Mukudzei Chingwere Senior Reporter
GOLD smuggling and corruption loopholes at border posts are among the high-risk areas targeted under a new five-year anti-corruption strategy approved by Cabinet, with Government stepping up efforts to strengthen institutional accountability, tighten enforcement and digitise public services.
The National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2 (2026–2030) seeks to bring Government institutions and citizens into a coordinated effort to prevent, detect and prosecute corruption while strengthening national integrity systems.
Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda announced the approval after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, saying the strategy prioritises prevention alongside investigation and prosecution.
“The National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2 (2026-2030) provides a coordinated, Whole-of-Government and whole-of-society framework to address corruption and strengthen Zimbabwe’s national integrity system,” said Minister Soda.
“The Strategy prioritises prevention alongside investigation and prosecution, with results-based monitoring, integration into Government budgets and workplans, and support from development partners while maintaining national ownership.
“Its intended outcomes include more accountable institutions, effective laws and enforcement, greater citizen participation, reduced corruption risks and more transparent digital services.”
The strategy is anchored on six pillars covering legal reforms, institutional strengthening, law enforcement, public participation, targeted interventions in high-risk sectors and digitalisation.
Its implementation measures will be incorporated into Government budgets and work plans, with progress assessed against measurable results.
Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, who presented the strategy as Chairperson of the Cabinet Committee on National Development Planning, identified gold smuggling as one of the critical areas requiring targeted intervention.
He said closing gaps in border management and strengthening information-sharing among Government agencies would help curb corruption.
“That’s already a high-risk area. Focusing on that is critical as part of this strategy,” said Prof Ncube, referring to gold smuggling.
“And above all, if we can digitise our systems, work well and share information easily, it will go a long way in preventing some of the corruption that we see.”
Digitisation is expected to improve transparency, reduce opportunities for interference in public processes and enable institutions to share information more efficiently.
The strategy also seeks to strengthen the entire corruption enforcement chain, from identifying and investigating cases to prosecution and the recovery and forfeiture of proceeds of crime.
Prof Ncube said proposed whistleblower legislation would further strengthen the legal framework by encouraging citizens to report corruption and protecting those who expose wrongdoing.
Ministries and public institutions will also be expected to reinforce internal controls, strengthen oversight mechanisms and improve the management of conflicts of interest as part of efforts to prevent misconduct.
The strategy’s implementation will involve Government agencies, the private sector, civil society and citizens, with accountability extending across the public service and other sectors of the economy.
