ZIMBABWE ranked 156 out of 175 highly corrupt countries in 2014 Global Corruption Perception Index released by Transparency International yesterday.
VENERANDA LANGA SENIOR PARLIAMENTARY REPORTER
The poor ranking also showed Zimbabwe was one of Southern Africa’s most corrupt nations after Angola which scored 161 out of 175. It was also one of the worst corrupt countries in the world scoring 21 out of 100 in terms of highly corrupt (zero) to very clean countries (100).
“A poor score is likely a sign of widespread bribery, lack of punishment for corruption and public institutions that do not respond to citizens’ needs,” Jose’ Ugaz, Transparency International chairperson said.
“Countries at the bottom need to adopt radical anti-corruption measures in favour of their people. Countries at the top of the index should make sure they do not export corrupt practices to underdeveloped countries.”
In 2013, Zimbabwe scored 21 out of 100 and was one of the highest corrupt countries, a slight improvement from the 2012 figures that were 20 out of 100.
According to Transparency International, the corruption perception index ranks countries based on how corrupt their public sector was perceived to be from a scale of zero (highly corrupt) and 100 (very clean).
Zimbabwe’s neighbour Botswana had the highest African ranking in terms of being less corrupt at 31 out of 175 countries and scored 63 out of 100 in terms of being clean.
Neighbours that ranked badly were Mozambique at 119 and Zambia was at 85, while and South Africa had a better ranking at 67 out of 175.
Countries that scored poor rankings like Zimbabwe and are considered highly corrupt are countries currently suffering civil strife and wars.
These include Burundi and Syria at 159, Angola, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Venezuela and Yemen at 161, Eritrea, Libya and Uzbekistan at 166, Iraq at 170, South Sudan at 171, Afghanistan at 172, Sudan at 173 and North Korea and Somalia at the lowest, 174.
