2.5.5 Implications of the Budget
Corruption is considered to be a strong impediment to economic growth and development. Some have viewed corruption as a hidden tax that negatively affects business operations, foreign investment as well as decrease government tax revenue. Tackling corruption thus becomes of paramount importance to create a conducive environment for growing the economy towards achievement of Vision 2030. If ZACC is adequately resourced, it will be in a position to meet its set targets.
2.5.5.1 Compensation of Employees
In respect of Compensation of Employees, across the three programmes, a bid of ZWL$20 million was tabled and Treasury appropriated ZWL$9.1 million, a negative variance of 54%. The ZWL$20 million bid was placed with the hope of recruiting new staff in line with decentralisation as well as improve remuneration of ZACC staff. In terms of recruitment, ZACC intends to beef up staffing in Bulawayo as there is only one officer resident there. Currently, all investigations in the country are being conducted from Harare, and this is proving to pose serious logistical challenges. Thus, the urgent need to decentralise into Masvingo and Matabeleland South provinces to intensify the fight against corruption.
In terms of remuneration, it was established that ZACC investigating officers are currently being paid incomes that are not consistent with the assignments they have to handle. A salary of ZWL$700 places these offices at serious risk of accepting bribes from persons or entities under investigation. It was felt that Treasury needs to revise this allocation in line with regional trends to prevent breeding of corruption in an anti-corruption agency.
Staffing and remuneration levels play a key role in the external relations agenda of ZACC. This priority area focuses on international cooperation and partnerships in anti-corruption and anti-money laundering issues. As such, Zimbabwe is signatory to protocols and conventions for fighting corruption with bodies such as United Nations, African Union and SADC. ZACC is currently under review by the United Nations Convention Against Corruption. In addition, Zimbabwe chairs the Organ on Defence and Security within SADC and is due to host Anti-Corruption sub-committee meetings in 2020. The allocated ZWL$9.1 million falls far short of requirements (ZWL$20 million) and will negatively affect the achievement of the overall policy priorities of ZACC.
2.5.5.2 Investment in Non-financial Assets
This expenditure item covers all three programmes as it speaks to decentralization to three regions consisting of six provinces in 2020. The tabled bid was ZWL$50 million and Treasury appropriated $44,050,000 which yielded a negative variance of 12%. This bid was aimed at;
- Acquiring office accommodation in at least two regions including Bulawayo.
- Acquiring at least one operational motor vehicle for the decentralised regions.
- Acquiring computers, office furniture and other accessories in the decentralised regions.
The resultant negative variance of ZWL$5,950,000 (12%) will hamper the Commission from effectively operationalising the decentralisation agenda.
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