Anti Corruption fight goes digital
ZTN Correspondent
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has launched the digital Anti-Corruption Commission whistle blowing platform which seeks to protect the public and ensure their identity remains anonymous when reporting cases of corruption.
Speaking at the virtual launch of the platform in Harare, ZACC Chairperson Justice Loice Matanda-Moyo said the platform, which is in line with various conventions of which Zimbabwe is a signatory to, seeks to protect the public and ensure their non-disclosure when reporting cases of corruption.
‘As much as we want the public to report cases of corruption, we as the Commission have to ensure that we provide a platform that ensures the non-disclosure of the identity of whistle-blowers and security of the information given.’
Zimbabwe is a signatory to the United Nations Convention against Corruption UNCAC, the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the SADC Protocol Against Corruption. These conventions all speak towards a corrupt-free world characterized by values of good governance, respect for human rights, justice, the rule of law, and countering illicit financial flows and counter-financing of terrorism.
They call for the protection of reporting persons and expect state parties to incorporate into their domestic legal system appropriate measures to provide protection against any unjustified treatment for any person who reports in good faith and on reasonable grounds to the competent authorities any facts concerning offences related to corruption and money laundering.
The Government launched the National Anti-Corruption Strategy for 2020 to 2024 on 11 July 2020. This national document fulfils the requirements of Zimbabwe’s obligations under Article 5 of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), which requires states to develop, implement or maintain effective, coordinated anti-corruption policies that promote the participation of society and reflect the principles of the rule of law, proper management of public affairs and public property, integrity, transparency, and accountability.