Anti-corruption Strategies Employed by Civil Society: Case of Transparency International - Zimbabwe

Abstract

This study seeks to establish the dynamics that surround civil society anti-corruption efforts; examine the strategies used by civil society in anti-corruption and assess the challenges faced by civil society in combating corruption. The reseacher uses the case study of Transparency International Zimbabwe (TI-Z) and employs qualitative research methods to collect and analyse data towards realising the research objectives. The 2015 Annual State of Corruption Report estimates an annual financial loss of US$1 billion to corruption for Zimbabwe since the year 2000. Unfortunately, many of the scandals that have been reported go unresolved as the cases end up un-prosecuted. Anti-corruption actors like the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission have been reported to be corrupt while civil society organisations have been suspected of being corrupt. Regardless, the country‟s Transparency International chapter has since 2001 been vested in exposing and condemning corrupt practices, creating awareness amongst the masses about corruption and its effects, empowering masses with the necessary tools to take a firm stance against corruption as well as protesting public policies considered unfavorable to public interest. This study is grounded on the concept of good governance which provides for participation of stakeholders such as civil society in public management through providing check and balances while creating a platform for the citizenry to voice their demands for socio-political accountability. This study reveals that these efforts to combat corruption have been hampered by weak institutional framework, lack of political will to fight graft, limited financial resources and apathy amongst the citizenry. This study concludes that for effective anti-graft in Zimbabwe, there is need for a strategic partnerships and harmonisation of anti-graft efforts by the respective actors in public, private sectors and civil society. The study also recommends among other things that Government prioritises enforcement of anti–graft laws as well as provision for conducive atmosphere for participation of relevant stakeholders towards corruption control and for TI-Z to widen its scope of fighting graft to include grand corruption in order to make corruption risky for all.