President Emmerson Mnangagwa has warned perpetrators of corruption within government and public institutions saying those caught on the wrong side of the law will be severely punished.
Mnangagwa made the remarks on Tuesday during his inaugural State of The Nation Address at the joint sitting of the National Assembly and Senate.
“Corruption remains the major source of some of the problems we face as a country and its retarding impact on national development cannot be emphasized.
“My government will have zero tolerance towards corruption. Economic developments require a clean government.
“The goal of my government is to build a new Zimbabwe based on the crown values of honesty, transparency, accountability and hard work,” said Mnangagwa.
He added that his administration is vigorously working on measures to spearhead the e-government programme to fight corruption and moving with technology.
“We need to use the e-government programme not only as a means to keep in step with the ICT revolution , but also to fight corruption. This is being complemented by the concurrent drive to boost internet connectivity throughout the country,” said President Mnangagwa.
He sent a chilling warning on individual cases of corruption, especially land barons saying every case of corruption must be investigated and acted upon.
“Local authorities are expected to transform themselves into engines of economic growth and meaningfully contribute to the growth of the economy.
“Government will insist on the return by local authorities to proper town planning practices and strict adherence to business and building by-laws. The corrupt parceling out of land to land barons and the construction of houses on undesignated areas and in haphazard manner must stop,” said Mnangagwa.
This is in contrary to his predecessor, Robert Mugabe, who for too long, stood accused of shielding his loyalists who were implicated in corrupt land dealings.
Mnangagwa’s government has arrested former Finance Minister, Ignatius Chombo under a cleansing operation code named ‘Operation Restore Legacy.’
Mnangagwa expressed frustration at levels of incompetence within the social services sector, particularly hospitals, where bemoaned the long delays, patients endure before being attended to coupled with their inability to provide prescribed drugs as untenable.
He said the 100 Days Program Target adopted by cabinet will address such issues
In line with the quest for increased job creation, Mnangagwa spoke of the need to expedite the establishment of the National Productivity Institute which is expected to promote the competitiveness of the local industry.
