After Chief Justice Luke Malaba invited a Ugandan judge to train judges ahead of the establishment of anti-corruption courts, Zimbabweans protest, arguing Uganda’s record on corruption does not say much about their expertise in the area.
The chief justice said Uganda had waged war against corruption and the head of its anti-corruption court, Justice Lawrence Gidudu, would run a training course for Zimbabwean judges, magistrates and other officials, Zimbabwe’s state-owned Herald newspaper reported.
Zimbabwe’s decision to establish special courts to deal with corruption cases comes after President Emmerson Mnangagwa declared corruption as the country’s biggest enemy, the newspaper reported.
The Zimbabwean information ministry’s permanent secretary, Nick Mangwana, tweeted the article. However, the news was not received well by Zimbabweans online who said Uganda was not the best country to learn from.
“Govt has invited a top-notch Ugandan Anti-Corruption Court judge to train Zimbabwe’s Judiciary, ahead of the establishment of anti-corruption courts. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), members of ZACC and members of ZRP will all be trained,” he said in a tweet.
His communication sparked rage among the citizens who fired back on twitter.
“It seems we are in the same bracket he is here to share and compare notes,” one twitter user said.
“Please stop wasting people’s resources. Do we actually need the assistance of Uganda to eradicate corruption in Zimbabwe?” Leonard Koni wrote.
“Uganda, anti-corruption…. How did you manage to put the two words in the same sentence NICK? Look at the countries you looking at for advice and help,” TB Mandlazi wrote.
“Uganda is not a good example of countries fighting corruption Maybe Rwanda, Singapore, Netherlands, Malaysia etc not these Museveni chaps. We’re very far from fully launching the fight against corruption,” Takudzwa Munangwa wrote.
“But why Uganda why not Rwanda or Kenya or South Africa,” Nelson Tuwadya wondered.
“Africa’s Least Corrupt Countries 1. Seychelles 2. Botswana 3. Cape Verde 4. Rwanda 5. Mauritius 6. Sao Tome and Principe 7. Namibia 8. Senegal. Source: Transparency International Corruption Perception Index,” Tarrysnun wrote.
Zimbabwe’s Chief Justice Luke Malaba told journalists that Justice Lawrence Gidudu, who heads Uganda’s anti-corruption court, will conduct a week-long training course in Zimbabwe’s capital, Harare.
Justice Malaba said Zimbabwe has a lot to learn from Uganda that has prosecuted and jailed corrupt people for years.
Uganda was ranked better that Zimbabwe in Transparency International’s 2019 corruption perception index.
Uganda was number 137 out of 180 countries while Zimbabwe was number 158. But Zimbabwe’s neighbouring countries – Botswana, Namibia and South Africa – were ranked better than Uganda by far.
