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Another Zacc official arrested

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ANOTHER official of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission was arrested yesterday as the crackdown on the anti-graft body continues.

ANOTHER official of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission was arrested yesterday as the crackdown on the anti-graft body continues.

CHARLES LAITON/MOSES MATENGA

Emmanuel Chimwanda, a former police Assistant Commissioner, was picked up by police from the CID Law and Order section for questioning yesterday afternoon. He was last night being held at Harare Central Police Station.

Police national spokesperson Charity Charamba last night confirmed the arrest, saying Chimwanda was picked up for questioning and was set to be released after signing a warned and cautioned statement.

“He was picked up by police in connection with impersonation. They will record a warned and cautioned statement from him and he will be released,” Charamba said.

His lawyer Jonathan Samkange also confirmed the development, but could not give much detail.

“Yes, I am at the Law and Order section where a warned and cautioned statement is being recorded. You can call me later,” Samkange said. Chimwanda is a commissioner in the commission and is its finance committee chairperson.

His arrest came a day after principals of the inclusive government met and resolved that the crackdown on the commission be stopped.

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Luke Tamborinyoka confirmed the meeting and the agreement by the principals on the commission’s operations.

“The principals agreed that the commission must be allowed to do its work. It’s an independent commission and must not be interferred with so as to enable the execution of its constitutional mandate,” Tamborinyoka said.

President Robert Mugabe’s spokesperson George Charamba was not immediately available to confirm the meeting and deliberations on Zacc’s operations.

Chimwanda’s arrest comes a week after Zacc’s chief executive officer Ngonidzashe Gumbo was arrested over allegations of swindling the commission of over $435 000.

Gumbo (50), who is also a former top cop (he was a Senior Assistant Commissioner in the ZRP), was on Monday granted bail by Harare magistrate Donald Ndirowei, but the State invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act to keep him in detention.