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Corruption an impediment to development
Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
October 15, 2010

'Like a cancer, corruption is that sore which drains the strength of a nation. Corruption has deprived the nation of better infrastructure and better facilities," President of India, Pratibha Patil (2009)

The Herald of the 12th of October reported the 'vanishing of 12 million' from the government owned Minerals Development Corporation through corruption by senior employees at the corporation. This is not the first time that reports of corruption and mismanagement have tainted the image of government institutions. The most notable corruption case was the Willowgate Scandal in 1988, which resulted in the resignation of top government officials and the death of Maurice Nyagumbo. A report by the Comptroller and Audit General in 2009 revealed the high levels of corruption which engulfed the country's government institutions yet the inclusive government has done little to solve this cancerous problem.

Part of the Comptroller and Audit General's report illustrated how the Ministry of Youth Development had 10,000 people on the pay roll without existence of the post on the Ministry's establishment, duplicated 458 names and had numerous ghost workers. Needless to say, the same Ministry is responsible for the national youth service whose recruits have played a significant role in instigating state sponsored violence against innocent citizens. It is sad that these youths were paid by the Ministry using tax payer's money to instigate violence against the same tax payers.

Additionally, it is apparent that government institutions operate in secrecy for the past three decades, with little scrutiny and zero accountability to the public. Suffice to say, institutions which reached a point where their leaders are 'milking dead cows', top management still receive salaries of USD 15,000 according to the Minister of State Enterprise and Parastatals, Gorden Moyo. Parastatals have the potential of generating 40% of the Gross Domestic Product according to Minister Moyo if they operate according to set principles

Instead of concentrating on providing basic services including electricity and meaningful remuneration to their employees, top government officials especially in parastals and local government continue fattening their pockets at the same time suppressing the basic rights of Zimbabweans to clean water, shelter and decent living. It is evident that due to failure of these institutions to deliver, infrastructural development and provision of better services in Zimbabwe is lagging behind, affecting mostly the poor majority.

Perhaps the greatest worry is the destination of these looted resources. Parastatals, which are operated by ex-military men and ZANU PF functionaries, have largely been the cash cows of ZANU PF in its bid to maintain the party's hold on power. The failure to draw a line between the state and the political party has resulted in the use of resources to sponsor violence and entrench ZNU PF political hegemony albeit illegally.

During Zimbabwe's transitional period, it is important for the inclusive government to make deliberate efforts to exorcise government institutions of corruption and mismanagement in order to improve their functioning and ensure the full operation of these institutions. Since government institutions have potential to contribute immensely to the economy, the government should put in place policies which prioritise the re-structuring of the institutions.

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