Political Risk:
Very High
Score:
27/100
1
50/100
Is there formal provision for effective and independent legislative scrutiny of defence policy?
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Section 119 (2) (3) provides the Parliament with the formal rights to pass any laws which govern the defence forces [1]. Parliament also has…
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Even though the Parliament has the right to oversee the structure and management of the defence budget as per the constitution, in practice, there…
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While the constitution provides the Parliament with powers to monitor the defence forces’ operations, this does not easily happen in practice [1]. In a…
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2
25/100
Does the country have an identifiable and effective parliamentary defence and security committee (or similar such organisations) to exercise oversight?
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The country, through its parliament, has a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Defence, Home Affairs, and Security Services, which functions as a committee of the…
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The majority of the MPs have less expertise in defence and security issues. Of the 20 members of the parliamentary Committee on Defence and…
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The Committee on Defence, Home Affairs, Security Services and War Veterans Affairs does not review the defence policy [1]. The defence forces do not…
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The Committee on Defence has some oversight on the defence forces and security [1]. For example, the Minister of Defence has been invited to…
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The Committee on Defence has powers to play an oversight role, but it does not involve itself in sensitive military activities and operations of…
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The defence committee does not make recommendations on sensitive institutional issues [1][2]. Therefore, this indicator is marked Not Applicable.
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3
6/100
Is the country’s national defence policy or national security strategy debated and publicly available?
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There is very limited involvement of the public in the formulation of the Zimbabwe defence policy. The defence forces show a lack of trust…
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There is no public debate on the Zimbabwe national defence policy. As indicated above, the policy is only presented in snippets, and no further…
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There are no public consultations on the defence policy.The policy remains largely confidential, with the Minister of Defence only disclosing select information to the…
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Defence policy is not debated, and it is also not available on the Ministry of Defence website [1]. From the formulation of the defence…
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4
8/100
Do defence and security institutions have a policy, or evidence, of openness towards civil society organisations (CSOs) when dealing with issues of corruption?
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Zimbabwe does not have any formal or informal policy that creates space for civil society organizations (CSOs) in the defence sector [1]. There is…
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While CSOs can operate in Zimbabwe [1] (with limited scope), the defence and security does not have an open policy of openness to work…
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The defence and security function in secrecy, and they do not openly work with civil society, especially those which are anti-government [1]. The CSO’s…
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5
75/100
Has the country signed up to the following international anti-corruption instruments: UNCAC and the OECD Convention?
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6
13/100
Is there evidence of regular, active public debate on issues of defence? If yes, does the government participate in this debate?
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There are some academic debates on the Zimbabwe on issues that involve the defence and security [1]. Defence debates are dominant during the peak…
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Defence sector engagement with the public is very uncommon [1]. When such engagement does occur, it often involves threats and intimidation by the defence…
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7
50/100
Does the country have an openly stated and effectively implemented anti-corruption policy for the defence sector?
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There is a National Anti-Corruption Strategy [NACS] (2020-2024), which was adopted in 2020 to 2024 [1]. The functions are as follows: ◆ To investigate…
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While anti-corruption efforts and policy exist in Zimbabwe [1], there are significant challenges. There is a perceived lack of implementation of anti-corruption policy. Ministers…
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8
17/100
Are there independent, well-resourced, and effective institutions within defence and security tasked with building integrity and countering corruption?
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There are no specific units/institutions within the defence sector specifically tasked to deal with corruption and building integrity. However, there are units such as…
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The units are not perceived as independent, due to prominent allegations of corruption involving senior officers [1]. Although units such as the Military Intelligence…
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While there are units within the military tasked with addressing crimes, such as the Military Police, the Special Investigation Branch (SIB), the Special Air…
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9
NS/100
Does the public trust the institutions of defence and security to tackle the issue of bribery and corruption in their establishments?
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The public do not trust the defence and security to deal with corruption issues within their sector because the majority does not feel that…
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10
0/100
Are there regular assessments of the areas of greatest corruption risk for ministry and armed forces personnel, and are the findings used as inputs to the anti-corruption policy?
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There is no risk assessment for the defence forces sector [1,2].
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There is no risk assessment for the defence forces sector. Therefore, this indicators is marked Not Applicable.[1][2]
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No corruption risks assessment are conducted in the defence sector and there is no anti-corruption policy. Therefore, this indicators is marked Not Applicable.[1][2]
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11
33/100
Does the country have a process for acquisition planning that involves clear oversight, and is it publicly available?
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There is an existing act which provides with what needs to be done on public procurement; it is highlighted in the Public Procurement and…
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While there is a clear laid out procedure on what must be done on acquisition, it is not clear how the defence sector acquires…
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There is external oversight of military plans done by the National Security Council (NSC) comprised of the president, vice president and select ministers, as…
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12
75/100
Is the defence budget transparent, showing key items of expenditure? And it is provided to the legislature in a timely fashion?
