ZACC seeks to protect whistleblowers

Harare (New Ziana) – The Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission (ZACC) is developing a whistleblower and witness protection legal framework as it forges ahead with efforts to rid the country of corruption.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said ZACC had to date received a total of 88 reports via a digitalized whistle blower platform application.

“In pursuit of this strategy, the Commission is developing a comprehensive whistleblower and witness protection legislative framework through the amendment of the Anti- Corruption Commission Act to ensure maximum protection of witnesses and whistle-blowers,” he said.

“The amendments also take on board recommendations from the United Nations Convention Against Corruption and include proposed sentencing regimes for persons convicted of corruption and sector specific offences of corruption among other recommendations.”

In terms of the recovery of ill-gotten wealth, Ncube said priority was being given to investigations for criminal prosecution and parallel financial investigations for purposes of asset recovery.

He said ZACC was disbursing 60 percent of its budget towards its programme on combating corruption.

“From January 2021, the Commission has referred a total of 76 cases to the National Prosecuting Authority for criminal prosecution. ZACC also referred 12 case files valued at USD5.9 million to the National Prosecuting Authority for asset confiscation and unexplained wealth applications. The High Court upheld the five-year sentence and forfeiture of eight vehicles valued at USD160 000 of a senior government official.

“The Commission is lobbying government and Parliament to be considered as an Enforcement Authority for Unexplained Wealth Orders under the Money Laundering and Proceeds of Crime Act Chapter 9:24,”he said.

Ncube commended ZACC for its work and said it was on course to meet its targets for 2021 on combating corruption.
New Ziana