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NewsDay

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AMHVoices:Pounce on corrupt big fish

AMH Voices
I am seriously concerned about the government’s failure to curb corruption. Graft has became the legal currency of today.

I am seriously concerned about the government’s failure to curb corruption. Graft has became the legal currency of today. Imagine, from morning when people are going to work, traffic police officers are receiving bribes from motorists, and when one gets to town one is asked for a bribe by parking marshals for a reduction in parking fees to park for the whole day.

Justice Zivai Mukupe,Our Reader

I know that government has a system in place to curb graft, but whatever system or method the government is using, it is proving inefficient or simply the people who work for such organisations are just ineffective or maybe they are also receiving bribes. More needs to be done if Zimbabwe is to truly realise its full potential. There must be an aggressive approach when dealing with corruption.

I remember when Thomas Mapfumo released his hit song Corruption in the late Eighties, the song made little or no sense at all back then and l only enjoyed it for entertainment. Mapfumo’s prophecy has come true over the years and yet government is reluctant to deal with this creature.

Tenders are being awarded to undeserving candidates in broad daylight because of kickbacks.

Corruption is serious in government departments such as Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Immigration Department, Registrar-General’s Office, State Procurement Board, Vehicle Inspection Department and the health sector, just to name, but a few. One always wonders how drugs which are said to be scarce in hospitals end up being sold abundantly at street corners. In the private sector corruption has also became the norm.

Also in some rare cases, the church is not wholly clean on this, especially when congregants are vying for posts.

Nowadays, for one to be awarded a tender, to get a job, to get a university place or university residence, to get Grade One, Form One or Form Five places etc, one has to pay something to be successful.

The creature has affected our ethics that even when making a police report for lost/stolen property, one is told to wait and photocopy the ZRP Form 162 or just buy a drink then get served immediately. Imagine, if corruption is taking place in police station charge offices, what more in closed-door offices?

So, if the people who are tasked to protect the general public are the ones asking for bribes, how then are we going to eliminate this ugly practice? How are we going to curb corruption when senior government officials engaging in corrupt activities are not brought to book? People have become selfish at the expense of the whole nation.

The country is losing a lot of potential revenue through these malpractices. While I am not a saint in all this, my appeal goes to President Robert Mugabe to flush out all those who are fingered in any corrupt activities, whether ministers, Members of Parliament or councillors. By so doing, this will send a strong message to all of us engaging in these practices especially when big fish are caught.

The succession battles in Zanu PF have made the situation worse because people are divided along factional lines.

Let us be united to fight this common enemy and shun corruption for the good of our economy and our future.

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