Chronicle Editor
Nqobile Tshili, [email protected]
RURAL local authorities in Matabeleland North have pledged to uphold integrity and fight corruption as it can hinder the country from achieving national economic development goals outlined by President Mnangagwa.
Binga, Bubi, Hwange, Kusile, Nkayi, Tsholotsho and Umguza Rural District Councils last week partnered with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) in establishing integrity committees within their localities.
Following the engagement last Thursday, chief executive officers of the local authorities and integrity committees pledged honesty in the execution of their duties.
The event was held at a Bulawayo hotel with ZACC Commissioner Jessie Majome leading the proceedings while highlighting that corruption is a cancer that threatens the development of the country.
She said fighting corruption is an urgent matter that requires all hands on deck in public and private institutions.
Comm Majome said establishing integrity committees will complement already existing anti-graft measures including asset recovery.
“As ZACC, we are justifiably proud that our anti-corruption push and through the role that we have, has been consistently posting high conviction rates for all dockets that are investigated by ZACC,” said Comm Majome.
“In 2023 the conviction rate was at a remarkable 74 percent, as well as increased asset recovery that reached over $20O million.
“These achievements are aimed at addressing governance and administrative malpractices at various local government authorities and public entities in the country.”
To date, Comm Majome said ZACC was pleased that it has fostered and facilitated the establishment of more than 100 Integrity Committees in various institutions.
She praised local authorities in Matabeleland North for agreeing to establish integrity committees as part of the measures to fight corruption.
“I encourage other institutions to emulate such commitment to deal with corruption within their areas of authority through the establishment of Integrity Committees,” said Comm Majome.
“It is through such collaborative interactions and activities that we can ensure efficiency in curbing corruption in our beloved country to make it the Great Zimbabwe it is destined to be. Surely, the training that will be imparted to the local authorities of Matabeleland North will help to strengthen the Integrity Committee’s skills, knowledge and experience in running the committee in order to succeed.”
Binga Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Joshua Muzamba, who is also the provincial chairperson of the CEOs Forum for Matabeleland North, said they are excited to have participated in the anti-graft training.
He said the anti-graft training is in sync with President Mnangagwa’s local authorities’ ‘Call to Action’ economic blueprint that they should aim to provide uncompromised service delivery.
“The interaction that we had is very beneficial to us. It actually exposed us to being involved and participating in the eradication of corruption.
“More so, in the local authorities because we are at the forefront of the development of our country and attainment of Vision 2030,” he said.
“In response to the call to action by His Excellency in the blueprint, in terms of us ensuring that there is service delivery with one of the areas, he highlighted the need for us to eradicate corruption as councils and therefore this exercise is answering to that,” said Mr Muzamba.
He said local authorities are part of the Government on the ground and they are the first port of call for communities who require services.
“Therefore, the attainment of Vision 2030 can only happen if we as local authorities carry out our service delivery mandate in a corruption-free environment,” he said.
Mr Muzamba said the illegal parcelling of land, which affects future developments constitutes some of the corruption matters predominant in local authorities.
He said the signing of the integrity pledge makes the local authority officials reflect and recommit themselves to executing duties with a renewed vigour.
Hwange Rural District Council chief executive officer Mr Philani Ncube said as leaders in local authorities they were not just signing the pledge but rededicating themselves to people-centric service delivery.
“This is an important event, which brings managers of local authorities to the realities of expectation to call to action by the Government of Zimbabwe. In the same breath, this has given opportunities to myself and my management team to self-introspect and ensure we operate within the confines of the law,” he said.
“This is not just a signing ceremony, it is meant to reinvigorate and inculcate a culture of improving service delivery in our communities,” said Mr Ncube.
He said his locality is one of the well-resourced local authorities but its resources are not benefiting communities.
Mr Ncube said participating in the integrity committee training workshop should result in the transformation of the council with more communities benefiting from the available resources.-@nqotshili
Online Reporter