THE African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) yesterday said the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) should have independent auditors to effectively carry out lifestyle audits on corrupt traffic police officers. SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER
This follows reports that the ZRP has launched its own lifestyle audit for traffic officers in a bid to curb corruption at roadblocks.
APNAC chairman Willias Madzimure (MDC-T) said the lifestyle audits should also be extended to all civil servants, politicians and other public officials.
The ZRP lifestyle audit was announced last week by Assistant Commissioner Kenny Mthombeni during the launch of a provincial anti-corruption campaign in Chinhoyi.
“Considering that there is too much corruption within the ZRP, the starting point is that they first declare their assets before the lifestyle audits,” Madzimure said.
“It is also important that independent investigation teams should do the lifestyle audits for the ZRP because they have become so corrupt — it is alleged they share their proceeds with the senior officers.”
Madzimure said corruption within the police force had reached shocking levels to the extent that they no longer respected MPs.
“The police have become too arrogant even towards MPs because they are now too rich due to bribe money. One police officer even detained a bus carrying MPs who were being ferried from Victoria Falls Airport to Elephant Hills Hotel to attend a pre-budget seminar last November, resulting in too much drama.
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“It was only after non-constituency legislator Oppah Muchinguri spoke to Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri that the bus was allowed to proceed,” he said.
APNAC secretary-general Kudakwashe Bhasikiti (Zanu PF) said there should be periodic reviews of wealth acquired by civil servants, politicians and other public officials.
“If there is any change in lifestyles of public officials, they should be able to justify how they acquired that wealth. We are happy that the police have taken the initiative of lifestyle audits because they cannot effectively curb corruption without being honest themselves. They should start weeding out bad elements among themselves so that those who remain are able to curb corruption throughout the country,” he said.
