Overview of Corruption in Zimbabwe

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Zimbabwe continues to grapple with systemic corruption under President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration, which has exacerbated economic instability, eroded public trust, and hindered development. Despite promises of reform since the 2017 coup, issues like currency manipulation, elite patronage, infrastructure neglect, and electoral manipulation persist. International bodies such as the IMF and U.S. Treasury have highlighted these problems, with the latter imposing sanctions on Mnangagwa and associates in 2024 for corruption and human rights abuses tied to elections. Transparency International ranks Zimbabwe 149th out of 180 countries on its 2024 Corruption Perceptions Index, scoring 24/100, reflecting entrenched graft in public procurement, resource allocation, and political loyalty schemes. Below, I break down the specified areas based on verified reports from credible outlets.

ZiG Currency Crisis

The Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG), introduced on April 8, 2024, as a gold-backed currency to replace the unstable Zimbabwean dollar, aimed to curb hyperinflation and dollarization. Backed by $900 million in reserves (including gold and foreign currencies), it initially faced a "crisis" marked by rapid depreciation, black-market premiums exceeding 50%, and public skepticism amid past currency failures. By mid-2025, however, the ZiG has shown deceptive stability: monthly inflation dropped to 0.3% in June 2025 from over 175% in early 2024, with transaction use rising from 26% to 40% of GDP. The IMF praised this in its October 2025 Article IV consultation, crediting tight monetary policy and gold export booms.

Yet, risks loom. Economists warn that the government's 2030 de-dollarization plan—phasing out U.S. dollars domestically—could trigger renewed instability, as 80% of transactions still rely on USD. Black-market forex trading persists, driven by economic desperation, with vulnerable groups like the disabled resorting to illegal dealings. The U.S. State Department's 2025 Investment Climate Statement notes ongoing exchange rate volatility and corruption in reserve management as barriers to investor confidence. Overall, while not in acute crisis by late 2025, the ZiG's viability hinges on transparent governance, which corruption undermines.

Theft of Funds and Resources for Motor Vehicles as Loyalty Rewards

Corruption involving public funds diverted to luxury vehicles for political allies is a hallmark of patronage in Zimbabwe, often rewarding ZANU-PF loyalty. This "rewards system" diverts billions from essential services, fueling public outrage and elite enrichment.

Key incidents include:In September 2025, controversial businessman Wicknell Chivayo—linked to ZANU-PF—splurged US$3 million on luxury cars (e.g., Mercedes-Benz models) for senior party officials, including musicians and influencers, as "gifts" for electoral support. This sparked backlash, with critics labeling it "brazen theft" from public coffers via inflated government contracts.

• Parliamentary committee chiefs secretly received a US$2 million fleet of luxury vehicles in 2025, bypassing budget approvals, amid a national spending freeze that banned new car purchases for ministries.
• Local officials in Epworth allegedly embezzled US$93,400 from a development fund meant for roads to buy personal luxury cars in August 2025.
• The Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) executives granted themselves illegal vehicle import exemptions in 2025, costing millions in lost revenue, per Auditor General reports.

These schemes echo earlier patterns, like the 2021 distribution of vehicles to Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD) members who endorsed the disputed 2018 election. Such theft perpetuates inequality, with ordinary citizens facing fuel shortages while elites flaunt imports.

Failure to Maintain Key Infrastructure

Corruption has led to catastrophic neglect of infrastructure, resulting in collapses, bankruptcies, and "ghost projects" where funds vanish. Roads, bridges, and utilities—once colonial-era assets—deteriorate due to embezzlement in procurement and unpaid contracts.In March 2025, a bridge collapse in Harare killed several, attributed to "systemic corruption" in maintenance tenders, per local investigations.

Road contractors reported near-bankruptcy in October 2025, owed billions by ZINARA, which a parliamentary probe exposed for US$9.2 million paid to non-existent road projects.

Harare City Council disbursed millions for phantom roads in 2025, leading to arrests by the Anti-Corruption Commission, including the town clerk.

Broader decay: Power outages from poorly maintained Kariba Dam infrastructure, and water shortages in Bulawayo due to leaked funds, reflect "failed governance."

A 2025 research paper on service delivery inequality links this to elite capture, where 70% of budgets are siphoned, leaving rural areas with crumbling bridges and urban potholes. The Jamaica Gleaner described Zimbabwe's roads as a "reflection of failed governance" in July 2025, with traffic chaos from unmaintained highways.

