HARARE – Wicknell Chivayo, Mike Chimombe, and Moses Mpofu—three of the main suspects in the US$40 million Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) scandal—have been charged with leaving the nation to evade being detained by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).
Since then, two of the deal’s main suspects have stated that they are presently abroad and are unable to turn themselves in to ZACC investigators for questioning or arrest.
Chimombe and Mpofu informed ZACC via their attorneys, Antonio & Dzvetero Legal Practitioners, that although they are eager to fully participate with the investigations, they are presently unable to do so because they are not in the nation.
“We represent and advocate for Messrs. Moses Mpofu and Mike Chimombe, who have been informed that you are interested in interviewing them for a current inquiry through press releases and/or advertisements in print and electronic media, among other channels.
“Our clients are willing to fully cooperate with the investigations and are available to attend any required interviews upon their return. However, they are temporarily out of the country and will not be able to attend any interviews until they return to Zimbabwe.
We respectfully ask that you inform us of any requests you may have in relation to this matter.
The solicitors wrote, “In the interim, please take note of our undertaking that we will ensure our clients’ availability.”
The attorneys did not say when their clients planned to go back to Zimbabwe.
Chimombe and Mpofu are currently in China, according to individuals who are connected to this magazine. It is said that Chivayo is in Dubai.
They have genuinely left the nation to avoid being taken into custody. They want to deal with the ZACC issue and their internal conflicts after the dust settles, according to the source.
ZACC is looking into the dishonest agreement and its recipients, who are said to have benefited personally from millions of taxpayer dollars.
Michael Reza, the head of ZACC, declared on Monday that no “sacred cows” would be spared in the organization’s inquiry and that no effort would be spared.
He stated, “I hope I am not jeopardising investigations, but I can tell you right now we have some documents which we want to show the three gentlemen. I want Zimbabwe to know that we have not been sitting on this investigation.”
We have gathered specific information, and if all goes as planned, we will use this to file a lawsuit when it appears on form 242. You’ll view in-depth data including numbers, facts, and figures. I promise you will witness such things.
“We are aware of their rights, but we also have a deadline. We are going to pursue them if they do not show up.
“People in Zimbabwe should be aware that ZACC is not powerless. According to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, there are no holy cows.
He declared, “I want Zimbabweans to know that ZACC has adopted the stance that there are no sacred cows in the fight against corruption.”
Also read: ZACC Intensifies Anti-Corruption Drive, Pursues Wicknell Chivayo and Associates
Reza stated that at first, there wasn’t enough evidence in the first leaked audio for ZACC to look into, but after a document and another audio were released, enough evidence surfaced, allowing ZACC to launch an official investigation.
Priscilla Chigumba, the chair of ZEC, Isaac Moyo, the director general of the Central Intelligence Organisation, and Martin Rushwaya, the chief secretary to cabinet, are among the prominent individuals who have expressed interest in the controversy.
At the core of the controversy is an ex-convict named Chivayo, who has ties to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, whom he claims he controls.
ZACC has declared that it is committed to holding the suspects accountable and that it has discovered further evidence to link them to the crimes.
Many people have demanded that individuals responsible for the unethical agreement be held accountable, since the inquiry has aroused widespread outrage and calls for responsibility.
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