In a bold move that signals a significant shift in Zimbabwe’s fight against corruption, Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe announced the formation of a new investigations committee tasked with probing corruption within municipalities.
This development effectively sidelines the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), the agency established to lead anti-corruption efforts nationwide, raising questions about the future of the country’s anti-graft strategies.
Garwe revealed that his permanent secretary, John Basera, will head the new committee, which will focus on problem-specific cases across different local authorities. The minister criticized ZACC’s effectiveness, suggesting that the agency has become compromised and unable to stem the tide of corruption at the municipal level.
“What is happening in Hurungwe is different from what is happening in Beitbridge. You can’t lump them together,” Garwe said. “We are going to put in place an investigation team which will be problem-specific.”
The minister accused ZACC of being susceptible to manipulation and alleged that some suspects report to ZACC or the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) with undue influence, leading to automatic suspensions and closed cases.
“Notorious people in our midst are now going to ZACC or to ZRP to report. When somebody’s reported, they’re automatically suspended and that person is called to close. We don’t want that kind of life,” Garwe asserted.
This move marks a rare public rebuke of ZACC by a senior government official and reflects deeper cracks within Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption framework.
Ironically, both Garwe and ZACC leadership are appointed directly by the president, highlighting potential conflicts within the system.
