Parliament's Standing Rules and Orders Committee said the commissioners were recommended to Parliament by President Robert Mugabe. They were chosen in a deal cut between the three political parties in the inclusive government.
The committee elected Denford Chirindo, a lawyer, and his team to run the commission. Teresa Pearl Mugadza is Chirindo’s deputy.
Critics say the new anti-corruption commission is politically balanced, including technocrats and officials with ties to both Mugabe's Zanu (PF) party and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change.
Members include Shepherd Gwasira, a retired policeman, Dr Elita Tinotenda Sakupwanya, a diplomat, Lakayana Chabaka Keith Dube, a retired educationist, cleric Dr Goodwill Shana, Zivanai Zed Rusike, Annah Colletah Chitsike and Emmanuel Chimwanda.
But none of these have a history of fighting corruption, and it is doubtful whether any of them have the clout required to topple the fatcats in a government that is steeped in graft from the highest level.
Like its predecessor, the commission will undoubtedly struggle to fight corruption in high places, given Zanu (PF)’s stranglehold over the police and the courts. Ever since 1980, the Zanu (PF) dominated government has never had the political will to tackle corruption – and has allowed it to become institutionalised as part of the patronage system that keeps Mugabe in power.
Parliament has taken more than two years to come up with this commission. On March 27, 2009 it constituted a committee to look into the formation and composition of a new-look anti-corruption commission – with teeth.
There is already work cut out for the new ACC: some of the ministers and legislators in the new government have already been implicated in corruption. At least 10 legislators from Zanu (PF) and the MDC have appeared in courts on graft charges.
Not surprisingly, civil society organisations wanted the commissioners for the body to be independent of all three political parties in the inclusive government, and said the public should have some input in the process of choosing them.
But there were hardly any consultations with the public, and the names have been foisted on the people.
Clerk of Parliament Austin Zvoma said: "The Standing Rules and Orders Committee has given concurrence to the names that were submitted by the President. The SROC has not objected to the nominations. The Speaker of the House of Assembly has since communicated with His Excellency in writing on the latest development."
Transparency International Zimbabwe, TIZ, the country’s leading organisation on anti-corruption and governance issues, has launched an Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre where citizens can actively participate in the fight against corruption.
It says the commissioners should have been nominated through public platforms with their profiles set out in the public media.
But once again, the appointment of anti-corruption commissioners has been the privilege of Mugabe alone.
“The ACC must report directly to Parliament," TIZ said. "Its investigation and prosecution authority must also be entrenched in the constitution for it to be unfettered in its operations. It should furthermore be allowed to fundraise independently. This would further guarantee its independence and put to rest the problem of small fish-big fish.”
This view was seconded by Phillip Pasirayi, coordinator of the Centre for Community Development, who is an anti-corruption activist in his own right. He said the coalition government should send clear signals that the new political dispensation would be corruption-free, by taking bold steps against corruption and corrupt officials.
“There is a need to stem the rot and put an end to the looting of the public purse,” said Pasirayi. “The commission needs to institute a forensic audit in key state institutions, including the central bank, and bring to book all those who abused state resources.”
Pasirayi said there was obviously a need to push for legislation that created a truly independent ACC with the powers to recommend prosecution of certain individuals regardless of their political standing.
“There is also a need to reform some key state institutions such as the public protector or ombudspersons, attorney-general and the police, which are all critical in fighting corruption,” he said. “They must not fall into the trap of issuing statements which they do not follow up with action; the people want a new way of doing politics.”
Tsvangirai told a recent stakeholders meeting: "For too long a culture of entitlement and impunity has stained our society."
Post published in: News