Need to strengthen Integrity Committees within local authorities to fight corruption

Gibson Mhaka, Zimpapers Politics Hub

IN his address at the “All Councillors Indaba” held in Harare on Tuesday, President Mnanagwa reiterated his message of zero tolerance to corruption saying his Government would not relent in dealing with it across the board.

The President said he was “deeply concerned” about the cases of corruption rampant in local authorities. “No one, including local authorities, will be spared. Let us root out this menace from our society,” President Mnangagwa said.

The President’s sentiments are informed by his recognition of the importance of local authorities’ broader impact on the country’s economy. Proper functioning of local authorities has a direct impact on the living standards of the people.

By collecting revenue from service delivery charges, local authorities are legally obligated to provide essential services like water, sewage, drainage, street lighting, and fire services to the community.

However, corruption is a major challenge hindering the ability of Zimbabwe’s urban councils to effectively and efficiently deliver essential services.

This pervasive issue undermines transparency and accountability, leading to poor service delivery manifested in uncollected garbage, potholed roads, congestion, water shortages, and the proliferation of illegal settlements.

Corruption is rampant in local authorities, particularly urban councils, severely compromising service delivery.

Corrupt tendencies hinder the provision of essential services, thereby denying communities their rights to a better life.

This corruption weakens prospects for local economic development as reliable investors avoid urban councils plagued by scandals.

Moreover, corrupt practices, such as bribery and extortion, deter potential investors, hindering local economic development.

Councillors often demand bribes from investors seeking to establish businesses within their jurisdictions, discouraging investment and stifling economic growth.

The recent descending on Bulawayo City Council Deputy Mayor Edwin Ndlovu and Finance Committee Chairperson Mpumelelo Moyo by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) on allegations of demanding a US$20 000 bribe from a potential investor highlights the pervasive issue of corruption within local authorities.

These allegations, although yet to be proven in court, underscore the problem of officials using their positions to solicit bribes from investors, hindering economic development and exacerbating poor service delivery.

As if that is not enough, land developers in Bulawayo have also alleged that they have been subjected to corrupt practices, being forced to cede 10 percent of the value of their contracts to city councillors.

They claim to have long contended with the corrupt nature of some city councillors, who have demanded bribes ranging from 5 percent to 10 percent of the value of their contracts.

Bulawayo United Residents’ Association (Bura) chairperson, Mr Winos Dube said, while looking at the long-term effects of what is happening — be it true or not as residents, they were disappointed and disheartened that the very people they had entrusted with the running of the city’s affairs were the very people pulling it back.

“We should all look at the long-term effects of what is happening — be it true or not — but we are being pulled backwards. This is what investors look at, and with such corruption reports, they will certainly shun investing in our city, and this will see our economy not improving,” said Mr Dube.

The Bulawayo Progressive Residents’ Association (BPRA), in a statement, also said as an organisation, they strongly condemn any form of corruption, as it hinders sustainable development within communities and violates the principles of good governance.

This problem of corruption is not isolated to Bulawayo, as evidenced by the ongoing Commission of Inquiry into the affairs of Harare City Council.

The Commission has exposed questionable deals involving senior officials, who allegedly facilitated a dubious lease of council land to a private company, Trucking and Construction Company.

These corrupt practices, which deprive local authorities of revenue, hinder service delivery and discourage investment, ultimately impacting the livelihoods of citizens.

In his address to more than 2 000 councillors from all 92 local authorities at the Zimbabwe Local Government Association, “All Councillors Indaba” held in Harare on Tuesday, President Mnangagwa castigated local authorities engaging in corrupt activities in the Local Government spectrum saying they would not be spared as the Second Republic ups the ante against corruption.

“I am deeply concerned by cases of corruption in the Local Government space and the entire society.

“Those perpetrating such acts must face the full wrath of our country’s law. No one, including local authorities, will be spared. Let us root out this menace from our society,” he said.

Instead of being perpetrators of corruption, President Mnangagwa said local authorities should strive to be centres of excellence that provide leadership and innovative best practices.

Their work, he said, must continue to impact and transform the livelihoods of the generality of Zimbabweans.

“All local authorities; urban or rural, big or small, remain an integral cog of the local governance system.

