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Victoria Ruzvidzo Business Focus
The past few days have exposed serious levels of corruption in this country. And to think that this might only be the tip of the iceberg!
Hyper levels of greed, selfishness and acute myopia have resulted in company resources being gobbled by a handful while other employees wallow in poverty.

We have always known that corruption is a vice that has constricted this economy almost to the point of death.

It’s common knowledge that Zimbabwe has lost billions of dollars annually due to corruption which comes in its many forms, but not even in our wildest of dreams did we imagine such corporate fraud and selfishness particularly in organisations such as PSMAS and ZBC, that are struggling to survive.

How does one explain a colossal US$230 000 salary monthly, which translates into a million dollars every four months! Obscene is the word.

This is happening when 600 000 members are failing to access medical services due to the indebtedness of the medical aid society but its boss is living lavishly.

In fact the word lavish in this instance is an understatement of the century.

Few adjectives can describe the lifestyle particularly in the Zimbabwean context where many are struggling to reach the poverty datum line of about US$500 a month.

Been trying to imagine what I would do with such a salary!
A quarter of a million in my account every month, wow! I could do lots of stuff but at what cost to my firm.
In the case of ZBC, how does one superintend over hungry workers going for months without a salary and yet receive a fat salary himself of at least US$40 000 while organising a housing scheme in which he benefits in the region of US$350 000? Difficult to fathom.

More cases continue to unfold. How on earth do people connive to prejudice a struggling company such as Air Zimbabwe of five million euros when the airline has been in red since time immemorial?

Air Zimbabwe has spent months and months grounded while it has been suspended from the international booking and ticketing system on countless occasions due to huge debts.

And yet we still have people who have the guts to milk an institution struggling to that extent. What has gone wrong with our morals?
The City of Harare could not be left out on the list.

Its top management is said to be living large and gobbling the bulk of the money while employees can hardly make ends meet.
Service delivery in the city is so poor, it’s unbelievable.

One therefore wonders what the remuneration is for really.
Could these be the effects of the challenges that the country has been experiencing over the past decade. Do we emerge from challenges weaker or stronger?

Is it better to make a bad situation worse because of mere self-aggrandisement?
I was just thinking that before we condemn them, what would I have done if I were chief executive of some firm and my board offers me such a high amount as Cuthbert Dube’s?

Would I say no or would I gladly accept and not worry about the rest of the lot under me?
Would I then maybe donate half my salary to be shared by other employees?

A good manager is obviously one who has the employees at heart.
One who considers their welfare even before his (is that practical)? These are tenets that are good for productivity.
I am sure it would not have been a problem if other employees at PSMAS were earning salaries that were proportionate to their boss’.
Maybe the lowest paid employee would have to earn US$10 000 or figures somewhere there?

That obviously would not be possible given the challenges firms are facing which effectively means such high salaries are impractical and out of touch with reality.

Such kind of immoral behaviour cannot be tolerated in an economy that is desperate to get back on its feet.
Zimbabwe does not need selfish people running its public and private enterprises.

Serious investigations should be launched to interrogate the full extent of the rot and examples made of the consequences that befall such misers and their agents.

The corruption cancer no longer needs chemotherapy but must just be eradicated once and for all.
The fact that those found to have prejudiced firms, particularly in the public sector, are allowed to walk scot free or worse still are given a golden handshake is untenable.

Indications that investigations have been launched into all public enterprises and local authorities’ remuneration packages and structures are quite in order.

Let whatever findings be made public and action taken against those caught dipping into respective coffers at the expense of the generality of workers.

We support recommendations made by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee of Health and Child Care chairperson Ruth Labode that culprits be brought to book.

These people need to be held accountable.
The outcry by Zimbabweans from all corners of the globe goes to show that people have really been miffed by such kind of corruption and would want to see real action taken.

Everyone wants their standard of living to improve but it may take long to come if such greediness and its cousins are allowed to continue in this country.

Zim-Asset should be made to work for this economy and anything that threatens to frustrate its implementation should be dealt with decisively.

We say no to corruption.

In God I Trust!

Feedback: Victoria.ruzvidzo@ zimpapers.co.zw