KEY POINTS
- ZACC handled nearly 1,000 corruption cases in 2023, with 56% involving public officials.
- Integrity pledges and anti-corruption committees have encouraged greater reporting of corruption.
- Minister Garwe emphasized the role of integrity in fighting corruption during a recent ministry event.
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) noted that it recorded close to 1000 corruption cases in 2023, out of which most of the allegations involved public entities.
This is evident from its heightened integrity pledges and the formation of anti-corruption committees with whistleblowers coming forward to report cases of graft in different sectors.
Integrity programs unveil corruption
ZACC Chairperson Michael Reza confirmed that the anti-corruption watchdog received 999 reports of corruption last year, 56 percent of which involved public officials.
“In 2023, we received 999 reports. It is disheartening to discover that reports against public officials accounted for 56 percent of these cases, that is 559 cases received against public officials,” Reza said, according to a post on X by ZBC News Online.
Moreover, this increase in corruption cases has been attributed to the commission’s integrity measures that began in 2022 in a bid to stop graft and promote transparency in Zimbabwe’s political institutions.
These programs strive to ensure that accountability is embraced through calling for pledges from the public officials concerning ethic practices and integrity while performing their duties.
Government officials pledge anti-corruption commitment
The integrity pledges program of the ZACC has received tremendous support in the government ministries of Zimbabwe.
Most recently, it was implemented at the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works, where senior government officials pledged to uphold transparency in their operations.
During the event, the Minister of Local Government and Public Works Daniel Garwe emphasized the significance of ethics as a way of combating corruption.
“Corruption is cancerous. It leads to poor service delivery. Integrity is the cornerstone for building our success. We must lead by example,” Garwe said during his address to the ministry’s officials, highlighting the detrimental impact of corruption on governance and service delivery.
Garwe linked the rise of land barons to corruption within the public sector, calling for public servants to embrace transparency and resist the temptation to engage in unethical practices.
Also, his remarks underscore the growing focus on rooting out corruption at all levels of government, a core part of ZACC’s mission.
Public skepticism and outlook
Some citizens have expressed skepticism about whether the commission can hold powerful officials accountable.
Social media users have voiced concerns, with one commenter describing ZACC as a “waste of taxpayer’s money” and questioning the commission’s ability to tackle corruption involving high-profile individuals.
Furthermore, as ZACC strengthens its oversight and investigative capabilities, the commission hopes to build public trust and maintain its commitment to addressing corruption within Zimbabwe’s public sector.
