Perceptions that there are political agenda’s or expediency being served by current events as detailed in the press cannot be overruled. TI Z once again raises concern over the politicisation of the fight against corruption. The police force should be guided by principles of professionalism they must be independent and impartial in the discharge of duties so that their actions are not misinterpreted for protecting a few individuals in society. Such actions show high levels of impartiality and impunity on few public officials. The police should not selectively investigate issues that involve among other people, prominent individuals in society. The ZRP has, in the past, been accused of bias especially in instances where investigations involve high ranking government officials.
As such, the ZRP is encouraged to deal with implicated individuals and not to interfere with the ZACC’s mandate as an institution in state machinery of law enforcement for the elimination of corruption in the country. This requires that they be unfettered in the execution of their duties. Corrupt individuals must be weeded out of all state institutions but the institutions must be afforded an opportunity to exercise their mandate to the legitimate expectation of the society they serve. Likewise, the ZRP continues to carry out its constitutional mandate despite numerous allegations of corruption within the police force. The ZRP should not interfere with ZACC’s mandate of fighting corruption as recommended in the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and articulated in section 108 A of the Constitution of Zimbabwe. While there is merit in the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) investigating alleged corruption within the anti-corruption body, the ZRP should deal with the individuals implicated and not seek to discredit the legitimacy of the body.
Transparency International Zimbabwe (TI Z), the leading global organisation in the fight against corruption, is deeply concerned by the recent happenings as chronicled in the media reports in which the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) officers are reportedly being victimised for trying to expose alleged corrupt deals at various government departments and agencies. Harare, 21 March 2013, Transparency International Zimbabwe.
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