THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission yesterday said its recent blitz on ministries, parastatals and local authorities was constitutional and will continue “until a corruption-free Zimbabwe is attained”.
The anti-graft body defended the behaviour of its investigators, led by chief investigations officer Servious Kufandada, saying they were acting at the instructions of the Commission.
ZACC investigators have since last Thursday been raiding ministries, parastatals and local authorities to investigate alleged crimes bordering on fraud and violation of tender procedures.
Government, through permanent secretaries, has reacted angrily to the conduct of the ZACC officials saying while they do not condone corruption, the investigators were impugning Government systems.
The permanent secretaries, most who were mentioned as accused persons in the warrants used by the ZACC officials, accused the investigators of rushing to the media before visiting the respective ministries.
ZACC deputy chairperson Dr Nanette Silukhuni said the conduct of the body was lawful and was aimed at ensuring the success of Government’s blueprint, Zim-Asset.
“In this case, going and guided by the principles of protocol, the issued warrants were either addressed to the permanent secretaries or chief executives of parastatals and local authorities since they are the heads of the concerned departments. However, the issuance of these search warrants does not mean the addressee is a perpetrator of the alleged act of corruption.”
Dr Silukhuni added: “Secondly, allow the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to stress that a search warrant is a legal document granted by a magistrate or Justice of Peace authorising the ZACC officers to enter, search and seize documents where there are reasonable grounds that such documents under the control of any person or in any premise mentioned in the warrant are critical for investigations.
“In this regard, ZACC’s conduct was within the parameters of the constitutional and legal provisions.”
- Herald
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