Combating corruption in Government
AN EFFECTIVE and efficient public service is easily undermined by poor ethics and corruption. There is a serious misconception on how Government deals with corruption and what role is expected from public employees.
In Zimbabwe, there is a tendency to ignore common forms of corruption and the role ministers should play in rooting out the vice.
It appears that some ministers have taken comfort upon realisation that no serious action is taken against those who engage in corruption.
President Mugabe does not condone corruption, he firmly believes that he can knock some sense into our ministers to shun the activity.
But the ministers continue to plunder resources left, right and centre.
In the process, President Mugabe’s name is dragged into the mud.
Investor confidence is being lost as a result of the corrupt tendencies that have found a permanent home in Zimbabwe.
Imagine someone has the audacity to call themselves Robbin Hood and brag about it.
This approach to corruption destroys the nation and has consequences for our future.
Ministers are not royalty, they are not above the law and are human.
We had ministers arrested before and they did not pull tribal cards. What has changed now? The Government must allow the separation of powers to be clear in tackling corruption and unethical behaviour.
A clear Government anti-corruption strategy must be spelt out.
Ethical behaviour in the workplace must be a way in understanding corruption.
Corruption has a devastating effect on poor people, especially corruption in the public service.
The vice costs Government millions of dollars every year, money that could have been spent on delivering services.
Corruption also means that some people get an unfair advantage because they can afford to use their powers to achieve special favours.
Corruption involves bribery, embezzlement, fraud, extortion, abuse of power, favouritism, abuse of privileged information and nepotism.
All the above forms of corruption are illegal in Zimbabwe under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
The amended law clearly states that Government employees are not allowed to accept anything from a member of the public that is meant to make them favour that person above others.
Furthermore, no property of the State may be misused or used for the benefit of someone not entitled to it.
Tackling corruption and unethical behaviour demands a clear anti-corruption strategy.
Government has developed an Anti-Corruption Strategy that tries to deal with corruption in a holistic way.
This saw the creation of Zacc which unfortunately has become a punching bag of the powerful corrupt.
Zacc was meant to stop nepotism, favouritism and the awarding of contracts to people who do not deserve them, among other duties.
But those engaging in corruption want the commission abolished so that they continue to loot.
Corruption is one of the disincentives for foreign investment.
Investors who seek a transparent and fair, competitive business environment will avoid investing in countries where there is a high level of corruption.
Studies have shown that there is a direct link between the level of corruption in a country and measurements of the competitiveness of its business environment.
Most countries with emerging economies suffer from a high level of corruption and that slows their overall development.
The entire society is affected as a result of the inefficient allocation of resources.
Corruption thus makes these societies worse off and lowers the living standards of most of their populations.
According to the World Bank, the average income in countries with a high level of corruption is about a third of that of countries with a low level of corruption.
Also, the infant mortality rate in such countries is about three times higher and the literacy rate is 25 percent lower.
No country has been able to completely eliminate corruption, but studies show that the level of corruption in countries with emerging market economies is much higher than it is in developed countries.
I think it is high time ministers and all Government employees undergo training on code of conduct, ethics and corruption,
Those found guilty of corruption should serve lengthy jail time.
It is the duty of every Zimbabwean to fight corruption at any level.
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Dr Masimba Mavaza is a law lecturer based in the United Kingdom. He is a former prosecutor in the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs in Zimbabwe and has lectured at the Zimbabwe Republic Police Staff College and Zimbabwe Staff College.