Commentary on 2007 Corruption Perception Index

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Commentary on 2007 Corruption Perception Index

The Corruption Perceptions Index is a corruption measurement tool developed by Transparency International, which looks at perceptions of public sector corruption in different countries and territories – and is a composite index that draws on 14 expert opinion surveys. It scores countries on a scale from zero to ten, with zero indicating high levels of perceived corruption and ten indicating low levels of perceived corruption.

The 2007 CPI shows that there is a significant improvement in several African countries, with some of Zimbabwe’s neighbours scoring notably higher on the Index than last year. These include Namibia, Swaziland, South Africa and Botswana. The improved results are reflective of the progress of anti-corruption efforts in the respective countries and show that genuine political will and reform can lower perceived levels of corruption. In 2006, Zimbabwe was ranked 130 out of 163 countries in the same league with Ethiopia, Togo, Indonesia and Papua Guinea with a CPI score of 2,4. The Southern African country is this year’s one of the biggest movers in the Index as it dropped to position 150 out of 180 countries with a lower CPI score of 2,1. Again this portrays growing corruption and poor governance systems in the country. The poor score is indicative of the weakening pillars of integrity in the country, giving rise to low investor confidence.

Overall, corruption and lack of transparency clearly remain a serious challenge across the continent. According to Transparency International (2007), out of the 52 African countries included in the Index, 36 scored below three, indicating that corruption is perceived as rampant and 14 scored between 3 and 5 indicating that corruption is perceived as a serious challenge. Only two African countries scored above 5: Botswana and South Africa. On the regional ranking, Zimbabwe is number 40 out of 52 African countries together with Kenya, Liberia and Sierra Leone (some of the most corrupt countries in Africa). It is even amazing, that a country like Nigeria, notoriously known world over for its high levels of corruption is now considered less corrupt than Zimbabwe. Nigeria was ranked 37 out of 52 in Africa and 147 out of 180 in the World.

Meanwhile, corruption continues to deprive the poorest of the poor essential service delivery and fueling social and economic injustices. Speaking on the launch of the CPI on 26 September, the Chairperson of TI, Huguette Labelle, noted that, “Despite some gains, corruption remains an enormous drain on resources sorely needed for education, health and infrastructure… Low scoring countries need to take these results seriously and act now to strengthen accountability in public institutions.”