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Zvamaida Murwira Senior Reporter
The principles of the Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Whistle Blowers) Bill, which seeks to protect individuals that give out information regarding illicit activities within organisations they are employed in, was approved by Cabinet yesterday as part of efforts by the Second Republic to fight corruption.
This was said by Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa, during the post-Cabinet briefing.
Minister Mutsvangwa said principles of the Bill were presented by Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi.
“The nation is being informed that currently, Zimbabwe does not have specific legislation that provides for the protection of individuals that point out (whistle blow) against illicit activities within organisations they are employed in.
“The gap is affecting the fight against corruption and exposing the whistleblowers to retaliation. The Bill will promote a Whole-of-Society Approach in the fight against corruption by protecting genuine witnesses who raise issues of public interest,” said Minister Mutsvangwa.
The Bill will among other provisions, provide for disclosure of conduct averse to public interest in the public and private sectors, protection of whistleblowers by prohibiting detrimental treatment of any whistleblower by reason of his or her whistleblowing and a framework within which public interest disclosures shall be dealt with.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the enactment of the Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Whistle Blowers) Bill, 2022 will help safeguard good governance, transparency, justice, accountability and responsiveness as enshrined in the Constitution.
“Furthermore, the enactment of the Bill will be in line with international best practices as Zimbabwe is a signatory to several conventions aimed at combating the scourge of corruption within the public and private sector, among these being the SADC Protocol against Corruption; the African Union Convention on Prevention and Combating Corruption, and the United Nation Convention against Corruption,” she said.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet considered and approved the urgent development initiatives for Binga as presented by Local Government and Public Works Minister July Moyo.
Following President Mnangagwa’s visit to Binga where he addressed a rally at Siyabuwa recently, Minister Mutsvangwa said there arose the need to implement a variety of development initiatives for Binga district.
Some of the issues include roads rehabilitation, construction of a Vocational Training Centre and an Industrial Training Centre refurbishment and the setting up of a nursing school at Binga Hospital.
There is also a plan to refurbish and operationalise the mortuary at Binga Hospital.
“Further initiatives include increasing access to Zimbabwe Television and ZBC radio stations and fast-tracking the capacitation of Tonga Community Stations, which have already been licensed.
“Cabinet advises that the nation will be informed on the roadmap that will be taken once it has been finalised in two weeks’ time,” she said.
Turning to agriculture, Minister Mutsvangwa said as a result of food deficiency being experienced in some areas owing to erratic rains this season, Government will increase welfare stocks allocation.
“Cabinet assures the nation that there is sufficient maize stocks to feed the nation and cater for those who are food insecure,” she said.
Mines and Mining Development Minister, Winston Chitando, also gave Cabinet an update on applications by special interest groups mainly war veterans who applied for concessions to undertake mining activities.
All the applications were made and approved in terms of the provisions of the Mines and Minerals Act, said Minister Mutsvangwa.
She said Cabinet also got an update on a visit to Zimbabwe-Botswana border by an Inter-Ministerial Committee of Ministers to appreciate the situation regarding cattle rustling along the two countries’ borders.
The report was presented by Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe.
Now, the Inter-Ministerial Committee is expected to mount joint or simultaneous operations with Botswana, aimed at combating cattle rustling and other illegal activities in that area.
Minister Mutsvangwa added that the Inter-Ministerial Committee will also intensify community policing programmes through supporting Village/Cluster Anti-Stock Theft Committees and Traditional Leaders.
“Government wishes to inform the nation that in response to the challenges, and the need to reduce cattle rustling, six police bases have been established along the 625km border with Botswana and are now operational.
“The Ministry of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services has started scoping the area for the setting up of base stations to enhance communication and surveillance.”
Online Reporter