By Tatenda Mujeyi
Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) hosted a road show in the Harare Gardens under the theme ‘I will pay, not bribe’ to negotiate for the decline in bribery payments.
The road show is part of the broad objectives of the organisation to redress the corruptive tendencies of paying bribes.
“The campaign is premised on facilitating payment of money to the prescribed official channels as opposed to paying bribes that only benefit individuals at the expense of the companies and government utilities that should rightfully receive the funds.” TIZ Director, Muchaneta Mundopa said.
The payment of bribes, a vice that should be addressed, is a major impediment to good corporate governance.
“Good Public corporate governance and strong institutions are essential foundations for a sound economy, which can attract investments,” Mundopa said.
The campaign is aimed at redressing the bribery tendencies in utility service provision that is characteristic of bribe payments and in turn depriving utilities revenue and in turn compromising service provision.
“The joint national campaign, in our view, enables and encourages citizens to pay rates and desist from bribing council officials to avoid service cuts. Such behaviours from Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC)’s perspective will not reduce poverty and inequality but decrease social integration and opportunities for all,” Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission Manager Public Education, Research and Publicity, Dr Onesmus Nyaude said.
“The campaign is important as it facilitates for the renegotiation of our lost morals and ethics. People have been paying bribes to remain connected on water and electricity. They should never bribes to the disconnecting officials. This has contributed to the fall in service deliver,” Sunningdale 1 Residents Association Founder, Colins Nyangani concurred.
Harare City Council said it is losing money to cartes engaged unscrupulous activities and urged people to pay directly to council.
“We are alive to the fact that there are certain cartels within these areas and I call upon law abiding residents to pay directly to Council so that we will be able to provide you with the services that we all require,” Councillor Musarurwa Mutizwa for Ward 9 Greendale Mandara who read the Mayors speech said.
The call by TIZ was commended by all stakeholders at the road show as a launchpad from which issues of corruption could be dealt with.