The Prosecutor General, Johannes Tomana
Today’s media reports, are clear that Tomana is unfit to continue heading the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) as he abused his close association with Nherera dating back to when the two were board members of public bus company, Zupco.
Nherera was convicted to two years in prison in 2006 for corruption after he solicited $85 000 bribe from a company that had been awarded a tender to supply Zupco with buses.
During that period, Tomana, who was a legal advisor to Zupco, represented Nherera as his lawyer in the trial and later played an influential role to have Nherera acquitted at the High Court when he was later appointed the AG. It is also not far-fetched to hold both Tomana and Nherera as being part of the colossal rot at Zupco that has brought the once successful state-owned company on its knees.
Tomana has proved that he is not the person who should be in that position given his past and recent records as a private lawyer, Zupco legal advisor and board member, as the AG and as the current PG.
In 2008, while he was the AG, Tomana refused to act on evidence produced by victims of that year’s political violence, to investigate and compel the police to open criminal dockets to claims the victims made of kidnappings, assault, injuries that were perpetrated by known state security agents and the Zanu PF militia.
Hundreds of opposition activists were also murdered during this period and the perpetrators though still known, continue to roam freely as Tomana refused to act on the requests made.
Tomana is now also known for infamously protecting Zanu PF apologists, Munyaradzi Kereke, an MP, who is facing serious charges of raping a minor girl and Jane Mutasa who is accused of defrauding a telecommunications company $1, 7 million in airtime voucher cards by refusing to offer the complainants private prosecution certificates.
Fortunately, the Constitutional Court has shown Tomana that he is not above the law and has ordered him to issue the private prosecution certificates.
As the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), we once again call for immediate resignation of Tomana as the charges brought against him are gross abuse of office or the President should use his prerogative and dismiss him in terms of the country’s Constitution.
Post published in: Featured