“You should, therefore, operate in unison, always collaborating, sharing experiences and sharpening yourselves towards responsive policy-making at the grassroots level for the benefit of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe.

“As institutions leading the implementation of service delivery, I expect you to be centres of excellence, providing leadership and innovative best practices across the local governance spectrum,” he said.

President Mnangagwa’s message is clear that local authorities must prioritise service delivery and the welfare of citizens, rather than engaging in corrupt practices.

By rooting out corruption, the Government aims to create a more efficient, transparent, and responsive Local Government system.

Speaking recently at the signing of integrity pledges by Local Government and Public Works Ministry senior officials led by Minister Daniel Garwe in Harare, Zacc chairperson Mr Michael Reza said that councillors and council officials contributed the bulk of corruption cases reported to the commission last year, with 13 percent of all reports being of dishonest council officials.

“In the year 2023, Zacc received 999 reports. It was disheartening to discover that reports against public officials accounted for 56 percent of the cases, which is 559 reports received against public officials.

“Of those, 109 were against public officials in local authorities and 22 against Ministry of Local Government and Public Works officials. That is a whopping 13,11 percent,” he said.

Mr Reza said that over the years, Zacc, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government, conducted several joint operations and administrative investigations at urban and rural district councils.

Through these collaborative efforts, the commission has facilitated the establishment of integrity committees in the majority of local authorities in Zimbabwe.

The commission has also administered the signing of integrity pledges by councillors and council employees.

On May 10, President Mnangagwa appointed a Commission of Inquiry into the governance of Harare City Council, which has so far unearthed swathes of corrupt dealings along with incompetence and failure to address service delivery issues.

The commission, chaired by retired High Court judge, Justice Maphios Cheda, has until December to complete its work which encompasses investigating financial management systems and audit compliance with the Public Finance Management Act and other laws.

To address the rot in councils, President Mnangagwa has also launched a blueprint entitled, “A call to action: no compromise to service delivery”, which provides guidelines that local authorities must take to ensure that they provide efficient services that are in line with the country’s quest to achieve an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.

It is clear that these initiatives, combined with the recent arrests of council officials over allegations of corruption, highlight the Government’s commitment to addressing corruption within local authorities and improving service delivery.

However, more needs to be done to root out corruption and restore public trust in Local Government.

This includes strengthening the integrity committees within local authorities, which can play a significant role in improving internal systems within these institutions.

These committees can also play a crucial role in promoting transparency, accountability, and ethical behaviour within Local Government institutions.

Earlier this year, Zacc’s Manager of Compliance and Systems Review for Corruption Prevention and Corporate Governance, Mr Tafirenyika Maringire, emphasised the importance of fully implementing Integrity Committees as a key strategy to prevent corruption in both public and private institutions.

“This is a deliberate strategy adopted in the country in the implementation of the anti-corruption strategy where the integrity committees are seen as a key tool to strengthen internal systems and streamline corruption prevention mechanisms within entities both public and private institutions.

“The purpose of establishing integrity committees within institutions is two-fold,” Mr Maringire explained.

“Firstly, they bring the fight against corruption closer to the organisational level.

“Secondly, they help strengthen internal systems to close loopholes that might allow for manipulation and resource misuse. This ensures that resources intended for community development and fulfilling the organisation’s mandate are not lost to private gain by individuals entrusted with these funds.”

Mr Maringire said that by then, over 60 State-owned enterprises and local authorities, including Mutare City Council, had established integrity committees.

These committees, he said, have played a significant role in improving internal systems within these institutions.

Mr Maringire further explained that they were also facilitating the signing of integrity pledges through their legal department, encouraging individuals within institutions, as well as citizens at large, to take a stand against corruption.

He said by signing the pledge, they commit to reporting bribery attempts, refusing to participate, and reporting those who solicit bribes.

Undoubtedly, the establishment of integrity committees within institutions, particularly in local authorities plagued by corruption, fosters a culture of transparency and accountability.

These committees play a crucial role in preventing corruption by promoting ethical behaviour, detecting irregularities, and enforcing disciplinary measures against corrupt officials.

By strengthening these committees, local authorities can significantly improve their governance and service delivery.