The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has launched a four-day integrity training programme for four Mutapa investment entities, with chief executives and Integrity Committee members signing individual pledges to uphold transparency, accountability and ethical conduct, Mining Zimbabwe can report.
By Ryan Chigoche
The programme, running from October 5 to 8 at Siyekhaya Estate in Harare, brings together officials from Mutapa Gold Resources, Mutapa Platinum Group Metals, Mutapa Base Metals and Mutapa Energy Resources as ZACC seeks to strengthen measures for preventing corruption across the strategic entities.
The focus on integrity comes as the commission raises concerns over the risks that can arise in mining and energy operations, where large financial transactions, procurement processes and valuable national assets can create opportunities for corruption.
Speaking at the event, ZACC Executive Secretary Advocate Shepherd Manhivi said the strategic nature of the four entities made strong governance and internal controls essential to protecting national resources.
“The strategic nature of these operations also means that the entities must maintain strong systems and controls to safeguard resources, promote efficiency and ensure that value is derived from Zimbabwe’s mineral and energy assets in accordance with their respective mandates,” Manhivi said.
ZACC identified procurement irregularities, conflicts of interest, abuse of office, fraudulent transactions, bribery, favouritism, resource leakages and weaknesses in internal controls among the risks facing mining and energy operations.
Manhivi said the impact of such practices could go beyond individual cases, affecting efficiency, revenue generation and the value Zimbabwe derives from its resources. They could also distort fair competition and weaken public confidence in institutions entrusted with strategic economic assets.
To address these risks, ZACC is strengthening Integrity Committees within the four entities. The committees are expected to help identify vulnerabilities, improve internal controls, promote ethical conduct and coordinate measures to reduce corruption risks before they develop into cases of misconduct.
The committees will work alongside existing management, internal audit, human resources and disciplinary structures rather than replacing them. The training is intended to give members the knowledge and tools needed to carry out that role effectively.
The programme also placed considerable emphasis on personal responsibility, with the chief executives and Integrity Committee members signing individual integrity pledges.
Manhivi said strong systems would have little effect if the people operating within them were not committed to ethical conduct.
“Integrity begins with individuals. Policies, procedures and systems alone cannot prevent corruption unless they are supported by ethical leadership and responsible conduct by those entrusted with organisational responsibilities,” Manhivi said.
Through the pledges, the officials committed themselves to acting honestly, avoiding conflicts of interest, refusing bribery, protecting organisational resources and upholding accountability and transparency.
ZACC said it would continue working with the four entities through corruption-risk assessments, capacity building, Integrity Committee training and compliance support.
But Manhivi stressed that the real test of the initiative would not be the ceremony itself, but what happens once officials return to their normal duties.
“The true value of this training programme and pledge signing will not be measured by the signatures appended to the pledges, but by the decisions made after this event, the ethical standards upheld in daily operations and the commitment demonstrated in protecting the respective entities against corruption,” Manhivi said.
The initiative comes against the wider role of the Mutapa Investment Fund in managing and optimising strategic state investments and assets for long-term economic benefit.
The fund’s mining interests include Mutapa Gold Resources, Mutapa Platinum Group Metals and Mutapa Base Metals, covering some of Zimbabwe’s key mineral sectors and placing governance at the heart of efforts to generate greater value from the country’s resources.
For the mining sector, the issue is particularly important given its contribution to Zimbabwe’s export earnings and foreign-currency inflows. Stronger controls within state-linked mining entities could therefore have implications not only for accountability, but also for how effectively mineral wealth is converted into economic value.
Manhivi urged the leadership, Integrity Committees and employees of the four entities to make the commitments part of their day-to-day conduct, calling on them to “refuse, resist and report corruption.”
