President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday appointed Kumbirai Hodzi acting Prosecutor General to replace Ray Goba who is being investigated for allegedly failing to execute his duties.
Hodzi, who said he had been in the business for 33 years, said he was going to immediately order the prosecution of at least five-high profile corruption cases but did not say which.
Several former ministers in President Robert Mugabe’s cabinet have been charged with corruption including Ignatius Chombo, Walter Mzembi and Samuel Undenge.
Undenge was jailed for two-and-a-half years over a minor corruption case while Chombo was granted temporary reprieve after the High Court granted an order for an indefinite stay of his prosecution.
But Hodzi said he is going to tackle corruption cases head on.
“Today, my first directive to the NPA office and all the key stakeholders who answer to me in terms of my constitutional mandate, was to ensure that key corruption cases be formally brought before the court henceforth,” he said, according to the Herald.
“Those that are guilty of corruption will be rigorously prosecuted without fear or favour. Already, I have directed the prosecution of a number of high-profile corruption cases and five or so of the accused persons are expected to appear in court soon.”
Hodzi said he will respect the rights of the accused persons during the prosecution.
“I have also directed that rigorous attention be paid to the rights of all accused persons,” he said.
“This is a new dispensation. Gone are the days where accused were brought to court in leg irons and at the back of open trucks. Gone are the days when accused persons would be over-detained or harassed in any manner. But when it comes to prosecution, I will ensure that those that are guilty of breaking the law are prosecuted to the fullest extent.”
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