By Anyway Yotamu.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Friday 20 December 2019 participated in a symposium to mark the United Nations Anti-Corruption Day where he responded to questions and concerns raised by the public on the fight against graft.
The UN Anti-Corruption Day falls on December 9.
The symposium was organised by the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and Transparency International Zimbabwe Chapter.
He said every citizen has a duty to fight corruption as the nation intensifies efforts to eradicate the vice while speaking in Harare where panelists from various sectors were highlighting some of the corrupt activities present in the economy.
“Corruption is not government policy. I’m the government and I’m your President. As a government, there is a provision in the constitution to put an organisation to fight corruption. I created a new anti-corruption commission led by a lady (Justice Matanda Moyo) who is very strict. We have a commission to fight corruption. We need the support of the population and citizens,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the fight against corruption requires the participation of every institution and individuals for a corrupt-free society.
Top lawyer Blessings Hungwe, who was one of the panelists at the forum raised issues affecting the mining sector such as corruption in exploration, marketing and mining rights in the industry.
President Mnangagwa said if there is anyone who can assist in coming up with a system to track whether declared mineral output by mining companies is the correct, they should come forward with the leads so that culprits will be dealt with.
“We have the Mining Affairs board. There is no claim or special grant which the President signs which has not been approved by the Mining Affairs Board. We need to make sure that we have legislation that protects the national interest. When we say Zimbabwe is open for business, we want to attract global capital. We are willing to receive new ideas to improve what is there. It is not cast in stone. I’m a listening President,” he said.
President Mnangagwa also emphasised the need to craft attractive economic policies to ensure the economy attracts global capital which is critical for the growth of the economy.
“We must be able to be attractive. We must make our economic policies attractive to the outside world to ensure they create revenue and wealth for us. As we guard our national interests, we must open up and embrace the international world. We must reform and we will grow,” he said.
On the machete carrying gangsters in the mining sector, President Mnangagwa said the government is against that and measures are being out in place to enforce deterrent sentences to those found with such weapons.
“We are against that totally, machetes or any instrument. Anyone found with those instruments will be arrested, we are looking at the sentencing to ensure that its deterrent,” he said.
Alluding to the corruption at the Registrar General’s Office, President Mnangagwa said government is moving from manual to electronic processing of passports and other essential documents to decongest the passport offices.
On corruption at the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID), the President said this should be thoroughly looked into and urged Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ), the African Parliamentary Network Against Corruption, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission and the police to be tough on the issue.
The President also said the government is committed to bringing to book all individuals involved in the illegal sale of land to desperate home-seekers.
The symposium was being held under the theme, “Taking stock of anti-corruption agenda in Zimbabwe”.