Chronicle Editor
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc), charged with the onerous responsibility of fighting graft, may have ended up being corrupt themselves.
President Mnangagwa disclosed this when he met journalists from the private media in Harare on Wednesday.
This was a sad irony of ironies, an uncanny oxymoron indeed.
We had a group of people given the mandate by the national constitution to rid the country of the damaging scourge but soon became just like the persons they were tasked to bring to book, or even worse.
This meant that the Government’s drive to defeat corruption was doomed from the outset.
We are saddened by this. It tells us how deep-seated the culture of corruption has become in our country.
It shows the immense difficulties our country face in addressing this tremendous challenge.
Zacc chairperson Dr Job Whabira and his team comprising Dr Nanette Silukhuni, Mr Goodson Nguni, Mrs Christine Fundira, Mr Denford Chirindo, Ms Cathy Muchechetere, Ms Farai Mashonganyika and Mr Boyana Ndou — have gone on leave pending finalisation of their terminal benefits said the Government on Thursday.
The commissioners were appointed in February 2016 with high hopes that they would resolve a number of high-profile cases.
However, over the past three years only one case — that of former Energy and Power Development Minister Samuel Undenge — resulted in a conviction at the courts with many still not resolved.
Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda said in a statement on Thursday that President Mnangagwa had accepted the resignations.
“His Excellency the President extends his gratitude to Dr Whabira and the Commissioners for the sacrifice and efforts they had rendered to the country in working towards the elimination of the scourge of corruption which threatens to tear apart the very fabric and ethos of our society,” he said.
“His Excellency the President wishes all of them well in their new endeavours.”
Dr Sibanda said President Mnangagwa will soon appoint a new chairperson to head the anti-graft body.
“In the meantime, His Excellency the President will shortly appoint a new chairman in terms of Section 254 (1a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe…, and request for nominees from the committee on Standing Rules and Orders (SROC), in terms of Section 254 of the Constitution towards the appointment of the rest of the Commissioners,” he said.
Given the not-so-impressive record, we have to say that we are happy that Dr Whabira and his team have acknowledged their shortcomings and taken the collective decision to step aside.
Corruption has blighted our country for so long. Indeed, it has become fashionable, for lack of a better term, for some among us to be corrupt and getting away with it. Corruption, as we all know, tends to pay really well.
The corrupt often live ostentatious lives, driving fast cars, living in plush homes and wearing designer clothing.
There is a possibility that some among the less connected actually envy the jet set lives of the corrupt.
When people see someone living large, spending corruptly acquired wealth lavishly, they tend to want to enjoy similar lives.
That is regrettable and must not be the case as only honest, hard work must pay and pay well, not rent-seeking behaviour that appears to be trending in our country.
President Mnangagwa has, since he assumed office in November 2017, made the fight against corruption one of his major priorities.
We have seen much improvement in the police force, for example. Traffic police who were hated for demanding bribes on the roads seem to be more disciplined now, thanks to the President’s campaign.
However, traffic cops are only small fry in a whole industry that earns the better connected millions upon millions.
It is these who have continued in their corrupt ways unchallenged as some people charged with putting an end to their activities were possibly abetting them secretly.
We are hopeful that processes will be expedited for the President to appoint a new team of commissioners to give the anti-corruption drive a new impetus we all yearn for for the vice to be fought strongly and defeated.
Online Reporter