PRESIDENT-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa has hauled suspended Prosecutor-General (PG) Ray Goba to the vultures, saying he failed to prosecute corruption cases, in the process putting a huge dent on government’s fight against the vice.
BY BLESSED MHLANGA
Addressing journalists at State House on Friday, Mnangagwa said Goba had failed to prosecute cases related to corruption and dockets were piling in his office to the extent that even the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) was concerned.
“I believe that you are aware, that I was not happy with the prosecution, the National Prosecution Authority, because the number of criminal dockets piled in that department and not being prosecuted and the judiciary came to see me to complain about the lack of prosecution on those cases and that in terms of the law, they have the right to appeal to the President to look into that matter and I granted them permission, that is the process which led to the creation of the tribunal, which led to the suspension of the Prosecutor-General,” he said.
Mnangagwa said since Goba’s suspension, there was now movement, with cases of corruption now in line for trial, effectively confirming the suspended PG’s alleged incompetence.
“Since then [suspension], I see that criminal cases related to corruption have been set for hearing. I have no doubt that there will be change because I am against corruption. I have also asked the [National Prosecuting Authority] NPA to give authority to those lawyers in private practice who are willing to render service in order to prosecute and move these cases in court,” he said.
Goba, who had been widely viewed as Mnangagwa’s close ally, has dismissed allegations of incompetence, saying political vultures were circling above his professional life ready to settle personal scores.
He has had an acrimonious relationship with his former deputy, Florence Ziyambi, wife of Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, resulting in her being moved to the President’s Office.
