By Kudakwashe Vhenge
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) Chairperson Loyce Matanda Moyo yesterday Monday issued a statement warning against the abuse of donations of medical supplies received by the Ministry of Health and Child care from well wishers to help combat covid 19 .
The Commission cited that there have been incidences of failure by the relevant authorities to account for donations that would have been made in times of human crisis.
Last year the country experienced one of its worst tropical cyclone Idai killing at least 700 leaving hundreds missing and thousands displaced and in need of emergency aid.
International donors, private corporates, religious groups, and ordinary citizens offered massive support for the cyclone victims but there were media reports of politicization and theft of the aid which worsened survivor’s anguish to date.
One of the notable incidents led to the arrest and conviction of two Ministry of Transport officials by the police after a tip off from the public leading to the recovery of goods worth thousands of dollars of construction vehicles and materials intended for Cyclone idai victims in March of last year.
ZACC have since weighed inn urging responsible individuals in the Health ministry to ensure transparency and equal distribution of the donations.
“The Commission therefore implores the responsible individuals in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, from the Accounting Officer, those in charge of hospitals, clinics and pharmacies to put in place systems that ensure transparency, accountability and fair distribution of all the said donations,” read the statement.
The Commission warned individuals to desist from embarking on any corrupt and fraudulent activities assuring that those found on the wrong side of the law will be dealt with accordingly.
ZACC advised all members of the public to report cases of corruption in the management and distribution of the COVID-19 donations on the following platforms [email protected], [email protected], twitter @ZACConline and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission face book page.
So far Zimbabwe received its first batch worth millions of dollars of medical supplies that were donated by Chinese billionaire Jack Ma to use in the fight against Covid 19.
These items comprising of testing kits and face masks were handed over to the health Minister Obadiah Moyo who will ensure the supplies’ distribution throughout the country.