Harare - Zimbabwe’s newly sworn in President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has announced a three month amnesty for thieves to surrender all assets and funds they stole under former Robert Mugabe’s administration or face arrest.
Mnangagwa - who came to power on a promise to root out widespread graft in the country - said the 3-month amnesty runs from December 1 till February 2018.
“As a first step towards the recovery of the illegally externalised funds and assets, the government is gazetting a 3-month moratorium within which those involved in the malpractice can bring back the funds and assets, with no questions being asked or charges preferred against them,” Mnangagwa said in a statement issued on Tuesday.
Mnangagwa in his inauguration speech on Friday pledged to act on widespread graft in the country.
Already, former Finance minister, Ignatius Chombo is languishing in remand prison facing several fraud and corruption charges involving billions of dollars.
“Upon the expiry of the three month window, government will proceed to effect arrest of all those who would not have complied with this directive, and will ensure that they are prosecuted in terms of the country’s laws.
“Those affected are thus encouraged to take advantage of the three-month moratorium to return the illegally externalised funds and assets in order to avoid the pain and ignominy of being visited by the long arm of the law,” Mnangagwa added.
Zimbabwe has always been ranked tops on the corruption index by international organisations monitoring the practice.
Mugabe lamented corruption during his reign but the opposition accused him of being insincere as top government officials who have been named for their corrupt practices since independence still hold public office.
He once revealed that nearly $15 billion in estimated diamond revenues had disappeared, but little or nothing was done to recover the monies.
