Corrupt officials must resign, says Chief Charumbira

THE president of the Chiefs Council, Chief Fortune Charumbira, has said public officials fingered in corruption must resign.

The chief said corruption was rampant in the country with poor people at the receiving end while public officials always got away with it.

Speaking during a debate on corruption in the Senate on Tuesday, Chief Charumbira said there should be stiffer sentences for those found guilty of corruption.

"If we want to convict a person who has committed a crime, it's simple but when it comes to workplaces and you are the Minister, you are the Permanent Secretary and there is a scandal which is clear, we can't point a finger that you were involved. However, because you are the leader, you should resign from that job," said Chief Charumbira.

"The criminality aspect isn't in the open, we can't prove it, we can't pinpoint the person but we know that US$3 million is missing. That's enough for management to be sacked so that that US$3 million is repaid and that is a civil matter. We don't need proof beyond reasonable doubt but proof on probability."

Chief Charumbira commended staff at the Registrar General's office for improving their operations, but said there were still challenges at Zimra, the Vehicle Inspection Department and within the police.

"These days, it's better at the Registrar General's office, a few years back, one had to pay so that their papers will be processed quickly but this would mean that the country is at the cross roads," he said.

He said the country's laws were lax on theft and corrupt offenders.