Zimbabwe, Botswana and Zambia strengthen regional anti-corruption drive

ZIMBABWE, Botswana and Zambia have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cross-border co-operation in the fight against corruption, pledging closer collaboration through regional and continental anti-graft frameworks to protect public resources and promote sustainable development.

The three neighbouring countries made the commitment during the joint commemoration of this year’s African Anti-Corruption Day held in Victoria Falls on Saturday under the theme: “Scaling Up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Actions Across Africa.”

The event brought together Minister of State for Matabeleland North Provincial Affairs and Devolution Richard Moyo, Botswana’s Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Mr Moeti Mohwasa, senior officials from the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) and their Zambian counterparts, reflecting growing regional co-operation against corruption.

The three countries reaffirmed their commitment to implementing the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol Against Corruption, the African union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and bilateral mutual legal assistance agreements to strengthen investigations, prosecutions and asset recovery across borders.

Addressing delegates, Minister Moyo said Zimbabwe had made significant progress in strengthening its anti-corruption architecture under the Second Republic.

“As a nation, we have witnessed concrete measures that have been put in place to build a robust integrity framework, including the finalisation of the Whistle-blowers and Witness Protection Bill, which will provide a framework for individuals to report corruption without fear of retaliation,” he said.

Minister Moyo said the proposed law would establish a Witness Protection Unit within the National Prosecuting Authority. At the same time, Government had also introduced specialised fast-track anti-corruption courts to speed up the prosecution of graft cases and strengthened the Asset Forfeiture Unit to facilitate the recovery of proceeds of crime.

“The fight against corruption cannot be won by any single institution acting alone. It requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach,” he said.

“As the theme for this year reminds us, we must scale up the promotion of integrity and anti-corruption actions across Africa for the realisation of Africa Agenda 2063.”

Minister Moyo said President Mnangagwa’s administration is committed to ensuring corruption does not undermine the country’s development agenda, investment drive and efforts to attain an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.

Botswana’s Minister for State President, Defence and Security, Mr Mohwasa, said political commitment is the cornerstone of successful anti-corruption efforts.

“Effective anti-corruption efforts begin with political will. Political will is demonstrated not by the declarations we make or the agreements we sign, but by the institutions we strengthen, the independence we safeguard, the resources we provide and the difficult decisions we are prepared to take in defence of integrity,” he said.

Minister Mohwasa commended the growing cooperation between Botswana’s Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime and Zacc, describing it as evidence of strong bilateral relations and a shared commitment to implementing both the African union Convention and the SADC Protocol Against Corruption.

“The challenge before us is to lead with consistency, act with courage and ensure that our commitments are reflected in the daily lives of our people. Together, let us build an Africa where integrity is the norm, public resources are protected and future generations inherit institutions worthy of their trust,” he said.

Minister Mohwasa added that the effectiveness of Africa’s anti-corruption campaign would ultimately be judged by the strength of its institutions and the confidence citizens place in them.

“Let future generations remember that ours was the generation that chose integrity over complacency, accountability over impunity and cooperation over isolation,” he said.

The three countries agreed to strengthen democracy, advance sustainable development and build an Africa defined by justice, prosperity and opportunity for all.