Minister Garwe Launches Anti-Corruption Taskforce for Local Authorities

In a decisive move to tackle deepening corruption within Zimbabwe’s local authorities, Minister of Local Government and Public Works, Daniel Garwe, has unveiled a Special Taskforce aimed at investigating and addressing graft cases across the country’s 92 local councils.

The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), with the goal of expediting the investigation and resolution of long-standing corruption allegations.

Speaking at a press conference in Harare, Minister Garwe emphasized the urgency of confronting systemic corruption within councils, stating that the volume and complexity of existing cases warranted a coordinated, multi-agency approach.

“While the Ministry has routinely carried out internal audits and investigations, the scale of current corruption cases requires the involvement of ZACC and the police to ensure thorough and effective intervention,” he said.

Although ZACC and the police are constitutionally empowered to pursue criminal proceedings, the Ministry’s role centers on identifying governance failures and administrative irregularities. Garwe noted that any suspected criminal activity uncovered during ministry-led reviews is referred to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.

He cited provisions under the Urban Councils Act (Chapter 29:15) and Rural District Councils Act (Chapter 29:13), which authorize the Minister to appoint investigative teams to examine governance-related issues within local councils.

In response to ZACC’s recommendations, the Ministry has also created an Integrity Committee tasked with promoting ethical conduct and preventing corruption at the local government level.

“The Taskforce will operate as a joint investigative body with immediate effect,” Garwe said. “Its mandate includes clearing the backlog of unresolved cases and probing new allegations where red flags have been raised.”

He stressed that the Ministry’s involvement is not a replacement for law enforcement operations but rather a reinforcement to ensure a more robust and united approach to rooting out corruption.

“Local authorities are the frontline of public service delivery. When corruption thrives at that level, the consequences are felt directly by citizens. This Taskforce is about restoring integrity and public confidence in our local governance systems,” he added.

ZACC Chairperson Michael Reza echoed the Minister’s sentiments, affirming the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable.

“This partnership is a powerful tool in the fight against corruption. We will ensure that all guilty parties are brought to justice,” Reza said.

Also present at the launch were Deputy Minister Engineer B. Kabikira and ZACC Commissioner K. Paradza, who expressed their support for the initiative.

The establishment of the Taskforce marks a renewed effort by government to improve transparency, enforce accountability, and rebuild trust in local governance structures.

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