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Zimbabwe Economic Empowerment Council has urged Government to probe all parastatals, Government institutions and the private sector to curb corruption, which has taken away resources from the much-needed investment in health, education and other critical sectors. This follows reports in the media of widespread misuse of public resources as well as reports of top executives who are receiving huge bonuses, hefty salaries and other major perks at a time when most parastatals and companies were struggling.
ZEEC youth affairs vice president Mr Privellage Gwiba told journalists in Harare yesterday that there was need for transparency to curtail corruption.
“Corruption is becoming a virus to our development and economic growth as individuals loot money which has become one of the reasons we have a liquidity crunch,” he said.
“We demand that a national enquiry be conducted by parliamentarians to investigate all parastatals, Government institutions as well as the private sector as a way to curb corruption.
“It is imperative that corruption be cut down at all levels, therefore we appeal to the President of the country to bring all these culprits to book.”
He said strong measures should be taken against corrupt officials so that the economy would be secure. He applauded Government for coming up Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation (Zim Asset) saying the initiative would boost the country’s economy if implemented well.
The local media’s exposure of the outrageous salaries and perks chief executive officers of loss-making parastatals and local authorities are earning has angered Zimbabweans and jolted the Government into action.
The exposure of the “obscene” salary of former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) boss Happison Muchechetere, who was earning up to US$40 000 a month in salaries and benefits, and Premier Service Medical Aid Society (PSMAS) CEO Cuthbert Dube whose US$6,4 million earnings a year shocked and angered the nation.
Online Reporter