Act on corruption, Zimbabwe industry tells government

via Act on corruption, industry tells govt | The Source February 5, 2014

Industry has called on government to curb rampant corruption in both the public and private sector as it bids to restore confidence in the economy and attract foreign direct investment.

Zimbabwe is ranked 157 out of 177 among the most corrupt countries in the world by the Transparency International 2013 index, six places worse off than the previous year.

“We appeal to the President’s Office to deal with corruption, stem it, arrest people and do whatever it takes to restore confidence, ” Mike Ndudzo, chief executive of the state-owned Industrial Development Corporation, told participants attending a workshop on ZimAsset hosted by the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries on Wednesday. Ndudzo’s remarks were greeted by thunderous applause from other industrialists attending the event.

The deputy chief secretary to the President and Cabinet, Christian Katsande, said government was working on a corporate governance framework to curb corruption both in the public and private sector.

“It’s a matter government is seized with and must be addressed even in the private sector,” he said.

Katsande said government would do a “quick clean-up” in reference to the recent wave of corruption scandals involving state-owned companies.

Air Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and Marange Diamonds are some of the state enterprises that are currently under probe for various malfeasances. A public row has erupted over executive pay at the Public Service Medical Aid Society, whose majority members are state employees, following disclosures that the medical aid fund’s former chief executive Cuthbert Dube was drawing a salary in excess of $230,000 per month.

Katsande said the President’s office has since initiated an investigation into the remuneration of executives at all parastatals.

Zimbabwe set up an anti-corruption commission in 2011 but the terms of its office bearers expired in August and its chief executive Ngonidzashe Gumbo is facing charges of defrauding the commission of $435,000.

In addition, the commission has no powers to arrest or prosecute offenders, rendering its role largely ceremonial.