Advocate Mpofu to ZACC: ‘Let me prosecute Chiadzwa, Command Agriculture looters’

HARARE – Prominent lawyer Advocate Thabani Mpofu has thrown down a public challenge to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to investigate the alleged looting of Zimbabwe’s diamonds in Chiadzwa and the reported abuse of the government’s Command Agriculture programme – and he would prosecute the cases for free.

ZACC recently arrested Tourism Minister Prisca Mupfumira, after she was implicated in alleged corruption during her stint as Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister between 2014 and 2017.

Mpofu remains unconvinced by the reconstituted ZACC’s first high profile arrest, which many see as being driven by internal Zanu PF fights.

ZACC is now chaired by Justice Matanda-Moyo, the wife of foreign minister Sibusiso Moyo, who is thought to harbour ambitions of being president one day. Critics fear she could use the position to clear her husband’s path to the presidency by targeting his political rivals in Zanu PF for arrest. Matanda-Moyo, a former High Court judge, maintains that he is carrying the same fairness expected of a judge into her new assignment.

Former President Robert Mugabe, ousted in a military coup in 2017, once said Zimbabwe had lost diamonds worth US$15 billion to corruption in Chiadzwa, where the military was involved in mining with some foreign companies.

The Command Agriculture programme is reported to have failed to account for US$3 billion.

Mpofu, in a brief statement, said: “We know who it is that has raided the public purse. We know who looted Chiadzwa. We are fully aware of what happened with Command Agriculture. The true but untold NSSA story is known to us, even to the minutest detail. We are ready to act but we will only act against the corrupters of the corrupt, the bishops of thievery.

“This is my public offer to you Justice Matanda-Moyo. Give me three of the big ones. Give me three who have looted our billions and I will prosecute them for free. The ball is in your court M’lady.”

Mpofu has previously represented MDC leader Nelson Chamisa in his bid to overturn Mnangagwa’s controversial declaration as winner of tightly-contested elections in July last year. It is unclear if Matanda-Moyo will take up his offer.