ENDEMIC CORRUPTION NOW A SIGNIFICANT AND REAL THREAT TO THE NATION’S WELL BEING

The case raised the inescapable presumption that there was

some

corrupt practice at the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe in releasing the cash to 

a non-banking entity. This needed to be investigated and a full and public

explanation given in order to restore the credibility of the RBZ and the

banking sector in the eyes of the public. This is especially so given that

the RBZ Governor Gideon Gono has seemingly been playing a blame game on

the reasons for the cash shortages and the general but quite understandable

loss of confidence in the banking system by the public.

As it has now turned out in the court proceedings of the trial of Dorothy

Mutekede, the people who wield the greatest influence in driving the

criminal prosecution system and the RBZ have seemingly chosen to cover up

for the actual corrupt people in high offices and sacrificed the runners.

The remarks by provincial magistrate Mr Guvamombe are significant as

follows “Both the RBZ and the police are defeating the course of justice… Why

are [the police] not keen to investigate the big fish.If [the police and RBZ]

are after the cash barons why bring “runners” like this 24 year old lady.

It is clear that there is no way this woman could have possessed the cash

without getting it from the RBZ. It is clear that the money came from the

RBZ. The money is talking to everyone that it is coming from the RBZ”.

The remarks by the magistrate are a serious indictment showing the lack of

commitment of the RBZ and the police to restore confidence in the banking

sector. They show that there is absolutely no commitment on the part of

the police and the RBZ to stem out corruption in our country. If anything they

tend in the minds of ordinary people to implicate both the police and the

RBZ in endemic corruption. Such levels of corruption have seen the banking

sector take a spectacular collapse.

ZLHR finds itself sympathetic with the views of onlookers who have taken

 note of the strong insinuation by the Magistrate that the possible real

 suspects in this serious corruption case have conveniently been brought

 forward as state witnesses in order to protect them from prosecution. 

This is aggravated by the apparent unbelievable destruction of evidence by both

the police and the RBZ. Between them they disposed   of the bank notes 

that stood as necessary exhibits in order to obliterate any prospects of a

successful prosecution. In obvious exasperation at this morally

reprehensible practice, the magistrate lamented “they have taken away our

exhibits and we are left with no work to do.”

This case places in serious doubt the theatric public posturing by Dr.

Gideon Gono that he is worried about inflation, the collapse of the

Zimbabwean dollar against major currencies and the general loss of

confidence by the public in the banking sector.  If anything, it

reinforces the generally held perception that the RBZ as an institution or

influential people in it are the main drivers of hyper-inflation and the parallel

market activities that have paralysed our national economy and put paid any

prospects of Zimbabweans living in dignity again any time soon.  Otherwise

how can the RBZ’s and police’s conduct of not only destroying evidence but

also of using the law to subvert justice by bringing to court suspects as

witnesses to prevent their future prosecution be explained.

ZLHR cannot help but take note that corruption stands out as a significant

threat to the national economic wellbeing of Zimbabwe. It is sad to note

that the people who speak populist rhetoric of nationalism,

pan-Africanism, black economic empowerment are the ones who are driving our country to its

knees through a system of corruption, patronage, national asset stripping

and conversion of national resources into personal assets. They in turn

are at the forefront of attacking human rights defenders, legitimate political

opponents and other countries and blame them as authors of the tragedy

that continues to unfold with catastrophic consequences on humanity in our

country. Corruption can only be effectively fought in a credible and

transparent and not in a corrupt manner. ZLHR therefore reiterates its

view that it is only through effectively fighting all forms of impunity, the

restoration of the rule of law, respect for human rights and good

governance that this country can get back to a path of sustainable economic recovery.

Short cuts will not work!