Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya-Beitbridge Bureau
BEITBRIDGE border officials have joined forces with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to combat corruption and enhance transparency at the Beitbridge Border Post.
This initiative seeks to address concerns over rent-seeking activities and smuggling of banned goods, which affect Government revenue collection.
ZACC is currently carrying out a week-long multi-stakeholder awareness campaign in the area, targeting border agencies, travellers and citizens to combat corruption.
Among those rallying behind the call to action against corruption are the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), which is collaborating with ZACC to enhance cooperation and information sharing in fighting corruption; Immigration Department, transporters, cross border traders, ordinary citizens and local authorities.
ZACC chairperson for prevention of corruption committee, Chido Madiwa, said they were engaging multi-stakeholders in fighting corruption.
“The move is yielding results, a number of public institutions and ordinary citizens are now on board. We need to work together to prevent corruption and smuggling. Already some officials have signed Integrity Pledges to strengthen the fight against corruption,” she said.
“We are engaging travellers and cross-border traders, educating them on the risks of corruption and promoting compliance and also encouraging ordinary citizens to report suspicious activities and demand accountability”.
The Assistant Regional Immigration officer-in-charge of Beitbridge station, Mrs Canisia Magaya, said the department had adopted a zero tolerance to corruption and streamlined the border process to minimise rent seeking behaviour.
She said working with other security officials, they continue to raid those engaged in corrupt activities like facilitating the illegal movement of border jumpers or those using fake passports or fake immigration stamps.
Mrs Magaya said officials were being rotated on a regular basis to do away with cases of over familiarisation.
“As a department, we are embracing the ease of doing business to minimise a lot of human interface and bottlenecks affecting the flow of travellers to avoid creating breeding room for corruption,” said Mrs Magaya.
“We now have the Online Border Management System (OBMS) and automated gates (eGates), which are now up and running. This new system is complementary to the current automation system at the border where most services have now being digitised”.
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) shift manager (Beitbridge), Mr Enock Taruvinga, said the country loses significant revenue (estimated to be up to $1 billion annually) from unpaid and under-paid customs duties and illicit export of precious minerals
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