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Tendai Gukutikwa
Post Reporter
THE establishment of integrity committees within public and private organisations will help combat corruption in most organisations, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) Commissioner Gabriel Chaibva has said.
In an interview on the sidelines of a two-day Natpharm Integrity Committee training workshop held in Mutare this week, Commissioner Chaibva said while integrity committees’ effectiveness are pre-emptive anti-corruption strategies, they are still in the initial stages of development in the country.
He said the establishment of such committees is in line with the recently introduced National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) that was launched by President Mnangagwa.
“As an institution constitutionally mandated to take a leading role in the fight against corruption in both public and private sectors, and presently seized with determined pursuit of the National Development Strategy (NDS1) objectives and Vision 2030, ZACC spearheaded the introduction of NACS which clearly states the effectiveness of integrity committees,” he said.
Commissioner Chaibva said it is imperative for an inclusive combative approach in dealing with corruption within the framework of NACS.
He said the integrity committee concept adopts a proactive rather than a reactive approach in dealing with corruption occurring within the sphere of control of any given institution.
“An integrity committee is devised to be part of the organisational structure to spearhead the prevention of corruption, related vices and mal-administration within an organisation. The concept is a tool for mainstreaming corruption prevention in the routine business of organisations,” said Commissioner Chaibva.
He further stated that the most critical role of the integrity committees is to promote integrity of members of the organisation.
“Chapter 9 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe provides for principles of public administration and leadership with particular prescription on basic values and principles governing public administration and responsibilities of public officers and principles of leadership. Thus, the training we are conducting here today is encouraged, inter-alia, through the use of the Constitution as one of the important basic reference documents,” he said.
He further stated that integrity committees have another important role of promoting and strengthening the collaborative relationship between the different organisations that will be set up and ZACC in the fight against corruption.
“Through the continuous reporting of corrupt practices and occurrences in institutions and sharing of anti-corruption strategies with ZACC, integrity committees will help to cement the relationship between the Commission and their institutions,” said Commissioner Chaibva.
While corruption whistleblowers within organisations were at times victimised, Commissioner Chaibva assured the participants that it will be a thing of the past with the enactment of the Whistleblower and Witnesses Protection Act.
“Let me assure you that such threats to combating corruption will soon be a thing of the past by the enactment of the Whistleblower and Witnesses Protection Act. The law will have provisions for stiffer penalties for those found guilty of victimising whistleblowers and witnesses in criminal offences.
“Previously, playing the role of whistleblower faced the spectre of victimisation which in turn was affecting the flow of information on corruption to ZACC. Similar fears have also resulted in witnesses in court cases sometimes turning hostile to the prejudice of successful prosecution,” said Commissioner Chaibva.
Integrity committees are implemented in compliance with the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) to which Zimbabwe is a State party.
UNCAC prescribes State parties to initiate corruption prevention measures that promote the participation of citizens and society in corruption prevention to ensure integrity, transparency, accountability and proper management of public affairs.
In her remarks, Natpharm finance manager, Mrs Rutendo Tembo said they are keen to comply with ZACC’s requirements on how the committee should be run.
Online Reporter