ZACC defends appointment of Pondo as new boss

Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) spokesperson Phyllis Chikundura insists that Silence Pondo’s appointment was done above board. There are claims that he did not do well in the interviews and that he was once a target of Zacc investigations.

Pondo received an appointment letter from chief secretary to cabinet Misheck Sibanda. Said Chikundura:

Zacc conducted interviews for its substantive secretary, among them the then acting secretary Mr Silence Pondo. A list of six candidates who had passed the interviews was sent for security vetting. The names of top six candidates with all their vetting and interview results were submitted to the Office of the President and Cabinet. Mr Silence Pondo was then approved as the substantive secretary and as Zacc, we can authoritatively say Mr. Pondo passed the security vetting and we have documents to prove it.

Sources who spoke to Standard claimed Pondo was appointed ahead of five candidates that had performed better than him in the interviews. A report compiled by Zacc investigators said Pondo was investigated for alleged abuse of office and theft and bribery.

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