Masvingo (New Ziana) -Senior government officials from Masvingo province on Friday became the first to sign integrity pledges as the country goes a gear up in its fight against corruption.

Masvingo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Ezra Chadzamira led the signing ceremony, which coincided with the International Anti-corruption Day commemorations.

The integrity pledge is provided in the National Anti-corruption strategy and the signing is expected to spread to all provinces.

Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) deputy chairperson Kuziva Murapa who presided over the signing ceremony said: “Today’s commemorations will see the signing of integrity pledges by some senior officials. These pledges are an undertaking by the signatories to value and uphold the ethos of integrity for a corruption free Zimbabwe. We have taken the top to bottom approach in the signing of these pledges, and they will later be rolled out to every institution and every individual.”

Speaking after signing the pledge, Chadzamira said the government would continue to do everything to support the efforts of all institutions, public and private, to eradicate corruption.

“I urge everyone who comes across any incident of corruption, whether small or big, to quickly report to responsible authorities. It is through these reports and whistleblowing that corruption can be eradicated,” he said.

Since coming into office, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has highlighted that his administration would root all corruption in the country.

To that end, he established a Special Anti-corruption Unit is his office to complement ZACC, which he also gave arresting powers to make it more effective.

New Ziana