Tourism and Hospitality minister, Prisca Mupfumira was this morning taken in by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on alleged corruption charges after she was implicated in a damning National Social Security Authority (NSSA) forensic audit report currently in the hands of the anti-graft body.
Mupfumira, who was taken in the morning had not been released at the time of publishing pointing to a possibility of her spending the night in custody.
Confirming Mupfumira’s arrest, ZACC said she was taken for questioning and possible due process (arrest and trial).
The anti-graft body had prior to Mupfumira’s arrest announced that they were studying both the Auditor General and NSSA forensic reports, a process they said will yield results.
Since her appointment as ZACC Chairperson, Loice Matanda-Moyo has committed to fight corruption in the country.
Mupfumira’s arrest has been met with mixed feelings amid fears that the President Emmerson Mnangagwa administration was not serious in its commitment to fight corruption in the country as witnessed by the failure to arrest and bring to book known criminals in both government and the ruling Zanu PF.
Political analyst Dr Pedzisai Ruhanya said the arrest of Mupfumira should have been followed by her resignation or dismissal from government to show seriousness on such an issue.
“In some countries by now, either Minister Mupfumira following her arrest by ZACC on allegations of looting NSSA funds should have resigned or Mnangagwa moves swiftly to fire Mupfumira to show seriousness on such issues. If she is cleared, she continues with her life,” said Ruhanya.
Firebrand Norton legislator Temba Mliswa said Mupfumira’s arrest by ZACC should be followed by prosecution as the NSSA forensic audit report in which she is implicated has overwhelming evidence against her.
“We are expecting prosecution this time……the NSSA forensic audit has all the evidence,” said Mliswa.
However, freelance journalist, Hopewell Chin’ono was unmoved with Mupfumira’s arrest saying people must not celebrate until someone is jailed for corruption.
“There is nothing exciting about ZANU PF political elites being arrested. We have seen that all the time. They get arrested and then released. They go to court, the prosecutor deliberately messes up the case & they are acquitted. Until someone is jailed for corruption, don’t make noise,” said Chin’ono.
