblower said, “They (ZACC general managers) awarded themselves 700 litres, landline and cellphone allowances monthly and these are backdated whenever Treasury releases funds for operations.
“On 7 January 2015, they awarded themselves with backdated fuel coupons and other self-approved allowances in excess of US$2 000 each time the commission was on annual shutdown.
“What business were they doing when the commission was not investigating any crimes?
“This is happening at the expense of operations when investigating vehicles were allocated 200 litres in 2014 yet one manager is allocated 700 litres per month which amounts to 8 400 litres per year per individual.”