Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
STAKEHOLDERS operating at the Beitbridge Border Post have thrown their weight behind the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc)’s ongoing drive to stamp out corruption and promote transparency at the country’s busiest port of entry.
This united front comes as Zacc rolls out a week-long multi-stakeholder anti-corruption awareness campaign in the border town, targeting Government agencies, travellers, transporters, traders and ordinary citizens.
The campaign aims to curb rent-seeking behaviour, smuggling of restricted goods and other illicit cross-border activities that undermine national revenue and economic development.
Among the stakeholders actively supporting the initiative are the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), Immigration Department, Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), Zimborders Consortium, customs clearing agents, cross-border traders and transport operators.
Zacc’s Chairperson for the Prevention of Corruption Committee, Ms Chido Madiwa, said collaborative efforts are essential in the fight against corruption.
“This initiative is bearing fruit. Several public institutions and members of the public are now on board. We must work together to prevent corruption and smuggling. Already, some officials have signed integrity pledges to reinforce the anti-corruption drive,” she said.
Ms Madiwa added that Zacc is engaging travellers and cross-border traders to raise awareness of the dangers of corruption and the importance of compliance with legal processes.
“We are also encouraging citizens to report suspicious activities and demand accountability,” she said.
The Assistant Regional Immigration Officer-in-Charge at Beitbridge Border Post, Mrs Canisia Magaya, said her department has adopted a zero-tolerance approach to corruption. Among its strategies, the department has streamlined border processes to minimise opportunities for rent-seeking behaviour.
“We regularly rotate staff to avoid over-familiarity, and, in collaboration with other security agencies, we are clamping down on illegal activities such as the use of fake passports and counterfeit border stamps,” said Mrs Magaya.
She noted that the introduction of automated gates (eGates) and the Online Border Management System has also helped to reduce human contact and eliminate bottlenecks that often lead to corrupt practices.
Zimra shift manager, Mr Enock Taruvinga, highlighted that Zimbabwe loses an estimated US$1 billion annually through unpaid customs duties, smuggling and the illicit export of precious minerals, leakages that severely constrain the Government’s ability to fund development programmes.
“We are combating corruption through a combination of staff rotations, transfers, lifestyle and post-clearance audits and other disciplinary measures. We also have a memorandum of understanding with Zacc and continue to collaborate with other Government departments. Automation has played a key role in minimising human interference,” he said.
ZRP Chief Staff Officer, Commissioner Abigail Moyo, confirmed that the police are fully engaged and working with all stakeholders to address corruption-related offences at the border.
Zimborders Consortium General Manager, Mr Nqobile Ncube, said the recently completed US$300 million Beitbridge Border Post modernisation project had introduced automated services, biometric access control, and a real-time traffic tracking system, all designed to minimise opportunities for corruption.
Chairperson of the Transport Operators Association of Zimbabwe, Mr Osbert Shumba, also voiced his support for the anti-corruption drive.
“We urge border officials to simplify service delivery processes, as complex procedures often contribute to corrupt activities involving border stakeholders and their clients,” he said.
Customs clearing agents also pledged their commitment to ethical business practices. A representative, Mr Abel Rubwere, emphasised the need for a mindset shift.
“We must adopt a new attitude in the way we do business to facilitate seamless regional and international trade,” he said.
Officials from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development, the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID), and the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (Zinara) confirmed that their staff had signed integrity pledges and are committed to working closely with Zacc.
—@tupeyo
