Former State Enterprises and Parastatals Minister, Dr Gorden Moyo, says there is a need for willingness by the government to deal with corruption in public procurement in Zimbabwe.
A number of procurement scandals have been unearthed in the public service including the one which cost former Health and Child Care Minister Obadiah Moyo his job.
In an interview with CITE during the Breakfast Club in partnership with Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ), Tuesday, Dr Moyo said the country was seated on serious corruption scandals perpetrated by those who are supposed to be eliminating it.
“Corruption is the issue here,” he said.
“Until we deal with systemic and structural corruption in Zimbabwe, our state-owned enterprises will continue to be a burden to the fiscus and to the people of Zimbabwe.
A systemic problem is embedded in the structures and in the institutions of a country and the main institution becomes the government and by the government let me use a substitution, the cabinet, let me use (another) substitution, the President.”
Dr Moyo said the government has to change its mind-set and deal with systemic corruption.
“It is the leadership at the head of government level that can deal with the systemic and structural corruption,” he said.
“There was an opportunity immediately after the coup in November 2017. Zimbabweans were ready to comply, there was a national and global consensus that perhaps this is time for transformation, time for social change, political transformation. Zimbabweans were ready waiting for the government to give a signal and show commitment but that commitment did not come simply because their (government) hands are dirty,” said Dr Moyo.
“Until we have a change of government, we need a mind-set change in government then we can deal with systemic corruption,” said Dr Moyo.
He said the country now needs an inclusive dialogue which looks beyond the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD).
“There is a need for inclusive dialogue; Zimbabweans must dialogue; there is no sin in dialogue if we come together as Zimbabweans and agree on the pillars of transformation and change, social and economic, and agree on the way forward with a change on the mind-set, a mind-set which says we want to build our country and then we will solve these problems,” said Dr Moyo.
He said the dialogue should not be a political dialogue but an inclusive one that has the by-in from all Zimbabweans.
“This should not be a political dialogue, we need an inclusive dialogue, yes politicians play a major role because ultimately they become the policy makers but in the process of coming up with the solution, really Mnangagwa should ensure that there is an inclusive, not just POLAD, we need post POLAD dialogue,” said Dr Moyo.
Meanwhile, Transparency International Zimbabwe Advocacy Officer, Njabulo Moyo, said corruption in public procurement was aided by, among other things, lack of information.
“My view is that corruption in public procurement is aided by among other things, the lack of information as to who are the beneficial owners of companies that are given government tenders and a gap in our legal framework pertaining to sanctions for non- implementation of the Auditor General’s recommendations,” he said
