Opinion / Columnist
Denunciation of corruption by VPs most welcome
19 Oct 2016 at 09:55hrs | Views
Zimbabweans have been under economic problems for quite a long time and the situation seems to have no end as corruption is threatening to economically destroy all what the western-imposed - economic sanctions left during the over a decade long sanctions-induced-economic demise. For over a decade now Zimbabweans have not economically tested peace as some western-imposed sanctions in the country did not do any favour to our economy and now corruption is causing havoc to the same tattered Zimbabwean economy.
Now it seems people have come to accept as normal mingling with corrupt individuals the same way how people have accepted that it is common and normal for one to have H.I.V and AIDS pandemic. Similarly with corruption despite the effects which this scourge has caused economically in the country people seem to have accepted that as normal. Some people even abet the commission of corruption in the country the same how some people abet the spread of H.I.V and AIDS in the country.
However like how those in the medical field had fought tirelessly to with ways to contain the scourge of H.I.V and AIDs globally, the two Vice Presidents in the country Cdes Emerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko also came out strongly denouncing corrupt activities in the country. They both agreed that corruption has not done any good to the country hence those caught on the wrong side of the law should be either dismissed from their jobs or get arrested and thrown into jails.
While addressing residents in Area Two of Old Pumula suburb in Bulawayo some few days ago as he handed over 2 900 day-old chicks to the residents, Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko said that corrupt officials at public hospitals such as Mpilo Central Hospital and United Bulawayo Hospitals must be fired for fleecing patients. VP Mphoko went further to blast corrupt officials by saying that there was conflict of interest at some institutions as some officials ran businesses similar to that of their employer.VP Mphoko said that such scenarios breeds corruption thereby disadvantages those who need to be assisted medically on public hospitals
VP Emerson Mnangagwa speaking at the National Journalism and Media Awards in Harare on Thursday 13 October 2016 said it was the responsibility of every Zimbabwean to expose corruption in the country. He hailed the media for exposing corruption saying that the scourge must never be rewarded with "impunity, while righteousness is punished with hostile editorials." VP Mnangagwa called for the media to make sure that there is no scared goat when it comes to exposing corruption in the country. He encouraged some journalist to make sure that they do investigative journalism so they are able to expose such vices without fearing anyone.
For that reasons, Zimbabweans should take heed on what the VPs said on corruption since those are the only ways in which corruption could be tackled. If corrupt individuals are exposed they would probably stop such activities. This scourge should not be left unattended because Zimbabweans have been suffering for a long time. Corruption should not be accepted the same way people have accepted the scourge of H.I.V and AIDS. While people have been informed on how they can protect themselves from the scourge of H.I.V and AIDS but the scourge of corruption seem to be a problem as it is mainly coming from the top downwards.
The hope now that corruption could be dealt with rests with what both VPs said about fighting corruption. Such moves by the VPs should now be taken as a turning point by all Zimbabweans to fight corruption. As said by VP Mnangagwa that the media should work tirelessly in exposing corruption so the media should make sure that those engaged in corrupt activities are exposed. There is need for the media to make sure that noone is feared when it comes to exposing corruption in the country.
Actually those involved in corrupt activities should be jailed or fired from positions of authorities as pointed out by VP Mphoko as to send a clear message to would be corrupt individuals. Zimbabweans should not embrace corruption the same way as they embraced H.I.V and AIDS because this pandemic came sometimes unplanned and unknowingly unlike corruption where one plans to so.
Zimbabwe is in dire need of the foreign direct investment which could make the economic turnaround of the economy viable but such a move cannot be possible if a country is full of corrupt individuals who always see the coming of any investor in the country as an opportunity for both top public and private sector officials to fatten their wallets. So corruption in whatever sector should be dealt with. Now that the VPs have now come out strongly talking against corruption the government should work tirelessly to arrest those found on the wrong side of the law. Actually laws to facilitate prosecution of corrupt individuals should be enacted so that this scourge is minimised if not eradicated totally.
It is a fact that Zimbabweans from all walks of life have been talking against corruption and now that the powers that be have also joined the bandwagon of Zimbabweans in denouncing corruption, people expect action to be taken. Corruption has been talked about many times in different meetings, seminars and even in parliament but nothing tangible has been done to deal with those involved in corrupt ways.
During a briefing with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the functions and status of the National Prosecuting Authority on 31 March 2013,the then National Prosecutor-General who was by then the Acting Attorney-General, Mr. Johannes Tomana, told the committee that the government was supposed to capacitate institutions mandated to fight corruption while creating an enabling legal framework if the country was to deal decisively with the scourge of corruption in the country. Such a view by the then top government lawyer in that time should have been taken seriously as it was overdue for such an enabling legal framework to be enacted as a means to deal with corruption.
