The institutional framework for tackling a ‘wicked problem’: The Zimbabwe Anti-corruption Commission’s fight against corruption, (2005-2017).

Abstract

Corruption is a very serious issue in the world and has had negative repercussions on a country’s economy. While some developed countries have managed to prevent and combat it, African countries including Zimbabwe have continued to encounter the wickedness of corruption. This is despite the presence of institutions that have been created by the Government of Zimbabwe to combat it. The institutions responsible for tackling corruption in Zimbabwe include ZACC, NPA, TI-Z and ZRP. ZACC is responsible for investigating and combating cases of corruption whereas the NPA is responsible for undertaking prosecutions. TI-Z influences or capacitates citizens with the software to demand for accountability and transparency and the ZRP detects, investigates and prevents crime. The study therefore seeks to analyse the hypothesis that weak institutional frameworks perpetuate corruption and that corruption is a wicked problem in Zimbabwe. It will also analyse the institutional framework for tackling corruption as a wicked problem using ZACC as a case study. It relies on a qualitative approach of enquiry, making use of documentary search and key informant interviews using an interview guide with open-ended questions. Additionally, a review of literature was done on the following concepts: institutional framework, wicked problems and corruption in order to interrogate issues in the study. The major findings from the study indicate that corruption is a wicked problem and the institutional framework for combating it is weak. ZACC, as an institution constitutionally created to tackle corruption, has various weaknesses which include lack of political will, political interference, lack of arresting and prosecutorial powers, financial constraints, negative public perception, disgruntled and low staff morale institutional corruption, inadequate human resources personnel, absence of public recognition among others. This implies that this institution needs to be strengthened and capacitated for it to effectively tackle the vice. The study recommends that there be political will, coordination amongst the institutions responsible for tackling corruption, strengthening of the institutional framework through injection of adequate finances, political will, witness protection and training of staff. Moreover, ZACC needs to be given arresting and prosecutorial powers, improvement of the staff working conditions at the Commission and education of the public on the existence and role of ZACC among others. However, the strengths of ZACC include the fact that it is constitutionally enshrined, has qualified, skilled and experienced human capital, has twenty-four hour reporting systems and has seven specialized departments with a common thrust of eradicating corruption in Zimbabwe. The study hypothesizes that weak institutional frameworks perpetuate corruption and this was tested at the end of the study.