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Prosper Ndlovu, Business Editor
THE fight against corruption is not a joke and the Government will not leave any stone unturned in its efforts to weed out the vice, a senior official has said.
Speaking during the just ended Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) 2016 congress in Victoria Falls on Friday, the Minister of State in the Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Office, Clifford Sibanda, warned that perpetrators of corruption would be dealt with ruthlessly.
“If you’ve committed corruption we’re on our way. If you haven’t committed it but you were planning to, please stop,” said Minister Sibanda, who is also MP for Bubi constituency.
During the discussions, participants complained that the Government was slow to act on corruption, which they partly blamed for bringing down the economy.
Minister Sibanda told delegates who included Cabinet ministers, academics and industry captains that the stance taken against corruption by the country’s leadership was sincere and not apologetic.
President Mugabe and his deputies Phelekezela Mphoko and Emmerson Mnangagwa have spoken strongly against corruption, which has been blamed for stifling development in the country.
“We’re very serious about corruption. We know Zimbabwe has got a lot of corruption but laws are being put in place in Parliament.
‘‘Very soon all of us will be smiling and I want to assure this congress that as far as corruption is concerned we’re taking it very seriously and there are no jokes about it,” said Minister Sibanda.
“I know people will keep asking questions like “when?”.
‘‘Someone was just saying those people are known, but have they been reported? That’s another question.
‘‘Who are they, we want to know them. If you know them, supply the names to the (Zimbabwe) Anti-Corruption Commission.
‘‘I want to state it clearly that we want to fight corruption. In every address by the honourable Vice President (Mnangagwa), we’re always and will always refer to this scourge of corruption.”
Minister Sibanda urged Zimbabweans to desist from corruption, work hand in hand with law enforcement agents and ZACC to bring culprits to book.
In November last year, President Mugabe appointed commissioners to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), which is chaired by Dr Job Wabhira who holds a doctorate of philosophy in jurisprudence.
He leads a nine-member anti-corruption commission deputised by Dr Nanette Silukhuni.Other commissioners are Goodson Nguni, Christine Fundira, Denford Chirindo, Cathy Muchechetere, Thandaza Masiye Moyo, Farai Mashonganyika and Boyana Ndou.
The Office of the President and Cabinet now directly leads the fight against corruption after transferring the administration of ZACC from the Ministry of Home Affairs. “So, we’re prepared, we are going to fight corruption.
‘‘There are a number of laws which are before Parliament now to deal with this and I can’t really disclose now how we’re going to do it, but the fact that the laws are being prepared and the anti-corruption secretariat has been moved from Ministry of Home Affairs to the Office of the President and Cabinet shows the seriousness attached to fighting corruption in the country,” said Minister Sibanda.
The government has already come up with a National Code of Corporate Governance which provides additional impetus for a review of critical pieces of legislation and establishment of a legislative framework to deal with corruption and instil a positive value system of integrity and honesty.
Online Reporter
derick.khumalo