Failures in Sewage Provision and Drinking Water Supply

Zimbabwe's water and sanitation infrastructure, particularly in urban centers like Harare, has deteriorated due to decades of underinvestment, corruption, and political manipulation, leaving millions without reliable access to clean water and proper sewage disposal. These failures are exacerbated by burst pipes, sewage overflows, and contaminated groundwater, often linked to misappropriated funds intended for maintenance. As of late 2025, Harare residents in areas like Kuwadzana have gone without municipal water for over two weeks at a time, forcing reliance on unregulated boreholes and shallow wells that are frequently polluted with fecal matter from leaking sewers and pit latrines. Nationally, access to safe drinking water has plummeted, with over 4 million people in greater Harare lacking household connections, and sewage systems—many dating back to the colonial era—failing due to uncollected waste and untreated discharges into rivers like the Mupfure. Political instrumentalization plays a key role: resources are funneled to ZANU-PF strongholds, while opposition areas suffer neglect, violating constitutional rights to potable water (Section 77). A 2025 Auditor-General report highlighted "infrastructural paralysis," with chlorine shortages for treatment and drought-stricken Lake Chivero (Harare's main source) further contaminated by industrial effluents and raw sewage.

Impacts on Public Health

These infrastructure lapses have triggered recurrent public health emergencies, primarily through the spread of waterborne diseases that disproportionately affect children, the elderly, and low-income communities. Cholera outbreaks, a direct consequence of poor WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), have surged in 2025: By April, Zimbabwe reported 740 cases and 20 deaths across hotspots, concentrated in urban informal settlements where sanitation coverage is below 50%. A January outbreak hit at least eight districts, fueled by collapsed water treatment and sewage systems, with Human Rights Watch warning of a "ticking bomb" for further epidemics. Dysentery, typhoid, and diarrhea—linked to contaminated sources—cause an estimated 60% of child diarrhea deaths globally, with sub-Saharan Africa seeing one in ten under-fives succumb annually. In Zimbabwe, these illnesses lead to worm infestations, gastrointestinal disorders, and heightened vulnerability to other infections like COVID-19 due to inadequate hygiene. Women and girls bear additional burdens, spending hours fetching water and facing risks of sexual violence en route, contributing to psychological stress, depression, and gender inequalities. UNICEF's 2025 humanitarian report underscores how fragile WASH in hotspots drives these crises, with climate change (droughts) amplifying contamination risks.

The Dire State of Healthcare in Zimbabwe

Compounding the water crisis is a healthcare system on the brink of collapse, ravaged by corruption, chronic underfunding (health budget at ~5% of GDP, far below WHO's 15% recommendation), and dilapidated infrastructure that leaves public facilities unable to handle surging disease loads. Hospitals like Parirenyatwa in Harare operate without basic drugs, electricity, or functional labs, forcing patients—especially the poor—to buy medications from private pharmacies at unaffordable prices (e.g., Zim $86/US$1 per liter equivalent for essentials). Corruption siphons funds: Officials demand unreceipted fees (e.g., US$5 daily admission or US$50 for maternal surgeries), while staff run unregulated side sales, as seen in clinics like Tomo in Nyanga South. A July 2025 Zimbabwe Peace Project report documented patients turned away from rural hospitals like Makoni Central, referred to equally deficient facilities, or coerced into payments without treatment—violating constitutional health rights (Section 76). Annually, corruption costs Zimbabwe US$2 billion (5% GDP), with healthcare procurement a prime target, leading to "ghost" supplies and elite capture. Maternal mortality remains high (443/100,000 live births), and outbreaks overwhelm the system: During 2025 cholera surges, under-equipped wards saw untreated cases spike, described by opposition figures as a "slow genocide." The Community Working Group on Health called for urgent anti-corruption probes in May 2025, but progress stalls amid political infighting. Overall, these intertwined failures perpetuate a vicious cycle: Water woes fuel diseases, which the corrupt, under-resourced healthcare cannot contain, deepening poverty and eroding trust in institutions. International aid cuts (e.g., US$7B lost since 1980) have worsened this, though domestic investment in integrated WASH-health strategies could mitigate risks.

Election Rigging

The August 2023 harmonized elections were marred by "blatant and gigantic fraud," per opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, who rejected Mnangagwa's 52% victory. International observers, including the EU and Commonwealth, documented irregularities: voter intimidation, ballot stuffing, delayed materials in opposition areas, and ZANU-PF's control over the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC). Chamisa's Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC) claimed results were rigged via ghost voters and server manipulation.

By 2025, fallout persists: U.S. sanctions target Mnangagwa for enabling this corruption, alongside human rights abuses. Pressure for his resignation mounted in April 2025 amid factional ZANU-PF infighting and economic woes. A June 2024 Human Rights Foundation report detailed eight rigging tactics, including youth militia violence. Mnangagwa denies fraud, but public distrust lingers, with 60% viewing corruption as worsening post-2017.Broader Implications

Summary

These interconnected issues—currency volatility tied to graft, patronage vehicles draining budgets, crumbling infrastructure from theft, and rigged polls entrenching power—have deepened Zimbabwe's humanitarian crisis.

GDP growth stalled at 2% in 2025, per IMF, with 40% poverty rates.

Reforms like ZACC probes offer glimmers, but without accountability, recovery remains elusive. For deeper dives, consult IMF reports or Al Jazeera's ongoing coverage.

ZHRO – Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation