In Ndebele they say Akuntunthu kungela mlilo while in Shona they say Pane hutsi panemoto (loosely translated, There is no smoke without fire.) There is urgent need for ZACC and the relevant authorities to probe alleged abuse of office by management at the ‘national broadcaster’. Newsday on 11 October reported that ZACC had dispatched a team of investigators to ZBC. This is a positive step.
Transparency International Zimbabwe, a systems oriented organisation leading the fight against corruption, is encouraged by workers openly voicing their concerns against corruption. It is hoped that such a move will inspire others to openly denounce this cancer that is fast eroding our society.
ZBC should spearhead anti-corruption initiatives to ensure transparency and accountability for the benefit of all Zimbabweans. TI-Z’s Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre is a public service initiative providing free legal aid services to victims and witnesses of corruption, and seeks to empower citizens to demand accountability and transparency.
Ordinary people must continue raising their voices against continued abuse of power by public office bearers through the media. It must be noted however that the biggest obstacle in the current Zimbabwe context is lack of political will in combating corruption. Despite having put in place an independent commission in the form of ZACC it remains incapacitated to achieve its mandate.
While these frameworks are available it is also important to move towards a paradigm shift of enforcing various legislation such as the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, the Prevention of Corruption Act and international instruments such as the United Nations Convention Against Corruption – all of which deter abuse of office by public officials. There is need for political will and commitment from both the government and the private to reject corrupt practices in society. – Munyaradzi T. Nkomo, Transparency International
Post published in: Letters to the Editor