Residents in Epworth raised fresh concerns over bribery, weak law enforcement response and lack of accountability during a community interface meeting convened by Transparency International Zimbabwe, highlighting persistent governance gaps at local level.
The meeting brought together key institutions including the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe, Zimbabwe Republic Police and Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, allowing residents to directly question authorities on corruption and service delivery failures.
Community members raised concerns about alleged bribery by police officers, including claims that some officers demand payments before attending crime scenes, as well as delays in responding to drug-related cases.
In response, the police anti-corruption unit urged citizens to report such cases, stating that “residents should report corruption in all sectors,” while also confirming that complaints against officers can be escalated to senior command structures.
The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe called on residents to strengthen cases brought before the courts, emphasising the importance of evidence in securing convictions.
Prosecutors said citizens must “support cases with credible evidence and information,” adding that communities have the right to request a different prosecutor if they suspect bias or compromise.
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This intervention follows concerns raised by residents over the handling of a specific case, pointing to declining confidence in parts of the justice delivery system.
Meanwhile, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority highlighted corruption risks linked to smuggling and informal payments, warning the public against engaging with unauthorised individuals.
ZIMRA officials urged citizens to “report corruption using the number 585,” while also cautioning against paying money to bus crews posing as officials.
They further advised residents to retain receipts and transaction records for up to six years, as part of compliance and anti-smuggling enforcement measures.
The engagement exposed a pattern of systemic challenges, where citizens continue to encounter corruption in everyday interactions with public institutions, particularly in law enforcement and revenue collection.
At the same time, the emphasis by institutions on reporting mechanisms and evidence points to a gap between formal accountability systems and their practical effectiveness at community level.
The meeting forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen citizen participation in governance, but the concerns raised indicate that restoring public trust will depend on visible enforcement action and timely responses to reported cases, rather than reporting channels alone.
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