Welcome to Botswana: Africa's newest lootocracy! :: Mmegi Online

In its 2013 Corruption Perceptions Index, Berlin based Transparency International listed Zimbabwe as more corrupt than Kenya and Nigeria. Reacting angrily to Zimbabwe’s 157 rank against Nigeria placed at 144th out of 175 countries, President Robert Mugabe asked, when addressing military chiefs during his 90th birthday celebrations in March 2014, ‘Are we now like Kenya and Nigeria where you have to reach into your pocket to get anything done?’

The veteran leader’s comments were roundly condemned as vitriolic and denigrating forcing Nigeria to summon Zimbabwean diplomat Stanley Kanjeku to lodge the ‘strongest protest’. Permanent Secretary in Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Ministry Dr Martin Uhomoibhi wrote, ‘Not only does it not reflect the reality in our country, but to come from a sitting president of a brotherly country is most unkind and very dishonourable’.

There was no response from 136th placed Kenya to Harare, the head of public service instead choosing to scold 18 Nairobi based ambassadors for declaring that, ‘corruption was undermining Kenya’s future’ and offering assistance to combat corruption. President Uhuru Kenyatta accused the diplomats of libel, disrespect and knee-jerk racism.

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