Fungai Lupande

Mashonaland Central Bureau

THE fight against corruption is moving beyond courtrooms and Government offices into the heart of communities, with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) embarking on an ambitious campaign to turn ordinary citizens into frontline defenders against the scourge.

From bustling growth points to rural business centres, ZACC is taking its anti-corruption message directly to the people.

The commission is rolling out a programme in Mashonaland Central through a series of roadshows and community engagements designed to mobilise residents.

Running from November 2 to 6, the roadshows covered selected growth points, including Shamva, Manhenga, Bindura, Concession, and Mazowe.

This campaign will be followed by the establishment of community-driven anti-corruption chapters from November 16 to 20, with the provincial launch scheduled for November 17 in Shamva.

Mashonaland Central Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Cde Christopher Magomo is expected to attend as the guest of honour.

Dr Munyaradzi Magiga, ZACC manager for public education, explained that these chapters will be committees made up of members of the general public.

Their objectives are to raise awareness, prevent corruption, assist each other in safeguarding resources, and report all incidents of graft they encounter.

For Mashonaland Central, the initiative comes at a crucial time as the province pursues infrastructure development, improved public service delivery, and investment across its districts.

Because corruption undermines these efforts by diverting resources meant for roads, schools, clinics, and water infrastructure, the proposed chapters will strengthen public participation and promote local accountability.

The roadshows provide an opportunity for residents to engage directly with ZACC officials, understand the commission’s mandate, break the culture of silence, and realise the role they can play in confronting corruption.

Dr Magiga emphasised that the success of the programme will depend on the ability of these chapters to remain active, credible, and accessible to communities beyond their launch.

“Ultimately, their effectiveness will be measured not by the number of committees established, but by their ability to foster a culture in which corruption is neither tolerated nor normalised,”he said.

Through this initiative, ZACC is making a powerful statement that fighting corruption cannot be left to the commission alone but must become the collective responsibility of every Zimbabwean.