Anti-Corruption Commission officials are criminals, figitives- Mphoko reveal

THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) staff members are fugitives who  committed crimes in South Africa and Namibia, Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko has revealed.

Without mentioning names, Mphoko said the anti-corruption body will never be effective in its current composition.

"There are some officials who ran away from Namibia and South Africa after they committed crimes. They will be arrested if they go back to those countries but they have positions in the Anti-Corruption Commission. Such a commission will never be effective" Mphoko declared in Bulawayo on  Sunday.

 In July, a massive 19 of its investigators were suspended on a litany of allegations ranging from fraud, insubordination to leaking information to outsiders, The suspensions are with immediate effect will be in force for three months.

The 19 were Antony Gonga, Victor Masimba, Ishmael Mukwasi, Adamu Welemu, Augustine Mahwana, Sydney Ushe, Emmanuel Mutunami, Francis Chuma, Forbes Mupotsa, Isaac Takawira, Cain Madiye, Charles Charuma, Matthew Sithole, Charles Sepe, Esnath Katsamba, George Murwisi, Rufaro Kunyenda, Soneni Chavizha and Bersten Matope.

According to the ZACC statement issued it said  the 19 had been suspended on allegations of "fraud, corruption, insubordination, failure to obey lawful instructions, absence from duty without official authority, divulging information to outsiders in violation of the Official Secrecy Act as well as giving false information to outsiders about the commission."

"We wish to notify our stakeholders that the above mentioned officers shall not be conducting any business on behalf of ZACC for the next three months. ZACC wishes to advise the public that it shall not be liable for any transaction or business conducted by the above mentioned until their suspension is lifted."