Asset declaration must not be for appearances

The recent order by President Emmerson Mnangagwa for Cabinet ministers and top government officials to declare their assets, presumably to foster transparency and fight endemic graft, is plausible, timely and critical if Zimbabwe still entertains any prospects of achieving a quantum leap in economy growth.

It is clear that international business is premised on transparency in the governance system of any State actor, and hence the end of February deadline for bureaucrats to account for their assets should not be seen as demanding too much.

We believe it is not too long ago when Mnangagwa was attacked for including suspected corrupt individuals in his administration for political expediency at the expense of the nation, and it is not too late to sacrifice some if it is found that they cannot account for everything they call theirs.

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