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Nhau Correspondent
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa has bemoaned the breeding of corruption by officials from almost every sector of the country’s economy.
Speaking at the launch of the Judicial Service Commission(JSC) five-year strategic plan in Harare Wednesday, Mnangagwa said “opaque operations in the public, private sectors and NGOs breed corruption and other deleterious vices and must be discouraged and malpractices exposed”.
He urged members of the public to hold public and private sector officials accountable.
Mnangagwa said the Judiciary was vital in the drive to achieve Vision 2030 and the third aspiration of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 calling for “an Africa of good governance, respect for human rights, justice and rule of law”.
“The judiciary together with other arms of the State must continue to promote peaceful and inclusive communities for sustainable development, and the establishment of effective and accountable institutions, at every level, throughout the country,” said Mnangagwa.
“This can only be realised through holding officials in both Government and the private sector accountable. The inculcation of a corruption free society value system must also permeate across the board, inclusive of all political parties, non-governmental organisations and community-based organisations, among others.”
Cases of corruption that are dragging before the courts form part of the flaws affecting the Judicial system and Mnangagwa challenged judicial officers to speedily deal with such cases before the Specialised Anti-Corruption courts in every province.
Mnangagwa has established numerous corruption fighting entities since coming to office in 2017.
Among the entities are an “empowered” Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), the Special Anti-Corruption Unit housed under the Office of the President and Cabinet, and the Police Anti-Corruption Commission (PACU).
However, many see the creation of these corruption watchdogs as a smokescreen meant to excite the public while corrupt activities remain rooted in the system.
Government officials are being continuously fingered in corrupt activities but they get away with not more than a slap on the wrist.
There was outrage on Tuesday following the removal of Delish Nguwaya from remand by the anti-corruption courts. Nguwaya was allegedly a key player in the Covid-gate scandal where the country was almost prejudiced of over US$60 million in an inflated personal protective equipment supply tender scam.
Cases such as Nguwaya’s and several others have seen public confidence in the specialised courts plummeting.
Many believe the courts are simply being used to persecute those that are anti-establishment.
This week, MDC Alliance’s Harare mayor Jacob Mafume was denied bail at the Harare Magistrates Court on allegations of criminal abuse of office after it was alleged that he used his influence to order city of Harare Housing director Addmore Nhekairo to offer his sister Rotina Mafume and a workmate, a stand each in Westlea.
The MDC Alliance was unhappy with that development, accusing Government of using the courts to punish opposition members and destabilise the party’s efforts to bring change in governance.
Mnangagwa’s administration has also been accused of giving special treatment to ZANU PF aligned criminals each time they are hauled before the courts.
Government stands accused of using the Judiciary as a method of silencing whistleblowers. Hopewell Chin’ono feels that the Mnangagwa regime is criminalising his journalism in a bid to dissuade him from exposing corruption by Government officials and their associates. Nhau/Indaba
