Aaron Gono
The formation of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission brought much joy to Zimbabweans who were and are still exposed to corrupt activities taking place daily in the country.
In the roads, mission schools, public and private schools, public and private companies, corrupt activities are mutating daily, we witness the abnormal being normalized.
In America there is what they call “retreat into information bubbles”, caused by lack of a single trusted national news source. For example during the reign of Joe Biden, almost all of the American media outlets were biased against Donald Trump. Only Fox news was for Donald Trump. All sorts of stories were created to discredit Trump in the November 2024 elections.
But this boomeranged against the Joe Biden’s Democratic Party as most Americans sympathized with Trump because they believed that law fare and media fare were manipulated against him. And Trump won the elections resoundingly, something last witnessed in America some 50 years ago.
So, in Zimbabwe l have coined what l call ” the retreat into policing bubbles”, whereby nothing tangible and preemptive come from our police force; whether in uniform or in plain clothes. Why l said tangible and preemptive; since its formation ZAAC had never thrown anybody in the slammer. Their reasons vary from the class of the accused; mostly the rich man’s case is disfigured in a court of law due to lack of evidence. Then you wonder why they first rushed to arrest and accuse somebody if not enough evidence was gathered.
The “elite class” l mean the politically connected , those who pretend to support and know the ZANU PF party, than the members who formed it in Highfield in 1963. Those guys who pretend to be miners, entrepreneurs and jack of all trades. These guys’ arrests are highly publicized and you think this won’t end up well (hazvipere mushe). Kasi zvinongozopera mushe wani (everything will end up like nothing ever happened at all). For example the Ignatius Chombo facade, the 2023 supply election materials’ overpricing debacle etc.
Let me take you back to 2019, when a commission was setup to deal with “land baronism” in Zimbabwe .The commission was the best after the Sandura Commission. Land barons who captured all vacant urban spaces were exposed to the teeth. But till now the practice is ongoing and all the accused barons are still calling the shots.
One major drawback l have noticed from ZAAC is ; it always appears to be seasonal, like those rain birds (mashohori/mashohwari) , one time it is in Mutare trying to cover the backlog there, next time is in Bikita next in Masvingo. In the past months we were fortunate enough to have the ZAAC guys in the ancient city of Masvingo. The town clerk of Masvingo, Engineer Mukaratirwa was the first to feel the heat. And after some months of trial he was acquitted, and the case was renewed recently.
That’s why l said before: ZAAC must act and play like a gambler. They must know the tactics to investigate until they are sure, any evidence they submit in a court of law will be assessed with due respect. Last week it had some briefings with members from the Ministry of Education in Masvingo, accusing them of abuse of office and embezzlement. Next time you will get them in Uzumba. It appears the commission has a huge gap of vacancies that need to be filled, with resident investigators who take time pursuing their prey.
It’s not nice to hear our judges asking our investigating officers; “How many years have you been in this profession?”. The moment you hear our Lords asking that question, you know that “kuti chato kala”. The case will be thrown out of the court like it was never a case.
As a student of journalism at the Zimbabwe Open University, my lecturers will be happy to read the pros and cons of ZAAC and some references which l have just picked the former stingy elite investigative unit of South Africa, the Scorpions ( chiNyavada).
The Scorpions was very effective in information gathering which always meant the accused will rue the day he thought of that mischievous act. First to feel the heat in South Africa was Tony Yengeni, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, Jacob Zuma etc. It was accused of being politically influenced as it only targeted the African National Congress members. It was disbanded in 2008 and replaced by the Hawks. And ZAAC so far has not yet successfully prosecuted any one powerful political person.
ZAAC is also hindered in pursuing its cases because of poor funding and lack of skilled personnel; this is justified by its zero prosecution rate. And rushing to the courts with half baked evidences, which the judges will have a Christmas party with. The Scorpions were sufficiently funded and had experienced officers, who made guys at Luthuli House, wet their pants when they hear them knocking at their doors.
Political influence in the case of ZAAC is a major challenge which l view as its major obstacle, as it obstructs or influences outcomes. The Scorpions were anathema to anything political; as those were its fodder and hay.
Weak legal framework, poorly defined laws in the case of ZAAC, sometimes they are chasing “vana Munhangu” leaving specialized cases unattended. For example the education issues in Masvingo were to be investigated by the Criminal Investigation Department, as Masvingo has some of the best investigators in the country. Why ZAAC after all, it must follow rich spoors, to disenable criminal activities once and for all. The Scorpions were dealing with a rich and well defined legal framework! “Tataro,” Mr Zuma, he had a case to answer, and surely ” Umshini Wami”, was ” bleksemed”. We also witnessed the fall of Tony Yengeni.
Fear of retaliation is one big problem the world over, because if you step in the toes of big guys, make sure, something for something. In South Africa, the Scorpions were disbanded, and in Zimbabwe, ZAAC is just a praise and worship team. It is safe and pretending to do something, play by the rules and know who to target. Finish and klaar.
Public apathy, in Zimbabwe is now forcing police officers to take bribes in order to leave them alone. It’s now normal to hear the taxi drivers asking the officers, what they must get them for lunch. It’s now very normal. You hear Zimbabweans jokingly saying “they also want to make a living” ( vanodavo kurarama).
Summarily ZAAC and every Zimbabwean are just strangers with nothing to share. No any public discourse comes out from its works. I mean where you hear people praising it, as a our saviour. As something that is deterring corrupt and criminal activities. ZAAC to remain relevant it must really be smart in the future or go the Scorpion way. Or else Zimbabweans have ZAAC Apathy.
Richard Nixon on his televised resignation, on 9 August 1974 ” I have never been a quitter; l fought for what l believed in.” Why is ZAAC a quitter? Why is it not fighting for what it believes in!
Sekuru vangu Musara!
