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Attack on Transparency International Zimbabwe Malicious
Transparency International – Zimbabwe (TI-Z)
April 06, 2004

Excerpts of the report published by The Sunday Mail on 28 March 2004 based on the Evaluation Report of Transparency International Zimbabwe (TI-Z) are not only scandalous but also malicious and inaccurate. No corruption or illegality has transpired within the organisation. In fact TI-Z is taking steps to ensure that there is no scope for such acts or perception of such. The report deliberately omits, steps being taken by TI-Z to remedy the evaluation report’s recommendations for improved transparency.

It is an unmitigated falsehood to say both the European Union (EU) and Norad have frozen funding for TIZ. The EU and Norad supported the initial phase of TI-Z’s activities, from 2001 to 2003. Part of the contractual agreement of the first phase committed TI-Z to conducting an evaluation report before a review of funding for the second phase could be considered. The evaluation was conducted between September and November 2003. There has been satisfactory discussion between all parties throughout the evaluation exercise and the donors have been assured of the full commitment of TIZ to implement the recommendations of the evaluation.

In a follow up comment on the issue, the EU Head of Delegation, Francesca Mosca stated, " The Delegation of the European Commission in Zimbabwe wishes to point out that the donors have not slammed TI-Z and Dr. Makumbe as your (Sunday Mail) headline in last week’s Edition suggests nor has it frozen payments. We are confident that TI-Z is implementing the recommendations of the evaluation referred to and we continue to believe that TI-Z is making a valuable contribution to combating corruption in Zimbabwe."

The Sunday Mail article obviously seeks to cast aspersions on the TI-Z leadership, particularly on its chairman, Dr John Makumbe a fearless critique of the status quo. The report is therefore essentially aimed at inflicting organisational damage on TI-Z and is defamatory of the TI-Z Board. The reasons for this should not be difficult to comprehend given the current government’s belated awakening to the existence of corruption in Zimbabwe

Since its inception, TI-Z has, from almost a zero perspective, introduced the national debate on the distortion of human development caused by corruption. The TI-Z board welcomes government’s efforts to combat corruption particularly in the light of the appointment of a Minister of Anti-Corruption and Monopoly and the recently gazetted, Anti-Corruption Bill, which seeks to establish a commission to fight the scourge. It is unfortunate but not at all unexpected that sick minded elements within the state media, including the bankrupt and decadent ZBC would seek to defame TI-Z and Dr Makumbe, for these are the very institutions that are the centres of corruption in Zimbabwe. We at TI-Z will, however, press on with the task of fighting against corruption whether there are pending elections or not.

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