Zimpapers Logo

Recent media articles on people very high up in Government having been involved in corrupt and illegal deals are not exactly a revelation to the ordinary person in the street. It has been known for some time now that some of our leaders are not as exemplary as they ought to be.

President Mugabe is on record saying corruption is our number one enemy, but unfortunately some of the people who should have heeded his repeated words of wisdom only paid lip service to the need to serve the people in whose name they hold such high offices.

It is a sad, but undeniable fact that corruption is one of the main reasons for the floundering of many national plans that would have been for the public good if implemented in the spirit they were conceived.

We are a resource-rich country whose economy should be thriving, if it was not for the selfish actions of a few individuals.

We would not have been so vulnerable to the effects of the West’s illegal sanctions regime were it not for the deleterious effects of corruption.

Our suffering would have been limited because we have had friends like China and Russia who have stood by us all the while.

But now corruption has become pervasive in almost every sphere of our lives.

Reports have indicated that each year the country is losing millions through corruption.

Getting a passport, a driver’s license, health services, justice, school places, nurse training and employment in most places has become impossible without the payment of bribes.

Some civil servants feel entitled to demand bribes for doing their jobs. The scale is terrible.

Currently there is a case before the courts in which two Zimbabwe Revenue Authority employees stand accused of accepting a car and US$40 000 to help someone evade US$6,7 million tax payment.

Some CEOs of state enterprises and other institutions blatantly manipulated the appointment of board members so that they could award themselves large salary packages without a second thought of ensuring the delivery of the results they were mandated with.

Overstating of prices has been found even in places like public hospitals, which are the only places where the most disadvantaged members of society depend on for life-saving treatment.

The list is endless.

It is said that a fish rots from the head. This is very true in the case of corruption as the leaders set examples which the people follow.

Corruption by the top brass led to the situation where now almost everybody in any position of influence expects their hands to get greased.

As a nation our hopes are pinned on Zim-Asset.

No one is pretending that the blueprint is a magic bullet that will shoot away all challenges overnight.

But given a chance and true commitment, it will take us far.

But only if we can draw a line and tackle corruption in its lair.

There is no better time than now as we embark on a new fiscal year.

The naming and shaming of high level corruption is a good start.

But we have seen that before.

What we need now is methodical investigation and prosecution of all people accused of such crimes.

Let this be the first step that is followed by others, not just another sensational series of headlines that fizzle out with no tangible result that takes us further on the road to development as a nation.