Politicians charged over handling of Covid-19 pandemic

In South Africa, Covid-19 has exposed a grand scale of greed and spurred a long needed action against corruption

PRETORIA, September 13 (ANA) – In a time of crisis and uncertainty, some politicians still found reason to be self-serving and betrayed the public by stealing funds meant to cushion the effects caused by the coronavirus.

The scandals were not only limited to corruption but also negligence and misconduct by politicians entrusted with powers to handle the pandemic.

Recently in France, the country’s former health minister Agnes Buzyn has been charged with endangering the lives of others during the pandemic by uttering careless statements.

According to Al Jazeera, in January 2020, She said there was “practically no risk” of importing Covid-19 from the China, where the outbreak started, and added that the “risk of a spread of the coronavirus among the population is very small”.

In the United Kingdom, a politician was was suspended from the Scottish National Party parliament after she was arrested in January and charged with “reckless conduct” after an alleged breach of coronavirus rules.

Sky News reported that Margaret Ferrier, travelled from Glasgow to Westminster despite testing positive for Covid-19.

Africa may have the lowest number of coronavirus infections, but accusations of corruption in handling funds meant to mitigate the pandemic are appalling.

In South Africa, Covid-19 has exposed a grand scale of greed and spurred a long needed action against corruption.

Former health minister Zweli Mkhize was implicated in a scandal which saw him and his family benefiting millions from a controversial R150 million Covid-19 communications contract awarded to Digital Vibes.

The Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report indicated that Mkhize received R6.7m while his son is said to have received R3.8m despite not doing any work for Digital Vibes.

The SIU report found that Mkhize and his family benefited to the tune of R4 million from the tainted R150 million Digital Vibes contract.

The damning allegation led to Mkhize’s resignation saying he is stepping down “in order to bring certainty and stability” to the portfolio.

In August, the Presidential spokesperson, Khusela Diko, has been reinstated to her position following a lengthy leave of absence, and disciplinary hearings against her.

Diko was on a leave of absence for just over a year after reports that her husband, the late Amabhaca King Madzikane II Thandisizwe Diko, secured a R125million Covid-19 PPE tender from the Gauteng health department.

The provincial department was led by Diko’s family friend and close ally Bandile Masuku at the time.

Madzikane had allegedly received the tender because of his close relationship with Masuku.

Diko maintained that she was not involved with her husband’s business.

The corruption also spread in government employees who were implicated over the shameless manipulation of Temporary Employer/Employee Relief Scheme (TERS) and the theft of food parcels.

According to the Financial Times, Uganda recalled its ambassador to Denmark and her deputy after the duo were recorded in a Zoom call allegedly plotting to pocket money allocated to deal with Covid-19.

The publication added that in Somalia, a court handed down heavy sentences to four top health officials for misappropriating pandemic relief funds.

“Corruption is criminal, immoral and the ultimate betrayal of public trust. It is even more damaging in times of crisis, as the world is experiencing now with the Covid-19 pandemic,’’ Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres said.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Naomi Mackay