Eswatini has joined fellow Southern African Development Community member states in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, for the 2026 SADC Anti-Corruption Expo and Games, a regional gathering aimed at strengthening cooperation in the fight against corruption.
The event, hosted by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission under the theme “Scaling Up Integrity Actions Across SADC,” brought together more than 800 anti-corruption practitioners from eight SADC member states.
ESWATINI’S PARTICIPATION
Eswatini was represented at the gathering alongside the SADC Anti-Corruption Committee (SACC), with the Kingdom welcoming the event as a platform for member states to share lessons and develop practical responses to corruption.
Chairperson of the Eswatini Anti-Corruption Commission, Ms Maphevu Mkatshwa, said the expo and games would raise public awareness while promoting accountability, fair play and implementation of the SADC Protocol Against Corruption.
“We want to share knowledge, strategies and best practices in combating corruption. We aim to strengthen regional cooperation through enhanced networking among anti-corruption agencies and stakeholders,” Mkatshwa said.
She noted that corruption remained a challenge that transcended national borders, requiring sustained vigilance and commitment to shared regional objectives.
A HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP
The regional initiative has its roots in a partnership launched in 2011 by Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini under the name BOLESWA.
What began as cooperation among the three countries later expanded in 2018 to include South Africa and Namibia, forming BOLESWASANA and widening the scope for collaboration among anti-corruption institutions in Southern Africa.
Eswatini has acknowledged Botswana’s role in initiating the platform and expressed appreciation to Zimbabwe for hosting the 2026 edition.
SADC CALLS FOR REGIONAL UNITY
Speaking at the official opening ceremony, Zimbabwe’s Vice President Kembo Mohadi called for stronger cooperation among governments, institutions and communities across the SADC region to confront corruption.
“The fight against corruption cannot be left to government and law enforcement agencies alone,” Mohadi said.
He described the SADC Anti-Corruption Expo and Games as an innovative platform for regional integration, urging participants to turn relationships and ideas developed during the event into practical partnerships and solutions.
“The friendships formed on the sporting field should develop into professional partnerships, while the ideas exchanged in the exhibition spaces should be translated into practical forms in our respective countries,” he said.
Mohadi also urged SADC member states to “follow the money and ensure that the proceeds of corruption are recovered and returned to productive use. Corruption must not be allowed to remain profitable”.
ZIMBABWE’S COMMITMENT
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission Chairperson Michael Reza said Zimbabwe was ready to work with regional counterparts to strengthen anti-corruption efforts.
“Under the stewardship of President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zimbabwe is actively pursuing an engagement and re-engagement programme that seeks to mend bridges and build new ones. We stand ready, willing and able to collaborate with our regional counterparts in line with the philosophy of leaving no one and no place behind,” Reza said.
He said the hosting of the event, which brought together anti-corruption officers from eight SADC member states, demonstrated regional cooperation and a shared commitment to combating corruption.