Government has unearthed corruption in the issuance of
exemptions letters for travellers during the Covid-19 lockdown by officials in
the Gweru District Development Coordinator’s office.
The officers are allegedly demanding bribes of up to US$50
to facilitate the issuance of the letters to unauthorised people intending to
move around during the lockdown.
While Government has generally relaxed the lockdown
regulations, including the need for people to produce exemption letters at
check points, security personnel at the check points can still demand to see
them.
The office has since been ordered to stop issuing anymore
travelling exemption letters to ordinary people and businesses during this
Covid-19 induced lockdown.
In an interview yesterday, Midlands Provincial Development
Coordinator Mr Abiot Maronge said they were looking into the alleged corruption
in the issuance of travelling exemptions by officers in Gweru District
Development Coordinator’s office.
He said people in need of such documents should go to the
police while investigations were taking place.
Mr Maronge said his office had since asked the Gweru
District Development Coordinator Mr Jorum Chimedza to compile a report.
“Investigations are underway,” he said.
“Different figures of alleged bribe money are being thrown
around and we will get to the bottom of this. It is Government position that
people don’t pay a single cent for the document.”
The Minister of State Security Owen Ncube recently warned
Members of Parliament and councillors against issuing the travelling
exemptions, saying only police and District Development Coordinators had the
prerogative to issue the letters.
As such, security forces who are enforcing the lockdown are
not recognising exemptions issued by MPs and councillors. Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment