“High level corruption a threatens social contract in Zim”

Stakeholders who met at a Dialogue and Transition in Zimbabwe policy conference hosted by Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC) and the Zimbabwe Democracy Institute (ZDI) said Zimbabwe was failing to guarantee the social contract as a result of the plunder of national resources by political heavyweights.

Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD) Director, Patricia Kasiyamhuru said corruption was going on unabated in Zimbabwe and the trend was affecting ordinary citizens.

She implored authorities to ensure they act on recommendations from the Auditor General’s office on issues of corruption at State enterprises.

“Our concern is that each year, we have reports of illicit financial outflows from government departments and public enterprises and if we cannot address internal illicit outflows, we cannot guarantee the social contract.

“On corruption, we are concerned that nothing happens to those that are reported to be corrupt,” said Kasiyamhuru.

She also noted with concern that government was failing to consult ordinary citizens on national policies and expressed fear that such conduct could negatively impact on the lives of ordinary citizens.

“We are also concerned over the issue of the government’s re-engagement with international financial institutions because we feel this must not be done at the expense of the ordinary person. It must be done in a way that does not affect ordinary people and as such, the government must consult as widely as possible,” said Kasiyamhuru.

On another note, Rita Nyamupinga from the Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe bemoaned that women across the country were suffering as a result of government’s failure to uphold the social contract.

“When you look at the right to health, it is no longer guaranteed and that has worsened the maternal mortality rate in the country. Public health institutions are even failing to cater for HIV patients. The same applies to the right of education which is no longer guaranteed,” said Nyamupinga.

She added that the government’s decision to ban imports through Statutory Instrument 64 of 2016 had also negatively affected women’s livelihoods.