By Ruvarashe Hungwe
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has launched community-based anti-corruption chapters across Manicaland Province in a move aimed at involving ordinary citizens in the fight against graft.
The initiative, which will establish chapters in every district, ward and community, is intended to strengthen public participation in identifying, reporting and preventing corruption.
Last week, ZACC officially launched new anti-corruption chapters in Mutare and Mutasa districts, adding to those already operating in Chipinge, Buhera and Chimanimani.
Speaking during the launch in Chigodora, Mutare District, ZACC Senior Public Education Officer Charity Mudavanhu said the programme was designed to build sustainable grassroots structures to support the commission’s anti-corruption mandate.
“The mandate of ZACC, as outlined in the Anti-Corruption Commission Act (Chapter 9:22), is to raise awareness, institute preventive mechanisms, investigate corruption and recover illicit proceeds,” she said.
“To achieve this, we are seeking community support in establishing sustainable anti-corruption structures in every district of Manicaland and eventually across the country.”
Mrs Mudavanhu said the chapters would be led by community members drawn from different backgrounds, enabling them to educate residents on corruption-related issues and encourage reporting of suspected wrongdoing.
She said the programme would primarily target people outside formal institutions who may not have signed integrity pledges and would be coordinated through District Development Coordinators.
Representing Mutare District Development Coordinator Tendai Kapenzi at the event, economist Gwinyai Mafasitera urged residents to work closely with ZACC by reporting corruption without fear.
“Corruption affects every community, including rural areas where many illegal activities often go unreported,” he said.
“We encourage those elected into these chapters to report corruption cases to ZACC. The law protects whistleblowers, and community participation is essential if we are to achieve sustainable national and local development.”
Traditional leader Headman Chigodora welcomed the initiative, saying it would provide communities with a clear platform for reporting corruption and other forms of malpractice.
“As traditional leaders, we fully support this programme because it gives our people confidence to report corruption and ensure justice is served. We are committed to working with ZACC to make it a success,” he said.
Community member Mateu Chaponda, who lives with a disability, said the initiative would also help vulnerable groups by promoting accountability in the distribution of public resources.
“This platform gives us an opportunity to report abuse of office and ensure fairness in the allocation of resources,” he said.
ZACC says the programme will now be expanded to the remaining districts in Manicaland before being rolled out across Zimbabwe’s 10 provinces as part of its broader strategy to strengthen citizen involvement in combating corruption.
