Story by Patience Nyagato
THE role of the media in combating corruption came under the spotlight this Friday as the Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Commission celebrated journalists reporting on corruption issues.
Celebrating the role played by the fourth estate in combating corruption at the ZACC Media Awards, The Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting services, Dr Jenfan Muswere highlighted the second republic’s commitment to fighting graft.
“President Emmerson Mnangagwa is very clear in terms of what needs to be done in order to eradicate corruption. Corruption is a cancer that has destroyed institutions and nation-building in many countries across the world, and the President has declared zero tolerance on corruption. For us to succeed in our fight against corruption, we need to have collaborative and cooperative thinking. Corruption has destroyed many institutions, private and the public sector in our country,” he said.
Corruption remains one of the ills affecting the economy and journalists are reminded to be ethical and objective.
“The propensity to character assassinate, the propensity to receive brown envelopes, at the same time giving a platform to catalyse corruption in our country. These are some of the challenges that the media opportunity faces. The intellectual and editorial laziness that is across some of the media houses has also contributed to the growth of corruption in our country. And it is upon the media industry to work together with law enforcement and anti-corruption institutions to destroy this sketch,” added the Minister.
Dr Muswere spoke on the need for an inclusive approach to eradicate corruption.
“For corruption to succeed, there are mainly three players. Those who initiate the process and those who benefit from the process. And at the same time, those who decide to turn a blind eye when corruption takes place. Under the leadership of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, a number of steps, policy and legislative interventions have been put in place to ensure that we eradicate corruption. But for us to achieve, in terms of nation building, it is a patriotic duty for each and every citizen in Zimbabwe to be able to contribute towards how best we can achieve. For corruption is manifested in many demons. It is manifested in many ways, especially in terms of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”
ZACC chairperson, Mr Michael Reza said the fight against corruption is vital as the country journeys towards achieving an upper-middle income economy by 2030.
The Second Republic has recorded remarkable progress in fighting the menace with a number of pieces of legislation including the Whistleblower Protection Act being put in place.
