adminMarvelous Moyo Gwanda Correspondent
ZANU-PF members should fulfil President’s Mugabe’s call for “zero tolerance to corruption” and take a lead in the fight against corruption to pave way for accelerated development of the country, the party’s Secretary for Business Development and Liaison, Cde Sithembiso Nyoni, has said.
Cde Nyoni said this in response to concerns from the Matabeleland South Province businesspeople at a well-attended business interactive meeting in Gwanda Town on Thursday.
“I have noted with concern that the biggest problem frustrating businesses in Matabeleland South is corruption. President Mugabe said zero tolerance to corruption and everybody must shake up and spit out all the corruption so that it comes to an end.
“As Zanu-PF businesspeople we should take a lead and fight this cancer. Asicebani but we are fulfilling the President’s proclamation,” she said.
Recently, the President announced that the new Zanu-PF Government needed to do away with corruption. “I have never experienced President Mugabe announcing a policy and backtracking. Therefore, we must all act,” said Cde Nyoni.
Most businesspeople who participated at the interactive meeting said police officers especially those manning roadblocks were the most corrupt people and were constraining business operations in Matabeleland South Province.
Cross-border traders said the police made their businesses not viable as they were forced to pump out sums of money for them to pass through with their goods at numerous roadblocks mounted on the highways.
Cde Nyoni, who is also the Minister of Small to Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development, encouraged the business community to unite, be resilient and work collectively in trying to solve the problems facing them. She said her department would do everything in its power to help change the face of Matabeleland South businesses.
“People of Matabeleland South made us proud in the 31 July harmonised elections by voting resoundingly for Zanu-PF. It is now pay back time and let me assure you that as Zanu-PF we want to create an environment where you can fly high because you are very important people. We want you to occupy your space.
“Our mission is big and as a party we promised that we represent indigenisation. We therefore want to awaken the giant that is asleep in this province,” said Cde Nyoni.
Responding to the concerns regarding the police, Cde Nyoni said she would return with the Minister of Home Affairs, Cde Kembo Mohadi, to listen to the concerns of the people especially on the issue involving the police.
Zanu-PF member and former Gwanda Senator Cde Japhet Dube said the ruling party was prepared to be at the forefront of exposing all corruption activities.
“Corruption involves me and you. We must expose it but the problem is that we do it privately. As Zanu-PF we really should lead in exposing all the corrupt elements,” he said.
A businessman, Mr Misheck Ndlovu, said corruption was as problematic as sanctions facing the country.
“Sanctions imposed on this country by the Western countries are now nothing to talk about. The biggest sanctions we now have is corruption and it starts from the law enforcement agencies.
“Here in Gwanda, most taxis on the roads do not have proper documents but because they are owned by police officers, nothing is being done. We cannot run a country like that. Corruption will kill this country if things continue like that,” he said.
Online Reporter