Martin Mawaya
HARARE—Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption dragnet significantly widened this year, with nearly 1000 cases under active investigation.
As of August 2026, a total of 919 cases where recorded while the country’s anti-graft body received 517 fresh corruption reports, most of them from Harare.
The figures are contained in a Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) performance update released on Thursday.
These figures expose the scale of the corruption caseload confronting investigators, with only 128 cases having been finalized before the courts during the period under review.
ZACC said it received the 517 reports between January 1 and August 31, with Harare accounting for 339, nearly two-thirds of all reports.
Bulawayo followed with 48 reports, while Mashonaland West recorded 35, Mashonaland East 27, Midlands 26, Manicaland 21, Masvingo 14 and Mashonaland Central seven.
From investigations arising from the new reports and cases carried over from previous years, ZACC effected 195 arrests during the period.
Of the 128 cases finalized before the courts, 90 ended in convictions while 38 resulted in acquittals, giving the commission a 70% conviction rate.
However, the figures also point to a substantial backlog, with 325 cumulative cases still pending before the courts.
Beyond prosecutions, ZACC is pursuing the financial proceeds of suspected corruption, with cases worth almost US$5 million referred to the National Prosecuting Authority for asset-forfeiture proceedings.
The cases involve unexplained wealth orders and civil forfeitures and remain before the courts.
ZACC also secured conviction-based and non-conviction-based forfeitures involving 14 vehicles, a residential stand and cash.
Among the assets listed are a Toyota Hilux Double Cab, Stand 913 Mandara Township and cash linked to Daniel Kalira; an Isuzu single cab associated with Benjamin Nyandoro; and eight vehicles seized under the Civil Servants Rebate Scheme.
The commission also listed funds held in school accounts linked to Yvonne Musoni and a Toyota Fortuner SUV associated with Mathew Musengezi, also identified as Memory Shamu.
Conviction-based forfeitures included a Honda Vezel linked to Nyandoro and two Nissan Caravans associated with Tanaka Chiwade.
The concentration of reports in Harare raises questions about whether the capital is experiencing higher levels of reported corruption or whether complainants there have greater access to ZACC and its reporting platforms.
ZACC chairperson Michael Reza has urged Zimbabweans to continue reporting suspected corruption through the commission’s provincial offices and digital platforms, including WhatsApp and its online reporting system.
The commission said it remained committed to combating corruption, promoting integrity and strengthening accountability.
