Can inclusive government conquer graft?

In 2007, the Corruption Perception Index ranked the country 157 out of 163 nations with Zimbabwe performing worse than Nigeria.
Studies by corruption watchdogs such as Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) indicate that the vice has, like a cancer, permeated the entire society.
The central bank estimates that millions of dollars in hard currency have been lost due to graft, particularly through leakages in the capital intensive mining industry.
An anti-corruption unit set up by government to fight graft has had no visible impact on the rot, which has contributed to the economic meltdown.
There is a general consensus that only the small fish have been caught up in the corruption dragnet with the big ones being left to roam the streets freely.
Questions are therefore being asked on whether there could be some glimmer of hope following the formation of the inclusive government between ZANU-PF and the two Movement for Democratic Change formations.
Under the Global Political Agreement, the three parties must establish an independent Anti-Corruption Commission to exorcise the evil. The inclusive government says it is ready to deal with corruption which has entrenched itself across society, be it businesses or government institutions.
To set the ball-rolling, Parliament constituted the Committee on Standing Rules and Orders last week, effectively paving the way for the selection of members of various statutory commissions to establish the Anti-Corruption Commission and expand democratic space in Zimbabwe. The previous Commission has widely been seen as lacking the teeth to bite after it failed to net the “big fish”.
The fight against corruption is also captured in the new economic blueprint launched two weeks ago.
Under the Short Term Emergency Recovery Programme combating corruption would involve strengthening the judiciary and the Attorney General’s Office, establishing a new Anti-Corruption Commission and ensuring high standards of accountability and honesty in the public service.
“Government and parastatals cannot be institutions of handouts and therefore, all leakages must be plugged. In addition, where possible, new laws will be enacted and present laws, such as the Prevention of Corruption Act, will be strengthened,” the blueprint reads in part.
Analysts this week said it was the responsibility of the inclusive government to nip graft in the bud if its economic reforms are to succeed.
They noted that international donors would be reluctant to inject credit into a corruption ridden economy.
Phillip Pasirayi, the coordinator of the Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe, said government needed to clean up its act in all key institutions to win the battle against corruption.
“The new government has got an uphill task to stop corruption that pervades our society,” he said. “The Prime Minister needs the support of ethical and professional leaders in government who stand ready to fight corruption. I don’t see this in the current crop of public bureaucrats we have.”
Pasirayi said government must push for legislation to create an independent Anti-Corruption Commission with powers to recommend prosecution regardless of one’s political standing.
“There is also need to reform some key State institutions such as The Public Protector or Ombudspersons, Attorney-General Office and the police, which are all critical in fighting corruption. The Prime Minister must not fall in the trap of issuing statements, which he does not follow up with action; the people want a new way of doing things,” he said.
Last Friday, Prime Minister Tsvangirai, spoke out against corruption and other vices in society saying government was aware that most of the on-going disruptions on farms were acts of theft using fraudulent offer letters.
Useni Sibanda, the coordinator of the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance, said addressing corruption would be another litmus test for the inclusive government.
“If this government has to be taken seriously, it needs to move with speed to ensure that it arrests corruption. Prime Minister Tsvangirai has indicated it is part of his mission to deal with corruption and we hope the new commission will not be partisan. But we need sincerity from everyone in government to deal with graft.”
Sibanda said the church and other civic society organisations were keen to see the calibre of people to sit on the new look Anti-Corruption Commission.
“We need people who are beyond reproach, people with integrity not those that have been fingered in corruption and other unbecoming behaviour,” he said.
Buoyed by the new government’s willingness to fight graft, TIZ has launched the Advocacy and Legal Advice Centre (ALAC), to empower victims and witnesses of corruption to actively address their grievances and promote systemic legal, administrative and institutional change to strengthen the fight against corruption.
“The ALAC project disputes the fact that people are generally apathetic in the face of corruption but argues that people can become actively involved in fighting corruption when provided with the means to do so,” John Maketo, the centre’s coordinator said.
“ALAC is therefore a practical means for fighting corruption that has been availed to the citizens in Zimbabwe. The project is promoting a culture of responsibility and taking collective interest in national affairs — thus individuals will report and reject any form of corrupt practices. ALAC is also offering an alternative channel for victims and witnesses of corruption to act against corruption given the lack of confidence people had shown with the previous constitution or composition of the Anti-Corruption Commission,” said Maketo.
Maketo added: “ALAC is raising the stakes and risks for would-be perpetrators of corruption very high and making the returns very low. The most important thing about ALAC as an anti-corruption initiative is that it targets the very people that are mostly affected by corruption and empowers them to act.”