An unacceptable surrender to corruption: A critical reflection on Zimbabwe’s recent admission
The recent revelation, as reported by Nyashadzashe Ndoro on Nehanda Radio on 16 May 2025, that Zimbabwe’s Minister of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, Honourable Kazembe Kazembe, has publicly declared the total elimination of crime and corruption may be “unattainable”, is not only deeply alarming—it is a national disgrace.
This stunning confession, made before Parliament, comes at a time when the country is losing an estimated US$1.8 billion annually to corruption—an amount that continues to sabotage the nation’s development, undermine public services, and hollow out state legitimacy.
While it may be intellectually honest to concede that no country is entirely immune from corruption or crime, the official resignation from the fight against these societal cancers is a complete dereliction of ministerial duty.
It reflects a broader culture of impunity and signals that the state has, in effect, surrendered its moral and constitutional mandate to protect the public good.
A Dangerous Message to a Suffering Nation
The gravity of this admission cannot be overstated. It is more than a rhetorical misstep—it is a policy declaration of helplessness that sets a precedent of state-sanctioned defeatism.
In essence, the Minister has informed Zimbabweans that they must learn to coexist with grand theft, systemic bribery, and administrative rot. It is an affront to the rule of law, public ethics, and national dignity.
Even more disturbing is that the Minister remains in office following such a public confession. In any functional democracy or accountable governance system, such a statement would trigger immediate censure, if not outright dismissal.
That there has been no political consequence whatsoever is true testimony to the depth and normalisation of corruption at the highest levels of power.
It reflects a political elite so entangled in the web of malfeasance that accountability itself has become a threat to their own survival.
This incident is not isolated—it is symptomatic of a regime where statements that would topple governments elsewhere are met with silence, indifference, or worse, quiet endorsement.
Institutional Paralysis and Public Despair
The implications of this declaration are wide-reaching. For citizens already enduring the brunt of economic stagnation, collapsed infrastructure, and political repression, this is a further blow to their confidence in state institutions.
For international observers, investors, and financial institutions, it raises fundamental concerns about the credibility of Zimbabwe’s leadership and the integrity of its governance architecture.
What then is the function of anti-corruption institutions like the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), the National Prosecuting Authority, and Parliament itself, if a Minister can openly declare impotence in the face of corruption and still be deemed fit to serve?
This is a scathing indictment of a hollowed-out state—where form exists without function, and law exists without enforcement.
Hypothesis for National Recovery
Despite the grimness of this episode, Zimbabwe is not beyond redemption. A plausible hypothesis for national recovery remains:
> Hypothesis: If Zimbabwe embarks on a bold, transparent, and integrity-led reform programme anchored in political accountability, institutional independence, and civic engagement, it can significantly dismantle systemic corruption and set the foundation for long-term socio-economic revival.
This would require transformation across five key dimensions:
- Political Renewal: The culture of impunity must end. Leadership must be held to the highest standards of integrity. Ministers who express defeat in their duties must be relieved of their posts, not protected by silence.
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Institutional Independence: Oversight bodies must be insulated from political interference, given resources, and supported by public trust.
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Digital Transformation: Digitising public procurement, service delivery, and fiscal operations will reduce human discretion and narrow the corridors of graft.
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Civic Participation and Protection: Citizens and media must be empowered to report corruption safely. Whistleblower legislation and press freedom are essential tools in the anti-corruption arsenal.
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Reengagement with Global Partners: With restored governance, Zimbabwe can regain the confidence of international donors, lenders, and investors seeking ethical partnerships.
Conclusion
A government that admits it cannot defeat corruption is one that has chosen complicity over courage, and cowardice over reform. It is a government that has abandoned its moral compass and constitutional responsibility.
The Minister’s continued presence in office is not just inappropriate—it is a blunt confirmation of the very rot he claims cannot be eliminated.
Zimbabweans deserve better. They deserve a leadership that believes in justice, in transparency, and in the power of accountable governance. The alternative is continued decay—and that, too, is an untenable choice.
Dr Sibangilizwe Moyo writes on Church and Governance, politics, legal and social issues. He can be contacted at: [email protected]
