Maziwisa, what time is it on the corruption clock?

A first timer to Zimbabwe hearing promises to deal with corruption by Zanu PF leaders may think the following day prisons will be replete with culprits. Unfortunately, none of that will ever happen!

Psychology Maziwisa says that there is no immunity for corrupt Zanu PF stalwarts. I beg to differ as I chuckle because he seems to be in his own fascinating world of wonders. To date, no one has ever been nabbed and sent to prison for corruption in the history of the party since the Sandura Commission. The Willowgate scandal was just a harbinger of the bleak future. The salary scandal issues and all the prevailing issues became sequels to a process that is now as old as the hills. I am glad we have seen some souls like Professor Jona Moyo try to push hard to flush out the wicked souls but it still remains rocket science because of the pyramid of blame, and the over protection of some souls within the Zanu PF leadership ranks.

Those supposed to take responsibility are the ones condoning the problem and quick to justify some actions. "We want proof" They sing daily. And many keep asking, "What more proof do you need when the writing is on the wall?" For the last two decades, corruption has never been practically addressed and many have become hopeless on the way forward because there is no demonstrable commitment by government to handle the issue.  The national system remains messy from revenue collection to resource utiilization. Leaders are abusing public facilities and resources and it seems normal.  In return there is so much false promise emerging from various podia on what the government will do to curb corruption.  The citizen has been taken for granted because nothing will ever happen.

As a quick run-down on our national problem: police openly demand bribes, CEOs of Parastatals collect obscene salaries, school headmasters sell placement vacancies, diamond revenue collection remains questionable, exams leak for cash and the list is endless. No one goes to jail as long as he has a Zanu PF t-shirt or card. The challenge is to get some souls to be accountable because we have a broken system. Some are above the law and can walk away with it and then the insignificant ones become the victims with which to justify the frustrations of a broken system. Per George Orwell's Animal farm, "All animals are equal but some are more equal than others". We are in this social theatre where the citizenry is continually marinated with false promise and propaganda about opposition politics. Any dissenting voice becomes a state enemy for the sake of free expression and demand for truth.

There is so much grandstanding and so much politicking. There have been endless promises on how to deal with the corruption bug and yet not even a slight step has been taken to address this issue. People are drunk with promises and the underlying inertia from Zanu PF Mr. Maziwisa. Is is interesting in that all the promises to act fade instantly once the podium microphones are packed. Year in year out, people continue to suffer as national resources are being decimated and plundered.

While Mr. Maziwisa holds that there is no velvet glove treatment for anyone found on the wrong side of the law,that seems far from the truth. To date we have never seen a nabbed public leader discovered with "hands in the till". Please give me one big wig labelled and proven to be corrupt and please explain to me how he faced the consequences of his actions. With that I will salute you and respect your assertions or zealous promises.

To state that corruption came with the MDC formations is remote and misleading. MDC was not existent in 1985 when the Willowgate scandal occurred. The MDC is no longer in the coalition government and yet corruption continues unabated. We have had one ruling party since 1980. Nothing has been done to cure the perennial issue that has now become part of our livelihood.

For now Mr. Maziwisa, I will humbly challenge you to name just one big wig found guilty of corruption. I want to live to see what becomes of that big wig. I also hope that this tendency to make empty promises to deal with corruption could be ended because we are now in the hangover stage on what Zanu PF can do to stop corruption.  It is 2014 Mr. Maziwisa. Corruption is at its peak. Your ranks are dashing to Press club microphones denouncing corruption and promising big things and yet nothing will happen on the ground. May be we need a few more Jonathan Moyos to be courageous enough to speak out and tackle the bull by its horns. Otherwise save your breath. We are drunk with empty promises.   

Tapiwa Kapurura writes in a personal capacity.