The government of Zimbabwe has been pressured to implement the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) to ensure the protection of people who expose corruption.
Participants to the two-day workshop on whistleblower protection, which ended yesterday in Harare, reiterated that lack of political will was a hurdle to efforts by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (Zacc) to eradicate corruption in the country.
The workshop was organised by the government, in partnership with the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the United Kingdom government to enhance the protection of whistleblowers and fast-track implementation of the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC).
UNODC whistleblower consultant Ashley Savage said a law that protected whistleblowers from victimisation was key to promoting a culture of shunning malpractices within communities.
Savage said implementation of UNCAC was in line with the requirements of the global sustainable goal 16 of Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
But participants to the workshop, who included Zacc commissioners, police officers, lawyers and anti-corruption institutions, said fast-tracking crafting and enactment of the law was determined by the willingness of top politicians.
Justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi admitted that the available statutes did not guarantee protection against whistleblower victimisation.
Participants also bemoaned delays in the finalisation of corruption cases involving high-profile people at the courts, which they said undermined public confidence in the Judiciary.
Zacc has demanded a review of court rules so that a timeframe is set for the finalisation of corruption cases to expedite the trial.
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