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Mutsawashe Mashandure
Herald Correspondent
The Pig Industry Board has signed the Integrity Pledge, thereby marking a decisive step towards fostering ethical standards and combating corruption within the agricultural sector.
Speaking during the signing ceremony, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) chairperson Mr Michael Reza said the pledge was designed to enhance transparency and discourage corrupt activities.
“The readiness of the members of the board to sign the pledge demonstrates not just a personal commitment, but a collective vision to build a binding ethical culture within the pig Industry,” he said.
“It is the cornerstone upon which all effective public administration is built. When we speak of integrity, we refer to a state of moral soundness, incorruptibility, and steadfast adherence to moral and ethical principles,” he said.
Mr Reza highlighted that integrity manifests as transparency in decision-making.
“Without integrity, governance structures become hollow shells, susceptible to capture by vested interests and incapable of serving the public good,” he said.
“Bribery might occur in licensing processes, with unscrupulous operators offering payments to secure favourable treatment or to expedite approvals.
“Extortion could take place when officials demand payments to perform their regular duties or to overlook violations.”
Speaking at the same event, the board’s chief executive Dr Sharai Ncube said the signing of the pledge will promote ethical standards in the agriculture sector.
“The pledge creates mechanisms for transparency that allow stakeholders to hold public officers accountable,” she said.
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