Surprisingly such an enabling legal framework meant to deal with corruption has not been put in place despite the presence of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in the country which is only there to fleece tax payers' money in salaries and allowances but being toothless when it comes to powers of arrest. The government should immediately enact laws which empower ZACC to investigate and arrest those involved in corrupt activities as way of making its presence understandable. Failure to do that by government would render useless the existence of ZACC but only to be there to drain the national fiscus.
Now it seems people have come to accept as normal mingling with corrupt individuals the same way how people have accepted that it is common and normal for one to have H.I.V and AIDS pandemic. Similarly with corruption despite the effects which this scourge has caused economically in the country people seem to have accepted that as normal. Some people even abet the commission of corruption in the country the same how some people abet the spread of H.I.V and AIDS in the country.
However like how those in the medical field had fought tirelessly to with ways to contain the scourge of H.I.V and AIDs globally, the two Vice Presidents in the country Cdes Emerson Mnangagwa and Phelekezela Mphoko also came out strongly denouncing corrupt activities in the country. They both agreed that corruption has not done any good to the country hence those caught on the wrong side of the law should be either dismissed from their jobs or get arrested and thrown into jails.
While addressing residents in Area Two of Old Pumula suburb in Bulawayo some few days ago as he handed over 2 900 day-old chicks to the residents, Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko said that corrupt officials at public hospitals such as Mpilo Central Hospital and United Bulawayo Hospitals must be fired for fleecing patients. VP Mphoko went further to blast corrupt officials by saying that there was conflict of interest at some institutions as some officials ran businesses similar to that of their employer.VP Mphoko said that such scenarios breeds corruption thereby disadvantages those who need to be assisted medically on public hospitals
VP Emerson Mnangagwa speaking at the National Journalism and Media Awards in Harare on Thursday 13 October 2016 said it was the responsibility of every Zimbabwean to expose corruption in the country. He hailed the media for exposing corruption saying that the scourge must never be rewarded with "impunity, while righteousness is punished with hostile editorials." VP Mnangagwa called for the media to make sure that there is no scared goat when it comes to exposing corruption in the country. He encouraged some journalist to make sure that they do investigative journalism so they are able to expose such vices without fearing anyone.
For that reasons, Zimbabweans should take heed on what the VPs said on corruption since those are the only ways in which corruption could be tackled. If corrupt individuals are exposed they would probably stop such activities. This scourge should not be left unattended because Zimbabweans have been suffering for a long time. Corruption should not be accepted the same way people have accepted the scourge of H.I.V and AIDS. While people have been informed on how they can protect themselves from the scourge of H.I.V and AIDS but the scourge of corruption seem to be a problem as it is mainly coming from the top downwards.
Actually those involved in corrupt activities should be jailed or fired from positions of authorities as pointed out by VP Mphoko as to send a clear message to would be corrupt individuals. Zimbabweans should not embrace corruption the same way as they embraced H.I.V and AIDS because this pandemic came sometimes unplanned and unknowingly unlike corruption where one plans to so.
Zimbabwe is in dire need of the foreign direct investment which could make the economic turnaround of the economy viable but such a move cannot be possible if a country is full of corrupt individuals who always see the coming of any investor in the country as an opportunity for both top public and private sector officials to fatten their wallets. So corruption in whatever sector should be dealt with. Now that the VPs have now come out strongly talking against corruption the government should work tirelessly to arrest those found on the wrong side of the law. Actually laws to facilitate prosecution of corrupt individuals should be enacted so that this scourge is minimised if not eradicated totally.
It is a fact that Zimbabweans from all walks of life have been talking against corruption and now that the powers that be have also joined the bandwagon of Zimbabweans in denouncing corruption, people expect action to be taken. Corruption has been talked about many times in different meetings, seminars and even in parliament but nothing tangible has been done to deal with those involved in corrupt ways.
During a briefing with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the functions and status of the National Prosecuting Authority on 31 March 2013,the then National Prosecutor-General who was by then the Acting Attorney-General, Mr. Johannes Tomana, told the committee that the government was supposed to capacitate institutions mandated to fight corruption while creating an enabling legal framework if the country was to deal decisively with the scourge of corruption in the country. Such a view by the then top government lawyer in that time should have been taken seriously as it was overdue for such an enabling legal framework to be enacted as a means to deal with corruption.
Surprisingly such an enabling legal framework meant to deal with corruption has not been put in place despite the presence of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in the country which is only there to fleece tax payers' money in salaries and allowances but being toothless when it comes to powers of arrest. The government should immediately enact laws which empower ZACC to investigate and arrest those involved in corrupt activities as way of making its presence understandable. Failure to do that by government would render useless the existence of ZACC but only to be there to drain the national fiscus.
Source - Kazamula Matilaya
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