Terms of Reference of the Anti-Corruption and Service Delivery Monitoring Voluntary Action Group
- Introduction
The Anti-Corruption and Service Delivery Monitoring Voluntary Action Group (ACSDM-VAG) is a group of twenty (20) community members set up by the Anti-Corruption Trust of Southern Africa (ACT-Southern Africa) to increase the likelihood of detection, reporting and punishment for corruption and poor service delivery and to increase options available to victims of corruption and poor service delivery.
Furthermore, the ACSDM-VAG contributes to improved public empowerment by involving citizens in enforcing anti-corruption measures and improving service delivery. The setting up of ACSDM-VAGs is a response to high levels of corruption and poor service delivery in both urban and rural areas in Zimbabwe.
The ACSDM-VAGs are set up under the Community Action against Corruption and Poor Service Delivery in Zimbabwe Project, which seeks to actively involve community members in the fight against corruption and poor service delivery.
- Project Scope
The activities of the Kwekwe ACSDM-VAG cover the Kwekwe district which includes Redcliff, Kwekwe, Silobela and Zhombe.
- Activities of the ACSDM-VAG
The ACSDM-VAG acts as a watchdog against corruption and poor service delivery and works closely with other stakeholders in preventing and combating corruption and improving service delivery in a number of sectors that include health, and education among others. Apart from whistle blowing functions, public education and reporting corruption, the ACSDM-VAG also monitors and reports on service delivery.
The KACSG-VAG is responsible for:
-Whistleblowing:
Disclosing or reporting of wrongdoing, including but not limited to corruption; criminal offences; breaches of legal obligation; miscarriages of justice; specific dangers to public health, safety or the environment; abuse of authority; unauthorised use of public funds or property; gross waste or mismanagement; conflict of interest; and acts to cover up of any of these.
– Public Education:
Members of the CACSDM-VAG are responsible for raising awareness against corruption, maladministration and poor service delivery within their communities. Members are empowered to carry out this function in the most effective and efficient manner.
– Reporting Corruption:
Acts of corruption and their prosecution are documented and reported to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), the Zimbabwe Republic Police and other competent authorities.
The CACSDM-VAG will be given training on how to gather evidence and where possible equipped with adequate tools for gathering evidence.
– Research:
The CACSDM-VAG carries out research on corruption and service delivery matters and use the findings thereof for advocacy purposes
– Desisting from Corruption:
Members of the CACSDM-VAG are themselves be encouraged to refrain from corruption and this is one of their key activities. Members conscientise each other against corruption and report corruption whenever and wherever it occurs.
– Monitoring Service Delivery and Maladministration:
Members of the CACSDM-VAG monitor and report on service delivery in the health, water, and education sectors among others. Reports on service delivery are used to facilitate evidence informed decisions and the for advocacy purposes.
-Monitoring action taken on reported corruption and poor service delivery cases:
The CACSDM-VAG closely monitors action taken by authorities on reported cases. Where no action is taken the CACSDM-VAG resorts to other options that include but not limited to litigation and civil disobedience.
– Advocacy:
Based on evidence collected the CACSDM-VAG carries a number of advocacy activities aimed at the reduction of corruption and improved service delivery.
-Management of the ACSDM-VAG
The ACSDM-VAG carries out its work through a Committee that comprises of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Vice Secretary, Organising Secretary, Vice Organising Secretary, Coordinator Public Education, Vice Coordinator Public Education, Coordinator- Service Delivery and Vice Coordinator- Service Delivery and Committee members. All reports are presented to the ACSDM-VAG for endorsed before any action is taken. The ACSDM-VAG gets advice from the ACT-Southern Africa and a legal team that was set up to advise it as well as to give legal advice to victims of corruption and poor service delivery.
