The ManicaPost
| CORRUPTION basically entails the abuse of entrusted power for personal gain which comes about through dishonest or illegal behavior by those in position of power or holding public offices. |
Over the past two decades Zimbabwe has seen the exponential growth of this cancer that is bleeding the economy, resulting in the country failing to meet set targets and objectives.
The scourge is widespread and has become topical.
Elsewhere in this issue we carry a disturbing story in which two police officers attached to Mutare Traffic were last Thursday nabbed at a roadblock on bribery charges.
Their arrest was because of a tip-off that alerted the force’s anti-corruption unit of rampant bribery which resulted in the cops pocketing more into their own coffers than what they were receipting.
We know and understand that suspects will remain so until proven guilty but allegations that were raised concerning the case will help us hammer home one to two points.
The alleged modus operandi that saw the suspects pocketing more than $450 early in the morning by 8.30am and the Government only getting $30 at that time through genuinely receipted fines, is being used frequently.
It is common knowledge that kombi operators, especially those with many vehicles on the roads, pay a fixed charge to traffic cops to guarantee easy passage of their vehicles while plying inter-city routes.
In this case, the traffic cops allegedly sought the services of one of the transport operators to collect the bribe money on their behalf and evade sporadic spot checks that are usually done by the anti-corruption unit.
Such corruption is not happening on the roads alone but at the police stations were suspects bribe their way to freedom.
As we take early strides into the year 2017, we would like to applaud the police’s anti-corruption unit for doing a sterling job concerning this case.
We hope that this anti-corruption mode and vigor will continue into the year.
At times citizens lose faith in the police because of the actions of a few rogue elements who operate outside the Police Charter and line up their pockets.
By stamping out corruption within the force, the results will definitely show up in the form of excellent policing in communities which triggers economic growth and desired social development.
Apart from cleansing the traffic enforcement unit, we hope that the anti-corruption team will use its broom to sweep notorious grey spots in Manicaland and bring about sanity.
The continued smuggling of second hand clothes into the country through the porous border with Mozambique is a cause for concern. Despite the heavy presence of law enforcement agents deployed to curb smuggling, illegal or banned foreign merchandise find its way daily into the country.
This is so because those who are supposed to keep an eye are being bribed to turn the other side. Companies that bottle beverages are at the mercy of cheap imports that are getting into the country daily under the cover of darkness.
We believe that the anti-corruption unit must follow up contraband on sale on the streets. Those who are selling the illegal products must be made to answer and reveal the names of people who supplied them the goods.
When that happens, the country will be able to trace these illegal dealings up to the source.
In the end corruption will be tamed.
