Bulawayo councillors have pushed back against signing integrity pledges linked to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, warning that they cannot commit to documents they say they have not had adequate time to read, understand or consult on.
The dispute surfaced during a meeting at City Hall on Monday, where officials acknowledged delays in signing the pledges after councillors demanded clearer explanations and more comprehensive engagement before appending their signatures.
Bulawayo council’s senior management signed the integrity pledges, while councillors and officials from Gwanda Municipality and Plumtree Town Council also appended their signatures, leaving Bulawayo councillors among those yet to comply.
Ward 22 councillor Bruce Moyo told the meeting that the process had eroded confidence in the fairness of anti-corruption efforts.
“When it comes to the integrity pledge we have lost hope and confidence in this situation. It seems those who are considered big are bigger than the law, which is something your commission needs to address,” he said.
Ward 10 councillor Khalazani Ndlovu said the time allocated to study the pledge was unreasonable.
“The short time you have given us to read something we do not understand is unreasonable. At least you should have given us a day or two. Right now we feel like we are being forced to sign this pledge,” he said.
Ward 9 councillor Donaldson Mabutho argued that councillors required structured training before committing themselves.
“As policy makers we have to understand what we are signing. The major reason why you’re here is to educate us on how to prevent corruption. We believe we need a proper workshop,” he said.
David Coltart, the mayor of Bulawayo, backed the calls for more time, saying even senior officials were unclear about the contents of the document.
“I don’t know what I am signing myself, whether the mistake lies with ZAC or our own management. These points are valid. If we talk about ethics, part of ethics is respect and allowing people to read,” he said.
ZACC senior compliance officer Kudzaishe Kajese urged councillors to support anti-corruption initiatives, arguing that the pledge reflected commitments they had already made to voters.
“We should not resist when we are fighting corruption. This is our only Zimbabwe and we are the councillors and senators and we represent our people,” he said.
The integrity pledges form part of ZACC’s broader strategy to promote ethical conduct among public officials.
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