By Staff Reporter
IN a new twist of events ,corruption accused politicians, Justice Mayor Wadyejena and Lewis Matutu have been shortlisted for the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) posts.
Wadyajena, a former chairperson of Parliament’s portfolio committee on land and agriculture, is no stranger to controversy. In 2022, he was arrested by ZACC on allegations of fraud involving US$5 million (R84 million) alongside four officials from the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco), the nation’s largest cotton producer. The charges stemmed from allegations of misappropriating funds meant for the procurement of agricultural inputs.
Matutu is equally no new comer to corruption and controversy, just this week he made headlines after allegedly duping US$150 000 corruption .
Matutu was arraigned before Harare Magistrate Isheanesu Matova who remanded him out of custody on free bail.
He is alleged to have conspired with Blessing, Tafadzwa Kusangaya, Muzimba, and Chikwasha Muhamba to steal shares from a company headed by Avurath Sibanda.
According to prosecutor Takudzwa Jambawu, the fraudulent activity dates back to 2018 when Matutu and his accomplices, along with others still at large, devised a plan to misappropriate shares from Shusib Investments, a mining company.
But in a statement, the Parliament of Zimbabwe announced that the Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Martin Rushwaya had communicated to the House the vacancies at Zacc arising from the expiry of the terms of office for all sitting commissioners.
In accordance with section 237(1) of the Constitution, the Parliamentary Committee on Standing Rules and Orders (CSRO) invited the public to submit nominations of persons for possible appointment to the commission.
“The Parliament of Zimbabwe received 145 nominations, consisting of 112 males and 33 females.
“The CSRO duly convened and shortlisted suitable candidates for possible appointment to serve on the commission,” the statement said.
It further identified 47 shortlisted candidates invited to attend public interviews on December 19 this year.
The eight are Anele Ndebele (Magwegwe), Chido Madiwa (proportional representation), Zalerah Makari (Epworth), Justice Major Wadyajena (Gokwe-Nembudziya), Tongai Matutu (Masvingo), Berita Chikwama (Gutu East), Last Chigavazira (Chegutu West) and Kindness Paradza (Makonde).
Also included on the list are former commissioners Gabriel Chaibva and Thandiwe Thando Mlobane, while human rights activist and lawyer Wilbert Mandinde and former top police officer Resistant Ncube also made it to the list.
Former Zimbabwe Electoral Commissioner commissioner Qhubani Moyo also has his name among the interviewees, while former Manicaland Senator Dorothy Mabika is also in the running as well as economist Albert Makochekanwa.
Matutu, Brian Kashangura and Retired Major Michael Dennis Santu tried to land posts in 2019 and are in the running again this time.
