Zimbabwe’s Aviation Sector Embarks On Corruption Fight

By Wallace Mawire

Zimbabwe’s aviation sector  has embarked on an initiative to promote and ensure strict adherence to the full spectrum of local statutes and policies which include fighting against corruption, according to Dr Engineer Elijah Chingosho, Civil Aviation of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) Director General.

Dr Engineer Chingosho said that the aviation industry is a highly regulated industry which is expected to always stay compliant to the established Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS) as guided by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

“It is important to note that within the same compliance framework CAAZ also ensure strict adherence to the full spectrum of local statutes and policies which include the fight against corruption,” Chingosho  said.

In that regard, the CAAZ has engaged in a government of Zimbabwe initiative spearheaded through the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC)   to responding positively to key guiding principle to an all-round compliance of its operations.

“It is my pleasure to inform you that the Authority welcomes this initiative by our government through the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission,” Chingosho said.

Dr Engineer Chingosho said that as a regulator, their main focus is on raising safety and security compliance levels for the state in order to promote growth and development of the aviation industry.

He said that air travel industry is essential for the prosperity of   the country and the African continent as it promotes economic, political and social integration.

According to Chingosho, corruption within the aviation industry can compromise safety and security, and the results can be catastrophic to the nation.

He added that it   is therefore important that CAAZ as the regulator of the key industry should lead the battle against corruption within the aviation industry from the front by walking the talk.

Members of the CAAZ Executive Management and Integrity Committee gathered in Harare on 3 August, 2023 to take the integrity pledge as a testament of their commitment and support of the initiative by the ZACC and  government  for a corrupt free public service and society.

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission facilitating a critical training workshop as an essential tool in the implementation and operationalization of the Integrity Committee Concept.

The CAAZ is a government owned regulatory body established on 1 January 1999 through the Civil Aviation Act [Chapter 13:16] with a mandate to promote the safe, regular and efficient use and development of air transport and provide air navigation services within Zimbabwe.

In 2021, the Zimbabwe Anti- Corruption Commission (ZACC) reached out to public sector entities in Zimbabwe, CAAZ included, with a “Call to Action” for each entity to set up an Integrity Committee as part of the mechanisms to promote and foster a corrupt-free environment in the public service.

According to Chingosho, the drive by ZACC to spearhead the formation of Integrity Committees was in line with its mandate as stipulated in Section 12(d) of the Anti- Corruption Act [Chapter 9:22] to, among other functions, instruct, advise and assist any officer, agency or institution in the elimination or minimization of corruption.

He adds that as the regulator in the aviation sector, the CAAZ heeded the clarion call and commenced internal discussions around the initiative.

CAAZ participated in the virtual meetings held by ZACC and during one such engagement on 11 February 2022, public entities were tasked to share information on operationalizing the newly created Integrity Committees.

CAAZ also moved forward to set up the  Integrity Committee which was recently reconstituted following guidance from ZACC.

The CAAZ Integrity Committee is composed of Senior Aviation Security Inspector (Chairperson),Manager Aerodromes and Air Navigation Services, Senior Information Technology Auditor, Human Resources Manager, Legal Advisor, Workers Representative and the Risk Officer (Secretary).

Chingosho said that the Chairperson, appointed by the Director General, shall convene quarterly meetings and all committee members are required to attend each meeting in person.

The Committee reports to the Director General (CAAZ) and the Risk Committee at Board level. Its Terms of Reference (ToR) were adopted on 15 August 2022 through Executive Management Resolution No. 54/2022.

The CAAZ Integrity Committee’s mandate is to champion the fight against fraud and corruption as guided by CAAZ policy framework which includes risk management Policy, fraud prevention policy, anti-bribery, anti-corruption and extortion Policy and the whistle-blower policy.

The objective of the CAAZ Integrity Committee is to conduct oversight on the integrity of the authority’s business transactions and activities to ensure the authority executes its mandate in an ethical manner.

The overall function of the CAAZ Integrity Committee will include ensuring that necessary steps and procedures are taken to prevent fraud and corruption within the authority’s sphere of control.

Other responsibilities include evaluating transactions or activities which could be in breach of the law, best practice, the authority’s policies and procedures in all areas, assessing the authority’s fraud hotspots and seeking remedy from functional management, conducting oversight on risk management, fraud prevention, anti-corruption, anti-bribery and extortion and whistle blower policies, reviewing fraud and corruption cases reported, investigated and paid out periodically, just to mention a few.

Chingosho said that he was pleased that the CAAZ Integrity Committee has been meeting quarterly to discuss strategies to enhance its oversight in the fight against fraud and corruption in the authority.

ZACC Commissioner, Dr Ndaka Mabel Munyuki-Hungwe said that an integrity committee has been devised to become part of the organizational structure in order to oversee and spearhead the prevention of corruption and other related vices.

She added that they serve to strengthen the link between the ZACC and its institutions by continuously reporting corrupt practices and other improprieties in institutions and exchanging anti-corruption information.

Hungwe applauded CAAZ for their will to practically participate in the national anti-corruption efforts through capacitation of its integrity committee members and signing of integrity pledges.