THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) says a study had shown the country’s judiciary was riddled with corruption, which threatened to undermine the country’s entire justice delivery system.
Citing a report by Transparency International Zimbabwe, which identified the court system as a corruption hotspot, Zacc chairperson Loice Matanda-Moyo said hard work being done by the country’s law enforcement agencies, including her agency, was being undermined by suspected graft at the courts.
“Justice must never be for sale, the day justice is for sale, we are doomed as a country,” she told an anti-corruption meeting in the capital on Thursday. Let me say that I was very disappointed by the results from a survey which was done by Transparency International Zimbabwe which showed that our court officials are now very corrupt. I think that was the highest sector which came out. So if our courts are corrupt there is no way that we can defeat corruption.
“So, I want to urge those within our court structures to desist from corrupt activities, to resist corruption. Do not let our country degenerate into a lawless country through receiving bribes,” Matanda-Moyo added.
“I urge our courts to promote justice; at the end of the day justice must be done.” Matanda-Moyo said corruption was also rife at the country’s border posts. She challenged security forces manning the country’s border posts and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) officials to shun corruption, and increase vigilance to curb smuggling. “Recently when I was in South Africa I had talks with the head of the Hawks. It is quite embarrassing how porous our borders are.’’ — New Ziana
