Tinaani Nyabereka
GWERU – While there is ongoing debate on the effects of both corruption and sanctions on the Zimbabwean economy, a cabinet minister has confirmed that the economic meltdown is largely attributed to rampant corruption.
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution in the Midlands Province, Owen Ncube, recently said that the fight against corruption will assure socio-economic development in Zimbabwe, failure to which the economic crisis in the country will persist.
Ncube was speaking during the International Anti-Corruption Day commemorations held in Gweru where he said government was committed to curb corruption which is prevalent in the whole of Africa.
“Corruption is a huge barricade to sustainable socio-economic development. It is estimated by the United Nations that the world loses around USD$3, 6 trillion from corruption while developing countries lose about USD$1, 26 trillion annually.
“The Second Republic is committed to fight corruption and has come up with economic blue prints aimed at improving economic governance in a bid to promote sustainable economic growth and alleviate poverty by attaining an Upper Middle Income Economy before 2030.
“Corruption is also a crime that is against the law of Zimbabwe and everyone is encouraged not to practice corruption,” said Ncube.
He went on to say Zimbabwe was a signatory of the SADC protocol against corruption and the African Union Convention on preventing and combating corruption which was signed on 14 August 2001 and in 11 July 2003 respectively.
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), which ironically has been accused as one of the most corrupt institutions in the country, Deputy Director for Loss Control, Tawanda Manyika said as an institution ZIMRA was working in complementing government efforts in fighting corruption.
“As ZIMRA we are doing our best on serving the nation in line with complementing government efforts. Traditionally our job was to collect revenue but we were then empowered additionally as we now watch over illegal entry of goods.
“So remember our job is to collect revenue on time and in full as we are supporting government initiatives in line with the laws of the country,” said Manyika.
Zimbabwe Women Against Corruption Trust ( ZWACT) Chairperson, Sandra Matendere said, women were also falling victims to corruption and legal mechanism were need to protect women from falling prey to corrupt tendencies.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), mandated to fight corruption by the Zimbabwean constitution has in 2023 received 129 cases to date, with a bulk of them involving abuse of office.
Among these are also those that involve embezzlement of public resources, traditional leaders illegally selling communal land and fraud.
The Office of the Auditor General has also unearthed massive corruption in parastatals, local authorities as well as government departments.
