via Mashonaland leads as graft surges: survey – NewZimbabwe 08/10/2015
CORRUPTION has markedly increased in Zimbabwe and more citizens are likely to take or give a bribe now than last year, a survey has revealed.
The latest survey by the Mass Public Opinion Institute (MPOI), curiously shows the three Mashonaland provinces leading the pack in the propensity to take a bribe.
At least 42% of people polled in Mashonaland East would take a bribe, second is Mashonaland Central at 38% and closely followed by Mashonaland West with 36 %.
Matabeleland South showed the least propensity to take a bribe with only 20 of those surveyed saying they would take a bribe followed by Midlands and Bulawayo tied at 22%.
MPOI senior researcher Stephen Ndoma was at pains to explain the distribution of the survey’s findings when quizzed by journalists if he thought it had anything to do with cultural or ethnic origins.
“I do not think it has anything to do with that because we have become highly cosmopolitan.
“It is not a given that the people living in the Mashonaland provinces are all Shona. So the ethnic issue falls away for me,” said Ndoma.
But Ndoma would not say why Harare the most cosmopolitan province followed by Bulawayo had a lower propensity to be corrupt than the Mashonaland provinces.
However, the tables seemed to have turned around when it came to giving a bribe with the results showing that people in Manicaland had a higher propensity to pay a bribe than any other province at 49%.
Mashonalad East follows closely behind at 47%, then Harare 42%, Mashonaland Central 38% and Mashonaland West at 36% make up the top five.
The need for money, low salaries, ethics and morals were some of the major reasons cited as the most important factors causing corruption in Zimbabwe.
Corruption in law enforcement agencies was also cited as a major hindrance to fighting graft along with public passivity according to the survey.
The results come soon after a Swedish diplomat complained bitterly about ‘rampant’ corruption in Zimbabwe.
Officiating at the Youth Global Advocacy Conference- Participate 2015 hosted by Youth Empowerment and Transformation Trust (YETT), in Harare Monday, deputy ambassador of Sweden, Maria Selin, said donors were frustrated by corruption which she said was a major hindrance to development.
Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) Wednesday said it was compiling a comprehensive 15-year corruption assessment report with the aim of exposing graft as well as proposing practical ways of dealing with the scourge.
TIZ director Mary Jane Ncube told members of the civil society, academia and reporters at the official unveiling of the report’s concept note that the study, which touches all sectors of the economy, will also be looking on the effects of corruption and how it has impacted negatively on development.
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