Bulawayo, (New Ziana)—The Zimbabwe Independent Complaints Commission (ZICC) has embarked on a program to decentralise and build capacity as a way of expanding citizens access to justice and strengthening civilian oversight on the security sector.
Speaking during the opening of the ZICC strategic plan review workshop on Tuesday, Commission chairperson Webster Chinamora said the institution is entering a decisive new phase focused on nationwide outreach, regional visibility, and institutional independence.
The strategic workshop will culminate in the development of a five-year plan which will guide the mandate of the commission from 2026-2030 to ensure accountability and transparency within the security services in the country.
“ZICC is not going to remain a Harare-based institution. We also need to have a presence here in Bulawayo, the second largest city, and in major centres such as Masvingo, Mutare, Gweru, Chinhoyi, and even Victoria Falls. Each province, in future, should have a fully functional ZICC office to ensure that complaints, investigations, and public engagements are accessible to every citizen of Zimbabwe, regardless of geography,” he said.
Chanamora said the decentralisation agenda is anchored on National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which calls for strong, transparent, and accountable governance institutions. We must not leave anyone behind. No one must feel excluded from access to ZICC because of where they live or who they are,” he said.
He added that the new strategic plan would align the objectives of the commission with national priorities under the national vision to build a just, peaceful, and prosperous nation by 2030.
Chinamora also commended the growing profile of the commission beyond Zimbabwe’s borders following its participation in an African Union security sector governance meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He added that the ZICC plans to undertake benchmarking visits to other countries to learn from global best practices in independent oversight and complaints handling.
Chanamora stressed the importance of securing permanent premises for the commission to reflect its Constitutional independence.
“It is not viable to continue relying on rented premises. Ideally, we need to establish our own building to demonstrate our independence,” he said.
He also emphasized the need for capacity building across all staff levels, including commissioners, investigators, and support teams.
“The success of ZICC depends on its people. We aim to strengthen our operations through ICT-driven investigative systems and continuous professional development,” he said, adding the ZICC aspires to become a centre of excellence in Africa in the field of civilian oversight and human rights protection.
New Ziana
