Zimbabwe corruption syndrome: How the political elite are looting Zimbabwe

By Elijah Mangwengwende

For far too long the Zimbabwean people, we have seen no benefit from the vast natural resources in our own motherland. It is time to end the injustice where ordinary people are silent witnesses, left to suffer without basic services, as the profits from our country resources and assets are hidden and plundered by a corrupt few, shielding those who plunder public resources without shame.

We must demand return of the looted funds and jail terms for those who looted our funds at ZBC, ZIFA, and PSMAS etc.

We shall not fold our hands while the country is being looted with impunity. As the President rightly said so, the police must deal with corruption crimes expeditiously and without favour, the question that arises is whether that directive will be followed through, or does the President have the capacity to clean up the rot bedevilling our beautiful country. It seems corruption is now a way of life across all sections of our beloved nation.

The issue of corruption has come centre stage in recent months but not something new among the political elite and those well connected. The economic consequences of pervasive corruption, and the recent trends towards democratization, have increased the pressure for accountability and transparency from those in office.

As we might acknowledge that there are no easy solutions or models that can be applied in the fight against corruption it doesn’t mean we shall do nothing when evidence is presented in a court of law or published on social media and mainstream publications like Herald, Daily News, and Nehanda Radio, especially the ZBC, PSMAS and ZIFA looting scandals.

Under what conditions does corruption thrive?

To answer the above questions, we must explore the factors which induce individuals to commit corrupt acts? Conversely, what prevents or discourages individuals from become corrupt?

An individual is likely to commit a corrupt act if he or she (1) is paid a low salary; (2) is provided with the opportunities for corruption; and (3) perceives corruption to be low risk, high reward activity. In other words, corruption thrives when the individuals concerned receive meagre salaries, have ample opportunities to be corrupt, and are unlikely to be caught and not severely punished even if they are caught.

In Zimbabwe, bureaucrats involved in corrupt practices in most cases do not lose their jobs. Very rarely they are dismissed from service on charges pertaining to corruption. Still rarely they are sent to prison for misusing public funds. They have never been compelled to return to the state their ill-gotten wealth.

Second, the law-enforcing officials including police personnel are extremely corrupt. They are happy to share the loot with other corrupt bureaucrats. Third, the people have a tendency not only to tolerate corruption but to show respect to those bureaucrats who made fortune through dubious means. . . Fourth, it is easier for a citizen to get quick service if you pay a bribe or in extreme cases, sexual favours.

Individuals found guilty of corrupt offences should be punished accordingly. However, in reality, the probability of detection and punishment of corrupt offences varies depending on who you know and which political party one belongs.

How the Political class are looting and milking Zimbabwe willy-nilly

“When a leopard wants to devour its young ones, it first accuses them of smelling like goats.”

First it was white farmers, accused of recolonization of Zimbabwe, the chefs shared the farms amongst themselves 10 farms each and yet we the poor scrambling for left overs.

Sugar refineries in Chiredzi were accused of producing sub-standard sugar and hoarding now the chefs are proud owners of vast sugar plantations.

Now Telecel, accused of breaching indigenous ownership law, soon the well connected chefs will be proud owners of the mobile operating entity. The lis goes on and on.

In yet another looting project, just like the toll gates, the impoverished urban residents are targeted again by money grabbing vultures.

Murambatsvina of yester-years traumatised urban residents, yet we never learn. Where does this government and MDC run councils think people will get money to pay for rationed water in an environment where 90 % of citizens are unemployed?

This is not only heartless but a ploy to milk money from powerless and cowed residents to enrich the few political fat cats as usual. The meters will be supplied by their own companies at inflated prices, then the rates will be siphoned to pay for the useless meters, meaning water supplies will remain at low level, dirty and untreated, all under the nose of MDC.

In a normal environment pre-paid meters are useful but not in a poverty stricken nation caused by a clueless government. Residents being punished for the failed policies of the current regime.

What pains more is that MDC won’t do anything regardless the fact they control urban councils. Some may unreasonably argue that residents must pay for water! But whose problem when the government destroyed the livelihoods of its citizens? The question should be: Whose fault? Not punishing the residents.

Zimbabwe won’t wake up one day and be at par with developed nations with sound infrastructure where technology is used to benefit people. Only Cholera will be the outcome of the so called Pre-Paid-looting meters.

Section D candidates roaming the streets for looting PSMAS funds, ZBC funds, Zifa funds, of course “top level” individuals were sitting on the boards and received thousands, case closed. Some land barons own almost a third of Harare prime land. How they acquired the land is shrouded in mystery.

How can we expect a company to survive when management salary is worth more than the company they are running????? It’s not logical to say the least.

“Pentecostal Pastors” and Sexual Theft-Corruption

The magnet of hope is a powerful one. And those who wield it are usually secretive. Evangelical churches are nothing new … the poor get rich, the ill get healthy, and the dying get life afresh and the lonely find true and undying love. In the rush of holy euphoria, the devoted eat grass out in the garden.

The singles or those miserable in their marriages queue with their underwear off so that “Men Of God” can bless their bottoms with holy kisses. Somewhere in Queen’s land across the oceans some are reported to even worship smelly handkerchiefs used by the called “Pastors”.

Within few years of operating as “Prophets” some of them are already listed among the richest, crème dela crème of Zimbabwe. Tithes used to buy shares in companies listed on New York Exchange, contrary to Biblical teachings, still their sheep stupidly enough keep on pouring money every Sunday. Good for them! I rest my case ndozonzi ndotaurisa but am not afraid of “Prophetic” powers either.

Elijah Mangwengwende is MDC-T activist