ZACC Denies Being Used as Political Weapon, Insists Arrests Based on Evidence
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has dismissed claims that it is being used as a political weapon to target rivals, retired law enforcement officers, or business figures.
Speaking at a joint press briefing with the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, ZACC chairperson Michael Reza stressed that the commission only arrests people when there is evidence of corruption, regardless of their political links or past positions.
He was responding to concerns from journalists who questioned whether ZACC had been selective in its investigations. Reza was firm, saying reports that the commission was being “hired” to pursue individuals were false. He insisted that once evidence points to a crime, ZACC takes action—whether the suspect is a retired official, a businessman, or a political figure.
“… reports that ZACC officials are weaponising their arresting powers and are being used to target retired police officers, businessmen, or others are not true. People need to be disabused of that notion. There are no officials at ZACC who are for hire. When a person has committed a crime, it doesn’t matter whether they are a former senior civil servant or what their political affiliation is. If they have committed a crime, ZACC will pursue and arrest them based solely on the evidence,” Mr Reza said.
Reza also criticised people who, after being caught in corruption scandals, try to shield themselves by blaming politics. He explained that some individuals attempt to gain unfair advantage and, when exposed, claim persecution because of their opposition ties. According to him, political membership has no bearing on ZACC’s work—if you commit a crime, you will be arrested.
“We have a situation where some people are trying to get by the back door what they cannot get by the front door. When they have been arrested and are being investigated, they turn around and scream politics, saying, ‘I am being arrested because I am a member of the opposition.’ There is no way that a person’s political affiliation is asked about when they are about to be arrested. Zimbabwe is a free country. People have the choice of joining whichever political party they like. But there is no right that says if you are a member of the opposition or a retired police officer, you can’t be arrested. You will be arrested if you have committed a crime.”
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