Zacc suspends 19 investigators

Felex Share Senior Reporter—
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday suspended 19 investigating officers for alleged corruption, insubordination and divulging the organisation’s secrets.The officers, who all face similar charges, were suspended for three months on full salary. The officers however, protested saying they were being victimised for pursuing a labour case in which they won an arbitral award of $1,5 million for outstanding allowances and benefits.

They also accused managers of attempting to block an investigation of high-profile cases. ZACC chairperson Dr Job Whabira yesterday sent letters to the 19 officers informing them of their suspension. He said the suspensions were done in terms of Section 14 (1) of the Anti-Corruption Act (Chapter 9:22) as read with Statutory Instrument 12 of 2006.

“Please be advised that the reason for the suspension is to allow the commission to investigate allegations of fraud, corruption, insubordination, failure to obey lawful instructions, absence from duty without official authority, divulging commission information to outsiders in breach of the Official Secrecy Act, as well as giving false information to outsiders about the commission,” Dr Whabira said.

“Please note that these allegations have resulted in the relationship between the commission and yourself becoming untenable, hence the need for investigations to be carried out.”

The suspended officers are Mathew Sithole, Charles Sepe, Esnath Katsamba, George Murwisi, Rufaro Kunyenda, Soneni Chavizha, Berstern Matope, Antony Gonga, Masimba Victor, Ishmael Mukwasi, Sydney Ushe, Adamu Welemu and Augustine Mahwana.

The others are Emmanuel Mutunami, Francis Chuma, Forbes Mupotsa, Isaac Takawira, Cain Madiye and Charles Charuma. Dr Whabira said the suspended investigating officers should not leave the country without the permission of the commission and should advise it of any changes to their addresses.

“You shall not attend your place of work, carry out any duties or interfere with investigations,” he said. “You are to hand over all commission assets in your possession to the commission’s administration department by end of day today (yesterday). Please be advised that you will be notified of the outcome of the investigations in terms of Statutory Instrument 15 of 2016. ”

ZACC, Dr Whabira said, will not be liable for any transaction or business done by the suspended officers. The workers said it was surprising that the suspensions came two days after they signed letters confirming to management that they were pursuing the $1,5 million arbitral award they won at the Labour Court in 2014.

ZAAC acting secretary Silas Pondo, in a letter to the workers dated July 26, 2016, demanded that they indicate whether or not they would pursue the labour case. “It is deemed necessary that you indicate whether you indeed instructed the lawyers to write responding to the memo which was directed to yourself seeking to know your position regarding the matter,” read the letter.

“You are therefore still required to show your position on the items provided below and then sign on the space provided.” Six investigating officers who indicated that they were not pursuing the matter were spared while the 19 got suspended.

The suspended investigating officers’ lawyers, Joel Mambara and Partners had written to Mr Pondo telling him that the labour case could not be withdrawn. Said the lawyers: “We advise that our clients are still pursuing this matter. In fact we are awaiting a hearing date for the quantification application given that our efforts to engage you have been fruitless.

“We also note with concern that you have ejected our clients from their offices and withdrawn the vehicles they were using. Be rest assured that no threats or intimidation of any sort will deter our clients from pursuing what is lawfully theirs.”

The workers claimed they were being vicitimised and that the situation had been worsened by recent high profile cases they were handling.

“We had the acting chief investigations officer Servious Kufandada on our side and he had engaged the commission for quantification. He made a sudden turn and withdrew himself from the quantification negotiations. We feel betrayed and recently the corruption cases we were handling brought a lot of pressure and interference. Some commissioners and managers were even demanding documents of cases we were dealing with and one wonders for what reason. This will not stop us from demanding our dues and those corruption cases they are trying cover up will never go down the drain,” said one of the officers.

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