A plethora of allegations of corruption, unprofessionalism and other malpractices have been labelled against the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) and its principal officials. These include:

• Looting of institutional and individual bank accounts;
• Engaging in illicit quasi-fiscal projects, e.g motor vehicles and many others
• Illegal dealings on the black market;
• Lacking of due diligence and professionalism on the formulation, conduct and implementation of monetary policy;
• Involvement in the illicit buying of diamonds from Marange;
• Supporting/funding human rights abusers

In view of these allegations, Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-Southern Africa) coordinated the signing of a PETITION to the Right Honourable Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai calling upon his office to:

• Set up an independent Commission of Enquiry into the conduct of RBZ and its principal officers;
• Facilitate an effective and efficient investigation;
• Publicise the findings of the investigation and implement the recommendations thereof.

Over and above the aforesaid, petitioners also appealled to the Prime Minister to ensure the following:

• That the existing Anti-Corruption Commission of Zimbabwe be empowered to carry out its duties and responsibilities independently and effectively, and
• That the government of Zimbabwe ratifies/accedes to or otherwise abide by the provisions of UN Convention against Corruption, the AU Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the SADC Protocol Against Corruption.

The petititon was duly served to the Prime Minister in August 2009. It was signed by:

1. Africa Action;
2. Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-Southern Africa);
3. Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace – Zimbabwe (CCJP-Z)- Zimbabwe;
4. Human Rights Institute of South Africa (HURISA)- South Africa;
5. National Society for Human Rights (NSHR)- Namibia;
6. Nonviolent Action and Strategies for Social Change (NOVASC)- Zimbabwe;
7. People Against Suffering Suppression Oppression and Poverty (PASSOP)- South Africa; and
8. Zimbabwe Exiles Forum (ZEF)- South Africa

To take part in this campaign please write to Campaigns Coordinator, ACT-Southern Africa c/o Zimbabwe Exiles Forum, Cnr Prinsloo and Visagie Streets, Pretoria, 0001 South Africa e-mail: actsouthernafrica@gmail.com; info@actsouthernafrica.org

Cases - Justification for the action