By Sukuoluhle Ndlovu
The Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development and other civic organisations are facing challenges in accessing information to track Covid -19 resources.
In a statement ZIMCODD said there is need to be transparent in all issues and information must be disseminated for public consumption in regards to the utilization of public resources in terms of Covid -19.
“Efforts by the ZIMCODD and other progressive civil society organisations of tracking Covid -19 resources have been faced with challenges related to access to information. Advocacy efforts from civil society organisations on ensure open contracting, public disclosure of all Covid -19 contracts, public disclosure of beneficial owners of companies being awarded contracts and call for due diligence on the companies prior to awarding contracts are falling on deaf ears.
ZIMCODD noted that the gate keeping of information is raising a lot of suspicions on the part of citizens and widens the public trust deficit.
“The disbursement towards Covid 19 should be accompanied by adequate auditing, oversight, accountability and reporting mechanisms to ensure that the resources reach the intended beneficiaries.
This will go a long way in preventing and mitigating corruption, fraud and waste. Te government should make a deliberate decision to incorporate anti corruption agencies and accountability institutions,” ZIMCODD said.
Accountability is a necessary condition in promoting transparency, participation, accountability and integrity.
Talking to Bustop TV, one resident in Masvingo from ward 10 said the Provincial Taskforce has to play its role and work hand in hand with the media so that information is disseminated to the citizens as they have the right to know how donations are distributed.
