HARARE, July 4 (Xinhua) -- The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) said Thursday it is investigating 10 high-profile cases of corruption out of 38 cases it has received since May.
Newly appointed ZACC chairperson Loice Matanda-Moyo told a press conference that corruption was the main cause of economic challenges in Zimbabwe, and vowed the anti-corruption body would work tirelessly to tackle the vice.
Matanda-Moyo said ZACC had opened investigations into government ministries, departments, and parastatals that were cited in the recent Auditor General's report for abusing public funds.
Some of the parastatals named include power utility ZESA, state grain procurer Grain Marketing Board, national airline Air Zimbabwe and state pension fund National Social Security Authority.
"ZACC has opened active investigations in respect of all ministries, government departments, state enterprises and parastatals implicated in the report with a view to bringing to book all those implicated in any or all cases of corruption, theft, misappropriation, abuses of power and other improper conduct," said Matanda-Moyo.
She urged the Executive to reduce the powers of ministries over state enterprises and parastatals, saying such ministries had become a cause for concern.
"The government needs to urgently review the powers of ministries over state enterprises and parastatals under the purview to stem out this culture of looting," she said.
Matanda-Moyo said her organization will target 99 percent conviction rate for all corruption cases in the courts.
ZACC is a Constitutional body mandated with combating corruption as well as encouraging transparency, honesty and financial discipline in both the public and private sectors.
She said if ZACC was to deal with every matter reported, then the country's prisons will need to be expanded in order to accommodate the culprits.
"While other countries are closing their prisons for lack of clients, Zimbabwe prisons will be open for business," she said.
To support public efforts in the fight against graft, Matanda-Moyo said recommendations had been forwarded to the Executive for a comprehensive whistleblower protection framework.
The ZACC chairperson also lauded the recent move to give the body arresting powers, saying this was necessary to ensure the body plays its role without limitations.
