Afrobarometer, in its latest report surveying 39 countries, stated that 67% of Africans believe their governments are failing in the fight against corruption.

According to the report, 71% of Africans who report corruption to the authorities risk facing retaliation.

“Two-thirds (67%) of Africans say their governments are failing in the fight against corruption, and 71% say people who report corruption to the authorities risk retaliation (Dulani, Asiamah, & Zindikirani, 2023).”

The report said that Africans expressed concerns about the growing menace of corruption in their respective countries.

It further disclosed that nearly six out of ten African citizens believe corruption levels in their countries have increased over the past year, including in South Africa.

The report asserted that there was a perceived perception of widespread corruption among government appointees, MPs, the judiciary, and civil servants.

“Given the corrosive effects of official corruption on popular support for and satisfaction with democracy, the news from recent findings about corruption trends is not good: In the eyes of ordinary Africans, the problem is getting worse.

“On average across 39 countries, nearly six in 10 citizens (58%) say corruption levels in their countries increased over the past year, including 82% in South Africa and 87% in Eswatini. Only three countries record majorities who say corruption decreased: Benin (70%), Mali (64%), and Zambia (53%).

“Levels of perceived corruption among political leaders paint a similar picture: Across up to 30 countries for which we have complete data, 38% of respondents say ‘most’ or ‘all’ officials in their president’s office are corrupt, up by 13 percentage points since 2011/2013.

“Perceptions of widespread corruption show similar increases for members of Parliament (+11 points) and the judiciary (+8 points), with marginal increases of 3 points for local government councillors and civil servants.”