THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) is facing an uphill struggle in the border town of Beitbridge as its efforts to combat graft encounter resistance from other State agencies suspected to be benefiting from the scourge, Southern Eye reports.
After the successful launch of the drive against graft at the region's busiest border post where corruption is rife, Zacc officials returned to Harare.
Plans to establish a Zacc Beitbridge office were abandoned in unclear circumstances and a contributor at a Zacc public campaign meeting was arrested in what appeared to be victimisation.
Zacc head Michael Reza was not available for comment until the time of going to the press.
Investigations by this publication established that Zacc’s arrival had not been welcomed by security agents uncomfotable with the public empowerment facilitated by the anti-graft body.
In its campaign, Zacc said government operations were transparent and people should ask for identification from people claiming to act for the State.
“You must understand that while you must comply with regulations and demands that you pay duty where it is due, get receipts for all transactions and money paid to anyone claiming to be a State agent,” Commissioner Kindness Paradza told more than 600 stakeholders who attended the launch.
This, he said, was prompted by reports that officials masquerading as Zacc personnel ordered buses and other vehicles back to the border ostensibly for having smuggled goods.
- Parly turns heat on minister over varsity fees hike
- UZ students protest against fee hike
- Zanu PF will not write the judgement in this court: prosecutor told Biti
- Zanu PF will not write the judgement in this court: prosecutor told Biti
Keep Reading
It is understood in some circumstances, the travellers pay their way out.
“We have heard such reports. We use registered cars mostly of the Nissan and Isuzu make. We identify ourselves, we do not have roadblocks and we investigate to arrest,” Commissioner Chido Madiwa said on a phone-in campaign broadcast on community radio Lotsha FM.
Zacc’s presence in Beitbridge was eventful, with the arrest of court officials followed by a series of meetings with stakeholders from government, the private sector and a well-attended, vibrant public launch last week.
It was all systems go, but soon after the launch, Zacc was nowhere in sight.
Stung by public demand for identification and for a one-stop search point at Beitbridge, other State organs on board the anti-smuggling outfit comprising security departments are reported to have expressed displeasure at Zacc's approach.
It is understood they said, while the anti-smuggling task force helped the government to raise revenue, Zacc was killing the goose that laid the golden egg.
“Several adverse reports were made, resulting in Zacc abandoning its noble cause. The question which begs an answer is if anti-smuggling operations are above board, why worry about the presence of Zacc?” said a government official at Beitbridge Border Post.
A truck driver said: “The trucking industry pays when wheels of the trucks are turning. We do not mind being stopped to be searched, but can that be done timeously? Sometimes a truck is delayed for a day and that is a lot of downtime.”
