BY JAIROS SAUNYAMA
Youths have called on the government to ensure that corruption is combated for the country to develop and be prosperous.
The call came after an international news channel Al Jezeera aired a documentary titled Gold Mafia, which exposed massive gold smuggling and money laundering.
In a statement, the Youth Initiatives for Community Development (YICD) said corruption was a great obstacle to national development, hence the need to be dealt with.
“Corruption constitutes one of the greatest threats and obstacles to effective democracy, rule of law, ethical values, and justice, achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Zimbabwe’s economic and social development goals as encapsulated in the National Development Strategy 1, which seeks to transform Zimbabwe into a prosperous and an upper-middle income economy by 2030,” reads the statement.
“Endemic corruption is an issue of greatest concern to the citizens of Zimbabwe.”
Zimbabwe was just 23 out of 100 in the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI).
“We are concerned with scandals of grand corruption, abuse of public offices, illegal trade of minerals and money laundering,” reads the statement.
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“The effects of corruption are felt at local and national levels, and it is our common and shared responsibility to take action.
“The fight against corruption is important in fulfilling people's aspirations for balanced and sustainable human development and achievement of the elimination of the pockets of poverty and vulnerability.”
The government has come up with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission to deal with corruption in the country.
“The commission has, however, failed to convince the masses on dealing with the rot as most of those arrested are yet to be convicted.
“We welcome political declarations and commitments to fight corruption and we firmly reiterate the importance of a strong and unified leadership in addressing corruption,” reads the statement.
“It is important that deficiencies and loopholes within the Constitution of Zimbabwe, national policies, laws, structures, and systems must be addressed to combat opportunities for corruption.”
YICD said it was time for the government to strengthen parliamentary oversight on public finances, ensuring transparency and accountability in public procurement processes as well as eliminating political influence in the public sector.
