Harare, (New Ziana) – Prosecutor General Loyce Matanda-Moyo on Thursday said the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) will come down hard on economic saboteurs who are involved in money laundering and evading tax.
In her address to senior management marking the institution’s legal year, Matanda-Moyo said NPAZ’s theme for this year, ‘Inclusive Accountability for Inclusive Prosperity and Stability,’ places the prosecution of high-impact cases top of its agenda.
Zimbabwe loses approximately $1.5 billion to $2 billion per annum through illicit financial flows (IFFs), according to data from the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Global Financial Integrity reports.
“In the Zimbabwean context, these are not merely dockets; they are cases involving high-profile citizens, the misappropriation of significant public funds, or the dismantling of sophisticated organized criminal networks and economic syndicates. As we transition from the foundation of National Development Strategy-1 (NDS-1) to the implementation of NDS2, our eyes are fixed on Vision 2030.
“This roadmap focuses on economic stability, inclusive growth, and innovation. However, as the development agenda pivots toward national procurement, the NPAZ must serve as a vigilant guardian. We must ensure that the procurement processes meant to empower our nation are not subverted by economic crimes that cripple our progress or environmental crimes that jeopardize our future.
Those who undermine our economic stability-the tax evaders and the money launderers will face the full, unyielding wrath of the law. Furthermore, 2026 will mark a decisive crackdown on corporate non-compliance with environmental laws,” she said.
According to Matanda-Moyo, illicit financial leakages will be plugged through aggressive prevention, meticulous investigation and prosecution, as well as robust asset recovery, adding that the NPAZ will be more aggressive concerning all cases submitted by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Police Anti-Corruption Unit.
“Through the NPAZ’s commitment to effective prevention and robust asset recovery, we will ensure that what was stolen from the nation is returned to the nation. Let us reaffirm our commitment today that these cases will be handled with the highest professional integrity, and evidence will be presented with the precision and quality required to secure convictions.
“We are here to ensure that crime does not pay, and that justice serves as the bedrock of our economy. As we conclude the chapter on NDS1, we step boldly into the era of NDS2, a roadmap that leads us directly to Vision 2030. Our national focus has shifted toward economic stability, inclusive growth, innovation, and entrepreneurship. However, as the development agenda prioritizes national procurement, the NPAZ must act as a vigilant gatekeeper. We must ensure that public procurement-the very engine of our development-is shielded from the capture of economic criminals and those whose greed threatens our national environment,” the Prosecutor General said.
She also revealed that the NPAZ will aggressively prosecute companies that remain in non- compliant with environmental laws.
“As we look toward 2026, let it be known that the NPAZ is expanding the frontlines of justice. For too long, environmental crimes have been viewed as secondary offences; this ends now. We recognize that the desecration of our land, the pollution of our water bodies, and the illegal exploitation of our mineral wealth are direct attacks on our national security and the livelihoods of future generations.
“We must ensure that there is a decisive prosecution of all companies that fail to comply with environmental laws -regardless of their size or stature. Whether it is the devastation caused by illegal mining activities, the discharge of toxic waste into the environment, or the brazen theft of our wildlife and timber, the NPAZ will act with resolve. We are not merely prosecuting a crime; we are defending the constitutional right of every Zimbabwean to a clean and healthy environment,” she said.
New Ziana
