Online Reporter
Remember Deketeke and Collin Mtatabikwa
The Grain Marketing Board (GMB) senior officials yesterday pledged to uphold integrity and fight corruption as they move to safeguard national food security through transparent and sustainable management of the Strategic Grain Reserve.
As part of the commitment, GMB officials yesterday signed integrity pledges at an event officiated by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in Harare.
Signing the pledge is part of broader national efforts to eliminate corruption within public institutions, particularly those tasked with critical mandates such as food security.
Speaking at the ceremony, ZACC Commissioner Chido Madiwa said signing is the first step towards committing to hard honest work.
“But embedding ethics in operational culture requires consistent oversight and systems that adapt to evolving threats,” she said.
“Corrupt practices in grain marketing can lead to artificial scarcities, inflated prices, reduced farmer incomes and ultimately, the erosion of public trust in Government institutions.”
Comm Madiwa added that embracing integrity would ensure fair procurement, efficient storage and transparent distribution systems critical for protecting producers and consumers.
GMB chief executive officer Mr Edson Badarai described the pledge as a bold public stance against corruption.
“Today’s event is not merely ceremonial. It is a strong and public declaration of our zero-tolerance stance on corruption, misconduct and abuse of office.
“We are embedding integrity at the core of our organisational culture,” he said.
GMB board chairperson Ms Joylyn Ndoro noted that the signing of individual and corporate integrity pledges signals a new era of ethical leadership within the institution.
“This is not merely symbolic. It is part of our broader effort to establish a culture of ethical accountability at all levels of the organisation,” she said.
Meanwhile, ZACC manager – compliance, systems and processes unit, Mr Tafirenyika Maringire, has challenged officials from regulatory and critical national institutions to sign integrity pledges.
He was speaking at the signing of the pledge by RPAZ board members and management in Harare recently.
“Ladies and gentlemen, integrity is not a static declaration but a life-long and ongoing vow that demands continuous commitment and unwavering support,” he said.
“By publicly signing an integrity pledge, you are demonstrating that integrity is not merely an abstract concept, it is a living, breathing commitment that must be nurtured, affirmed and relentlessly upheld in every facet of your work.
“I would like to challenge other regulatory and critical national institutions across our nation to emulate the laudable example set by the Radiation Protection Authority of Zimbabwe in signing integrity pledges, if they have not already done so.”
Mr Maringire called for collective action against corruption, explaining that the war against the vice cannot be won by ZACC alone.
“It demands a unified alliance of committed institutions, each diligently playing its part in cultivating an impregnable culture of integrity across our nation,” he added.
RPAZ board chair Dr Anna Mary Nyakabau described integrity as key in ensuring trust from stakeholders as it ensures confidence and efficiency.
“As an organisation, we recognise that integrity is not just a value, it is the foundation upon which trust is built. Trust from our stakeholders, partners, communities, and, most importantly, from one another.
“It is this trust that enables us to operate effectively, to lead with credibility, and to deliver on our mission with confidence.
“The formation and empowerment of integrity committees is a critical step in institutionalising ethical conduct across all levels of our operations. These committees are not just compliance mechanisms, they are champions of a culture where doing the right thing is not optional, but expected,” she said.
An integrity pledge is a commitment or promise to uphold certain values, principles or standards of behaviour and it is part of the Government’s efforts to implement the anti-corruption strategy launched by President Mnangagwa on July 11, 2020.
