Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo, Zimpapers Reporter
UNDER the Second Republic’s leadership, corruption will never be allowed to derail or delay Zimbabwe’s ongoing quest to accelerate the realisation of Vision 2030 and a higher standard of living for the general populace, President Mnangagwa has said.
In his address to commemorate this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day, the President said his administration remains informed by the country’s shared development aspirations, which are firmly anchored on the unequivocal principles of good governance, institutional integrity and a zero-tolerance stance against corruption.
The International Anti-Corruption Day is being commemorated today, under the theme, “Uniting with youth against corruption: Shaping tomorrow’s integrity”.
“As we mark this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day, Zimbabwe joins other signatory countries to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), in commemorating this important day,” he said.
“This International Treaty provides a framework for prevention, criminalisation of acts of corruption, as well as the recovery of assets procured using proceeds of corruption.
“The international cooperation afforded by this mechanism remains invaluable in the advancement of clean governance, accountability and transparency, which are benchmarked against global best practice.”
Zimbabwe also subscribes to the African union Agenda 2063, Aspiration 3, with regard to good governance, democracy and respect for human rights, justice and rule of law.
President Mnangagwa said this is echoed by Objective 3 of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020-2030.
The President launched the first National Anti-Corruption Strategy in July 2020 and since then, close to 2 500 corruption cases have been investigated.
Over 800 dockets have been sent to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) for prosecution, with a 60 percent conviction rate on finalised cases.
In addition, the country has also recovered assets worth over US$20 million procured using proceeds of corruption.
President Mnangagwa thus, commended the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) and the NPA for a stellar job, adding that more must be done to strengthen their investigative capacity and synergies to expunge the perception of a catch and release trend in the country’s approach to corruption cases.
“On its part, my Government has introduced a Fast-Track Courts System to promote efficiency and expedite the resolution of cases, particularly those involving corruption and other economic crimes.
“Further, the Second National Anti-Corruption Strategy (2026-2030) is set to provide the necessary framework for an integrated and multi-stakeholder approach in tackling corruption.
“This dovetails with my Government’s Whole of Society Approach of leaving no-one and no place behind,” said President Mnangagwa.
Under the President’s leadership, Cabinet recently approved the Whistle-blowers and Witness Protection Bill, which provides for the establishment of a Witness Protection Unit within the NPA as well as a Witness Protection Appeal Tribunal.
It is now also mandatory for all public institutions to constitute Integrity Committees responsible for detecting and designing corruption prevention measures.
In another show of the Second Republic’s commitment to fighting graft, President Mnangagwa said more than 250 institutions have fully functional Integrity Committees while Integrity Pledges continue to be signed across the public sector.
“Under my leadership, corruption will never be allowed to derail or delay our ongoing quest to accelerate realisation of the national development agenda, Vision 2030 and a higher standard of living for the people of our country.
“Working together in unity and love for our motherland, a corruption-free Zimbabwe is possible. I, urge, all the citizens of our great country to Refuse, Resist and Report Corruption,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said this year’s commemorations and theme, allow Zimbabwe to particularly reflect on the country’s ongoing battle against the scourge of drug and substance abuse.
Undoubtedly, added the President, drug and substance abuse is fuelled and perpetuated by multi-faceted dimensions of corruption, including porous borders, and compromised members of enforcement institutions, among other aspects.
“The theme is, therefore, a call for all of us to deliberately target the root causes of the drug crisis, through promoting closer collaboration with young people and front-loading the culture of integrity in our nation.
“This is more urgent and necessary given technological evolutions that have transformed the battlefield of corruption,” he said.
As such, President Mnangagwa rallied all Zimbabweans, particularly the youth, to work in unison as Government proactively addresses corruption as it manifests, in the shadows of the current digital world.
“Our alliance with the youth is key, as they are not only vulnerable but also part of our greatest asset in countering new forms of corruption.
“As we commemorate this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day, I call upon the youth to be guardians of integrity, as well as raise awareness about corruption and its impact on their communities and their future.
“I also challenge the private sector, civic society, churches and other socio-economic groups to cultivate integrity and high ethical standards in the execution of their various functions,” he said.
The President re-stated that the law of the land is supreme, and no one is above the law.
“My Government will weed out and eradicate corruption without fear or favour,” said President Mnangagwa.
Just yesterday, the High Court jailed business partners, Moses Mpofu (50) and Mike Chimombe (44), after convicting them for defrauding the Government of over US$7 million under the Presidential Goat Pass-On Scheme.
Mpofu was sentenced to 22 years while Chimombe got 17 years, with portions of their sentences suspended on restitution conditions.
