via ‘Zim criminals celebrated’ – NewsDay Zimbabwe September 23, 2015
ZIMBABWE is failing to weed out corruption because the country has developed a culture of celebrating criminals instead of prosecuting them, a local think tank has said.
BY MOSES MATENGA
Addressing journalists at the launch of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition’s alternative economic blueprint Zimbabwe Social Market Agenda for Recovery and Transformation (ZimSmart) in Harare on Monday, Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI) director Pedzisayi Ruhanya said unlike China and other countries, criminals in Zimbabwe were being celebrated.
“The difference between China and Zimbabwe is after 10 years, they change leadership. They have zero tolerance to corruption. They change leadership and it’s good for the market and economic revival,” Ruhanya said.
“If you are corrupt in China, you are executed, but here criminals are celebrated.”
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition director, Phillan Zamchiya said the blueprint provided strategic alternatives aimed at accelerating economic recovery.
“We are providing strategic alternatives and if they adopt some of what is in ZimSmart, they will be able to turn around the fortunes of the country.
“We will try to influence and cause change. This will be a national campaign to have more people coming in and have them ask public leaders to account,” Zamchiya said.
“After decades of political turmoil and political interference in business, lack of confidence in the governance structures and the legal system, lack of policy consistency and a poor record for respect of property rights combine to undermine an attractive investment climate in the country.”
The CiCZ report indicated that corruption had permeated all sectors of society, including the security sector.
“The economic crisis that has perpetuated for almost two decades could be easily attributed to the leadership and governance architecture prevailing in thecountry. The political leadership is clearly responsible for the economic downturn that commenced in the aftermath of the agrarian reform that prioritised political gain as opposed to economic stability,” the report said.
Zamchiya said government should stop blaming the economic woes on sanctions and interrogate the actual cause.
“Much space is committed to giving a state of the economy address entirely blaming the economic woes on sanctions when it is common that bad leadership and governance are also behind the crisis.”
COMMENTS
Not just celebrated…. school fees paid in UK, three new vehicles per year, hotels and alcohol paid for, free flights to New York and Japan and best of all your relatives win all the Government Tenders.
The most accomplished criminal in the country is Mugabe.
There is no way he can legally prove that he earned all he owns.
And what about Obert Mpofu?
The reason these guys will not let go of power, is that they know they will be prosecuted if they lose power. Say whatever you want to but this is a fact.
Mugabage and co. Please take them to the rubbish dump and leave them there where they belong.