ZIMBABWE TAKES STEPS TO COMBAT CORRUPTION
In a bid to tackle corruption, Zimbabwe has put in place various measures and mechanisms to eliminate graft, said Honourable Justice Loyce Matanda-Moyo, Prosecutor General of Zimbabwe.
Initiatives to Combat Corruption
At the 10th Session of the Conference of State Parties to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) held in Atlanta, Georgia, Matanda-Moyo highlighted several initiatives undertaken by her country to combat corruption. Some of these initiatives include:
- Integrity Committees: Over one hundred public sector institutions have established Integrity Committees, with plans to cascade this concept to all ministries in 2024.
- Integrity Pledges: Individuals voluntarily commit to fighting corruption through the Integrity Pledges program.
- Corruption Perception Index survey: Zimbabwe has established an internally driven Corruption Perception Index survey as part of its anti-corruption efforts.
Regional and International Cooperation
To enhance regional cooperation, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has signed memoranda of understanding with several anti-corruption agencies in neighboring countries, including:
- Zambia
- Botswana
- South Africa
Internationally, ZACC has partnered with the Basel Institute on Governance International Centre to work closely together in identifying and recovering stolen assets and capacity building in financial investigations.
Legislative Reforms
The country is working on introducing whistleblower and witness protection legislation as well as amending the Anti-Corruption Commission Act to include sector-specific offenses of corruption.
Education and Awareness
To educate the public, ZACC has launched a whistle-blower application that allows members of the public to report anonymously to the commission. Additionally, the country is planning to introduce a curriculum on corruption, ethics, and integrity in schools and universities starting from early childhood learning.
Progress and Call to Action
Matanda-Moyo noted that Zimbabwe has made significant strides in its anti-corruption efforts, with conviction rates for corruption cases increasing to 72%. The country’s support for anti-corruption efforts has also increased by 300%.
In conclusion, Matanda-Moyo urged delegates to continue working together to combat corruption and ensure maximum cooperation between states parties during requests for extradition processes and the return of stolen assets.