By Staff Reporter
Harare — Zimbabwe has recorded a modest improvement in the 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), gaining one point, according to Transparency International Zimbabwe (TI Z).
The country scored 22 out of 100 in the 2025 CPI, up from 21 in 2024, placing Zimbabwe at 157 out of 182 countries surveyed worldwide. The CPI is the world’s leading indicator of perceived public-sector corruption, compiled from expert assessments and business surveys.
While the improvement remains marginal, TI Zimbabwe said the shift represents a small but notable step in a positive direction, coming after several years of stagnation at the lower end of the index.
“Zimbabwe recorded a score of 22 out of 100, reflecting a one-point increase from 2024,” TI Zimbabwe said in a statement released on Tuesday.
“While this marginal improvement may suggest limited progress, it signals movement that should be consolidated through deeper reforms
Despite the gain, Zimbabwe continues to perform well below the Sub-Saharan Africa average of 32, with the region remaining the lowest-ranked globally on corruption perception indicators
Transparency International Zimbabwe acknowledged ongoing government efforts to tackle corruption, including the establishment of specialised anti-corruption courts and initial steps towards domestic asset recovery, which may have contributed to the slight improvement in score
However, the organisation cautioned that corruption in the management of public resources remains widespread, continuing to undermine political integrity, accountability systems, and access to essential public services such as health and education, particularly for poor and marginalised communities.
The CPI 2025 findings also carry economic significance for Zimbabwe, especially as the country pursues its Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process. TI Zimbabwe noted that international creditors and investors increasingly view anti-corruption performance as a key benchmark for debt relief and long-term financing.
“Continued weak CPI performance risks undermining confidence in Zimbabwe’s reform commitments,” the organisation warned
As part of its recommendations, TI Zimbabwe called for strengthened judicial independence, tighter regulation of political financing, protection of journalists and whistleblowers, improved transparency in public finance management, and intensified action against illicit financial flows
Globally, the CPI 2025 report shows that corruption remains entrenched in many countries, with the global average stagnating at 42 out of 100, underscoring the difficulty of achieving sustained progress without strong political will and institutional accountability
