Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) said that the country is losing up to US$2 billion annually due to financial leakages, primarily driven by corruption and bribery of customs officials at borders.
In its latest report, TIZ noted that the siphoned funds could have been channelled toward national development. Reads the report:
<blockquote>
Financial leakages at Zimbabwe’s ports of entry are estimated to cost the country between US$1.8bn and US$2bn annually.
These leakages occur primarily due to corrupt practices, including bribery among customs officials, which diverts funds that could be used for national development.
</blockquote>
Christopher Mugaga, CEO of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), told Business Times that fiscal losses linked to corruption are estimated to range between US$1.2 billion and US$1.5 billion. Said Mugaga:
<blockquote>
These losses arise from tender inflation, tax evasion, and inefficient use of public resources, which severely impact the government’s financial capacity.
</blockquote>
Former Finance Minister Tendai Biti has suggested that Zimbabwe could be losing over US$4 billion annually through smuggling and other forms of illicit trade. He said:
<blockquote>
We are losing US$1bn from tobacco smuggling, US$1bn from gold smuggling, and we are now possibly losing US$2bn on lithium alone.
What we are losing in terms of illicit financial flows is more than what we get from diaspora remittances, which stand at US$1bn, and it’s certainly more than what we receive in foreign aid and direct investment—around US$200bn.
</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://businesstimes.co.zw/us2bn-vanishes-through-financial-leakages/">Business Times</a>

Pindula News

Zimbabwe is losing a lot of money, up to $2 billion a year, because of corruption and bribery at its borders. This money could be used for making the country better. The CEO of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce says corruption is causing the country to lose $1.2 billion to $1.5 billion. A former Finance Minister says Zimbabwe could be losing over $4 billion from smuggling and illegal trading. This is much more than what the country gets from remittances, foreign aid, and investments. Corruption is hurting Zimbabwe's economy a lot.

Corruption And Financial Leakages Bleed Zimbabwe Of Billions, Report Reveals

Zimbabwe has been ranked the most corrupt country in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) for 2024, according to the latest Transparency International data.
This marks the country’s worst performance since 2015 when it recorded the same score, the year the missing US$15 billion in diamond revenues was revealed, reported <a href="https://equityaxis.net/post/18277/2025/2/zimbabwe-crowned-highest-corruption-perception-index-in-sadc-for-2024-among-top-10-in-africa">Equity Axis</a>.
In Africa, Zimbabwe ranks among the top 10 most corrupt nations, alongside war-torn countries like Sudan, Somalia, and Libya. The continent also accounted for the majority of the bottom 20 most corrupt nations globally.
Zimbabwe’s score has dropped to 21, a decline of 3 points from last year, placing it 158th out of 180 countries.
The Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) measures the perceived level of corruption in a country’s public sector, on a scale from 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
The CPI takes into account factors like bribery, the diversion of public funds, officials using their positions for personal gain, excessive red tape, and nepotism.
It also evaluates whether laws require public officials to disclose their finances, offer legal protection for whistleblowers, and ensure public access to government information.
Zimbabwe’s performance has worsened since its 2015 low point, with its score improving slightly in subsequent years. The country reached its best performance in 2023 with a score of 24 but has since slipped back.
The CPI, the most widely used global corruption ranking, is based on at least three data sources from 13 different corruption surveys and assessments. These sources include institutions such as the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.
Denmark has topped the CPI for the seventh consecutive year, with scores of 90, followed by Finland and Singapore with 88 and 84, respectively.
New Zealand, with a score of 83, remained in the top 10 despite falling out of the top three for the first time since 2012.
In contrast, countries with ongoing conflict, restricted freedoms, and weak democratic institutions dominate the bottom of the CPI.
South Sudan, Somalia, and Venezuela occupy the last three positions, with Syria, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Libya, Yemen, Nicaragua, Sudan, and North Korea rounding out the lowest scorers.

