By Meshia Mambo
The European Union’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Katrin Hagemann, has warned that corruption remains one of the biggest obstacles to investment in Zimbabwe despite acknowledging progress made by the country in tackling graft.
Speaking during the launch of Transparency International Zimbabwe’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) report in Harare, Hagemann said investors continue to view corruption as a major business risk limiting Zimbabwe’s ability to attract the level of investment needed to drive economic growth.
Although Zimbabwe recorded an improvement in its CPI score, the ambassador said the gains should not overshadow the work that still needs to be done to strengthen transparency, accountability and the rule of law.
She noted that corruption increases the cost of doing business, distorts competition and undermines confidence among both local and foreign investors.
According to Hagemann, while Zimbabwe has taken steps to improve governance and combat corruption, persistent graft continues to discourage investment and constrain sustainable economic development.
The ambassador said tackling corruption should remain a national priority, arguing that stronger institutions, effective law enforcement and greater accountability are essential for improving Zimbabwe’s investment climate.
Her remarks come as Zimbabwe seeks to attract increased foreign direct investment under its economic reform agenda while pursuing debt resolution and re-engagement with international partners.
Transparency International’s 2025 Corruption Perceptions Index showed Zimbabwe making a modest improvement in its score compared with the previous year.
However, the country remains among the lowest-ranked nations in Southern Africa, highlighting the scale of governance challenges that still need to be addressed.
Hagemann said reducing corruption would not only improve public trust in institutions but also create a more predictable and competitive business environment capable of attracting long-term investment.
She said the fight against corruption requires sustained political commitment and cooperation between government, the private sector and civil society.
Zimbabwe has repeatedly stated its commitment to combating corruption through institutions such as the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC), the National Prosecuting Authority and the courts with authorities recently reporting progress in prosecuting high-profile corruption cases.
The EU remains one of Zimbabwe’s key development and trading partners and has consistently said that improvements in governance, transparency and the rule of law are critical to unlocking greater investment and economic cooperation.
