SYDNEY MUBAIWA
BIKITA – Councillors and management at Bikita Rural District Council on Tuesday signed integrity pledges, vowing to uphold transparency, accountability and ethical conduct in public office.
The ceremony held at Mbudzi Lodge near Nyika Growth Point, comes only a few days when the local authority was rated 7th, demonstrating its commitment in providing better service delivery to the community.
Bikita District Development Coordinator (DDC) Bernard Hadzirabwi presided over the signing ceremony.
In his welcome remarks, Hadzirabwi said the integrity pledge drive is being rolled out in both rural and urban councils countrywide with local authorities expected to display good work ethics as public office bearers.
“We are public servants and these pledges are not just paper. They are a promise to our residents that we will uphold good work ethics, providing service delivery first and reject corruption in all forms.
“The integrity pledge is a social contract through which a participant announces his or her commitment to act against all forms of corruption spearheading service delivery,” he said.
Speaking during the ceremony, Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) Masvingo provincial head Tafirenyika Maringire said corruption was the worst enemy which must be fought left ,right and centre to achieve Vision 2030.
He urged Bikita councillors and managers to be objective and employ rightful candidates to fill in their respective positions and shun corruption.
“We have come here today to sensitize Bikita RDC councillors, management and traditional leaders on the constitutional mandate and investigative scope of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption (ZACC).
“Local authorities should operate with standard operation procedures. We don’t expect you to fight at the expense of service delivery and avoid taking bribes or gifts . You should stand guided by your principles and policies,” he said.
He said corruption in most local authorities is being caused by poor remuneration, poverty and gender in – equality.
“As Bikita Rural District Council, you were rated 7th best Rural District Council in the country. But was that your number. Management should continue working hard so that you assist your Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in these ratings,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of Masvingo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Ezra Chadzamira, Provincial Local Government Director Roy Hove started by congratulating the local authority on the milestone achievement.
“I want to congratulate you for attaining the 7th position. Bikita RDC is one of the local authorities which is in the satisfactory performance category. You are in the green belt and this is applauded.
“Through signing these pledges, you must continue working hard to achieve better results. Better results can only be achieved once you stay away from corruption.
“As Government, we don’t expect to see you declining. If this happen, we would want to know what happened. We expect you to do even much better”, he said.
