Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
PUBLIC officers in Mashonaland Central have signed integrity pledges committing themselves to upholding transparency, accountability and ethical conduct as part of efforts to strengthen the fight against corruption.
The initiative, spearheaded by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), forms part of broader efforts to promote integrity within public institutions and enhance public confidence in service delivery.
During the signing ceremony, public officials pledged to discharge their duties with the highest levels of honesty, competence, excellence and transparency while rejecting corruption in all its forms.
Mashonaland Central Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Christopher Magomo, urged public officers to uphold the commitments they had made and ensure the pledges translate into action.
“As public officers and leaders entrusted with serving our people, we have a duty to safeguard public resources and ensure that every dollar benefits citizens of Zimbabwe. Signing should not be viewed as a mere ceremonial exercise. It is a commitment to adhere to the highest ethical standards. By appending signatures, we are publicly declaring our resolve to reject corruption in all its forms and to champion a culture of integrity within our respective institutions,” he said.
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission Chairperson, Honourable Michael Reza, called for the establishment of Provincial Integrity Committees to further entrench a culture of accountability and ethical leadership.
“The event signals zero tolerance to corruption by the OPC and all Ministries and agencies operating in Mashonaland Central. We believe prevention is cheaper than a cure. These pledges are one of the initiatives under NDS2. I urge you to consider the constitution of integrity committees at the provincial level. This is in line with international best practices. The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission highlighted that corruption undermines service delivery, weakens public confidence in institutions, diverts scarce resources from development priorities and slows economic growth,” he said.
ZACC reiterated that combating corruption requires a multi-stakeholder approach involving Government institutions, communities and other key stakeholders.
The integrity pledges are expected to play a key role in promoting accountability, transparency and responsible governance, which remain central to the attainment of Vision 2030 and the country’s broader development objectives.
