A number of notable personalities are among the 47 candidates shortlisted for public interviews for the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), scheduled for Thursday next week.
The interviews follow the expiration of the term of office for all sitting ZACC commissioners, as communicated by the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet to Parliament.
As a result, the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders (CSRO) invited public nominations for potential candidates to fill the vacancies, in accordance with Section 237 (1) of the Constitution. Parliament revealed it received 145 nominations, comprising 112 males and 33 females.
“The CSRO duly convened and shortlisted suitable candidates for possible appointment to serve on the Commission,” read a notice from Parliament, which added that 47 candidates were shortlisted to attend the public interviews to be held on Thursday, December 19, 2024. .
The shortlist features several prominent figures, including Justice Mayor Wadyajena, a businessperson and former Member of Parliament for Gokwe Nembudziya.
Wadyajena, who runs Mayor Logistics, previously faced investigation by ZACC for alleged fraud and money laundering involving USD$5 million.
During the investigation, ZACC impounded Wadyajena’s luxury vehicles and 23 haulage trucks, citing suspected ill-gotten wealth.
However, in August 2024, the High Court ordered the release of his vehicles after the state failed to find evidence linking him to corruption.
The Supreme Court later dismissed with costs appeals by the National Prosecuting Authority and ZACC, further clearing Wadyajena, saying they lacked merit.
Other familiar names on the list include: Dr Qhubani Moyo – former Zimbabwe Electoral Commissioner (ZEC), Gabriel Chaibva – Current ZACC commissioner, Tongai Matutu – former MDC-T Member of Parliament for Masvingo Central and now a Zanu PF member who joined the ruling party in 2020.
The list also features Kindness Paradza – former Deputy Minister of Information, Publicity, and Broadcasting Services.
Other candidates from Bulawayo include Anele Ndebele – former legislator for Magwegwe Constituency, Kholwani Ngwenya – a Bulawayo-based legal practitioner and Christopher Dube – current Bulawayo Town Clerk, whose contract was recently extended after initially expiring on September 30, 2024.
Dube, now 64 years old, has just one year left before retirement and has encouraged Bulawayo residents to actively participate in the process of selecting his successor.
In its notice, Parliament stressed the importance of punctuality for the public interviews.
“Candidates must be seated in Committee Room Number 3 by 07:00 hours on the day of the interviews. Candidates arriving after the start of the interviews will be automatically disqualified,” read the notice.
The ZACC appointments are of ‘huge’ public interest given the commission’s role in combating corruption in Zimbabwe amid criticism that the commission lacks power to arrest high profile individuals seen in the ‘catch and release’ that often take place.
The selection process also draws significant public interest, not only due to the prominence of some candidates but in the expectation of including competent individuals capable of addressing corruption effectively.
