Yes Mr President Sir!

Victoria Ruzvidzo
“Corruption must go, corruption must go, corruption must go.” So few words and yet so powerful and instructive, coming from President Mugabe as he addressed guests at a luncheon to mark the opening of the First Session of the Eight Parliament of Zimbabwe in Harare on Tuesday.

He had said as much earlier on when he officially opened Parliament stressing that Government would exercise zero tolerance on corruption.

Yes President, we agree with you totally! There should be no room for corruption if this country is to realise its potential as an economic powerhouse.

Yes Your Excellency this country can ill-afford a leakage of resources through corruption if it is to overcome social challenges such as poor health services, and economic regression.

Indeed, Mr President Sir, corruption has reached endemic proportions and can almost single-handedly be attributable to the financial state that this resource-rich country finds itself in today.

Zimbabwe cannot be mourning about financial challenges when it has so much in its belly. Zimbabwe cannot join the queue for handouts when it is so rich. This is an error Mr President.

Certainly Comrade President, a tougher stance on corruption as you prescribed on Tuesday is what the doctor ordered to rid or at least reduce the levels of corruption that has enriched a few selfish individuals at the expense of an entire nation.

Mr President as you strongly stated in your speech on Tuesday, all machinery to deal with corruption must immediately be dispatched.
Your passion to see Zimbabweans prosper is contagious and we would appreciate a system that brings to book anyone working against the grain.

There should be no mercy for those found on the wrong side of the law.  You have been embarrassed enough by these corrupt dealings and we sing with you the tune that “corruption must go!”

This should be translated into all languages and made loud and clear for the sake of those that may want to plead ignorant or innocent one day.

The impending establishment of the National Prosecuting Authority and empowering the Anti-Corruption Commission should send a clear message that the Government means business.

Those that may need to repent had better do so now or they will soon find themselves in a very uncomfortable place.
We have watched for too long while a few have selfishly acquired wealth, siphoned funds or minerals at the expense of our national well-being.

In some instances the President has been accused of not following his words with action, but we need to remind ourselves that he has never condoned corruption and we have seen the creation of institutions and commissions to deal with the vice.

On Tuesday, even the President’s body language told of a man who will not tolerate corruption. Indeed, Zimbabwe’s economic progress has largely been compromised by corrupt activities that have prejudiced it of its financial and other resources.

We may mourn about the global financial crisis, recurrent droughts, sanctions imposed by the West and other challenges confronting the country today but corruption remains Zimbabwe’s greatest undoing.

In fact, the entire continent has had a spell of corruption cast upon it, thus worsening poverty levels that continue to manifest in many ways.

Is it not sheer madness or some psychological disorder that the continent loses about US$148 billion annually and that the US$1,4 trillion lost over the last three decades is equivalent to the continent’s current Gross Domestic poverty.
How bad can it get?

These are funds that could be used to foster socio-economic growth and easily rid Africa of its poverty tag.
The continent has the potential to look after itself materially, but it has always extended a begging bowl to the outside world because a few of its citizens have long decided to enrich themselves by whatever means, in flagrant disregard to the effects that this brings to the generality of its citizenry.

This is almost like shooting itself in the heart (not in the foot at all).  Zimbabwe has many natural resources but there is very little to show for it largely as a result of corruption that now seems to be the norm rather than the exception.

The sad reality is that very few have effectively resisted corruption, with many falling into the trap willing or inadvertently.
Whoever does it, the end results are fatal to the economy.

The Sunday Mail this week carried a story in its business section that showed that Zimbabwe had lost US$12 billion over the last three decades through financial leakages.

Of course, the actual figure is higher than this because some cases have gone unnoticed and may never be accounted for.
The loss is said to be largely through illegal financial outflow that includes illegal commercial activities, tax evasion, under-invoicing and other such vices.

The story quoted a report produced by the African Development Bank and Global Financial Integrity from the United States.
The loss was said to have happened between 1980 and 2009.

Obviously, more has been lost in the last four years that the report does not account for. The smuggling of gold and other minerals has also had a debilitating effect on the economy.

Certainly, as a country we cannot afford to ignore the statistics and the findings.  Action needs to be taken to ensure the economy accounts for every cent it generates.

We all need to rise to the occasion and do the best we can to dismantle the corruption chain.  Every chain is as strong as its weakest link. So let’s, in our own spheres of influence, ensure our part of the chain is solid.
In God I Trust.

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