Opinion / Columnist
Corruption should be paramount in 2015 Budget
14 Oct 2015 at 11:02hrs | Views
My key contribution in terms of budget formulation is that our government should first acknowledge that corruption is the root cause of the economic malaise this country finds itself in.
Because, without first acknowledging this fact, any macro and/or micro economic strategy/plan that this government formulates is but doomed to fail.
Not only would this be a gross wastage of our scarce and valuable resources, but also a ticket for our country to delve deeper into economic doldrums.
This will inevitably result in the further erosion of investor confidence in our country, further accelerating a vicious cycle that will prove impossible to exit.
After acknowledging that corruption is truly the country's number one enemy, the government needs to show a seriousness that has been lacking in tackling this scourge since 1980.
This is because, although fighting corruption has always been on the lips of our political leadership since 1980, nothing concrete has been put in place to seriously fight corruption.
In fact, if anything, corruption has been nurtured and allowed to prosper by this same government. No wonder we are in this economic mess.
Window-dressing commissions have been set up to allegedly investigate corruption, but no action worth writing home about was ever taken.
Either identified and convicted corrupt individuals were pardoned (Sandura Commission), or the individuals identified as corrupt were shielded from the public (commission on corruption at Ziscosteel).
Therefore, when it comes to the budget, adequate funds should be given towards the proper, professional and proficient operation of all institutions in Zimbabwe tasked with fighting corruption.
These institutions include, inter alia, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, the Anti-Corruption division of law enforcement, setting up of special Anti-Corruption Courts, etc.
A further seriousness in this regard should be the guaranteed independence of these institutions, on similar basis as the now disbanded Scorpions of South Africa.
These institutions should be allowed to do their work free from any political, economic or social interference. Their independence should be guaranteed by parliament.
Additionally, parliament should provide oversight of these institutions so as to insure that they are not corrupt themselves.
The office of public protector should also be established.
After all these have been seriously and swiftly put in place and well-resourced, then we can start to seriously formulate other macro and micro economic strategies aimed at alleviating our economy. Under a corrupt-free society, these strategies have a better chance of success.
On the issue of my take on the consultation process, I think it is a good concept on paper. What we need to see are the views of the people being seriously considered.
I would not want to see a repeat of the so-called consultations conducted by COPAC during the drafting of our new Constitution.
COPAC conducted what appeared to be well-intended outreach programmes, only to have the views of the people substituted by the views of the country's political parties. That was a betrayal of the people of this country.
Therefore, the next budget should prove that it took on board the views of the people, and not one that was formulated at ZANU PF headquarters - or Harvest House, for that matter - but presented as the people's views.
On the question of why I think the people of Kwekwe overwhelmingly spoke against corruption, I believe it is a result of a united front by the community in raising awareness on corruption.
Kwekwe is so fortunate to be the leader in Zimbabwe in its Anti-Corruption drive.
We have the Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA), working tirelessly in raising awareness as well as actively fighting corruption.
This is then ameliorated by the strong cooperation of the Zimbabwe Republic Police in Kwekwe fighting hard to reduce corruption.
Furthermore, the media in Kwekwe has been on a crusade in raising awareness on the devastating effects of corruption, and playing a leading role in naming and shaming anyone convicted of corruption.
Additionally, the community as a whole has shown a strong distaste for corruption and this is why this scourge is vehemently resisted in Kwekwe.
I would just wish such symbiosis can be seen in the rest of Zimbabwe, then we can all be confident that our country will soon be corrupt-free and reap the rich rewards it so deserves from its abundant resources - which have so far been benefiting a few ruling elite.
Because, without first acknowledging this fact, any macro and/or micro economic strategy/plan that this government formulates is but doomed to fail.
Not only would this be a gross wastage of our scarce and valuable resources, but also a ticket for our country to delve deeper into economic doldrums.
This will inevitably result in the further erosion of investor confidence in our country, further accelerating a vicious cycle that will prove impossible to exit.
After acknowledging that corruption is truly the country's number one enemy, the government needs to show a seriousness that has been lacking in tackling this scourge since 1980.
This is because, although fighting corruption has always been on the lips of our political leadership since 1980, nothing concrete has been put in place to seriously fight corruption.
In fact, if anything, corruption has been nurtured and allowed to prosper by this same government. No wonder we are in this economic mess.
Window-dressing commissions have been set up to allegedly investigate corruption, but no action worth writing home about was ever taken.
Either identified and convicted corrupt individuals were pardoned (Sandura Commission), or the individuals identified as corrupt were shielded from the public (commission on corruption at Ziscosteel).
Therefore, when it comes to the budget, adequate funds should be given towards the proper, professional and proficient operation of all institutions in Zimbabwe tasked with fighting corruption.
These institutions include, inter alia, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, the Anti-Corruption division of law enforcement, setting up of special Anti-Corruption Courts, etc.
A further seriousness in this regard should be the guaranteed independence of these institutions, on similar basis as the now disbanded Scorpions of South Africa.
These institutions should be allowed to do their work free from any political, economic or social interference. Their independence should be guaranteed by parliament.
Additionally, parliament should provide oversight of these institutions so as to insure that they are not corrupt themselves.
The office of public protector should also be established.
After all these have been seriously and swiftly put in place and well-resourced, then we can start to seriously formulate other macro and micro economic strategies aimed at alleviating our economy. Under a corrupt-free society, these strategies have a better chance of success.
On the issue of my take on the consultation process, I think it is a good concept on paper. What we need to see are the views of the people being seriously considered.
I would not want to see a repeat of the so-called consultations conducted by COPAC during the drafting of our new Constitution.
COPAC conducted what appeared to be well-intended outreach programmes, only to have the views of the people substituted by the views of the country's political parties. That was a betrayal of the people of this country.
Therefore, the next budget should prove that it took on board the views of the people, and not one that was formulated at ZANU PF headquarters - or Harvest House, for that matter - but presented as the people's views.
On the question of why I think the people of Kwekwe overwhelmingly spoke against corruption, I believe it is a result of a united front by the community in raising awareness on corruption.
Kwekwe is so fortunate to be the leader in Zimbabwe in its Anti-Corruption drive.
We have the Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-SA), working tirelessly in raising awareness as well as actively fighting corruption.
This is then ameliorated by the strong cooperation of the Zimbabwe Republic Police in Kwekwe fighting hard to reduce corruption.
Furthermore, the media in Kwekwe has been on a crusade in raising awareness on the devastating effects of corruption, and playing a leading role in naming and shaming anyone convicted of corruption.
Additionally, the community as a whole has shown a strong distaste for corruption and this is why this scourge is vehemently resisted in Kwekwe.
I would just wish such symbiosis can be seen in the rest of Zimbabwe, then we can all be confident that our country will soon be corrupt-free and reap the rich rewards it so deserves from its abundant resources - which have so far been benefiting a few ruling elite.
Source - Tendai Ruben Mbofana
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