Zimbabwean MPs face graft charges for accepting Wicknell Chivayo's US$10,000 offer
via NewsDay Zimbabwe6 min read
The proposed US$3.6 million payment from businessman Wicknell Chivayo to Zimbabwean parliamentarians, amounting to US$10,000 each, has become a legal issue. Zimbabwean law, specifically the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act and the Privileges, Immunities and Powers of Parliament Act, prohibits public officers, including Members of Parliament, from accepting gifts or rewards intended to influence their official duties. Section 170 of the Criminal Law Act makes it a criminal offense for a public officer to receive a benefit in exchange for acting in a particular way in relation to their duties, carrying penalties of fines and imprisonment. The Privileges, Immunities and Powers of Parliament Act further states that no member shall accept any fee, compensation, gift, or reward for promoting or opposing any matter submitted to Parliament. The Code of Conduct and Ethics for Members of Parliament reinforces this, requiring MPs to act in the public interest and avoid financial obligations that could influence their decisions, and to disclose significant gifts. Even if framed as "constituency support," the scale and source of the payment would likely trigger scrutiny. The responsibility now falls on the Clerk of Parliament, Kennedy Chokuda, and the Speaker to enforce these laws. Any MP accepting the payment could face criminal prosecution and parliamentary sanctions, with such conduct reportable to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by NewsDay Zimbabwe.
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