By Thomas Chidamba
The Mines and Mining Development Ministry has declared that the mining industry will no longer be a safe haven for corruption, following the signing of a landmark Memorandum of Understanding with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC).
Speaking during the signing ceremony in Harare this afternoon, Mines and Mining Development Permanent Secretary Dr Thomas Utete Wushe said the agreement marks a shift from rhetoric to concrete action to clean up the sector.
“Today we are not merely signing a document, we are forging a strategic alliance in the united and collective effort to build a sustainable mining industry for Zimbabwe,” Dr Wushe said.
“We acknowledge that the mining industry has an important role to play towards building that so much desired upper-middle-income society by 2030.”
Dr Wushe said the MOU is a testament of shared understanding that the mining sector is a critical pillar of the economy which demands the highest integrity, transparency and accountability to attract investment.
“We are here to work together to make sure that we create that environment that is good for investors, that is good for miners, that is good for the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
Dr Utete Wushe said the agreement is anchored on four pillars, including institutionalisation of integrity, cooperation and information sharing, capacity building, and oversight and accountability.
Under the first pillar, the Ministry will introduce a mandatory Integrity Pledge Programme for all officials including Provincial Mining Directors and Inspectors, coupled with systems review and risk audits of high-vulnerability areas.
“We are building a culture of ethics and proactive risk management within the ministry,” he said.
The MOU also provides a formal lawful framework for exchange of information and swift referral of corruption allegations for prompt investigation.
“It creates a protocol for the swift referral of allegations of corruption, ensuring that suspected wrongdoing is investigated promptly and effectively,” Dr Wushe said.
On capacity building, the two institutions will conduct reciprocal training, with the Ministry providing ZACC with technical expertise on mining law and administration, while ZACC equips Ministry personnel with anti-corruption skills.
“Corruption is multidimensional. It does not reside in one institution,” Dr Wushe noted.
A Joint Steering Committee will be established to monitor progress and ensure commitments translate into tangible results.
Dr Wushe issued a stern warning to Ministry officials, saying the integrity pledge is not a formality.
“To my colleagues in the Ministry of Mines here present, this agreement is a call to action. It is a commitment to a new standard of public service. The integrity pledge we will take is not merely a formality. We mean it. It is a solemn vow to serve our nation with honour,” he said.
“Today, the Ministry of Mines is sending a clear and unambiguous message that the mining sector is not a safe haven for corruption. We are building a system defined by integrity, where opportunity is given by merit and compliance, not by illicit deals.”
He said the agreement respects ZACC’s constitutional independence.
“This agreement is built on mutual respect, not subversion of authority. We are not here to impede on your work, but to support it by making our systems more robust and our officials more vigilant,” he said.
