The Challenges Faced by State Institutions in the Fight against Corruption: The Case of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission

Abstract

Despite the launch of the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), corruption continues to raise its ugly head in Zimbabwe. Recently, Zimbabwe has been ranked as the most corrupt nation in Southern Africa and the third most corrupt on the continent, prompting researchers to look into the challenges faced by ZACC in dealing with corruption in Zimbabwe. These challenges include the fact that ZACC itself is an imported or foreign idea which lacks the support of the other stakeholders. Lack of political will as well as political interference with its operations; lack of funds and other resources, which often paralyse the Commission’s operations; and the appointment of commissioners and other office bearers, has also posed a challenge to the Commission’s neutrality. This has resulted in a lack of security of tenure and the fifth challenge, which is that of a negative perception of ZACC in the eyes of the public. The authors do not believe that ZACC is capable of carrying out its duty of stamping out corruption. The few suggested possible solutions by the authors have no guarantee of being implemented and being effective in the current political environment. A radical approach to corruption is suggested, which looks beyond the anticorruption commission.