Online Reporter
Ivan Zhakata-Herald Correspondent
GOVERNMENT has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening accountability, transparency and integrity in public institutions, with the gazetting of the Whistleblower and Witness Protection Bill, 2026, marking a major milestone in Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption reform agenda.
The Bill, which is now awaiting debate in Parliament, is expected to provide legal protection for individuals who report corruption and other forms of wrongdoing in the public interest, while reinforcing ethical conduct across both the public and private sectors.
Speaking at the Integrity and Accountability Summit organised by Transparency International Zimbabwe in Harare yesterday, Deputy Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Nobert Mazungunye said the legislation fulfilled one of the commitments Government made at last year’s summit.
“One of the commitments that I made during last year’s summit concerned the strengthening of Zimbabwe’s legislative framework for protecting whistleblowers,” he said.
“I am pleased to report that the Whistleblower and Witness Protection Bill, 2026, has now been gazetted and is awaiting the legislative process in Parliament. The Bill is the product of an inclusive consultative process and, once enacted, will strengthen and protect individuals who disclose corruption and other forms of wrongdoing in the public interest, thereby encouraging ethical conduct throughout our institutions.”
Deputy Minister Mazungunye said Government was steadily moving beyond policy commitments towards practical implementation through legal reforms, institutional strengthening and digital transformation.
“The true measure of good governance is not found in the number of policies that we adopt, institutions we establish or strategies that we formulate. Rather, it is measured by implementation, by tangible results and by the confidence that citizens place in public institutions,” he said.
He said the reforms were being implemented within the framework of the National Development Strategy 2 and were critical to achieving Vision 2030. Deputy Minister Mazungunye said Government recognised that accountability was strengthened when oversight institutions were empowered and citizens actively participated in governance.
He identified Parliament, the Office of the Auditor-General, the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, the National Prosecuting Authority and other constitutional bodies as key institutions safeguarding the prudent management of public resources.
However, Deputy Minister Mazungunye said combating corruption required a whole-of-society approach involving Government, civil society, the private sector and citizens.
He said digital transformation was one of Government’s key accountability reforms and the electronic Government procurement system has improved transparency, strengthened audit trails and reduced opportunities for corruption in public procurement.
Deputy Minister Mazungunye said the automation of passport services has eliminated long processing backlogs, improved turnaround times and reduced opportunities for corrupt practices, while the ongoing digitisation of traffic management systems will enhance compliance, improve road safety and minimise unnecessary human interaction.
On international cooperation, Deputy Minister Mazungunye said Zimbabwe remained committed to implementing the United Nations Convention against Corruption, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the SADC Protocol against Corruption.
He said Government was strengthening cooperation in mutual legal assistance, extradition, information sharing and asset recovery to combat increasingly sophisticated transnational corruption.
“Every asset successfully recovered represents resources that can be redirected towards schools, hospitals, roads, water infrastructure and other essential public services that directly benefit our citizens,” he said.
Deputy Minister Mazungunye said while progress has been made, strengthening accountability systems remained an ongoing process, adding that Government would continue reinforcing legislative and institutional frameworks that promote transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
