Harare accounts for two-thirds of corruption cases
BY STAFF REPORTER
Harare accounted for nearly two-thirds of corruption reports recorded by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in the first eight months of 2026, official statistics show, while the commission secured convictions in 90 of 128 cases finalised by the courts.
ZACC recorded 517 corruption reports between January 1 and August 31, with Harare accounting for 339, or about 66% of the total.
Bulawayo ranked second with 48 reports, followed by Mashonaland West with 35, Mashonaland East with 27, Midlands with 26, Manicaland with 21, Masvingo with 14 and Mashonaland Central with seven.
The statistics were contained in a performance report released by ZACC chairperson Michael Reza.
ZACC officers made 195 arrests during the eight months, with the cases arising from new investigations and legacy dockets.
Courts finalised 128 cases, resulting in 90 convictions and 38 acquittals, giving the commission a conviction rate of about 70%.
A further 325 cumulative cases remain before the courts, while 919 cases across the country’s 10 provinces were under active investigation as at August 31.
“The Commission will pursue these cases to their logical conclusion,” Reza said.
ZACC is also pursuing asset recovery as part of efforts to disrupt corruption networks, with assets valued at nearly US$5 million referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for forfeiture proceedings, Reza said.
“These cases involve unexplained wealth orders and civil forfeitures. They are still pending before the courts,” he said.
The commission has secured both conviction-based and non-conviction-based asset forfeitures involving 14 vehicles, a residential stand and cash, Reza said.
He urged the public to continue reporting suspected corruption through ZACC’s provincial offices and digital whistleblowing platforms.