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The defence budget is submitted to parliament and the Minister of Finance present the budget to the nation in parliament [1]. The constitution of…
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The budget is submitted to the legislature on time for approval by parliament, and the submission is usually done 2-3 months to allow the…
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13
50/100
Is there a legislative committee (or other appropriate body) responsible for defence budget scrutiny and analysis in an effective way?
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Parliament has a committee which oversee the matters concerning the defence forces. This is the Committee on Defence, Security, and Home Affairs, which, in…
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While the parliamentary committee on Defence, Security and Home Affairs has the power to engage on the budget and scrutinise it as per the…
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14
8/100
Is the approved defence budget made publicly available? In practice, can citizens, civil society, and the media obtain detailed information on the defence budget?
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The total budget allocated to the defence sector is made public [1], but the specific budget items and details of how the funds will…
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The public does not see or receive a comprehensive defence budget because it is not published to the public, but only the total budget…
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It is never easy to obtain information concerning further explanation on the defence budget because, it is always regarded as a security issue [1].…
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15
8/100
Are sources of defence income other than from central government allocation (from equipment sales or property disposal, for example) published and scrutinised?
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The Zimbabwe defence forces is involved in offshore business activities [1]. The military owns private companies, which benefits individuals within the military especially the…
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The defence sector, in particular the military does have an internal audit unit housed at Army HQ and the Defence House to help to…
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No public scrutiny on sources of income derived outside the central government [1][2]. It is very difficult for the public to scrutinise the defence…
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16
25/100
Is there an effective internal audit process for defence ministry expenditure (that is, for example, transparent, conducted by appropriately skilled individuals, and subject to parliamentary oversight)?
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The internal audit exists in the Zimbabwe defence forces under the inspectorate unit [1]. However, the internal audit within the military is not effective…
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The inspectorate unit, which is responsible for internal auditing within the defence forces, reports directly to the Commander Defence Forces, while at brigade level,…
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There is a legal provision to subject internal audits in the Ministry of Defence (MoD) to external scrutiny, as required by the Public Finance…
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In instances where recommendations or observations are made by both internal and external auditors, implementing them proves challenging due to the secretive nature of…
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17
38/100
Is there effective and transparent external auditing of military defence expenditure?
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The military defence sector financial and audits are subjected to the Auditor General Zimbabwe as is required by the Public Finance Management Act, under…
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The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) is an independent constitutional unit, established under Section 309 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe, and is mandated…
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While the Auditor General has the mandate to publish all the information pertaining to the annual audit of all state-owned institutions, and present them…
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The defence sector has a responsibility to respond and adhere to recommendation done by the Auditor General [1], however, this does not easily happen…
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18
0/100
Is there evidence that the country’s defence institutions have controlling or financial interests in businesses associated with the country’s natural resource exploitation and, if so, are these interests publicly stated and subject to scrutiny?
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The constitution of Zimbabwe does not prohibit the defence forces from participating any other business for profiteering [1]. There is no control or legal…
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The deference institutions are largely involved in the country’s natural resources extraction for their own benefit. The Global Witness assert that the Central Intelligence…
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Individual defence chiefs are significantly involved in extraction industries and businesses related to the country’s natural resources [1] [2]. The Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO)…
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There is no transparency on defence institutions involvement in the extraction of natural resources as part of defence business [1][2]. The financial interests are…
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While the constitution has mandated the parliamentary portfolio committee on mining to have an oversight on mining activities, it is a challenge for such…
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19
38/100
Is there evidence, for example through media investigations or prosecution reports, of a penetration of organised crime into the defence and security sector? If no, is there evidence that the government is alert and prepared for this risk?
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The military, especially the junior officers have been involved in organised crime activities, which include robberies [1]. Those who are caught are arrested and…
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Despite the arrests of junior officers done by the army itself and the police [1], the government has reiterated that it has its own…
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20
33/100
Is there policing to investigate corruption and organised crime within the defence services and is there evidence of the effectiveness of this policing?
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Within the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, the Military Police is mandated to arrest and investigate soldiers involved in various forms of misconduct and criminal activity…
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It is important to note that military police, and the special investigation branch exist in the military [1]. However, the challenge with military policing…
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The Military Police and the Special Investigations Branch (SIB) both operate under the Directorate of Military Police, which is responsible for overseeing military discipline…
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21
0/100
Are the policies, administration, and budgets of the intelligence services subject to effective and independent oversight?
