The Sunday Mail
Sunday Mail Reporter
After a year without properly constituted structures, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has moved closer to normalising with nomination of potential commissioners expected to end today.
The term of the previous commission expired on August 30 2013 and was renewed in May after which Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi reversed the reappointments.
Parliament’s Standing Rules and Orders Committee subsequently invited nominations leading to interviews to shortlist 12 possible commissioners.
The Parliamentary Committee will pick the 12 and forward their names to President Mugabe, who will, in turn, appoint eight of them as commissioners.
Although the full list of nominees was not available, sources said some former commissioners were in the running.
The previous commission – appointed in September 2011 – comprised Mr Denford Chirindo (chair), Ms Teresa Mugadza (deputy chair), Dr Goodwill Shana, Mr Zivanai Rusike, Mrs Anna Chitsike, Mr Emmanuel Chimwanda, Dr Elita Sakupwanya, Mr Shepherd Gwasira and Mr Lakayana Duve.
According to Parliament’s invitation for nominations, prospective office bearers should have at least 10 years’ experience in crime investigation and a public accounting or public auditing background.
They will be required to “investigate and expose cases of corruption in the public and private sectors, combat corruption, theft, abuse of power and other improper conduct in the public and private sector”.
Minister Mohadi could not comment as he said he was tied up in marathon meetings.
But he recently told Parliament that he reversed the re-appointment of the previous commission because the contract renewal was unconstitutional.
Zacc officials say the absence of commissioners has grounded investigations which need authorisation from a properly constituted commission. Inadequate funding has also been blamed for the graft-fighting body’s sluggish performance.
The commission has come under fire for failing to probe and bring finality to corruption cases, with critics labelling it a toothless bulldog.
Past commissioners and investigators also face allegations of demanding bribes and being politically inclined.
Some commissioners were accused of improperly benefiting from US$5,5 million provided by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe for housing and abusing about US$29 700 meant for anti-corruption allowances, according to a 2013 internal audit report.
President Mugabe has declared zero tolerance to corruption, saying the law should take its unimpeded course against perpetrators.
