Removal of Zim sanctions key in eradicating corruption The removal of illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe were key in capacitating the country’s efforts in fighting corruption amidst fears that the vice was threatening the country’s vision to attain an upper middle class economy Speaking during the Party’s weekly brief in Harare today, the ZANU PF Acting Spokesperson, Cde Patrick Chinamasa described corruption and sanctions as the twin evils haunting the Zimbabwean society. “Let me hasten say, there is a relationship between sanctions and corruption, whereupon due to incapacity of government or the private sector to provide competitive salaries in the region, workers end up engaging in acts of corruption to supplement what they get which is however unfortunate. “The illegal sanctions have affected our economy and continuously affect the value of our currency and consequently our returns. Again, due to sanctions our institutions mandated to fight corruption have been incapacitated to investigate swiftly both local and external cases,” Cde Chinamasa said. He urged members of the media to join the call for the removal of sanctions. “It is for this reason that we implore and remind Cdes in the media of their patriotic duty report on corruption and call upon the removal of sanctions, the twin evils which are haunting our society. “On a daily basis, we hear Cdes in the media echoing the US Ambassador’s Fake News narrative that Zimbabwean problems are a result of corruption and not sanctions. “Today we ask them this key question: if sanctions were not meant to and are not affecting our economy, why have successive administrations in those countries and the U.S in particular kept these sanctions? For leisure or for fun? We leave his question for you to answer as we reiterate our call for the Unconditional removal of sanctions,” he said. Cde Chinamasa said the ruling Party remained on course to fighting corruption and was encouraged “ZANU PF in 2018 earmarked the fight against corruption as one of its key deliverables and to achieve that, President Mnangagwa declared a zero tolerance to corruption towards building a corruption free society. “This was as a result of the realisation that corruption was becoming one of the biggest threat to the realisation of an Upper Middle Income Economy He added: “As we do so, we wish to inform members of the media that they are a key ally in fighting corruption, but in doing so, we encourage them to be objective, frank, and clear of being weaponised to peddle falsehoods to smear politicians.” Cde Chinamasa also told journalists that corruption had no membership to a particular party. “Corruption is a societal challenge which appear ubiquitous in business, civil society, government, local councils, churches, communities and among individuals. Corruption has no membership to a political organisation be it ZANU PF, MDCs, or otherwise and does not benefit anyone in the society,” he said.