Campaign Focal Point	Munyaradzi Bidi
	Email	info@anticorruptiontrust.org
	Telephone contact	+263(0)716284677
	WhatsApp	+263(0)716284677

Description of the IssueResearch has shown that corruption has ‘killing’ effects on business development. In an ACT-SA Project funded by UNODC targeting the micro, small to medium enterprises, a number of lessons and best practices were drawn. In a country like Zimbabwe where corruptionthe country is endemic, corrupt businesses pay bribes to win tenders, which deprieves other more deserving businesses. Furthermore, the bribes pose a huge cost to the business. In addition, there are some reputational issues when a business gains notoriety for paying bribes. There are several cases in which hefty fines or jail terms are given when corruption  is proved beyond a shadow of doubt.  Reference is also given to some entities that were blacklisted by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) because of corruption.  ACT-SA notes that the benefits of being incorruptible outweighs the demerits and hence the launch of the campaign.

The following activities were achieved by the ACT-SA:

	Model Internal Anti-Corruption Policy for the Micro, Small to Medium Enterprises	Download
	Manual: Preventing and Combating Corruption to foster and stimulate small and Medium sized enterprises development in Zimbabwe	Download

Responses in support and against the campaign

Model Internal Anti-Corruption Policy	Call to Develop and Implement Internal Anti-Corruption Policies	SMEs Anti-Corruption Forums and Charters against Corruption	Kwekwe SMEs Anti-Corruption Forum
ACT-SA produced a Guidance Note and a Model SMEs Internal Anti-Corruption Policy to help individual micro, small to medium enterprises to develop, implement and enforce their own Internal Anti-Corruption Policies as part of efforts to fight corruption affecting business development. A Model Internal Anti-Corruption Policy was  provided to enable individual entities to customise the same to suit their different needs and interests. The Model Policy sets out the responsibilities of SMEs in observing and upholding the company’s position against bribery, fraud and other corrupt business practices. In essence, policy objectives include: a) To develop and maintain effective controls to prevent bribery, fraud and other corrupt business practices; b) To ensure that any suspected, alleged, attempted or actual instances of bribery, fraud or other corrupt business practices are investigated appropriately, regardless of the position held or length of service of any individual implicated; c) To take appropriate disciplinary action in all cases where investigation has proven attempted or actual instances of bribery, fraud or other corrupt practices. All significant cases shall be reported to line manager who will report them in the appropriate manner; and, d) To operate a lessons learnt process to review incidents, systems and procedures to prevent similar instances occurring and embed responsible business behaviours within the Company.  Download the Policy	ACT-SA produced brochures on the importance of having Internal Anti-Corruption Policies for businesses. It gives technical support to the companies showing interest in developing such policies.	The Campaign set up Anti-Corruption Forums in Kwekwe, Gweru and Zvishavane. Each Forum adopted a “zero tolerance “ policy against corruption. To enforce the policy, each member of the Forum signed a Charter agreed to shun, denounce, resist, and to refuse paying bribes to win tenders. Furthermore, they agreed to execute their business activities within the confines of the Zimbabwean law, report acts of corruption and to educate others.  One of the key conditions was that each member of the Forum would develop an Internal Anti-Corruption Policy within 21 days from the date of signing of this Charter and deposit a copy with the Secretary of the Forum and ACT-SA.  In the event of any violations of the Charter, the empowered the Executive Committee of the Forum to take appropriate action. Read More	The Kwekwe Forum is in full gear encouraging and sensitizing SMEs against paying and taking bribes.  Whistleblowers and reporting persons are being advised to report corruption to the Chairperson of the Forum as well as to the nearest Police Station.

List of Entities that Developed Internal Anti-Corruption Policies

If you are part of the micro, small to medium enterprises sector. feel free to contact ACT-SA to set up a Forum in your area. However, if you stay in Kwekwe, Gweru and Zvishavane you are welcome to be a member of the following: