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Irresponsible reporting on corruption by media
Transparency International-Zimbabwe (TI-Z)
September 30, 2008

Transparency International Zimbabwe is very disturbed by irresponsible reporting of corruption issues by both the state and private media. On Wednesday 24 September 2008, the Herald published an article entitled "Stamping out corruption can saves lives-watchdog" which seemed to have been literally copied and pasted from Agence France-Presse (AFP) without any effort to contextualize the issues to the Zimbabwean scenario. Equally annoying was another article on the state of corruption in Zimbabwe, which was published by the Zimbabwe Independent entitled "Zim 14th Most Corrupt Country" written by one Paul Nyakazeya. TI-Z notes with regret that the writers did not make any effort to interpret the socio-economic implications of these statistical country rankings on corruption. In both cases, the media wasted space and paper nearly narrating the statement made by the Chairperson of Transparency International on the launch of the 2008 Corruption Perception Index (CPI). In all earnest people want to know the facts and how these facts impact on their livelihood not a mere narration of what was said - nothing less! As Zimbabwe moves towards a possible period of transition, TI-Z calls upon the media fraternity to take the onus to report and inform the public meaningfully on issues of corruption and good governance for this scourge to stop.

Highlights of some corruption cases over the past 2 years. Lest we forget where our economic woes came from!!!

GMB workers nabbed over fraud, 24/09/2008

Police have arrested five workers at the Grain Marketing Board depot in Chegutu for alleged fraud involving the buying of fertilizer from the parastatal and selling it in foreign currency to two foreigners who would smuggle it to Zambia via the Forbes Border Post in Mutare. Over 60 tonnes of the commodity have been recovered.

Corruption destroying economy, 12/09/2008

The perennial cry from Zimbabweans of all walks of life over the past few years has been that the scourge of corruption has been allowed to grow to levels that are totally untenable by any measure. There can be no denying that efforts to turn around the economy have been seriously curtailed by graft and vice in both the public and private sectors. While some effort has been made to combat corruption in the private sector, it is public-sector corruption by civil servants and Government officials that is most worrying.

GMB Karoi depot officer jailed for 6 years, 28/03/2006

The Grain Marketing Board production officer at the Karoi depot, who stole several tonnes of Ammonium Nitrate meant for A1 and communal farmers under the Government input support scheme, was last week sentenced to six years imprisonment by Karoi magistrate Mr. Samuel Muemeki

House of Assembly ratifies UN, African Union conventions, 05/04/2006

The House of Assembly yesterday ratified the United Nations Convention against Corruption and the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, which seek to provide a legal framework for curbing the vice at global and regional levels. The diamond question is what has the government done since April 2006 to domesticate these international instruments? Probably there is need for legislative gaps analysis with regards to anti-corruption laws in Zimbabwe vis-à-vis binding international instruments. (comment by TI-Z)

24 GMB workers in court on corruption charges

Twenty-four more workers from the Grain Marketing Board depot in Karoi have appeared in court facing corruption charges after they allegedly diverted fertilizer meant for communal and A1 farmers.

No amnesty for fugitives: President

Government will not grant amnesty to fugitives who fled the country and sought refuge in foreign states to avoid prosecution for their corrupt activities, President Mugabe said on Tuesday

RG officers get 2 years each for graft, 03/05/2006

Nine officers from the Registrar General's Office who connived and corruptly issued out passports for $100 000 instead of the prescribed $1,5 million have been slapped with an effective two years in jail each.

Zupco boss in court: US$90 000 bribe cited, 03/05/2006

Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) board chairman Charles Nherera allegedly solicited for a US$90 000 bribe from Gift Investments, a bus supplying company, as an inducement for him to award a tender to supply buses to the public transporter, a Harare Magistrate's Court heard yesterday.

US$3m fraud exposed

Former Trust Bank directors allegedly swindled the bank of US$3 million and used depositors' funds to purchase personal shares in some companies, in what could yet be another case of serious fraud that contributed to the demise of the financial institution, investigations by KPMG have revealed.

Corruption costs school millions: auditors

Ngezi High School in Mhondoro might have been prejudiced of millions of dollars through corruption, a flawed accounting system and gross mismanagement, an audit report has revealed

2 cops accused of accepting $400 000 bribe, 04/01/2006

Two policemen appeared at the Harare Magistrates' Court last week for allegedly demanding and accepting a $400 000 bribe from a bus conductor they had arrested at Mbare Musika on Unity Day last year.

