CIVIL SOCIETY JOINT STATEMENT ON CORRUPTION, OBSENE SALARIES AND OTHER UNDERHAND DEALINGS IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND PUBLIC SECTOR
We the undersigned members of civil society representing various sectors of Zimbabweans society are alarmed and concerned by the reckless behaviour, uncaring attitude, corruption and bad Governance that is being exhibited and taking place in our local government, parastatals and quasi Government bodies. We deplore such levels of corruption, which are a manifestation of lack of corporate governance and a disservice to the public. We would like to register our sternest disapproval of the breakdown of public accountability, widespread corruption in public institutions and death of conscience in public officials who have become shockingly parasitic on the State by siphoning large millions of public funds through obscene salaries, and shadowy transactions.
We therefore demand that the Government of Zimbabwe take corrective measures to bring sanity and sobriety to our nation by: a)
Providing moral leadership and good corporate Governance in its day-to-day activities. It should respect the rules of the country and live within its means. The recent approval of a budget overrun of $400 million on the 2013 budget sets a very bad precedent and displays a disturbing unrestrained spend thrift attitude which has unfortunately been taken as a blue print and has also taken root in our local authorities and quasi Government bodies.
b)
Urgently instituting a commission of enquiry tasked with further investigating the obscene salary saga, tenderpreneurship and any other underhand dealings taking place in the public sector. This should also include where necessary carrying out forensic audits in suspected sectors so as to globally expose the extent of this problem.
c)
Immediately dismissing all those found to be on the wrong side of the law and corporate governance and instruct the Commissioner general of police to investigate
d)
Dismissing all board members implicated or otherwise and constitute new boards with resumes that reflect good corporate governance, professionalism and integrity.
e)
By allowing the anti-corruption commission and other institutions such as the parliament of Zimbabwe and local authorities to perform their oversight role without hindrance from the executive.
f)
Turning words into action especially on matters to do with graft. The president must be seen to be dealing with ministers and any other government officials who have been fingered in corrupt activ-
ities and cause heads to roll within the executive arm of the state. g)
Naming and shaming all those found guilty as a means in curbing graft and other vices END/
ENDORSED BY: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34.
Achieve Your Goal Trust (AYGT) Amnesty International Artists for Democracy in Zimbabwe Trust (ADZT) Beitbridge Residents Association (BRA) Build a Better Youth Zimbabwe (BABYZimbabwe) Bulawayo Agenda (BA) Bulawayo Progressive Residents Association (BPRA) Centre for Natural Resource Governance Chiredzi Residents Association (CRA) Chitungwiza Progressive Residents Association (CPRA) Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD) Counselling Services Unit (CSU) Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) Ecumenical Support Service (ESS) Election Resource Centre (ERC) Gays and Lesbians of Zimbabwe (GALZ) General Agriculture And Plantation Workers Union Of Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ) Greater Kadoma Residents And Ratepayers Association (GKRRPA) Gweru United Residents Association (GURA) Habakkuk Trust (HT) Heal Zimbabwe Trust IUSHIN Kariba Residents Association (KRA) Kwekwe Progressive Residents Association (KPRA) Legal Resources Foundation (LRF) Masvingo Residents and Ratepayers Association (MRRA) Matebeleland Constitutional Reform Agenda (MACRA) Media Alliance Zimbabwe (MAZ) Media Institute for Southern Africa( MISA) Media Monitoring Project for Zimbabwe (MMPZ) Mutare United Residents and Ratepayers Association (MURRA) NASA National Association of Societies for the Care
35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66.
of the Handicapped (NASCOH) National Youth Development Trust (NYDT) Nhimbe Trust Nonviolent Action and Strategies for Social Change (NOVASC) Norton Residents Association (NRA) Platform for Youth Development (PYD) Research and Advocacy Unit (RAU) Restoration of Human Rights Zimbabwe (ROHR) Student Solidarity Trust (SST) Women's Action Group (WAG) Women’s Coalition Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) Women’s Institute for Leadership and Development (WILD) Women’s Trust (WT) Youth Alliance for Democracy (YAD) Youth Agrarian Society (YAS) Youth Agenda Trust Youth Initiative for Democracy in Zimbabwe Trust (YIDEZ) Zimbabwe Civic Education Trust (ZIMCET) Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI) Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) Zimbabwe Farmers Union Development Trust (ZFUDT) Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) Zimbabwe Organisation for the Youth in Politics (ZOYP) Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) Zimbabwe Poets for Human Rights (ZPHR) Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA) Zimbabwe Young Women's Network For Peace Building (ZYWNP)