Fresh blood for anti-graft body

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) is preparing for a fresh start following the departure of its operational head, Silence Pondo. Commission chair Loice Matanda-Moyo confirmed that Pondo, an assistant Police Commissioner seconded to the commission in 2014, was retiring. A TimesLIVE report notes that this opens the way for the appointment of a new team of investigators who are professionally trained to fight corruption. Since Matanda-Moyo was appointed last May, Pondo had frustrated her efforts to ramp up the ZACC's effectiveness, commission sources have claimed. As the ZACC's secretary, investigators reported directly to him and there were allegations that he was protecting the interests of a faction in the ruling Zanu-PF. A source said Pondo’s removal was a huge step forward for Matanda-Moyo's efforts to recover assets of US$300m this year.