By Staff Writer
HARARE – Transparency International Zimbabwe (TI Zimbabwe) has welcomed the gazetting of the Whistle-Blowers and Witness Protection Bill, 2026, describing it as a major step towards strengthening integrity, transparency and accountability in the country while calling for additional measures to enhance protection for those who expose corruption.
In a statement issued on Tuesday to mark World Whistleblower Day, TI Zimbabwe said the Bill, gazetted by the Government on May 22, 2026, recognises the critical role played by whistleblowers in exposing corruption, fraud, abuse of office and the misuse of public resources.
The anti-corruption watchdog said the proposed legislation contains progressive provisions, including protection against reprisals and occupational detriment, confidentiality of whistleblowers’ identities, safeguards for individuals making disclosures in good faith, and the application of the law to both public and private sectors.
According to TI Zimbabwe, the Bill also provides protection for disclosures involving corruption, bribery, fraud, abuse of office, misuse of public resources and violations of the law, while providing for the establishment of a Whistleblower Protection Unit and a Whistleblower Protection Programme to safeguard witnesses and reporting persons facing threats.
The organisation said the provisions are in line with regional and international anti-corruption standards, including the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption and the United Nations Convention against Corruption, both of which encourage states to establish effective systems for protecting individuals who report wrongdoing.
Despite welcoming the proposed law, TI Zimbabwe said there was a need to strengthen the independence and oversight of institutions responsible for receiving disclosures and handling retaliation complaints. It also called for comprehensive financial, legal and psychosocial support for whistleblowers who suffer harm after reporting wrongdoing.
The organisation further recommended provisions requiring timely investigations and regular feedback to whistleblowers, stronger protection for disclosures made to journalists and civil society organisations where official channels are ineffective, gender-responsive safeguards for women and vulnerable groups, and incentives to encourage the reporting of significant corruption cases.
As Zimbabwe commemorates World Whistleblower Day, TI Zimbabwe urged citizens, civil society organisations, professional bodies, private sector actors and public institutions to actively participate in the parliamentary consultation process, saying broad stakeholder engagement is essential to ensure meaningful protection for those who expose corruption and abuse.
TI Zimbabwe said it would continue engaging Parliament, Government and other stakeholders to ensure that the final legislation provides effective protection for individuals who report corruption and wrongdoing in the public interest.
