John Ndlovu
The unabated, ever escalating rate of corruption in the African continent has seriously undermined the integrity of its inhabitants.
Zimbabwe one of the epicenter for corrupt tendencies for the past decade as evidenced by the Aljazeera’s four episode documentary billed Gold Mafia which opened a can of worms on how gold is smuggled outside the country by the big boys while the rest of the natives are languishing in poverty.
Over the past days Zimbabwe hogged the limelight again on it’s rotten tendencies as evidenced by the helicopter scandal were a Bell 206 helicopter worth US$700 000 was seized in Victoria Falls. It is alleged that this helicopter in question was bought with laundered funds by a former Zambian cabinet minister from that country.
To make matters worse, sources state that, Zimbabwe was largely involved in the mix as it’s harmonious co-operation with it’s neighbors South Africa and Zambia in spearheading the smooth purchase and transportation of the two helicopters that were bought in South Africa using US$5million stolen from the Zambian fiscus laundered via Turkey by Joseph Malanji, Zambia’s ex-foreign Minister, a Bell 206 was then seized in Victoria Falls after the Zimbabwean High court forfeited the assert.
Zim GBC News crew spoke to Political Analyst who condemned the corrupt tendencies by some of the officials at the points of entry and in government which has seriously diminished the country’s economy and degraded the nation’s reputation as evidenced by the international community which has shunned investing in the Southern African country.
Effie Ncube who is a Political Risk Analyst told this reporter that the fluctuating local and cross-border corruption were an indication of poor security systems and state capture by the criminal syndicates as people possessing powers to prosecute and punish offenders have been captured by corrupt figures which therefore suffocates the nation’s economy due to siphoning of billions of dollars each year instead of investing in national development.
“Rising acts of local and cross-border corruption are indicative of institutional fragility and state capture by criminal syndicates. Institutions that are supposed to detect, prosecute and punish offenders have been taken over by the very people fingered in corruption. As a result no action is taken against them. Billions of dollars are siphoned each year while millions wallow in abject poverty.”Ncube said
Zimbabwe is ranked 157 out 180 countries which are most corrupt with 20% which therefore indicate the rate at which corruption in Zimbabwe corroding national development.
Ncube further condemned these corrupt tendencies as he elucidated that the resources designed to cater for national development are squandered by individuals which therefore facilitate economic dilapidation.
“Resources which should drive economic development and eradicate poverty and hunger end up in the pockets of a few.”He added
Ncube also hinted that corruption in Zimbabwe has diminished it’s reputation on the international stage as this have driven away potential investors from the landlocked country.
“Corruption takes away International respect for the country involved. Zimbabwe is ranked among the last countries in the international transparency index. Our image as a country has been battered to an extent that very few serious investors would be willing to invest in the country. This can only deepen the already ailing economic crisis.”He stated
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing a high inflammatory rate as evidenced by galloping prices of commodities and high rates of the Zimbabwean dollar which affected people’s living standards.
Norton legislator Themba Mliswa stated that fighting corruption needs a collective effort at regional level by all SADC states. Mliswa also highlighted that the SADC States have created the Southern African Parliamentary Networks Against Corruption a regional board by Mozambique where Zimbabwe is the secretariat.
“I am glad to say that there is now Southern Africa Parliamentary Network Against Corruption (SAPNAC) which is chaired by Mozambique, that will certainly bring this issues to the foe and I think it will help curtail corruption as this disease needs to be curtailed collectively so I hope that other SADC countries will expose corruption in their countries and fight it from a regional perspective.”Mliswa said.
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