An anti-corruption lobby group of Christian denomination across the world says over US$1 trillion is lost to sleaze every year while poverty stalk the global poor.

The group going by the name Exposed’s Dion Forster who is international coordinator said illicit business and bad governance are at the center of the spread of corruption.

“Every year well over US$1 trillion goes missing through mismanagement, illicit business practices and poor governance.

“It doesn’t have to be this way. This money doesn’t just evaporate – it is actually deducted from the livelihood of some of the poorest people in the world,” Forster said in a statement last week.

Zimbabwe’s representative at Exposed Dr Goodwill Shana, head of the Christian denominations in Zimbabwe said Christians in Zimbabwe are part of the global fight against corruption.

“While corruption is present everywhere, from the boardrooms of corporations in developed countries to the dusty streets of developing nations, it plays a far more significant role in Africa by keeping the poor in the unrelenting grip of destitution,” Shana said.

Shana serves as spokesperson of Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission.

Exposed last week held the Global Vigil against Corruption titled Shinning Light on Corruption to raise global awareness on the effects of graft on human development.

“Government, business and churches across the globe are being challenged to expose and tackle corruption which is identified as one of the major factors in ensuring that many millions of people remain trapped in poverty.

“It is a scandal that so many people survive in dire poverty and so many resources end up in the wrong hands,” he said.

Rev Joel Edwards, chairman of Exposed and international director of Micah Challenge a partnering organisation of the coalition said the aim is to provide a platform to remind the world of God’s passion for the poor.

“Our job is to provide a forum in which 100 million Christians will remind us and the world of God’s passion for the poor. We want people to become advocates and practitioners of justice to help shine a light on corruption wherever it is present, to ensure integrity is established or restored in financial and political systems, and resources are shared equitably so that everyone has the opportunity to flourish,”Edwards said.

Other partners are the Bible Society of the United Kingdom, the Bible Society of North America, The Salvation Army, Unashamedly Ethical and the World Evangelical Alliance.

A report by the campaign group Global Financial Integrity suggests that corruption and tax evasion cost the developing world as much as $903 billion in 2009.

Exposed was launched in London in October 2012 where partners and media were urged to mobilise, millions of people to commit and promote practical steps for ethical behaviour in society.

It also seeks to empower and equip government, communities and individuals to expose corrupt practices, to combat corruption and make decision-making and financial and trade transactions more transparent.

Sources within the Church have suggested that unless Christians begin to fight corruption from the pulpit, the world will continue to lose billions that would have been used to fight poverty afflicting millions of the world’s poor.