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It is an agreed position that there is corruption in the country which has adversely affected the growth of the economy. Corruption is rampant in both the public and private sectors and the challenge therefore is to clean up both the public and private sectors.The media has been awash with stories on corruption and some of the individuals involved have since appeared in court. Chief executives of parastatals and some government enterprises have been paying themselves outrageous salaries now referred to as obscene salaries in an economy that is struggling to turn around.
Some of the figures are ridiculously high that they are infact envied by chief executive officers of leading companies in the Southern African region and beyond. What is painful is that some of the companies that these unscrupulous CEOs are leading are failing to meet their financial obligations such as paying salaries, remitting taxes and paying pension contributions.
We have said it before that people are waiting for swift action from the government to punish the culprits and deter would be offenders. Corruption is a cancer and where it has been institutionalised like what appears to be the case in this country, it is very difficult to get rid of. It is therefore not surprising that despite the many stories published exposing individuals involved in corruption, we have individuals who still have the guts to continue with their corrupt ways of doing business.
The revelation by President Mugabe last Friday that a Cabinet minister and a female Member of Parliament, recently demanded $120,000 bribe from a prospective investor is a confirmation that this monster called corruption is unrelenting. Those involved in corruption find it very difficult to stop hence individuals continue to engage in corruption despite the exposure by the media. We do not want to believe that the case involving the Cabinet minister and the MP is an isolated case. This might turn out to be a tip of the iceberg of what potential investors are being subjected to everyday by our leaders in Parliament and Cabinet.
The measures that government has taken so far have not been deterrent enough and as such those in leadership positions continue to indulge in corruption despite calls including from the highest office in the land, President Mugabe for individuals to refrain from engaging in this dishonest practice.
It is time that those involved in corruption are dealt with decisively. Those fingered in corrupt deals especially in government, should immediately be relieved of their duties and in the event of being cleared can be re-engaged. This measure might sound too harsh but that is the only way government can send a loud and clear message that it does not tolerate corruption. Those that have benefited financially or materially from corruption should lose the ill-gotten wealth.
Zimbabwe has said enough regarding corruption and it is time to take action. The government’s economic blueprint, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Social Economic Transformation (Zim-Asset) can only succeed if the country gets rid of the corrupt elements out to line their pockets at the expense of the growth of the economy. Foreign direct investment will remain a pipedream as long as corruption remains rampant in both the public and private sectors.
These corrupt elements demanding hefty bribes will continue to frustrate potential investors. The fight against corruption should not be left to government alone but should be every Zimbabwean’s fight. Workers including those at the shop floor should not hesitate to expose corruption at their respective workplaces. Members of the public on their part should report corrupt activities within their communities.
We envisage a situation whereby every citizen declares corruption public enemy number one.
Online Reporter