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The country’s Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) is under the office of the president and its budget is under the president office. Its establishment is…
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Intelligence services’ operations, budgetary allocations, and internal policies are not subject to scrutiny by Parliament or any independent watchdog institutions [1][2][3]. Therefore, this indicator…
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22
8/100
Are senior positions within the intelligence services filled on the basis of objective selection criteria, and are appointees subject to investigation of their suitability and prior conduct?
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While the constitution states that the president appoints the Director General of the Intelligence organisation for a renewable five years [1], it is not…
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The selection process for senior positions in the intelligence is often not transparent, as those appointed have links with the ruling party, ZANU-PF and…
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The whole process of appointing individuals in senior intelligence positions is unclear [1]. There is internal vetting, but the main challenge is that there…
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23
50/100
Does the government have a well-scrutinised process for arms export decisions that aligns with Articles 7.1.iv, 11.5, and 15.6 of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT)?
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Zimbabwe signed the Arms Trade Treat on 14 December 2014, but it is yet to be ratified. [1][2][3]
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Zimbabwe has not ratified the ATT, and therefore this section is scored as Not Applicable.
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The evidence suggests that Zimbabwe is not an exporter of arms, and therefore this sub-indicator is marked as Not Applicable. [1] [2]
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The country does not have a legal framework that regulates lobbying and applies to the defence sector [1] [2].
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The country does not have a legal framework that promote lobying of the defence sector [1] [2]. Therefore, this indicator is marked Not Applicable.
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The country does not have a legal framework that promote lobying of the defence sector [1] [2]. Therefore, this indicator is marked Not Applicable.
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The country does not have a legal framework that promote lobying of the defence sector [1] [2]. Therefore, this indicator is marked Not Applicable.
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Defence and Security Policy and Policy Transparency
Q1
NA/100
Is there formal provision for effective and independent legislative scrutiny of defence policy?
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Q2
NA/100
Does the country have an identifiable and effective parliamentary defence and security committee (or similar such organisations) to exercise oversight?
View Question
Q3
NA/100
Is the country’s national defence policy or national security strategy debated and publicly available?
View Question
Q4
NA/100
Do defence and security institutions have a policy, or evidence, of openness towards civil society organisations (CSOs) when dealing with issues of corruption?
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Q5
NA/100
Has the country signed up to the following international anti-corruption instruments: UNCAC and the OECD Convention?
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Q6
NA/100
Is there evidence of regular, active public debate on issues of defence? If yes, does the government participate in this debate?
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Q7
NA/100
Does the country have an openly stated and effectively implemented anti-corruption policy for the defence sector?
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Q8
NA/100
Are there independent, well-resourced, and effective institutions within defence and security tasked with building integrity and countering corruption?
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Q9
NA/100
Does the public trust the institutions of defence and security to tackle the issue of bribery and corruption in their establishments?
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Q10
NA/100
Are there regular assessments of the areas of greatest corruption risk for ministry and armed forces personnel, and are the findings used as inputs to the anti-corruption policy?
View QuestionDefence Budgets
Q11
NA/100
Does the country have a process for acquisition planning that involves clear oversight, and is it publicly available?
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Q12
NA/100
Is the defence budget transparent, showing key items of expenditure? And it is provided to the legislature in a timely fashion?
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Q13
NA/100
Is there a legislative committee (or other appropriate body) responsible for defence budget scrutiny and analysis in an effective way?
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Q14
NA/100
Is the approved defence budget made publicly available? In practice, can citizens, civil society, and the media obtain detailed information on the defence budget?
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Q15
NA/100
Are sources of defence income other than from central government allocation (from equipment sales or property disposal, for example) published and scrutinised?
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Q16
NA/100
Is there an effective internal audit process for defence ministry expenditure (that is, for example, transparent, conducted by appropriately skilled individuals, and subject to parliamentary oversight)?
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Q17
NA/100
Is there effective and transparent external auditing of military defence expenditure?
View QuestionNexus of Defence and National Assets
Q18
NA/100
Is there evidence that the country’s defence institutions have controlling or financial interests in businesses associated with the country’s natural resource exploitation and, if so, are these interests publicly stated and subject to scrutiny?
View QuestionOrganised Crime
Q19
NA/100
Is there evidence, for example through media investigations or prosecution reports, of a penetration of organised crime into the defence and security sector? If no, is there evidence that the government is alert and prepared for this risk?
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Q20
NA/100
Is there policing to investigate corruption and organised crime within the defence services and is there evidence of the effectiveness of this policing?
View QuestionControl of Intelligence Services
Q21
NA/100
Are the policies, administration, and budgets of the intelligence services subject to effective and independent oversight?
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Q22
NA/100
Are senior positions within the intelligence services filled on the basis of objective selection criteria, and are appointees subject to investigation of their suitability and prior conduct?
View QuestionExport Controls
Q23
NA/100