Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve [email protected]
THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) has reaffirmed its commitment towards fostering regional collaboration in the fight against corruption by hosting the Sadc Anti-Corruption Expo and Games, which kick off in Victoria Falls today.
The event is expected to bring together about 800 delegates from eight Sadc countries to share experiences and strategies.
Vice President Colonel (Rtd) Kembo Mohadi is expected to officially open the expo and games.
Zacc chairperson Mr Michael Reza confirmed that Zimbabwe is hosting the games to showcase how serious the country is about fighting corruption and to exchange notes with regional counterparts on how best they can fight graft.
He said the fight cannot be won by one country alone.
“We are ready for the Sadc Anti-Corruption Expo and games that kick off on Thursday. Our delegates have started arriving and our courts and other facilities are ready.
“Our guest of honour is Vice President Colonel (Rtd) Kembo Mohadi and that gives you an indication of how serious Zimbabwe is in fighting corruption,” said Mr Reza.
He stressed that the borderless nature of corruption necessitates a united regional front.
“In the words of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa, there is zero tolerance for corruption in Zimbabwe. This is the reason why we are also cooperating with Sadc colleagues. The fight against corruption is not a one country fight,” said Mr Reza.
He said the fight requires regional cooperation hence the expo and games that provide member countries an opportunity to share experiences.
“We want to share notes, we want to show Sadc that Zimbabwe is committed to fighting corruption. When a corrupt activity takes place in one country, it does not end there,” said Mr Reza.
The expo and games are expected to establish a solid foundation for future regional cooperation thereby moving the fight against corruption from boardroom discussions to a unified, actionable regional agenda.
“Eight Sadc countries will compete in soccer, volleyball and netball. These are the disciplines which we decided to start with and as the games grow bigger, we might add other disciplines,” said Mr Reza.
