The Sunday Mail
Minister of Truth with Cde Jason Zhuwao
Washing one’s hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral.
Therefore, the Minister of Truth wishes to air the views of one Pastor Evans who introduced a “citizens’ campaign” on social media to take a stand against corruption, injustice and poverty.
In the youthful pastor’s social media campaign videos, which have attracted the attention of thousands chanting “enough is enough”, he raises concerns over three critical issues, including corruption.
The more we increase active participation of and partnerships with young people, the better we serve them.
And the more we work with them as comprehensive partners, the more we increase our value to the entire country.
However, this notable campaign is different to what the Honourable Vice-President Emmerson Mnangagwa has been advocating for, and even the President himself.
It is of grave importance to note that corruption is cancer not only to be treated within Zanu-PF, but that each and every one of us both personally and in representative capacities as employees must confront graft.
Just last year it was revealed that executives in State-linked firms chewed up about US$600 million in salaries and allowances since 2009.
To halt the mega packages, Government drew up a Corporate Governance and Remuneration Policy Framework to monitor operations of parastatals and local authorities.
This would also curb awarding of unrealistic public sector salaries and allowances, saving about US$1 169 950 as a result of reduction of payments through a salary cap.
Civil Servants should be appropriately compensated because if they are underpaid this will affect motivation and breed corruption.
If public sector wages are too low employees may find themselves under pressure to supplement their incomes in unofficial ways.
This is the fight Government has to fight.
ZiFM two month ago invited me, as a Zanu-PF youth official, to a discussion on ways to end corruption in Zimbabwe and my contribution was simple.
I called for 100 percent remittance to Treasury.
This was after the President had revealed that Treasury received less than US$2 billion from the Chiadzwa diamond fields yet more than US$15 billion was earned.
I pointed out that the public is never been made aware of the revenue collected, for example by the Police, and how it is used.
Also in the interest of transparency, I said Zimbabweans were entitled to know how money from the Aids Levy deducted from their salaries is used.
Addressing senior military officers at the National Defence College recently, VP Mnangagwa spoke of the new Public Sector Corporate Governance Act that will see corruption and related maladministration cases in the public sector becoming punishable offences.
There is too much corruption in Zimbabwe.
And the corrupt people belong to different political parties, go to all manner of churches and do not belong to one race or ethnic group.
Fighting corruption is not about Zanu-PF, though some disingenuous self-appointed crusaders try to claim that fighting corruption means fighting Zanu-PF and vice versa.
A good number of irresponsible citizens, including corrupt criminals, want to blame Government and Zanu-PF for graft.
Yes, Government should be accountable to its citizens but take note, it’s not Government that is responsible for our criminal actions.
We act independently and our criminal intentions have nothing to do with the ruling Zanu-PF and its ideology.
Individuals in their own spheres of work are being systematically corrupt.
Speaking at the POSB annual general meeting, Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa encouraged companies to be transparent and value integrity so as to deal with corruption.
There is rife corruption in the private sector where Government is not directly involved and yet some try and pin the unacceptable incidence of graft on the State.
Just because you dislike the ruling party does not make it the source and promoter of all things evil.
It is everyone’s obligation and responsibility to fight corruption by exposing it where they see it.
That said, Government ought to employ stringent measures to deal with this cancer at all levels.
There should be constant check-ups on individuals, private companies, parastatals and officials.
Lifestyle audits should be conducted so that people account for their wealth and standards of living.
Corruption is not the progeny of an ideologically rich party like Zanu-PF, but the ruling party must act decisively to combat it at all levels of society.