Zimbabwe is the most corrupt country in the Southern African Development Community for 2024, coming in 158th out of 180 countries. The Corruption Perceptions Index measures corruption in the public sector, with Zimbabwe's score dropping to 21. Factors like bribery and nepotism are considered in the rankings. Countries like Denmark and New Zealand have the least corruption, while war-torn countries like South Sudan and Somalia are among the most corrupt. The CPI is based on data from institutions like the World Bank and the World Economic Forum.

Zimbabwe Ranked Most Corrupt Country In SADC For 2024

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance has said it is premature to celebrate the arrest of Dr Obadiah Moyo, the Minister of Health and Child Care who is accused of abusing COVID-19 response funds.
Moyo was arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission on Friday. Some reports suggest that he has since been released at the instigation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Posting on Twitter, the Nelson Chamisa led party said:
<blockquote>It’s premature to celebrate <a class="link-complex" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23ObadiahMoyo" rel="hashtag noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#ObadiahMoyo</a>‘s arrest given the system’s pattern of catch &amp; release. The matter is of great concern to the national interest because corruption is killing us. We demand a thorough televised trial/inquiry. <a class="link-complex" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23PayBackTheMoney" rel="hashtag noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#PayBackTheMone</a></blockquote>
Meanwhile, the ruling Zanu PF has described Moyo’s arrest as proof that the Mnangagwa led administration is committed to fighting corruption. The party said:
<blockquote>The arrest of minister Obediah Moyo is further proof that the Government led by cde ED is serious about fighting corruption.</blockquote>
Moyo is one of many government officials who have in the recent past been accused of engaging in underhand dealings that have robbed the country of millions of dollars.
<a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-zimbabwe-corruption/zimbabwe-losing-1-billion-a-year-to-corruption-report-idUSKCN1241R9">Transparency International estimated in 2016</a> that Zimbabwe is losing at least US$1 billion annually to corruption with government officials among the worst offenders.
More: <a href="https://twitter.com/mdczimbabwe/status/1274213247965638656">MDC Alliance</a>; <a href="https://twitter.com/zanupf_patriots/status/1274050718647881729">ZANU PF</a>

