THE Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) is engaging the media in its fight against corruption which has become endemic in the southern Africa nation.
For the past five years the country has reportedly lost about US$9 billion to corruption with Zacc saying it has managed to recover a measly US$100 million in assets bought with looted funds since 2009.
Addressing participants this week at a two-day anti-corruption workshop for journalists and civil society organisations in Bulawayo, Zacc deputy chairperson Kuziva Murapa said the media and the commission should team up in the fight against corruption.
“The media is designated under the National Anti-Corruption Strategy as one of the critical stakeholders in the fight against corruption for its role in disseminating information,” Murapa said.
“The role of the media is appreciated in the National Development Strategy 1 as well, which notes that an informed and knowledgeable society is a prerequisite for creating a shared national vision.
“It is in this spirit that the commission has taken the initiative to strengthen relations by providing a platform for knowledge so that journalism’s contribution in the fight against corruption is bolstered.”
Murapa also noted that the National Anti-Corruption Strategy expects the media and the anti-corruption bodies to collaborate so that journalists distribute accurate information.
“We expect to promote collaboration between media professionals and anti-corruption bodies, enabling the exchange of experiences, best practice and sources. There are cases, [which need to be] correctly reported before mass distribution to the general public,” he added.
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Zacc legal manager Sipiwe Chafungamoyo reiterated the point saying: “We need the inter-agency and the collaboration among ourselves and from you as well as the media houses because some of the corruption cases are taken from the reports that you write.”
Zacc provincial head for Bulawayo Simbarashe Zvidzai weighed in saying: “Corruption is real. We need to collaborate and work together so that we do away with it. Refuse, resist and report corruption.”
