AFRICA ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY COMMEMORATIONS #AACD2024

Harare, 11 July 2024–Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) and Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) join the rest of Africa in commemorating the eighth Africa Anti-Corruption Day under the theme: Effective Whistleblowers Protection Mechanism: A Critical Tool in the Fight Against Corruption. On this Day, TIZ and ZLHR would like to take this opportunity to;

1. Commend the African Union for recognising the important role of whistleblowers in the fight against corruption as reflected in this year’s theme: “Effective Whistleblowers Protection Mechanism: A Critical Tool in the Fight Against Corruption.”

1. Remind the Government of Zimbabwe that the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combatting Corruption (AUCPCC) enjoins State Parties to protect whistleblowers, specifically providing in Article 5(5) that “State Parties undertake to adopt legislative and other measures to protect informants and witnesses in corruption and related offences, including protection of their identities,”

1. Note with concern that after more than 20 years of the AUCPCC, Zimbabwe has not taken tangible measures to domesticate its provisions by enacting a whistleblower protection law. However, some efforts towards enacting a whistleblower protection law in Zimbabwe are acknowledged, despite the delays since the approval of the Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Whistle Blowers) Bill in March 2022,

1. Further, note with great concern that whistleblowers across the country continue to face severe adverse consequences daily for their bold and urgently needed contribution to anti-corruption efforts in Zimbabwe.

1. Urge the Government of Zimbabwe to take swift action to enact the Whistleblower legislation in accordance with the AUCPCC, SADC Protocol Against Corruption and the United Nations Convention Against Corruption.

1. Reaffirm our commitment to working with the Government of Zimbabwe through its various Anti-Corruption Agencies, including the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, National Prosecuting Authority, Zimbabwe Republic Police-Anti-Corruption Unit, Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Parliament of Zimbabwe and the Financial Intelligence Unit to eliminate corruption from the daily lives of citizens of Zimbabwe.

As we commemorate this day, let us also take this opportunity to celebrate the courageous individuals who come forward to report corruption in Zimbabwe, encourage the reporting of corruption and reaffirm the importance of guaranteeing the anonymity and safety of whistleblowers.

                                                            ENDS//