Source: Anti-corruption nets should target big fish – NewsDay Zimbabwe January 8, 2018
THE number of arrests for alleged corruption continued growing last week, but what is increasingly becoming obvious is how one-sided they are, with only people perceived to be aligned to the vanquished G40 being arrested.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa came into power promising to deal with corruption, while this is laudable, questions are beginning to rise on why only politicians from a certain Zanu PF faction are being arrested.
To add onto that, when the military intervened, they said they wanted to deal with “criminals” surrounding former President Robert Mugabe.
It is, therefore, rather questionable that people are being arrested over “small crimes” like beans, rice and television sets, when the expectation was that the new administration would go to the root of the corruption that Mugabe allowed to prevail in his time in power.
The nation expected to hear about the arrests of people involved in minerals looting and those who had allegedly funnelled large amounts of forex out of the country, but so far nothing of that sort has happened.
The anti-corruption crusade, with each passing day, now resembles a political witch hunt, more than a legitimate anti-graft campaign.
While the arrests of former ministers suspected to be involved in corruption is always welcome, there is desperate need for the net to be cast wider and more alleged criminals should brought to book.
Failure to do that will mean this crusade is not legitimate and the strategy to bring former political foes to court will soon unravel and, in the court of public opinion, those that are charged may soon be seen as victims rather than perpetrators.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) must also be seen to be doing its work quietly and independently, without being seen to be used by one political grouping or the other.
There are many cases that Zacc has brought to the courts in recent days, but it must not be seen as a vindictive exercise, but rather a legitimate legal route to ending corruption.
To observers, the arrests of a few former ministers is nothing more than tokenism and there is need for the Mnangagwa administration to walk the talk and bring anyone suspected of corruption to book.
There are many cases that have been reported in the past and the Auditor-General’s annual reports are a good place to start in the fight against corruption.
If authorities continue only prosecuting perceived former adversaries, the anti-corruption drive will be seen as nothing more than a charade and soon Zimbabweans will begin asking what happened to the pledge to combat graft.
COMMENTS
“Small crimes”! “Small crimes” really? So the stealing of food tonnes & tonnes of stuffs (such as rice, beans, etc) by the politically connected, which are most likely meant for the poor who are literally starving to death in various cases, is a “small crime” hee?
Yes, we all wish to see a holistic fight against corruption. But its bogging to start classifying crime – especially at the investigation & arresting levels. At that level, “Crime is crime” full-stop. Of course, it is the duty of the courts to classify the crimes as always reflected in the nature & severity of penalties meted out to offenders. But as for those who arrest criminals, let’s assist them arrest criminals in all their colours & creeds. Criminals must be arrested – big or small.
There is little point in prosecuting the big fish while they are still in favour. If the Judge is not bent and they are convicted there is always the Presidential Pardon to prevent punishment.
So thousands have died because people have stolen millions and nothing is done. You talk about Ubuntu what rubbish.
The problem we have is leaders who have no heart and soul. Mere murderers of children and others. SHAME ON YOU ED AND CO.