Online Reporter
Belindah Chikandiwa
Herald Correspondent
TO foster a new culture of accountability, heads of State-Owned Enterprises and parastatal leaders yesterday signed a landmark Integrity Pledge, witnessed by Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndhlovu.
The ceremony, which the minister described as a “covenant between the people of Zimbabwe, their Government, and the stewards of our nation’s key economic institutions”, was held in Harare and attended by chairperson of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) Micheal Reza.
The event began with remarks delivered on behalf of Permanent Secretary for Industry and Commerce Utete Ushe, represented by the director Engineer Macheka Muchimairi.
Mr Ushe stated that the ceremony was a “powerful collective declaration” and a critical milestone in the Second Republic’s journey, championed by President Mnangagwa towards realising an empowered and prosperous upper-middle-income society by 2030.
“That Vision cannot be realised without a robust, efficient and trustworthy public sector.
“The integrity pledge you are about to sign is far more than a symbolic document. It is a binding social contract with the Government and people of Zimbabwe, with your employees, and with the private sector and investors,” he said.
He outlined the pledge’s non-negotiable pillars, which included zero tolerance for corruption, transparent procurement using digital systems like the Zimbabwe Electronic Procurement System, ethical leadership, financial accountability, and a renewed focus on service delivery.
“The Ministry of Industry and Commerce stands with you in this transformation. However, we will also be unwavering in our oversight role. Your performance will be measured against these commitments and there will be consequences for any deviation from the path of integrity,” the Permanent Secretary said. Ministry officials had already signed the pledge to lead by example.
Minister Ndhlovu hailed the initiative as a “crucial” and “proactive” framework that compelled public officials to make a solemn vow to not only shun corruption, but to actively reject it.
“This pledge is not just a moral guide, it is a benchmark against which your conduct will be measured,” the Minister said.
Leaders of key institutions including ZiscoSteel, the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), the National Competitiveness Commission (NCC), the Consumer Protection Commission (CPC), the Competition and Tariffs Commission (CTC), the Standards Association of Zimbabwe (SAS), and the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe were among those that signed the pledge.
The Minister emphasised that the mandate to head these entities was not a privilege of title but a “burden of responsibility,” calling on the leaders to serve with unwavering integrity, transparent accountability, and patriotic zeal.
“The decisions you make in your boardrooms ripple outwards, affecting the price a family pays for goods, the ability of a small business to compete, the jobs of thousands of Zimbabweans, and the very reputation of our nation in the global marketplace,” he said.
Minister Ndhlovu stated that the Government was committed to breaking the vicious cycle of mismanagement and corruption that had for too long tarnished the narrative around parastatals. He outlined the core commitments of the pledge, which he also signed, stating that it was a personal and public declaration to ethical leadership, transparency, accountability, and professionalism.
“By signing it, you are making a conscious commitment to ethical leadership, to act with honesty and integrity in all your dealings, and to put the national interest above personal gain or political patronage,” he said.
ZACC chairperson Mr Reza stated that the transition from the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS 1) to NDS 2 was a moment for “national reflection and recalibration” where boldly addressing corruption was paramount.
“The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission is your partner. Our mandate is not only to investigate but, more importantly, to prevent,” Mr Reza said. He offered ZACC’s expertise to help the Ministry and SOEs strengthen internal controls and conduct integrity training, describing the pledges as a “strategic investment in the foundation of Vision 2030.”
Mr Reza issued a stern warning, highlighting that the “scourge of corruption” had not spared industry and commerce. He pointed to a recent operation by the Consumer Protection Commission, which found that 30 percent of goods in downtown Harare tuck shops were either underweight or expired.
“Expired goods pose a health hazard to the citizen, underweight goods that do not conform to global standards hinder the construction of Zimbabwe-made goods in the regional and global markets,” he said, urging the Standards Association of Zimbabwe to be a vigilant guardian of product quality.
In an interview, Prosper Muzambi, a board member of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, said the event was a “defining moment” that mandates action against substandard goods, which he equated to corruption.
“By signing the Integrity Pledge, it means work goes on. We are actually scaling up. The issue of counterfeits is really amongst us and you find that counterfeits are the order of the day.
“This means we are going to empower the consumer by informing them that the days of accepting things that are substandard are gone. We must resist, we must refuse and we must report any forms of corruption.”
He encouraged everyone to report those operating “backyard industry producing counterfeit goods”, assuring them that the Consumer Council would intervene where individuals feared confrontation.
“Our mission is to make sure that this pledge is not only confined to those who are the urbanites, but it reaches everyone in every corner so that no one is left behind,” he said.
The collective signing of the pledge marks a definitive step in closing the door on past malpractices and opening a new chapter defined by excellence, integrity, and service, aligning the nation’s economic engines with the aspirations of Vision 2030.
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