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ZACC Chair denies allegations of political bias
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Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chairperson Michael Reza has rejected claims that the commission targets individuals for political reasons or acts on behalf of influential interests.
Addressing the media in Harare, Reza dismissed reports suggesting that ZACC officers could be "for hire" or that arrest warrants were being circulated against businessmen or politicians at the behest of powerful actors.
"People need to be disabused from that notion that ZACC is an organisation with officers who are for hire. There are no officials at ZACC who are for hire," Reza said.
He emphasised that the commission operates strictly on evidence of wrongdoing, irrespective of a suspect's political affiliation or professional status.
"When a person commits a crime, it does not matter whether they are a senior civil servant or belong to any political party – if they have committed a crime, ZACC will follow that person," he said.
Reza accused some suspects of attempting to politicise corruption cases to evade accountability. "We have a situation where people are trying to get by the back door what they cannot get by the front door. When they get arrested or investigated, they turn around and scream politics," he said.
He also highlighted the role of Zimbabwe's courts in safeguarding against wrongful arrests, noting that individuals cannot be remanded without reasonable suspicion of committing a crime.
The ZACC chair encouraged citizens to report any cases of unlawful detention, promising thorough investigations. "I want to assure the people of Zimbabwe that this misconception, that ZACC goes after people identified by certain persons as targets, is not true," Reza concluded.
Addressing the media in Harare, Reza dismissed reports suggesting that ZACC officers could be "for hire" or that arrest warrants were being circulated against businessmen or politicians at the behest of powerful actors.
"People need to be disabused from that notion that ZACC is an organisation with officers who are for hire. There are no officials at ZACC who are for hire," Reza said.
He emphasised that the commission operates strictly on evidence of wrongdoing, irrespective of a suspect's political affiliation or professional status.
"When a person commits a crime, it does not matter whether they are a senior civil servant or belong to any political party – if they have committed a crime, ZACC will follow that person," he said.
Reza accused some suspects of attempting to politicise corruption cases to evade accountability. "We have a situation where people are trying to get by the back door what they cannot get by the front door. When they get arrested or investigated, they turn around and scream politics," he said.
He also highlighted the role of Zimbabwe's courts in safeguarding against wrongful arrests, noting that individuals cannot be remanded without reasonable suspicion of committing a crime.
The ZACC chair encouraged citizens to report any cases of unlawful detention, promising thorough investigations. "I want to assure the people of Zimbabwe that this misconception, that ZACC goes after people identified by certain persons as targets, is not true," Reza concluded.
Source - The Chronicle