2 clerks of court face corruption charges

Two clerks of court based at the Harare Magistrates' court allegedly swindled an MDC activist of $10 million on the pretext that they would influence a magistrate to impose a non-custodial sentence on her sons.

CABS billionaire cleared as State fails to prove case, 02/02/2006

Mathias Ndlovu, the Harare man who withdrew more than $432 billion from CABS accounts and was arrested for alleged fraud, yesterday walked out of court a free man.

Corruption continues unabated

Editor — A friend of mine took driving lessons with a large city driving school. After many lessons and a few days before the VID test drive, the instructor informed the individual that no one passes the test without paying an inducement, in this case $2,5 million, to be split between the instructor and examiner.

Police quiz senator
Makonde- Chinhoyi - Senator Douglas Mombeshora was recently picked up for questioning after police intercepted four trucks carrying 140 tonnes of wheat from his farm in Mhangura to an unknown destination.

Top banker suspended, 01/03/2008

Former Zimbabwe Development Bank (ZDB) managing director Mr. Cornelius Maradza has been suspended on allegations of defrauding the financial institution of cash and properties worth over $100 billion and a further US$70 000, before the bank was transformed into the Infrastructure Development Bank (IDBZ) last year.

70 GMB workers walk free, 19/07/2006

The 70 Grain Marketing Board Karoi depot employees who were on $2 million bail each on corruption charges, had their case withdrawn before plea by the State last Friday when they appeared before Karoi magistrate Mr. Archibald Dingana.

Former ZBH executive found guilty of corruption, 07/08/2008

Former Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings (ZBH) finance administration and human resources executive Robin Matanga was yesterday convicted of corruptly engaging his friend's company as an advertising agent for ZTV

Zupco boss Nherera jailed, 22/08/2006

Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) board chairman Charles Nherera was yesterday sentenced to three years in prison for soliciting a US$85 000 from businessman Mr. Jayesh Shah.

Corruption leaves Zisco on brink of collapse: Minister

Corruption by senior politicians has left the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Ziscosteel) teetering on the verge of collapse, a Cabinet minister said yesterday.

Makwavarara saga: State wants fairness

Government will not interfere in the process initiated by the Commission running the affairs of the City of Harare to sell a Highlands house to its chairperson Ms Sekesai Makwavarara, but wants the proper procedures followed.

Bindura town council unearths massive fraud

Bindura Municipality, which recently launched an anti-corruption drive, has unearthed a massive fraud in its housing department prompting the council to temporarily shut down the entire department.

Matonga trial fails to take off

The trial of Deputy Minister of Information and Publicity Bright Matonga, who is jointly charged with jailed former Zimbabwe United Passenger Company chairman Charles Nherera, failed to commence yesterday after the State's application to proceed to trial on the first count was dismissed

Cop accused of selling impounded fertilizer, 11/01/2007

An assistant inspector at Harare Central Police Station yesterday appeared in court on allegations of unlawfully disposing of about 30 tonnes of fertilizer, impounded from a suspected unscrupulous dealer in the city.

GMB officials under probe over fuel scam, 24/07/2007

Several officials at the Grain Marketing Board and others in Harare are being investigated to determine if they misappropriated more than 12 000 litres of fuel since May.

Zimbabwe performed badly on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) this year. Zimbabwe scored 1,8 on the 2008 CPI and the country was ranked 166 out of 180 countries surveyed. There is clear evidence that as the political, economic and social crisis has deepened, so has corruption. Zimbabwe's score has slipped by about 62% from 2.9 in 2001 to 1.8 in 2008. This evidence points to a direct correlation between the governance crisis and the rise of corruption.

Meanwhile, the nation still waits for the highly secretive agreement to be implemented, two weeks after the ceremonial signing by the three political formations in the presence of other African leaders in Harare. Scrupulous business people and speculators have not wasted time but have done the best to rip off the ordinary people their hard-earned money.

While politicians delay and contemplate as people endure more hours in the queue, our dear Governor has been very consistent, infact commendably so! He has maintained his stance "backwards never". The printing of notes goes on - this time on a poor quality paper and has raised fears of counterfeit money due to its poor security features. He has also been consistent in making sure that people waste valuable productive time standing in long queues everyday to get their hard-earned cash. It stuns me how he does not run out new ideas of collecting forex! I stand to be guided but the idea of licensing 'some' supermarkets and shops to sell in hard currency is as good as "legalizing the illegal market" Why not just dollarise then? Colleagues I need to be educated on this one.

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