The Sunday Mail
In August 2015, President Mugabe introduced the 10-Point Plan for Economic Growth to undergird the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation. One of that plan’s key points is “pursuing an anti-corruption thrust”. Last week, The Sunday Mail’s Livingstone Marufu spoke to Harare taxi driver Mr Chikomborero Chatindiara to get the ordinary man’s views on the scourge of corruption. Below is Mr Chatindiara in his own words.
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Mr Chikomborero Chatindiara
The main reason why corruption is widespread is that people have grown greedy and only think about themselves at the expense of society at large.
Take motorists, for instance.
They might drive from, say, Harare to Mutare without a driver’s licence, but will reach their destination as he/she would have bribed police officers along the way.
This brings us to the fact that police officers are not being paid enough to feed their families and they work under unnecessary pressure. Word on the street is that many traffic cops are given monetary targets by their bosses.
Corruption can be traced back to the communities we live in. It appears fashionable and part of a culture now.
Even village heads are now taking bribes from perpetrators of different offences. I know of a village where the head did not take action against an illegal tree feller because he wanted to benefit from the proceeds of the sale of the wood.
The people with better livelihoods are the same who hijack the Presidential Well-Wishers Agricultural Inputs Scheme and other programmes to enrich themselves.
It is a noble initiative and thieving elements should be weeded out.
Who can stop corruption in this country? If I or someone else were appointed for that task, we would try our best to benefit from that new found influence.
I implore authorities to look at this matter closely as it not only deprives the nation of development, but also of investment as corruption is what straight investors fear.
I respect the President very much because he is an honest man. We owe it to him to work honestly as well.
Zimbabwe is a Christian nation. We should let Christian values guide us.
I am tempted to say economic circumstances inspire corruption.
However, looking at the issue from a different angle, I am convinced that corruption is a decision.
Just as criminals who commit other offences like house-breaking and theft make that decision consciously and are punished; those who breathe, eat and sleep corruption should also be introduced to “college”.
As things stand, corruption is a cycle.
One will bribe his/her way to secure whatever they want.
If they are caught, they will bribe whoever catches them. And on it goes.
Nepotism is the cousin of corruption.
We hear of it many times. It is time the authorities put a stop to this.
President Mugabe included anti-corruption in the 10-Point Economic Growth Plan for a reason.
He knows corruption is detrimental to society and the economy.
Let’s shun it.
