IN Zimbabwe, as with many governments in Africa, the governing establishment claims electoral mandate but fails to deal with debilitating corruption, losing billions of dollars to corruption, which erodes public trust and alienates citizens who largely bear the consequent socio-economic challenges.
China, the second-largest economy after the US and the main development partner of the African continent, has maintained laser focus on curbing corruption, while fostering ethical leadership and disciplined governance.
Zimbabwe, a close historical ally, diplomatic and economic partner of China, could learn from the Chinese experience in combating corruption.
The ruling Zanu PF party has strong relations with the Chinese government dating back to the years of the liberation struggle.
Since 2000, China has emerged as the main diplomatic and economic partner of the Zimbabwe government. While China, with a population of 1,4 billion people and a vast economy, has effectively managed corruption in the process of socio-economic reform, Zimbabwe, by far demographically and economically smaller, faces a threat of existential proportions from endemic corruption and ill-disciplined, unethical leadership. What can Zimbabwe learn from the Chinese experience in combating corruption?
Zimbabwe ranks among some of the most corrupt countries as reflected in major international corruption indices. Corruption has permeated deep into society, ranging from petty unethical practices to bureaucratic, systemic patronage and political corruption at the highest level of governance.
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The abuse of public power and resources for illicit personal wealth accumulation has become deeply entrenched. The extravagant show of riches that cannot be accounted for has socialised young people into believing that getting rich by any means possible, regardless of societal ethos and norms, is the way to go.
Public and political offices have become the fastest avenues to personal wealth accumulation. Corruption has also become pervasive in the private sector and civil society. However, given the largely politicised nature of corruption in Zimbabwe, the problem comes down to the question of leadership, public and political governance.
It is impossible to exclude the long-ruling Zimbabwe African National Union Patriotic Front (Zanu PF), in power since 1980, from debates on corruption in the country. The opposition factions of the MDC formation, part of the Inclusive Government (2009-2013) and the dominant party running local authorities in most of the major cities since 2000 have equally joined the shortcut to wealth accumulation.
A significant number of corruption cases of a grand nature, involving high-level politicians and senior bureaucrats, were widely publicised during the past decades, with minimal government sanction. The Transnational Institute records the National Railways Housing Scandal (1986), Air Zimbabwe Fokker Plane Scandal ($100 million) (1987), Zisco Steel Blast Furnace Scandal (1987), among the multi-million-dollar major corruption scandals of the past decades, which were not formally sanctioned.
While corruption may not be a new phenomenon, it has arguably reached unprecedented levels under the second republic. While it is difficult to state a single, precise total amount of how much Zimbabwe has lost to corruption due to its hidden nature and a lack of official, consolidated figures, the available figures, which arguably reveal just a tip of the iceberg, are staggering for such a relatively small economy.
Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) reported that by mid-2010, Zimbabwe was losing at least US$1 billion annually to corruption. Other reports mention an estimated loss of US$5 million per day due to public corruption. Overall, Zimbabwe is estimated to have lost between US$1 billion and 4 billion annually through corruption and illicit financial flows. In May 2024, the Prosecutor-General stated that the country loses over US$1,8 billion per year to corruption.
Grand corruption has divided the country into two classes.
On one side is the small class of the super-rich, powerful untouchables who enjoy Hollywood-type lifestyles in the middle of extreme socio-economic lack and identify with the dominant power structures and actors. On the other side is the generality of the population, largely alienated, emasculated, poor and struggling with aggravated socio-economic challenges. While Zimbabwe has made efforts to curb corruption, as reflected in the adoption of the Leadership Code in 1984 and anti-corruption institutions, such efforts have been largely ineffective.
Zimbabwe, like other countries in the global south, could draw inspiration and learn from successful efforts of the leadership of China under President Xi Jinping. China now ranks ahead of many major countries in terms of improved public trust as citizens have responded positively to transformative anti-corruption initiatives, subsequent visible changes in the behaviour of officials, efficient delivery of public goods and rapid economic growth and development.
The success of the Communist Party of China (CPC) government-led initiatives, augmented by the “Eight-point decision,” underscores the importance of codified ethical standards, enforceable rules and clear public guidelines in combating corruption and fostering ethical leadership. China has successfully infused systemic practices and rules with key public service roles linking all State and party officials, disciplinary bodies and oversight agencies. Xi has provided strong, relentless ethical leadership laser-focused on delivering socio-economic transformation for all, emphasising zero tolerance to corruption.
The Chinese leadership embarked on a holistic campaign combining public conduct reform, reasserting foundational principles anchored on “serving the people wholeheartedly,” while curbing corruption at all levels of leadership within CPC, the public service and society as concisely enunciated in the Eight-point decision.
China's broader fight against corruption highlights the centrality of leadership at the top and the role of citizens in fostering ethical leadership and effective delivery of public goods. A central and permanent pillar of Xi's policy, the anti-corruption approach, is characterised by rigour, scope and effectiveness directed at high-profile investigations in key sectors, an emphasis on continuous institutional reforms, stricter laws, sector-specific processes with increased efforts to punish both bribe-takers and bribe-givers, as well as citizen engagement and participation in governance. Over the years, high-profile cases have demonstrated that no one is above the law, reinforcing the principle of equality before the law.
CPC has fostered a rigorous culture of self-governance, accountability and oversight within its ranks. Such oversight is concrete, targeted and regular, ensuring adherence to discipline and unity in action within the rank and file of its leadership. The government has embarked on long-term institutional reforms and mechanisms to combat systemic corruption and associated risks.
The Eight-point decision has augmented broader anti-corruption initiatives by ensuring public participation and transparency, allowing for quick interventions to address grievances and improve transparency. It provides clear, actionable mandates aimed at eliminating what CPC described as the “four malfeasances,” namely, formalism, bureaucratism, hedonism, and extravagance within the Chinese society and all levels of its leadership. The active participation of citizens has helped to expose corruption, which is often a clandestine activity, strengthening accountability.
As a code of conduct, the Eight-point decision offers clear, easily accessible rules that are enforceable, emphasising disciplined leadership and unity of purpose across diverse administrative and political institutions to ensure citizen-centric delivery of public goods and transparent governance. The rules have provided an ethically structured approach of leadership conduct rooted in institutional and personal discipline to restore and sustain public trust in ways that are reshaping the Chinese political culture in mitigating wasteful spending and abuse of public resources.
Like Nigeria, Egypt and Brazil, Zimbabwe could learn from the Chinese experience and efforts to curb corruption, foster government efficiency, accountability, trust and connection with the citizens.