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Chenai Museta

AMID intensifying efforts to rid the public service of corrupt officials, over 500 employees of the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development recently signed integrity pledges, reaffirming their commitment to transparency and accountability.

Spearheaded by Ministry’s permanent secretary Professor Obert Jiri in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Public Service Commission, this ground-breaking initiative aims to promote ethical standards and accountability among public officials.

During the signing ceremony, Prof Jiri, addressed the attendees stressing that public officials must take pride in their positions. He emphasised that misconduct reflected poorly on them and those who appointed them, damaging the Ministry’s reputation.

“We are representing those who appointed us and any misconduct reflects not just on us, but also on them,” Prof Jiri stated.

Additionally, he also urged staff to internalise the integrity pledge principles, reminding them of their roles as public servants. Prof Jiri called on all officials to reject corrupt practices totally.

“When you are a chief director, director or deputy director, you hold that office on behalf of the highest office in the land. We do not expect any public official to be involved in corrupt activities,” he explained.

The integrity pledge serves as a personal contract, encouraging transparency and accountability. By signing it, staff reaffirm their dedication to conducting work with integrity and resisting corruption.

Prof Jiri highlighted the serious consequences of individual actions, warning that even a single corrupt act could tarnish the entire Ministry’s reputation.

“The Ministry can be labelled corrupt on account of one person who misbehaves,” he observed reminding staff of their collective responsibility in maintaining integrity and trust within the public sector.

The permanent secretary further expressed disappointment over instances where officials have been summoned by ZACC.

“I want to advise you that the first ZACC is not the officials you see. It is each of us who must hold ourselves and each other accountable.”

This call to action resonated strongly with attendees, reinforcing their shared commitment to ethical conduct.

The event marks a crucial step toward fostering ethics and accountability within the Ministry and Zimbabwe’s public service sector. As more officials sign integrity pledges, the collective effort to eradicate corruption and enhance public trust in government institutions gains momentum.

An integrity pledge represents commitment to ethical practices and good governance by members of the public service. With this commitment, Zimbabwe moves closer to achieving its goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy by 2030, as outlined in the National Development Strategy 1.