Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission spokesperson Simiso Mlevu
By Dickson Bandera
The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) has expressed concern over emerging habits that threaten to weaken the fight against corruption, warning that resistance to lawful police operations at roadblocks undermines broader national efforts to curb graft.
In a statement issued on 15 July 2025, ZACC spokesperson Ms Simiso Mlevu highlighted that some errant motorists and transporters are refusing to comply with police stop-and-search operations. She said the ZACC team following an anti-corruption awareness campaign in Beitbridge.
“Roadblocks are a mandate of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), and as such, officers at these checkpoints are guided by their statutory duties,” the statement reads. ZACC reminded the public that resisting lawful instructions from peace officers—whether in uniform or not is
Zimbabwe’s anti-corruption drive relies on an detect, investigate, and prosecute corrupt practices.
Police officers are recognised as integral players in the fight against corruption, not only by enforcing traffic and customs regulations but also by uncovering other hidden crimes. Routine searches at roadblocks often expose concealed offences such as smuggling, tax evasion, or the illegal movement of goods, crimes that are sometimes directly acts of corruption elsewhere in the economy.
“The public is encouraged to comply with lawful instructions from police officers, declare goods honestly, and pay the required duties to facilitate smooth travel and trade,” ZACC urged.
As Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to build a culture of integrity, ZACC’s has been on an overdrive to raise awareness, proposing systems reforms message is clear: citizens, law enforcement, and oversight bodies must work together. The public has a duty to refuse, resist, and report corruption and to support the officers who help uncover it, even at the roadside.
