Corruption is endemic in Africa: Chiwenga

VICE-PRESIDENT Constantino Chiwenga yesterday called for a corruption-free Africa, adding that the cancerous scourge was depleting resources meant to benefit the public. Chiwenga said this while virtually addressing delegates at the ongoing eighth edition of the Continental Africa Public Service Day commemorations being held in Victoria Falls.

“It will be remiss to ignore the issue of corruption which continues to be a threat to national development across Africa. Corruption has become endemic in our culture and needs to be weeded out in our public systems. Zimbabwe has adopted a zero tolerance to corruption approach and has instituted arrests of perpetrators, some of whom have already been convicted and are currently serving their sentences,” Chiwenga said.

“Government of Zimbabwe continues to embrace measures to ensure the improvement of conditions of service for our public servants and the promotion of the decent work agenda at the workplaces. This is being done through the awarding of monetary and non-monetary rewards as a way of motivating the workers,” he said, adding that disgruntled employees were less productive.

Chiwenga said dialogue with government would improve workers’ remuneration.

African Union ambassador Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace And Security, Bankole Adeoye, said COVID-19 had exposed weaknesses in the quality of service delivery such as water, sanitation, housing, healthcare and infrastructure in previously underserved communities across Africa.

He said there were gaps in African countries’ capacity to manufacture COVID-19 personal protective equipment.