Staff Reporter

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) Chairperson, Loice Matanda-Moyo has bemoaned the cancer of corruption stating that it should be everyone’s priority to deal with the vice if the country is to realise Vision 2030.

Speaking at a Roundtable on the nexus between Corruption and Human Rights, Matanda-Moyo emphasised that the time to fight corruption is now since the vice has a propensity of violating human rights.

“If corruption is not dealt with decisively it will impact on Zimbabwe’s aspirations of Vision 2030 of a prosperous and empowered Upper Middle Income Society.

“Not only does corruption harm the economy, but corruption also enables the violation of human rights,” added Matanda-Moyo.

Matanda-Moyo conscientised the public sector institutions on illegal and corrupt dealings as they affect mostly the vulnerable people in society.

“Women, children and persons living with disabilities suffer the most from corruption as they are often more reliant on public goods and services and have limited means to look for alternative private services.

“They also lack the resources to defend themselves and seek compensation,” said Matanda-Moyo.

Meanwhile, the UN estimates that developing countries lose about US$1.26 trillion annually due to corruption-related crimes leaving governments with little or no resources to fulfil their obligations to their citizens.  According to ZACC, Zimbabwe is estimated to be losing US$2 billion annually due to corruption and such illicit financial flows bleed the economy of revenue meant to promote sustainable socio-economic development and the betterment of the livelihoods of all Zimbabweans.

The Anti-corruption workshop was organised by ZACC in collaboration with the Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian Law and Transparency International Zimbabwe.