Zimbabwe improves position on global corruption ranking

Written by Editor Tuesday, 26 October 2010 12:17

Bringing up the rear is Somalia with a score of 1.1, slightly trailing Myanmar and Afghanistan at 1.4 and Iraq at 1.5.

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Zimbabwe has improved its position on the global Corruption Perceptions Index for the 2nd year running.

In the 2010 index published by Transparency International Zimbabwe scored 2.4, up from 2.1 last year.

Zimbabwe is ranked 134 this year, up from position 146.

The 2010 result is a far cry from 2008 when Zimbabwe was ranked 166, the country's worst showing ever.

While this years result is indeed a sign of improvement there is a long way to go. In 2001 - the first year the corruption index was compiled - Zimbabwe was ranked at number 65.

Somalia continues to languish in last place at position 178. Denmark ranks as the least corrupt country in the world.

According to Transparency International, in order for Zimbabwe to improve its global standing's the country's leadership will have to integrate anti-corruption measures in all spheres.

Transparency International advocates stricter implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption, the only global initiative that provides a framework for putting an end to corruption.

Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore are tied at the top of the list with a score of 9.3, followed closely by Finland and Sweden at 9.2.

Bringing up the rear is Somalia with a score of 1.1, slightly trailing Myanmar and Afghanistan at 1.4 and Iraq at 1.5.

"Notable among decliners over the past year are some of the countries most affected by a financial crisis precipitated by transparency and integrity deficits. Among those improving in the past year, the general absence of OECD states underlines the fact that all nations need to bolster their good governance mechanisms," say Transparency International.

The message is clear: across the globe, transparency and accountability are critical to restoring trust and turning back the tide of corruption. Without them, global policy solutions to many global crises are at risk.