The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) recently conducted an integrity sensitisation and pledge signings workshop for the Harare Institute of Technology’s (HIT) Board members, Senior Management Staff and members of the Integrity Committee to curb corruption, improve governance, and promote ethical behaviour among the Board, management, staff and students. This initiative aims to ensure academic integrity and foster a culture of accountability.
The Integrity Pledge acts as a “social contract,” prompting a personal commitment to honesty, accountability, and integrity within public institutions. This is part of a national strategy extending to various public entities to fight corruption in Zimbabwe.
In his opening remarks, the HIT Board’s Deputy Chairperson, Dr Engr. Ben Rafemoyo called for integrity to become ‘organisational DNA, and he also challenged leadership and staff to embed integrity as the institution’s core culture, warning that ethical conduct must be visible even when no one is watching. Dr Engr. Rafemoyo stressed that honesty, transparency and fairness must move beyond policy to become a lived reality.
“Integrity is about what you do when people are not watching, not when they are watching,” the HIT Board’s Deputy Chairperson said, quoting C.S. Lewis. “As leaders, it’s crucial we set the tone and lead by example. Let’s create a workplace where integrity and ethics are not just a policy but a culture. In fact, it must be a DNA.”
The Deputy Chairperson acknowledged senior management and staff for their commitment to the integrity process, and thanked ZACC facilitators and the HIT Integrity Committee for organising the engagement.
The training forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen ethical governance at the institution. ZACC is facilitating the setup of Integrity Committees in universities to ensure long-term, structural adherence to these principles.
ZACC Official Mr B. Dube expressed profound appreciation for HIT’s unwavering dedication, emphasising that the signing of integrity pledges acknowledges ethical commitment, stressing the vital role academic institutions play in the broader fight against corruption, shaping societal values and fostering ethical leadership.
The pledge serves as a “social contract” for individuals and organisations to commit to honesty, transparency, and accountability. It outlines positive principles such as integrity, objectivity, and impartiality, while also establishing clear disciplinary actions for violations.