"It's Premature To Celebrate Obadiah Moyo's Arrest" - MDC Alliance

Transparency International Zimbabwe has asked the government to make procurement reforms to stop corruption that has been on the rise in the country.
The watchdog made the remarks in a statement which is in response to the reports suggesting that the country’s COVID-19 response funds were abused by senior government officials after tender processes were flouted.
We present the watchdog’s statement in full below.
<blockquote>TRANSPARENCY IN PUBLIC PROCUREMENT DURING COVID-19 
“The second Republic will not tolerate siphoning of public funds through various nefarious activities for personal gain. Those found wanting will face the full wrath of the law,” `ED warns against abuse of funds’ Herald, 09 November, 2018.
As COVID-19 resources continue to be donated from local and international players to strengthen the Zimbabwean response to the pandemic, the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD), Transparency International Zimbabwe (TI-Z) and Magamba Network are concerned about allegations of abuse of public funds, weak procurement processes and limited systems of checks and balances within government. These continue to threaten the key facets of transparency, accountability and integrity in the management of public funds.
The media for the past few weeks has pointed out skewed procurement procedures and price gouging in the procurement of Covid-19 related supplies. For instance, Drax International LLC is said to have been awarded a contract to supply personal protective equipment (PPEs) worth US$987 720 against a local market value of US$325 000. Additionally, briefcase organisations such as Jaji Investments, a company registered in Namibia, is alleged to have been awarded contracts to supply Covid-19 equipment to the Ministry of Health and Child Care without going through a competitive bidding process. These cases illustrate endemic levels of corruption that flouts procurement rules and regulations. Corruption of this nature indicates institutional weakness in procurement processes and lack of transparency processes in selection on government suppliers. Precautionary measures must therefore be taken to guard against “tenderpreneurship” in which individuals and companies are awarded government tenders without going through the open contracting processes as provided for in Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act of 2017.
The three organisations cited herein have taken notice that one Delish Nguwaya, a representative of Drax International has been charged with fraud and the matter is pending at the courts. It is our expectation and that of every Zimbabwean that due process of the law will take its course and this case does not fall victim of the “catch and release” phenomena synonymous with many cases of grand corruption in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development (ZIMCODD), Transparency International Zimbabwe (TI-Z) and Magamba Network are therefore concerned about the following:
TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL ZIMBABWE
• The massive looting of public resources under the guise of Covid-19 procurement. Several reports by the Auditor-General’s Office and parliamentary portfolio committees, have in the past exposed poor public finance management by public institutions and individuals whose interests are to plunder wealth, including donations.
• Public contracting continues to be shrouded in secrecy as evidenced by the lack of open contracting in COV1D-19 procurement and the sidestepping of procurement procedures and regulations in the Covid-19 related procurement.
• State capture characterised by the collusion between the private sector and political exposed persons that have created a vicious circle that undermines the respect for rule of law and the effective functioning of democratic institutions in as far as public procurement is concerned. In light of the above, we recommend that the Government of Zimbabwe to:
• Ensure public disclosure of beneficial ownership of companies awarded public contracts by creating an online beneficial ownership register to inculcate a culture of transparency when awarding public procurement contracts.
• Set up electronic procurement system (e-procurement) for Covid-19 and other public procurement systems. Countries like Rwanda, Tanzania and Kenya have successfully established online open contracting systems and Zimbabwe should emulate the same in advancing transparency and accountability.
• Guarantee protection of whistle-blowers by enacting fit-for-purpose whistle-blowers legislation
• Conduct due diligence of the companies before awarding public contracts. Establish the management and ownership of the company, when the company was registered, authenticity, company capitalisation, physical location, revenue and margin trends, market size and market growth, stock price history, tax compliance, competition among other critical factors.
• Release fortnightly procurement updates: what we need and what has been bought for the same period.
• Reinforce oversight bodies and anti-corruption agencies to alleviate the abuse of COVID-19 earmarked resources. Such institutions include the Parliament of Zimbabwe, Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) and the Competition Tariff Commission.
• Take action against those that do not comply with procurement procedures as provided for by the Public Finance Management Act and the Public Procurement and Disposal of Public Assets Act to ensure that public procurement is conducted in a manner that is transparent, fair, honest, cost-effective and competitive.
<img alt="" class="media-img" data-maxheight="594" data-maxwidth="417" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EapyV8JXkAEzrdm?format=jpg&amp;name=large"/>
<img alt="" class="media-img" data-maxheight="594" data-maxwidth="422" decoding="async" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EapyYOvWkAA5EWm?format=jpg&amp;name=large"/></blockquote>

"The 2nd Republic Won't Tolerate Siphoning Of Public Funds," Transparency Zimbabwe Recalls ED's Pledge

Transparency International Zimbabwe (TIZ) has warned the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Comm position that it needs to work with the police if it is to successfully prosecute criminal cases. TIZ board chairperson Richard Makoni told the Zimbabwe Independent,
<blockquote>Zacc is there to highlight and unravel issues of anti-corruption at a national scale. But they have no powers to arrest once they have investigated. Police must step in and go deeper and put resources to issues, unlike Zacc.
I would like to see a closer and better relationship between Zacc and the police to make things happen. Only when police do a good job can people be prosecuted. The judiciary works on the dockets and if they don’t there is no prosecution, you can see the value chain.
…Without active collaboration and participation of police who then inform the judiciary, they won’t prosecute cases. The public is dying to see some people in jail, but how can they be when there are no dockets?</blockquote>
More: <a href="https://www.theindependent.co.zw/2018/03/09/zacc-must-work-police-effective-tiz/">Zimbabwe Independent</a>

Corruption Latest News

Latest Jobs