Mealie-meal rot: Name, shame, arrest

WHILE other countries battle killer viruses and others deal with devastating wars and sophisticated crime — Zimbabwe is currently grappling with the scourge of corruption.

Although some people were quick to dismiss the task force on roller meal as nothing but a gimmick, the situation on the ground paints a different picture altogether in terms of the work they have covered so far.

The fact that the Government is seized with the issue, and has put in place a task force, means that they recognise the gravity of the problem.

Whether the task force will succeed in its mandate or get corrupted along the way is a debate for another day.

The truth is that there is a realisation, from the highest offices in the land, that there is a problem.

Steps are being taken to neutralise the threat.

It is important to note that maize and maize-meal diversion to either the black market in Zimbabwe or out of the country did not start today. Some elements involved in customs duty evasion, theft by conversion and abuse of whatever offices they hold have been reported in the Press while some are even before the courts.

This means that this is an issue that is well documented, is known and is rampant.

Two cases jump out — one involving some officials in Chivi that were exposed by Member of the House of Assembly for Chivi South Killer Zivhu and a recent one involving a Gokwe-Sesame MP who has since been arrested in a case involving stolen maize.

This is maize meant for struggling members of society. Imagine the cruelty!

In the mix of this heartless corruption ring is the retailer, millers and Grain Marketing Board officials, among others. It does not end there.

There are those charged with monitoring and tracking these goods — the border control people, police and other security agencies — who work in cahoots with the economic saboteurs.

Saboteurs of not just of the country’s food security, but selfish individuals who have bled the fuel sector, people that sponsor theft of copper cables, transformers and other infrastructure.

Irresponsible citizens, who give out the country’s identity documents like they are dishing out confetti, banks that allow cash barons access to huge sums of money which finds its way to the black market.

The list is endless.

It is time for the fetid swamp to be drained. Time for those involved, be they in Government, security services or business, to be named, shamed and arrested.

If those sent to catch the thieves are corrupted in the process, they too must be incarcerated.