By Albert Mpofu
Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) official, Vongai Tome, has spoken on the urgent need to eradicate corruption in Zimbabwe and criticized the ZANU PF Government, led by Emmerson Mnangagwa, for allowing corruption to thrive. In a post on her Facebook page, she highlighted that corruption has been tolerated for far too long in Zimbabwe, resulting in a distorted economy, hindered progress, and damaged reputation.
Tome pointed out that corruption under the ZANU PF regime is exemplified by the abuse of procurement processes, insufficient funding for anti-corruption institutions, lack of investigations into theft and looting, rampant nepotism, the presence of the Gold Mafia, and cronyism, among other issues. It is crucial to take decisive action against those who exploit their positions of power for personal gain. All perpetrators must be held accountable, including the release of political prisoners and the apprehension of the Gold Mafia.
To address these concerns, the CCC, when in power, will undertake the following:
1. Implement some of the most stringent anti-corruption legislation globally to clean up the government.
2. Strengthen the anti-corruption stance by adopting a comprehensive policy on fraud and corruption prevention, detection, and remediation in both public and private sectors.
3. Provide support and independence to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to enforce the law impartially and fairly.
4. Conduct public awareness campaigns and promote civic education to combat corruption effectively.
5. Establish specialized courts to handle corruption cases and endorse the role of media in fostering transparency and accountability within society.
A firm commitment to fighting corruption will contribute to rebuilding the national conscience, fostering a moral climate, and promoting ethical leadership across all levels of governance, aligning with the principles enshrined in the Constitution. Such efforts will boost investor confidence, creating an environment where development partners can trust that their assistance will be in safe and responsible hands under the leadership of Advocate Nelson Chamisa and the CCC government.
It is evident that public frustration with the government’s handling of corruption has resonated with many citizens, who have pledged to support the CCC party in the upcoming elections in August. They believe that a new government will bring fresh ideas and policies that can effectively combat corruption in Zimbabwe.
