via RadioVop Zimbabwe – Salarygate,Corruption: Zim Civil Society Groups Demand Concrete Govt Action By Amos Maseko February 13, 2014
Zimbabwe’s civic groups have demanded a more robust response to the massive looting of public entities by their top managers and influential politicians as President Robert Mugabe’s government continues to paper over the rot.
Speaking as “heads of coalitions and networks”, a loose convergence of civic organisations, among them Crisis in Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Human Rights Association Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) and Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust, whose mandate is to speak collectively on public issues, the groups also demanded more clarity on the status of named public officials who were consequently dismissed from their jobs but still report for work.
The groups expressed alarm and deep concern towards the reckless behaviours, uncaring attitude, corruption and bad governance that is being exhibited and taking place in our local government, parastatals and quasi-government bodies.
They deplored levels of corruption which they felt were a manifestation of lack of good corporate governance and a disservice to the public. “We would like to register our sternest disapproval of the breakdown of public accountability, widespread corruption in public institutions and death of conscience in public officials who have become shockingly parasitic on the State by siphoning large millions of public funds through obscene salaries and shadowy transactions.” said Peter Mutasa co-vice president of ZCTU who read a prepared statement on behalf of the group.
The civic groups demanded to know what concrete action was being taken against company executives who were reportedly earning huge salaries such as Cuthbert Dube “retired” as CEO the Premier Service Medical Aid Society which owed creditors about $38million and Happison Muchechetere, the ZBC boss whose workers’ salaries went unpaid for half a year.
Meanwhile, police in Harare banned of a planned march against corruption by the civic groups which they had planned for this weekend.
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition chairperson Dewa Mavhinga slammed the police action which he said ran against the national mood which is crying for the prosecution of looters of public entities.
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