Statement by the Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission on the Occasion of the Commemoration of the African Anti-Corruption Day – 11 July 2020

 

STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE ZIMBABWE ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION ON THE OCCASION OF THE COMMEMORATION OF THE AFRICAN ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY – 11 JULY 2020

The Chairperson of the Zimbabwe Anti – Corruption Commission (ZACC), Hon. Justice L. Matanda – Moyo, ZACC Commissioners and Staff join the entire African Continent in commemorating the African Anti-Corruption Day. This memorable day is dedicated to giving impetus, recognition and prominence to the collaborative fight against corruption within the African continent following the declaration in 2018 of 11 July of every year as the “African Anti-Corruption Day”. Corruption is a complex global phenomenon that is transnational in nature due to increased globalization and networks of criminals involved. It takes the combined efforts of nations coming together to win the fight. Africa is losing more than US$50 billion annually due to illicit financial flows which is a great loss of revenue which should be channeled towards economic and social development. Corruption is among the greatest threats that Africa is facing as a Continent. This explains why African countries adopted the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption. Its provisions have cascaded to all African countries so as to have unified and amplified efforts, as well as a common position in suffocating the breeders of corruption within the African continent.  

Zimbabwe subscribes to the African Union Aspiration for Agenda 2063 which speaks towards an Africa characterized by values of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law. As such, we note with great appreciation that the dedication of a specific day for the African Continent’s fight against corruption marks a significant stride towards the Africa we desire.

In line with the theme for this year’s African Anti – Corruption Day “Fighting corruption through effective and efficient judicial systems”, it is my strong conviction that all our collaborative efforts should be invested in strengthening judicial systems to deal with corruption issues decisively. The Judiciary is an essential stakeholder in the justice delivery value chain and the expectations on how corruption cases are handled within the African continent is quite high and requires coordinated efforts among law enforcement agencies and the Judiciary.

Corruption is endemic and systemic as it is has permeated all known boundaries within the African continent.  This means corruption itself remains a threat to the fight against corruption. Corruption damages and compromises the impartiality of the justice delivery system through undermining the investigative agencies and courts’ credibility to fight corruption. Winning the fight against corruption is not for the faint hearted, and takes tireless efforts to strengthen stakeholders in the anti – corruption value chain if we are to achieve a sustainable justice delivery system for corruption related matters.

In line with our constitutional mandate, we shall continue to lobby for the strengthening of the Judicial System to efficiently deal with corruption and hinder individuals from benefiting from proceeds of the scourge. As a Commission, we also kindly urge the Judiciary to impose deterrent sentences to perpetrators of corruption and further ensure that effective and efficient systems are put in place to deal with corruption matters.

All critical stakeholders and the Judiciary are urged to collectively work together towards a common purpose of improving the current and existing judicial systems in order to concretize  the continent’s ‘political will’ and commitment towards a corrupt free, citizen-driven, democratically governed Africa, as envisioned by Agenda 2063: The Africa Want.

As the main body established to fight corruption in Zimbabwe, we remain committed to fulfill our mandate as spelt out in our 2020 - 2024 strategic plan and National Anti – Corruption Strategy which will be launched soon. These strategies feed into Government’s plans and policies which include Vision 2030, which is anchored on the objective of an aggressive fight against all forms of corruption to ensure a “prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society with job opportunities and high quality of life for its citizens".  I urge all Zimbabwean Citizens to shun all forms of corruption and join the fight to attain a corrupt free Africa.

 

 

Hon. Justice L. Matanda – Moyo

Chairperson

Zimbabwe Anti – Corruption Commission

 

 

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