By 
By Editor
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission(ZACC), is said to be more corrupt than corruption itself if they do not act on cases they get time and again and indeed only time will tell whether ZACC has the temerity and teeth to take off corrupt elements within its own structures before it can ward off corruption.
Such is the case ZACC stands accused of in Kwekwe were a Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority Manager Joseph Vambe is the mastermind of most corruption within Kwekwe and the Midlands and he gets away with impunity at will even in the face of both the police and Zacc itself.
If the Second Republic really intended to rid Corruption then it must start by ridding itself from the top bottom as the old adage goes the fish rots from the head.In a telephone interview with TechnoMag, Joseph Vambe alluded to the scandals at ZESA and ZETDC (Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distribution Company) denying them in toto.
”i am not protecting anyone..i am not the kingpin of any corruption and this issue was investigated…i only speak facts..” said a defiant Vambe.
The only thing unstoppable about the country whose idea has come according to TechnoMags recent interview with MDC A Vice President Tendai Biti is a complete overhaul of ZACC itself to be the watchdog it was designed to be and rid corruption from all levels including ZESA and Zetdc.
Nevertheless the current regime has also infused an unstoppable idea whose time has come that of unstoppable corruption and critics recently castigated corruption from the highest levels of government not afraid of any sacred cows calling a spade a spade.
Corruption has become so endemic within its political, private and civil sectors that Zimbabwe ranks 160th out of 180 countries in the 2016 Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index.
The Kwekwe example is a case in point where one untouchable Joseph Vambe is riding high and getting away with corrupt tendencies.On a scale of 0(highly corrupt) to 100(very clean) , the Corruption Perceptions Index marked Zimbabwe 22.This marks an increase in corruption since 1999, when the country ranked 4,1(out of ten).
After being deliberately misled in a case of graft and abuse of power by prominent ZESA top brass in the midlands region, TechnoMag has evidence of elements of the zesa management scapegoating and misdirecting the Zacc inspectorate levelling frivolous charges on junior managers to divert attention on their illicit underhand dealings.
ZESA corruption has become rife and such a fetid odour which resulted in the suspension of several employees pending so called cover up investigations.
Zacc investigators are accused of working in cahoots with Mr Joseph Vambe ignoring his underhand documents because he managed to bribe them.
Several letters of complaints are with TechMag TV which prove all this beyond every shadow of doubt.
They swept under the carpet the overwhelming incriminating evidence which implicated the zesa top eschlon including Mr Vambe the very glue of every graft case at the southern region Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission Distribution Centre (ZETDC).
Also involved is one Mr Josphat Maorera ( Acting District Manager Kwekwe district) implicated in protecting a former ZRP officer now employed in full capacity as a ZESA commercial officer Mr joseph Vambe, who had been on suspension because of the cases that TechMag TV is making public in this article.
Vambe was in an altercation of assault and malicious destruction of property, in a failed case to try and destroy evidence that pinned him down.
Mr Vambe has several illicit dealings including bribe and extorting funds from clients , several complaints have been raised through written documents from ZESA clients implicating him in abuse of office but have been swept under the rug by his senior manager who is also benefiting from Vambe’s illicit deals.
Close sources indicate that Mr Vambe is apparently being protected as he is pivotal in major cases involving corruption of the senior management and also is related to ZESA executive Chairman Sydney Gata.
Of particular mention is one case where the alleged Vambe tried and failed to sway the inspectorates who were investigating the procurement of a transformer by Rothamstead Mine , which resulted in Rothamstead Management writing a complaint and distancing itself from the corrupt Vambe.
The report indicated Vambe was tempering with witnesses telling them what to tell investigators so as to win his case considering he is also a former police officer and hence knows the ropes in police investigations who to bribe at the police and how to keep himself at bay of the crocodiles after him.
There also charges levelled against Joseph which were written by a private consultant company who had been dealing with Zesa for the provision of services to ZESA clients. It is alleged that the consultant would pay for quotations by Mr Joseph Vambe , who would in turn also demand a percentage of the quotation in order to approve the project. This has been happening under the eye of the district manager who has decided to turn a blind eye on the dealings, such as vandalism of office and taking away crucial documents required by investigations such as approval letters and contracts of supply.
Corruption at ZETDC is beyond imagination revolvingon one Joseph Vambe.Another employee who has also been fed up of being a scape goat has exposed his seniors through a leaked cable to the regional manager. Mr john Maorera a senior client services officer at ZETDC kwekwe has filed a complaint against the acting station manager Mr Kasipo of abuse of office.
In his document Mr Maorera lamented the fact that despite all the mounting evidence and also misconduct on Mr Vambe , the manager has deliberately turned a blind eye .The impeccable document contains receipts and approval letters which furnish his claims.It remains to be seen whether the inspectorate is going to continue protecting these rogue elements or will for the first time clear its name and hold to account these thieves masquerading as Zesa management.
Across all sectors, corruption is a very high risk for companies operating in Zimbabwe.Investors face both high level corruption in the form of nepotism, patronage, and abuse of power as well as petty bribery and extortion.
The Prevention of Corruption Act prohibits active and passive bribery, gifts and payments in the public and private sectors, but such practices are common.
Companies can be held criminally liable.The maximum punishment for corruption offences is 20 years imprisonment, fines or both, but the government enforces the law selectively, targeting mostly political opponents.
Global integrity once did a report indicating this same commission is highly inefficient and has very little authority to take steps aimed at stopping Corruption in Zimbabwe even dating back to 2006 out of 147 corruption cases reviewed by the Commission, only four where completed. The ACC is currently chaired by Justice Matanda Moyo the widow of the late once all powerful Coup Announcer Former Foreign Affairs Industry and Trade Minister Lt General Sibusiso Moyo the only one who dared announce the toppling of former dictator the late former President Robert Mugabe.
If Justice Matanda Moyo can invoke the ideals that her late husband stood for that saw him fight for Zimbabwe’s liberation then she should tackle now the rot at ZETDC for the legacy of her Army General and Diplomat late husband.
If the Zimbabwe Government is serious about ridding graft then it must start by firing itself or resigning.Anti-corruption efforts in Zimbabwe are governed by the following legislation:The Prevention of Corruption Act(1983);Public Service Act(1995);The Ombudperson Amendment Act(1997);Anti-Corruption Commission Bill(2004);The Criminal Law(Codification and Reform) Act(2004);Bank use Promotion and Suppression of Money Laundering Act(2004);Criminal Procedure and Evidence Amendment Act(2004);and Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act of 2006, then we have the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission ACC established after the passing of the Anti-Corruption Commission Bill in June 2004.
This Commission which should have handled this particular Joseph Vambe graft at Zesa has left egg on the face of Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Protocol to whom it is a signatory to as well as the African Union(AU) and United Nations Convention on Anti-Corruption.
If Joseph Vambe’s case is not dealt with to completion then hell SADC , AU and UN must be alerted one of theirs is not living by the dictates and one of theirs, is none other than Zacc who too must be investigated.
Comments