The study by Centre for Corporate Governance in Africa at the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) entitled “Ethics and compliance risk survey 2014” said Angola, Zimbabwe and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) were the three most corrupt SADC countries.
The study included a variety of aspects, including its business environment, the regulatory environment and law enforcement. It is based on responses received from 26 companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.
The three least corrupt countries are Mauritius, Botswana and Lesotho. “Corruption remains one of the major obstacles to Africa’s rise,” said Daniel Malan, director of the centre. “This is seen as a serious threat to the improved economic and political landscape in Africa.”
Botswana, Namibia and Mauritius were considered to have the most effective regulatory environments while South Africa, Namibia and Mauritius scored highest in terms of compliance with money laundering regulations.
In December last year, Transparency International ranked Zimbabwe 161 out of 175 countries across the globe. In 2013, Zimbabwe scored 21 out of 100 and was one of the most corrupt countries, a slight improvement from the 2012 figures that placed it 20 out of 100.
The TI corruption perception index ranks countries based on how corrupt their public sector was perceived to be from a scale of zero (highly corrupt) and 100 (very clean).
Botswana was in 2014 the highest African ranking in terms of being less corrupt at 31 out of 175 countries and scored 63 out of 100 in terms of being clean.
Although Mugabe has often publicly attacked top government and party officials for abusing their offices to enrich themselves so far no action has been taken against them, casting doubt on his commitment to end corruption.
Post published in: Human Rights