Victoria Falls Commemorates African Anti-Corruption Day

Zimbabwe today joined the rest of the continent in commemorating African Anti-Corruption Day, with a vibrant event held at Chamabondo Primary School in Victoria Falls. The annual commemoration, organised by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), brought together delegates from Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Zambia under the theme, “Scaling Up the Promotion of Integrity and Anti-Corruption Across Africa.”

The event attracted a diverse audience, including government officials, law enforcement agencies, educators, learners, exhibitors, and members of the public. It served as a platform to promote integrity, transparency, and collective action in the fight against corruption.

Delivering remarks at the event, the Director General of Botswana’s Directorate on Corruption and Economic Crime, Ms Botlhale Makgekgenene, underscored the importance of regional cooperation. She noted that the partnership between Botswana’s anti-corruption body and ZACC demonstrates that meaningful progress can be achieved when institutions work collaboratively and with commitment.

Ms Makgekgenene emphasised that no single institution holds all the solutions to combating corruption. She highlighted the value of sharing expertise and strengthening institutional capacity across borders, which she said is key to enhancing Africa’s collective ability to prevent and address corruption.

Commissioner-General of Police, S. Mutamba, called on citizens to play an active role in the fight against corruption. He stressed that eliminating corruption is not solely the responsibility of government institutions, but requires the participation of every individual. He urged citizens to uphold integrity, remain vigilant, and demonstrate a strong sense of civic duty, describing this as the first line of defence against corrupt practices.

Schools from across the district actively participated in the commemorations through educational and cultural activities. These included Chamabondo Primary School, Grace Missions High School, Mosi-oa-Tunya High School, Lesedi Primary School, among others.

The event also featured exhibitions from various stakeholders, including Breeze FM, ZimParks, the Zimbabwe Open University, and other organisations. These exhibitions showcased initiatives promoting ethical leadership, accountability, environmental conservation, education, and community development.

African Anti-Corruption Day serves as an important platform to raise awareness about the damaging effects of corruption. It also encourages governments, institutions, and citizens across the continent to work together towards building transparent, accountable, and corruption-free societies.

By Natalie Muzore