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'Zimbabwe puhes for mandatory jail terms to curb corruption
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The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is advocating for mandatory jail sentences for individuals convicted of corruption to deter the crime and overcome challenges in asset recovery.
Speaking at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) 2025 legal year dinner, ZACC chairperson Mr. Michael Reza emphasized that corruption remains a significant threat to Zimbabwe's national development goals and urged for stricter penalties to combat the issue.
Mr. Reza pointed to the effectiveness of mandatory minimum sentences in deterring other crimes, such as stock theft, and proposed similar measures for corruption cases.
"Let us take the example of stock theft. There's a mandatory minimum sentence of nine years. As ZACC, we believe there ought to be something along those lines. In other jurisdictions, corruption convictions carry severe penalties, including life-altering consequences. While I'm not advocating for such extreme measures, we must deter individuals from engaging in corruption," he said.
Mr. Reza highlighted the difficulty of recovering corruption-related assets, noting that many are concealed. To strengthen anti-corruption efforts, he called for the urgent enactment of the Witness Protection Act, which would encourage individuals to come forward and testify without fear of reprisal.
The establishment of anti-corruption courts by the JSC was commended as a critical step toward achieving Vision 2030.
"The JSC has demonstrated its commitment to eradicating corruption through these courts. This was a masterstroke and shows that the judiciary is invested in the nation's progress," Mr. Reza said.
This year, ZACC aims to intensify inter-agency collaboration, capacity building, and public awareness campaigns to promote a corruption-free Zimbabwe.
"We collaborate closely with the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the National Prosecuting Authority to fight corruption. Our partnership has been effective in ensuring accountability," Mr. Reza added.
Last year, ZACC recovered over 350 vehicles illegally imported under the civil servants' vehicle rebate scheme. The scheme, which allows civil servants with at least 10 years of service to import vehicles duty-free, had been abused by individuals colluding with car dealers to circumvent regulations.
ZACC also recovered significant assets and compensated victims of corruption, further demonstrating its commitment to promoting accountability and transparency.
Mr. Reza underscored ZACC's deliberate focus on building strong, transparent, and accountable institutions, which are critical to national development. He noted that weak institutions are more prone to corruption, hindering progress.
Through these efforts, ZACC continues to drive Zimbabwe toward a corruption-free future, aligning with the country's broader development goals under Vision 2030.
Speaking at the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) 2025 legal year dinner, ZACC chairperson Mr. Michael Reza emphasized that corruption remains a significant threat to Zimbabwe's national development goals and urged for stricter penalties to combat the issue.
Mr. Reza pointed to the effectiveness of mandatory minimum sentences in deterring other crimes, such as stock theft, and proposed similar measures for corruption cases.
"Let us take the example of stock theft. There's a mandatory minimum sentence of nine years. As ZACC, we believe there ought to be something along those lines. In other jurisdictions, corruption convictions carry severe penalties, including life-altering consequences. While I'm not advocating for such extreme measures, we must deter individuals from engaging in corruption," he said.
Mr. Reza highlighted the difficulty of recovering corruption-related assets, noting that many are concealed. To strengthen anti-corruption efforts, he called for the urgent enactment of the Witness Protection Act, which would encourage individuals to come forward and testify without fear of reprisal.
The establishment of anti-corruption courts by the JSC was commended as a critical step toward achieving Vision 2030.
"The JSC has demonstrated its commitment to eradicating corruption through these courts. This was a masterstroke and shows that the judiciary is invested in the nation's progress," Mr. Reza said.
This year, ZACC aims to intensify inter-agency collaboration, capacity building, and public awareness campaigns to promote a corruption-free Zimbabwe.
"We collaborate closely with the Zimbabwe Republic Police and the National Prosecuting Authority to fight corruption. Our partnership has been effective in ensuring accountability," Mr. Reza added.
Last year, ZACC recovered over 350 vehicles illegally imported under the civil servants' vehicle rebate scheme. The scheme, which allows civil servants with at least 10 years of service to import vehicles duty-free, had been abused by individuals colluding with car dealers to circumvent regulations.
ZACC also recovered significant assets and compensated victims of corruption, further demonstrating its commitment to promoting accountability and transparency.
Mr. Reza underscored ZACC's deliberate focus on building strong, transparent, and accountable institutions, which are critical to national development. He noted that weak institutions are more prone to corruption, hindering progress.
Through these efforts, ZACC continues to drive Zimbabwe toward a corruption-free future, aligning with the country's broader development goals under Vision 2030.
Source - The Chronicle
