CORRUPTION remains the primary factor behind the poor performance of local authorities, with citizens’ dissatisfaction regarding health service delivery growing, according to the Sivio Institute’s 2025 Citizen Pulse report.
Sivio Institute is a Zimbabwe-based independent policy research organisation that tracks public sentiment on governance.
The report highlighted that a significant portion of the population views graft as the biggest hurdle to effective municipal management.
These findings mirror previous concerns raised by the public, suggesting that systemic governance issues continue to plague local councils across the country.
“A significant number of respondents (38 percent) identified corruption as the main factor that has led to the poor performance of local authorities.
“These findings remain consistent with findings in the previous survey of 2024, where 36 percent of respondents listed corruption as the top factor hindering the performance of local authorities,“ read the statement.
“Corruption and health service delivery have also featured prominently across all years, showing an on-going governance and service delivery concern.
“Notably, health delivery has progressively risen to the top three priorities, highlighting a growing public dissatisfaction and worsening situation within the health sector.
“Other factors affecting effective operation of local authorities included incompetence of officeholders, inadequate resources and meddling by the central government.”
Sivio added that while the gross domestic product grew by 10 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, this growth has not improved living standards.
“Gross domestic product at constant prices grew by 10 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2025, up from two percent in the same quarter of 2024 (Zimstat, 2025).
“However, this growth has not translated into widespread improvements in living standards. Poverty remains high, with the World Bank estimating that 9.9 million Zimbabweans were living below the international poverty line of US$4.20 per day in 2025 (World Bank, 2025).
“The informal sector dominates, accounting for about 64 percent of GDP and the majority of business establishments.”
An improvement in infrastructure development was noted by 26 percent of the public, who cited it as a notable government achievement.
“Citizens recognise infrastructure development as the most notable achievement of government efforts, with 26 percent of respondents indicating that they had seen an increase in this area since 2023.
“This was followed by international reengagement (19 percent); and then resuscitation of industry.
“SIVIO called on the government to address unemployment, intensify measures to curb corruption to increase public trust and accountability.”
The report said job creation and tackling corruption were the most urgent priorities for the Zimbabwean public heading into 2026.
“58 percent of the respondents chose job creation, highlighting a deep concern for the levels of unemployment and economic insecurity in the country.
“The second most sought-after priority was dealing with corruption, with 43 percent indicating low public trust in the institutions and a strong demand for accountability, given that in the 2024 CPE, corruption was not in the top three priorities at 20 percent.
“The public urges the central government to focus on improved health service delivery, reflecting a continued dissatisfaction with health service delivery quality.
“Moreso, the most preferred solution for the government to raise resources was by reducing government expenditure and foreign investment was seen as the second most viable option for resource mobilisation.”