Opinion / Columnist
Zimbabwe: A cauldron of scandals?
12 May 2016 at 11:39hrs | Views
It is severely disheartening to take in the glaring reality of our beloved country being transformed into the infamous land of scandals. This is despite the existence of an anti-corruption commission whose existence is grounded in the constitution of the country.
As we grew up in the 1980s, we use to laugh at Nigeria which carried the tag of being the most corrupt country in the world. Little did we know that the scourge of corruption was later to catch up with us. And in the process? The poor majority of our people have been impoverished beyond redemption through this ravishing cancer of corruption and scandals.
I remember very well when Solomon Skuza released his song "Love and scandals", how it seemed a trivial issue then. Little did many realize that the free radicals that degenerate into the cancer of corruption had found fertile ground in our midst - all under the watch of our elected government.
In the last few weeks or so, a very disappointing pattern of scandals has emerged which explains why this country is in an economic quagmire. Just as a summary, we have all read about the 15 billion dollars of diamond money that disappeared into thin air. Surely, no government with fully operational institutions can allow this to ever happen - unless of course the very guardians of those institutions are responsible for the looting.
The story of corruption at NetOne, which subsequently led to the suspension of Reward Kangai, is another chilling example of how the cancer of scandals and corruption has metastasized. Then recently, the NSSA boss scandal, the CMED boss scandal, the ZIMRA bosses scandal and the unraveling ZESA - Fruitful Communication scandal. Not to be forgotten is the scandal of the Zimbabwean girls who were recruited into prostitution in Kuwait. One wonders how such a dishonorable pattern could escape our hawk eyed security boys. Many would agree that this is a result of misplaced priorities. And - lest we forget - all this fiasco transcends all strata of our socio-economic and political platforms (the match fixing scandals, etc etc etc) One is left to wonder, how many more scandals are there waiting to unravel?
An observant reader would quickly notice that these afore-mentioned scandals involve very small fish, so to say. One wonders how many more involve the big fish. That is a voluminous can of worms that needs to be priced open! Taking into account of the above scenario, obviously we are a way off from resolving our economic mess if we judge by these telling revelations of scandalous practice involving people entrusted with authority to overlook public funds. And how will all these leakages be recovered?
I really would like to pause a question - where is the government when all these shoddy and economically devastating shenanigans are executed? Why are the responsible Ministers left napping on their jobs? The only time they wake up is when a trivial issue arises such as the Zvihuta/ izagwaca revolution! It's a shame. I repeat a shame! As a suffering and law abiding citizen, I find it so shocking that the citizens now have to pay the prize for this corruption through losing their hard earned dollars in exchange of useless bond notes that really no one wants. We are paying for the grave sins of commissions and omissions of the very people we entrusted with authority to serve us.
How long shall we be a land of scandals and subject of scorn? Till Messiah comes?
As we grew up in the 1980s, we use to laugh at Nigeria which carried the tag of being the most corrupt country in the world. Little did we know that the scourge of corruption was later to catch up with us. And in the process? The poor majority of our people have been impoverished beyond redemption through this ravishing cancer of corruption and scandals.
I remember very well when Solomon Skuza released his song "Love and scandals", how it seemed a trivial issue then. Little did many realize that the free radicals that degenerate into the cancer of corruption had found fertile ground in our midst - all under the watch of our elected government.
In the last few weeks or so, a very disappointing pattern of scandals has emerged which explains why this country is in an economic quagmire. Just as a summary, we have all read about the 15 billion dollars of diamond money that disappeared into thin air. Surely, no government with fully operational institutions can allow this to ever happen - unless of course the very guardians of those institutions are responsible for the looting.
The story of corruption at NetOne, which subsequently led to the suspension of Reward Kangai, is another chilling example of how the cancer of scandals and corruption has metastasized. Then recently, the NSSA boss scandal, the CMED boss scandal, the ZIMRA bosses scandal and the unraveling ZESA - Fruitful Communication scandal. Not to be forgotten is the scandal of the Zimbabwean girls who were recruited into prostitution in Kuwait. One wonders how such a dishonorable pattern could escape our hawk eyed security boys. Many would agree that this is a result of misplaced priorities. And - lest we forget - all this fiasco transcends all strata of our socio-economic and political platforms (the match fixing scandals, etc etc etc) One is left to wonder, how many more scandals are there waiting to unravel?
An observant reader would quickly notice that these afore-mentioned scandals involve very small fish, so to say. One wonders how many more involve the big fish. That is a voluminous can of worms that needs to be priced open! Taking into account of the above scenario, obviously we are a way off from resolving our economic mess if we judge by these telling revelations of scandalous practice involving people entrusted with authority to overlook public funds. And how will all these leakages be recovered?
I really would like to pause a question - where is the government when all these shoddy and economically devastating shenanigans are executed? Why are the responsible Ministers left napping on their jobs? The only time they wake up is when a trivial issue arises such as the Zvihuta/ izagwaca revolution! It's a shame. I repeat a shame! As a suffering and law abiding citizen, I find it so shocking that the citizens now have to pay the prize for this corruption through losing their hard earned dollars in exchange of useless bond notes that really no one wants. We are paying for the grave sins of commissions and omissions of the very people we entrusted with authority to serve us.
How long shall we be a land of scandals and subject of scorn? Till Messiah comes?
Source - B Mthombeni
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