By Humphrey Makuyana
Honest Wealth vs. Manufactured Riches
Wealth, in its truest form, must be created through honest hard work, enterprise, and sound business acumen. It should leave behind footprints of integrity and transactional audit trails that prove accountability.
Anything manufactured through deceit, manipulation, or corruption is unsustainable and destructive to both individuals and nations.
> “Wealth created through corruption is fragile; it collapses like a house built on sand.”
Zimbabwe’s Wealth Paradox
Zimbabwe is richly endowed with natural resources, fertile land, and a highly educated population. Yet progress has been undermined by:
Corruption
Weak corporate governance
Rent-seeking behaviour
These vices erode public trust, dishonour the sacrifices of the liberation struggle, and deny citizens the prosperity they deserve.
Why Corporate Governance Matters
Globally, prosperous nations thrive because they embed integrity, transparency, and accountability in their economic systems.
The Zimbabwe National Code on Corporate Governance (ZimCode, 2015) provides such a framework, but its implementation has been weak. Opaque decision-making, nepotism, and lack of accountability plague many enterprises.
Key Governance Principles Zimbabwe Must Uphold:
Transparent record keeping and audit trails
Independent and accountable boards
Ethical and law-abiding leadership
Transparent procurement and financial reporting
The Cancer of Corruption
Corruption remains one of Zimbabwe’s greatest threats to progress.
According to Transparency International’s 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, Zimbabwe ranks poorly, exposing systemic governance failures.
Sectors most affected include:
Mining
Procurement
State-owned enterprises
Here, corruption diverts resources, discourages investors, and cripples genuine entrepreneurship.
> “A nation that celebrates dishonest gain loses its moral compass and its capacity to prosper.
The Role of the Young Generation
Zimbabwe’s youth are increasingly entrepreneurial—venturing into technology, innovation, and value-added industries. Yet, without ethical guidance, they risk repeating the mistakes of the past.
What Must Be Done for the Next Generation:
Teach business ethics and governance in education systems
Mentor young entrepreneurs in accountability and transparency
Enforce strict compliance with corporate governance codes
Celebrate honest innovators instead of corrupt opportunists
A National Call to Action
The time has come for Zimbabwe to reorient its economic culture:
Shun corruption in all its forms.
Reward honesty and hard work over manipulation.
Build enterprises that can withstand audit and inspire trust.
Instill upright corporate governance in every institution and entrepreneur.
Only then can Zimbabwe move from fragility to resilience, dependency to prosperity.
Conclusion
Wealth created and accumulated through honest hard work is wealth that endures. It uplifts not only individuals but the nation as a whole. It is a legacy worthy of the sacrifices of the past and a foundation of hope for generations to come.
> “The future belongs to a Zimbabwe where wealth is earned with dignity, sustained with accountability, and shared with justice.