Letter to the Editor

The nomination process was a ruse to make the the public believe they were being involved in the process. While the public made the nominations, there was a final selection of 38 candidates who the public did choose. If it is a public process why didn’t the public get to see the profiles of all the candidates before they were whittled down to 38.

I also note that the final 10 will be decided over a 20 minute interview. While the candidates to be interviewed appear to be academic, fighting corruption requires much more than public nomination and a 20 minute interview.

The nation would have expected candidates to go a rigorous vetting process where they will be asked to take part in group exercises, presentations with the individuals being eliminated at each stage then the final 15 or so go for a face to face interview lasting at least one hour. Articulating corruption requires much more than just being an academic.

There are personal attributes which may not be apparent on the CV or nomination form therefore a rigorous vetting exercise was supposed to done publicly.

One Chokuda has argued that they considered experience and qualifications but the previous ZACC Boards had the so called academics and experience but delivered nothing other than corruption and gross incompetence. Fighting corruption requires sincerity, integrity and honesty on top of experience and qualifications.

The nomination process does not show how sincere and honest people are. The list of the candidates has some who are fearless and have been anti establishment for a long time but fighting corruption requires more than being a critique of the government . It requires a deep understanding of the micro and macro economic processes, political and social factors and how they breed and venerate corruption.

Anti corruption strategies require someone who knows they are to bring synergy and cohesion among the various anti corruption organisations in Zimbabwe. At the moment the situation is a theatre of illusions with each organisation or individual trying to have a monopoly over the fight against corruption without including other agencies.

We will be watching the live interviews to see how the candidates articulate how they will fight corruption This is a pointer of how the nomination of people into key boards results in lapdogs making decisions that bring the country on its knees