The 2025 Corruption Perception Index (CPI), which showed that Zimbabwe is sliding backwards when it comes to fighting graft is hardly surprising at a time political elites and well-connected individuals in government are engaged in obscene accumulation, analysts have said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa promised to fight graft when he first assumed office following the removal of the late president Robert Mugabe in a coup in 2017.
Six years on, however, the politically connected continue to flaunt ill-gotten wealth, and selective enforcement of the law has left citizens skeptical, analysts said.
According to the 2025 CPI Transparency International Zimbabwe report, Zimbabwe scored 22 out of 100, marking a decline in transparency and accountability.
“Zimbabwe continues to perform significantly below the Sub-Saharan Africa regional average of 32 out of 100, highlighting the persistence and depth of corruption-related governance challenges,” the report read.
“Evidently, corruption in the management of public resources in Zimbabwe remains pervasive, undermining political integrity, weakening accountability systems, and restricting citizens’ access to essential public services such as health, education, and social protection.
“These impacts are disproportionately borne by poor and marginalised communities, deepening inequality and eroding public trust in state institutions.”
Zimbabwe performed below the sub-Saharan average of 33 and the global average of 43.
The highest Zimbabwe has scored since 2016 is 24 points.
In its report, TIZ said the country remains significantly behind the regional average of 32, underscoring deep-rooted governance challenges. TIZ said while the government has taken steps such as establishing anti-corruption courts and pursuing asset recovery, these efforts are insufficient to combat the transnational nature of illicit financial flows.
TIZ called for urgent action in priority areas to reverse persistent corruption trends and restore confidence in governance reforms.
“Zimbabwe must strengthen the independence of the judiciary and law enforcement institutions, ensure impartial investigation and prosecution of corruption cases, and improve access to justice for all citizens,” the report noted.
“A safe and enabling environment for civil society organisations, investigative journalists, and whistleblowers is critical for exposing corruption and monitoring reform implementation.
“Zimbabwe should improve transparency in public procurement, budgeting, and public finance management, particularly in high-risk sectors.”
Political analyst Reuben Mbofana said the statistics were telling, adding there was never a political will to fight corruption.
“A genuine fight against corruption requires strong institutions, independent oversight, and political will that applies equally to everyone — not just rhetoric,” Mbofana said.
“Until that happens, Zimbabwe’s citizens will rightly question the sincerity of the promises made in 2017.”
Another political analyst Rashweat Mukundu echoed similar sentiments.
“The challenge is the government is the biggest source of income for many and access to state resources is often used as political leverage in power contests,” Mukundu said.
“So the fight against corruption is often hampered by political considerations and political interests.”
Harare-based political analyst Rejoice Ngwenya said Mnangagwa’s ‘regime is a master of optics, illusions and delusions.’
“So it's not surprising that Zimbabwe performs badly on the Corruption Perception Index,” Ngwenya said. “ I don't see anything changing any time soon.”