News / National
'There is now a bourgeoisie in Zimbabwe which joined the govt to make money'
30 May 2015 at 14:49hrs | Views
Academic and a researcher on corruption in State Enterprises and Parastatals (SEPs) Ibbo Mandaza said there was now a bourgeoisie in Zimbabwe which joined the government to make money.
Mandaza said this in Bulawayo during a book launch of four Transparency International Zimbabwe publications on the 2014 state of corruption in Zimbabwe.
"People came from the bush and they were former school teachers and did not have cars, but now we have a bunch of parasites who make money without working," he said. "It is a theatre for looting and patronage."
Mandaza, who was once a member of the Parastatals Commission during the 1980s, said their study revealed the Rhodesian government was corrupt, but the level of corruption now was worse and alarming.
"Virtually, all SEPs have collapsed. We thought ministers were empowered with Acts of Parliament, but blatant looting, for example at PSMAS where people earned half a million per month continued to happen and there has not been any effort by the government to recover the money or make arrests, " he said.
Mandaza said solutions were reforms of the State, strong constitutional accountability by the Executive, a leadership with moral authority and who lead by example, and revival of the economy.
TIZ executive director Mary Jane Ncube said there was need for Zimbabweans to start monitoring implementation of economic blueprints like ZimAsset to ensure they will not be marred by corruption.
The four books launched by TIZ are Daily Lives and Corruption in Zimbabwe, State of Corruption in State-owned Enterprises, Young People and Corruption in Zimbabwe and Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre Compendium.
Mandaza said this in Bulawayo during a book launch of four Transparency International Zimbabwe publications on the 2014 state of corruption in Zimbabwe.
"People came from the bush and they were former school teachers and did not have cars, but now we have a bunch of parasites who make money without working," he said. "It is a theatre for looting and patronage."
Mandaza, who was once a member of the Parastatals Commission during the 1980s, said their study revealed the Rhodesian government was corrupt, but the level of corruption now was worse and alarming.
"Virtually, all SEPs have collapsed. We thought ministers were empowered with Acts of Parliament, but blatant looting, for example at PSMAS where people earned half a million per month continued to happen and there has not been any effort by the government to recover the money or make arrests, " he said.
Mandaza said solutions were reforms of the State, strong constitutional accountability by the Executive, a leadership with moral authority and who lead by example, and revival of the economy.
TIZ executive director Mary Jane Ncube said there was need for Zimbabweans to start monitoring implementation of economic blueprints like ZimAsset to ensure they will not be marred by corruption.
The four books launched by TIZ are Daily Lives and Corruption in Zimbabwe, State of Corruption in State-owned Enterprises, Young People and Corruption in Zimbabwe and Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre Compendium.
Source - newsday
