Apply forensic science to stem corruption: VP
VICE PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa said there is need for a collective effort to fight corruption as it is not only limited to the public sector but is also spread across the private sector.
He said this in a key note speech read on his behalf by Minister in the Vice President’s Office Clifford Sibanda at the African Association of Financial Forensic Analysis and Exhibition Conference last Thursday.
Vice President Mnangagwa said forensic science should play a key role in stemming corruption. He therefore implored company boards to incorporate forensic accounting methodologies in their audits to enable them to get better value for money.
“On a related note, I particularly want to urge the audit committees of the various company boards, be they State enterprises, parastatals and companies, to deliberately incorporate forensic accounting methodologies in their audits as this enables them to get better value for money,” said Vice President Mnangagwa.
He also stressed the urgent need for the local chapter of the African Association of Financial Forensics Analysis to conduct comprehensive research on the nature, causes architecture and magnitude of corruption attributed to the public and private sectors in Zimbabwe.
Vice President Mnangagwa said such knowledge enables financial forensic analysts to effectively target appropriate interventions to stem the cancer.
He said Government is currently implementing the Ten Point Plan enunciated by President Mugabe which essentially evaluates the thrust to maintain growth and creation of jobs.
“As Government, we have come up with a National Code of Corporate Governance, which provides additional impetus for Government to review critical pieces of legislation in order to ensure that there is a broad legislative framework and measures to tackle issues of corruption, which have become a cancerous drawback in our efforts to grow the economy.
“Corruption is not limited to the public sector alone but it is cross-cutting across all sectors,” said Vice President Mnangagwa.
“I wish to underscore the fact that the fight against this alluring but malignant cancer must be adequately broad based and within the framework of a national call to all Zimbabweans and all sectors to eliminate the contagion. Forensic science will be a key handle in this fight.”