- What We Do
- Citizen Empowerment against Corruption
Citizen Empowerment against Corruption
We recognise the right of citizens to participate in decisions that affect them. Also bearing in mind that citizens composed of women, girls, the youth, the disabled and other minority groups bear the brunt of corruption and suffer as victims of corruption.
As ACT-SA we empower them to speak out against corruption, mal-administration, poor service delivery , bad governance and hold power to account.
We empower them individually and collectively to confront the scourge of corruption head-on.
Over a period of many years, we have learnt that marginalised communities prefer working as groups as opposed to working as individuals. To respond to this need, we set up what are called “Community-based Anti-Corruption Monitoring Voluntary Action Groups (VAGs) comprised of community members from the same community who agree to be part of an anti-corruption grassroots committee , that itself shun corruption, educate others, reports all acts of corruption to relevant authorities and ensures that other community activities are carried out corruption-free.
Our role as ACT-SA is to train, provide adequate anti-corruption tools and technical support as they execute their mandates.
Generous support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiative (CFLI) made us proud when we successfully set up and trained these groups in Kwekwe, Gokwe, Gweru, Zhombe, Tiger Reef, Shurugwi, Zvishavane, Masvingo, Mutare, Harare, Chinhoyi, Victoria Falls, Bulawayo and Beitbridge.
Examples of this impact.
Setting up and Empowering Community-based Anti-Corruption Monitoring Voluntary Action Groups (VAGs)
With the support of the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CFLI), ACT-SA launched an innovative approach to combating corruption at the community level, known as the Community-Based Anti-Corruption Monitoring Voluntary Action Groups (VAGs).
These VAGs serve as a platform for community members to identify, monitor, report, and address corrupt practices, poor service delivery, and mal-administration within their communities. This bottom-up approach not only empowers citizens to hold public officials accountable but also fosters transparency and promotes good governance at the local level
ACT-SA’s initiative to promote community-based anti-corruption monitoring resulted in the establishment of VAGs in several cities and towns across Zimbabwe, including Kwekwe, Gokwe, Gweru, Zhombe, Tiger Reef, Shurugwi, Zvishavane, Masvingo, Mutare, Harare, Chinhoyi, Victoria Falls, Bulawayo, and Beitbridge.
These VAGs, established in various communities throughout Zimbabwe, were comprised of up to 30 individuals, chosen on the basis of their personal integrity and reputation as individuals of high moral standards. The selection process ensured that each VAG was composed of individuals who were incorruptible and exemplified ethical behavior, enabling them to serve as effective champions for accountability and transparency within their respective communities.
The rationale for establishing these VAGs was based on the insight that the detrimental impacts of corruption are most acutely felt by local and marginalized communities. By providing these communities with a platform to actively engage in anti-corruption efforts, it was hoped that they would be empowered to play a critical role in combating corruption within their communities, rather than relying on external support and interventions.
Following the formation and empowerment of the VAGs, there were noteworthy positive outcomes that contributed to the reduction of corruption in the communities. This included a notable deterrent effect on corrupt practices, as well as an increase in the number of reported corruption cases to law enforcement agencies such as the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC)
In a further effort to combat corruption, the VAGs also took the initiative to educate various stakeholders within their respective communities on the perils of corruption. This included awareness-raising and engagement activities with fellow community members, schools, churches, and the business sector, aimed at fostering a culture of transparency and integrity within the community and raising awareness of the consequences of corrupt practices
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