TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission(ZACC) says it is tracking down transnational organised crimes, which are detrimental to the country.
Transnational organised crime is an illicit business that transcends cultural, social, linguistic and geographical boundaries and one that knows no borders or rules.
Some cross-border criminal syndicates use Zimbabwe as a transit route to South Africa.
In an interview, ZACC commissioner Thandiwe Mlobane said transnational crimes are fuelled by corruption.
“Transnational crimes are violations of law that involve more than one country. Examples of transnational crimes include such threats as terrorism, human trafficking and slavery,” Mlobane said.
She added: “Environmental crimes including poaching, illicit drug trafficking, piracy, corruption and bribery of public officials. Transnational organised crimes are fuelled by corrupt criminal networks using bribes to facilitate the trafficking of people and drugs.
“In addition, environmental crimes such as illegal mining and poaching for example are often enabled through illicit payment through responsible officials in order to ensure their cooperation.”
Mlobane said the commission has a fully-fledged education and awareness unit that partners with different organisations.
“The commission has an important role of public awareness and education, which can play a critical role in preventing transnational crimes issues involving corruption and bribery,” Mlobane said.
She said ZACC was working with other countries to help curb organised crimes.
“ZACC has signed MoUs in cooperation with its counterparts in Zambia and Botswana to assist in the fight involving these countries. Irrespective of whether the assistance is sought or is to be provided by a court or some other competent authority these requests are conventionally transmitted through diplomatic channels,” Mlobane said.
She added: “Harmonising national laws with international laws is also assisting the country with corruption cases of transnational nature. ZACC has done a lot in terms of ensuring that proceeds of crime that have been staged away in other countries are brought back.”
Last year, the African Union member states, including Zimbabwe, started to work on establishing a continental operational centre to spearhead efforts to combat the scourge of transnational organised crime, particularly human trafficking and migrant smuggling.
