admin
Victor Maphosa
Mashonaland East Bureau
MARONDERA Municipality takes issues of integrity seriously, the Mayor, Councillor Chengetai Marova, has said.
In a speech read on his behalf by his deputy, Councillor Joel Munjaranji, during the integrity signing ceremony for councillors and management held at the council chambers in Marondera recently, the mayor said corruption was detrimental to development and the vice had devastating effects on the nation and should be stopped in its tracks.
The ceremony was facilitated and overseen by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission chairperson Mr Michael Reza.
“We are all aware of the harmful effects of corruption on individuals and the country at large, as well as its potential harmful effects on the socio-economic fabric of our nation.
“With this recognition in mind, the Government, through its anti-corruption enforcement arm, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, has taken the necessary steps to curb corruption, especially within the public service, government agencies, and parastatals by establishing integrity committees.
“We would like to thank ZACC for the initial training that we received as a group of local authorities at Chibhanguza in Murewa. As a follow-up to that training, we have again invited ZACC to train our integrity committee to equip all our councillors and staff members with the requisite knowledge and understanding of what is required of everyone of us in terms of integrity concerns.
“Integrity committees have been identified as key vehicles in promoting ethical and professional conduct within the public service fraternity. Here at the Municipality of Marondera, we take issues of integrity seriously. Therefore, we have established a vibrant integrity committee which meets regularly to brainstorm ideas on how best to continuously instil ethical practices in our daily operations and prevent corruption,” Clr Marova said.
The council, he said, was employing several measures to curb graft.
In order to continually foster integrity and ethical behaviour, council was enforcing the declaration of interests before the start of every meeting to avert any conflict of interest among discussants.
The signing of integrity pledges by council officials was a step in the right direction in as far as fighting corruption was concerned and Cllr Marova called on officials to always remain principled.
“Today, our council is taking another step further in combating vice and all its forms by having senior and junior staff members, as well as councillors, sign integrity pledges to reaffirm their commitment to conducting themselves ethically and professionally during the course of their duties.
“Employees need to adhere to core ethical principles which involve being honest, reliable, transparent and accountable. Council can only achieve its vision of a vibrant smart city of service excellence by upholding high levels of integrity at all times.
“Let us all sign the integrity pledges in our hearts and spirit and adhere to the spirit and letter of our pledges, as the Government and indeed the nation at large, will hold us to our commitments and hold us accountable. Thank you once again to the ZACC Chairperson, Mr Reza, and your team for availing this opportunity to us to reaffirm our commitment to transparency and curbing corruption.”
Online Reporter