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Daniel Nemukuyu-Investigations Editor
Printflow (Pvt) Limited has become the first parastatal to set up an integrity committee, while other firms now await endorsement by their respective boards to be able to submit lists of selected committee members to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).
ZACC last month directed at least 26 parastatals to establishment integrity committees as an effective tool to prevent corruption and promote good corporate governance at institutional level.
The first selected 26 parastatals are expected to send names of their committee members to ZACC by early December ahead of a mass swearing in ceremony by year-end.
Parastatals, State enterprises, local authorities, Government departments and ministries will participate in the pilot project.
Integrity committees are established to lead the prevention of corruption and the promotion of integrity in the oversight areas of the institutions.
In an interview, ZACC’s Commissioner Thandiwe Mlobane, who is coordinating the integral committees programme, said Printflow had since submitted its list of committee members and they now await the swearing in ceremony.
Comm Mlobane said other parastatals have made progress in setting up their committees, but they now await endorsement by their respective boards of directors.
She said some companies had raised queries on how to set up the committees and responses have since been sent to them.
“To date, Printflow has given us the names of the integrity committee members,” said Comm Mlobane. “Others promised to do so after their board meetings. Based on the queries and responses from the 26 parastatals, we are certain that by year-end, the majority of them would have established the integrity committees.”
Integral committees focus on spearheading internal anti-corruption efforts and strengthening good governance by institutionalising the fight against corruption.
The creation of integrity committees has been identified as one of the most effective ways to facilitate stakeholder participation in the fight against corruption.
Zambia, Tanzania and Namibia have successfully introduced integrity committees which are producing positive results in anti-transplant control.
Led by ZACC, the project begins with 26 selected public institutions and more entities will be mobilised over time.
According to ZACC, the number of public institutions participating in the project is expected to increase to 250 by the end of next year. The Treasury provides financial support for the programme.
ZACC has since held meetings with the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) and the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) where they were seeking further clarification on the establishment of the integrity committees.
Based on the discussions held, ZACC is confident that by the end of this month to early December, the two parastatals would have set up the integrity committees.
Entities such as Zesa Holdings, Zinara, Allied Timbers, Printflow, Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC), Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa), ZimParks, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), TelOne, Zimpost and the National Oil Company (NOIC) are among the selected parastatals.
All the efforts are being made in line with Government’s thrust to fight corruption in all its facets and to achieve an upper middle income economy by 2030.
President Mnangagwa has thrown his weight behind the anti-graft fight, launching the National Anti-Corruption Strategy mid-last year.
Online Reporter