Corruption needs to be annihilated

Recently the newly appointed Central Mechanical Engineering Division (CMED) board led by lawyer, Goodwills Masimirembwa showed immense commitment to eradicate corruption in our midst by instituting measures to recover millions of dollars that were allegedly looted by some managerial elements in cahoots with some rogue shelf company owners. It is good news to have at least some personalities holding public office exhibiting that degree of responsibility to at least seek for measures to recover public funds. Its commendable that Masimirembwa is fighting that crucial battle. Corruption has the potential to wipe the modest gains which the new economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset), has thus far achieved and look set to unleash. It is a cancer which the nation needs to root out of its systems. With the necessary political will, as recently pronounced by President Mugabe, it is a battle which can be won.

The events of this week, where the Small Enterprises Development Cooperation (SEDCO) management in the company of the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development permanent secretary ,Evelyn Ndlovu, unearthed to  Parliament that a combination of managerial flaws and failure to remit loans by its large clientele contributed to that organization's dismal performance. The figure that is missing is in the region of close to a million United States dollars. Surely it boggles the mind why such malcontents, who still walk free in the streets, are not jailbirds. These people who connived to loot public funds, no matter their positions in society, should be simply thrown into jails. The Chinese example of brutal approach of subjecting such criminal elements to the firing squads should be an alternative for our justice system.

Imagine the benefits to the country's economy and its populace if such a huge amount had been judiciously spent. Those who were let to continue to manage SEDCO after that debacle need to be summarily dismissed and measures taken to recover the ill gotten wealth. The glimpse that was shown on the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Cooperation news bulletin revealed the body language of people who are not remorseful considering the loss of such a huge amount of public funds. Surely, drastic measures need to be instituted to recover that loot.

The same applies to the Munene hospital saga in Mberengwa where once more close to a million United States dollar  was squandered by greedy people who did not possess even the minimum of conditions to qualify for the task of renovating the hospital. The management of the hospital seems to have connived with those who allegedly won the tender. Isn't it pure lunacy to award a construction tender to a company whose specialty is in food?

The same people who looted the money are enjoying the fruits of their plunder unperturbed. The law needs to take its course. If they are no provisions to deal with this wanton criminality in our statutes, then I propose that the constitution be overhauled. For the economy to be positively transformed there is need for the nation to be heavy handed when dealing with these dishonest characters. This is the only way in which wealth can be evenly distributed to all the citizens of this country. In real terms, there is need for a paradigm shift in the way society and law enforcement entities should view these parasitic individuals who hardly deserve a place in our society.

These few examples of greedy individuals who dare destroy the nation by engaging in such shoddy deals should face the music in the comfort, or is it discomfort, of jails which is where they belong. The nation cannot continue to be held to ransom by just a few miscreants who see opportunities in the midst of want by the majority. Let's nip this inhuman practice of corruption in the bud once and for all. It needs our total and unequivocal commitment as a nation. This is the time to annihilate this scourge so as to ensure that Zim Asset is a success.