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Anti-Corruption
Day Commemoration - Eradicate Poverty, Fight Corruption
Harare, October
27, 2001
Introduction
The Anti-Corruption Day Commemoration was organised and hosted by Transparency
International-Zimbabwe on the 27th of October 2001 under the
theme: "Eradicate Poverty: Fight Corruption." The theme was
selected after an analysis of the glaring visibility of poverty in the
Zimbabwean society, whether in the rural and urban areas. It is TI-Z’s
view, and rightly so, that the increasing levels of poverty are a result
of the escalating rate of corruption within all sectors of the society.
The activities that were lined up for the day were meant to awake a sense
of responsibility amongst the leaders and the general public on what steps
they could take against corruption seeing that it has a direct negative
impact on their economic and social status.
Background on the
Theme
The theme "Eradicate Poverty: Fight Corruption" emanated
from an analysis conducted by TI-Z indicated that the misuse of public
funds for personal gain resulted in the failure to provide basic human
rights services and infrastructure to the public. Further, the corruption
perpetrated within the private sector impacts negatively on the public
as it had the effect of passing on the burden of corruption on the consumer
of goods and services provided by the companies. This necessarily increases
the poverty of the population. Further, there is growing concern over
the misuse of donor funds by some non-governmental organisations resulting
in increased poverty to the communities they are supposed to be benefiting.
The relationship between
corruption and poverty is that corruption causes poverty. At the moment
it has been reported that at least 75% of the Zimbabwean population can
be classified as poor. Whilst a lot of factors are at play in causing
poverty corruption is a big contributor. Millions of dollars have been
lost through corruption resulting in the shortage of funds to finance
social and economic empowerment projects.
It was in light of
this analysis that the Anti-Corruption Day Commemoration was held to highlight
the increasing levels of poverty to corruption.
Pre- Event Preparations
TI-Z intended that the Commemoration should become a public event
commemorated by all sectors of society. It was therefore necessary to
conduct pre-event advertising. Advertisements were flighted in the daily
and weekly newspapers outlining the activities that would be conducted
on that day. Fliers and posters were designed and distributed in areas
such as Mbare, Dzivaresekwa and along major roads leading out of and into
the City Centre. Radio programmes were aired on Radios 1 and 2 during
the two weeks preceding the Commemoration. The TI-Z Director appeared
on television programmes in which the Commemoration was highlighted as
an event of national importance.
It can be concluded
that there was adequate publicity on the Commemoration such that even
those who were not able to attend were aware of it.
Activities of the
Day
The March
The Commemoration
began with a peaceful March conducted from 4th Street through
the City Centre to the Harare Gardens. About 150 people participated during
the March with quite a substantial number of students from the local university
and colleges. Drum majorettes from a local school and a group of traditional
dancers led the march. It was indeed a lively parade with flamboyant banners
and placards and singing of anti-corruption songs. It was clear that a
lot of Zimbabweans are concerned about the escalating levels of corruption
and are beginning to understand the link between the corruption perpetrated
by those in authority and their own poverty.
Activities in the
Harare Gardens
Key note Address
Mr. Mangota,
the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary
Affairs delivered the keynote address. Mr. Mangota noted that corruption
is one of the many causes of poverty and the environment created as a
result of poverty gives fertile ground for the acceleration of more corruption
and more poverty. He expressed that it is imperative for government, civic
society and the private sector to come up with policies aimed at eradicating
poverty.
The Permanent Secretary
pointed out that the government is currently working on a revision of
the penalties of the Anti-Corruption Act, among other Acts, to provide
it with stricter deterrent and retributive measures against perpetrators.
He also hailed the recently adopted SADC Protocol Against Corruption and
current efforts by government to put in place the legal enabling environment
for the establishment of an Anti-Corruption Commission.
Civic Society Perspective
on the Link Between Corruption and Poverty
Dr. John
Makumbe, the Chairperson of Transparency International- Zimbabwe expounded
on the civic society perspective on the theme. He noted that indeed corruption
has resulted in untold poverty among the Zimbabwean population. He gave
examples of how the equivalent of monies lost through unexplained and
unnecessary travel by government officials would have been enough to pay
for the education of primary school students in one district of the country.
He pointed out that corruption is one of the factors that contributed
to the rise in street kids as the provision of social acre facilities
was shrinking due to misplaced government priorities.
Dr. Makumbe acknowledged
that corruption is not only a phenomenon in government but also exists
in civic society and in the private sector. He noted with concern the
fact that some private companies were operating game reserves without
paying taxes to the government resulting in the state losing millions
of money through revenue.
Poetry and Drama
The Mabvuku
Drama Group presented a play on the theme, which was well received by
the audience as it brought out poverty issues that the audience could
identify with. Poets affiliated to the Zimbabwe Association of Community
Theatre recited poems to the delight of the audience. It was obvious that
drama and poetry are powerful tools of communication.
Conclusion
The Commemoration
was well received and supported by the public and other civic organisations.
It was covered in the radio and on national television news broadcasts.
TI-Z hopes that future commemorations will be spread to towns and centres
outside Harare so that it really becomes a national event.
Visit the Transparency International - Zimbabwe (TI-Z) fact
sheet
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