Zimbabwe’s public administration has long suffered from a culture of political patronage, where loyalty to Zanu PF matters more than competence.
The result is inefficiency, corruption, and economic stagnation.
This system, which began under former President Robert Mugabe, has persisted into the era of Emmerson Mnangagwa.
The appointment of relatives and loyalists to key positions at the expense of meritocracy has contributed to poor governance and institutional decay.
In 2023, Mnangagwa appointed his son, David, Finance deputy minister despite limited experience, raising concerns over the government’s commitment to professionalism.
He also appointed his nephew, Tongai, Tourism deputy minister. These appointments reinforce a perception that public office in Zimbabwe is a family affair, further eroding public trust in government institutions.
This culture of nepotism is not new.
Under Mugabe, the same pattern of appointing relatives and loyalists to key government positions entrenched a system of patronage, hindering effective governance.
Now, under Mnangagwa, it’s governance failure on repeat, with the same flaws compounding the country’s problems.
Successful economies have demonstrated that a nation’s progress depends on the quality of its leadership and institutions.
Japan and Singapore provide examples of how governance systems that prioritise expertise over political loyalty can drive economic growth.
Their bureaucracies, shielded from political interference, have played a pivotal role in shaping long-term national policies. Zimbabwe, however, has veered in the opposite direction, where political connections—not ability—determine who holds public office.
Japan’s post-war recovery offers a compelling case study. After World War II, the country rebuilt its economy by ensuring that key institutions were staffed by capable technocrats.
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), run by experts selected through rigorous examinations, crafted policies that transformed Japan into an industrial powerhouse.
As political scientist Chalmers Johnson observed in MITI and the Japanese Miracle, Japan’s bureaucratic system thrived because it was insulated from partisan politics, allowing policymakers to focus on long-term development rather than political survival.
Singapore’s rise under Lee Kuan Yew is another instructive model.
Lee’s administration was built on the principle that governance should be entrusted to the best minds, not political loyalists.
Civil servants were selected on merit, offered competitive salaries to deter corruption, and held accountable for their performance.
The result was a government that delivered rapid economic growth, world-class infrastructure, and a thriving financial sector.
Economist Thandika Mkandawire has argued that Singapore’s success stems from the autonomy and competence of its bureaucracy—something Zimbabwe lacks.
In Zimbabwe, key appointments have long been influenced by nepotism and regional politics.
Under Mnangagwa, this trend has deepened, with “homeboys” securing high-profile positions in government and state enterprises.
This has bred resentment in other regions, reinforcing the perception that public office is allocated based on proximity to power rather than expertise.
Critics argue that this system of patronage weakens institutions, as officials appointed for their loyalty rarely possess the competence required to craft sound policies.
This leads to erratic policymaking most visible in the mismanagement of state-owned enterprises such as the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (Zesa) and the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).
These enterprises have suffered from years of corruption, poor oversight, and financial mismanagement.
Economist John Robertson notes that Zimbabwe’s development has been “held hostage by a system where loyalty to the ruling party outweighs competence.”
The consequences are evident: persistent economic crises, failing infrastructure, and declining public confidence in state institutions.
A bureaucracy dominated by political loyalty rather than merit leads to predictable outcomes.
Poor governance undermines investor confidence, exacerbates corruption, and weakens the country’s ability to formulate and implement long-term development strategies.
Zimbabwe’s economic struggles are not merely the result of sanctions as Zanu PF propaganda machinery always sing.
They are, in large part, a consequence of weak institutions unable to chart a sustainable path for growth.
To break free from the shackles of nepotism and regionalism, Zimbabwe must overhaul its public service by prioritising competence over political allegiance.
The establishment of an independent Public Service Commission, with the mandate to recruit civil servants based on merit, would be a crucial first step.
The country must also ensure that key ministries—particularly those responsible for economic management—are insulated from political interference.
Replicating the governance models of Japan and Singapore will not be easy.
Zimbabwe faces deeply entrenched patronage networks, a political culture resistant to reform, and a legacy of factionalism that complicates decision-making.
Former Finance minister Tendai Biti has repeatedly stressed the need to depoliticise state institutions, warning that “without a merit-based approach, we will continue to recycle inefficiency and mediocrity.”
The cost of maintaining the status quo is immense.
Poorly managed institutions will continue to drain public resources, economic growth will remain sluggish, and public trust in government will deteriorate further.
A government that refuses to prioritise competence over patronage cannot deliver the development Zimbabwe so desperately needs.
Japan and Singapore have demonstrated that a professional, autonomous bureaucracy is key to national progress.
Zimbabwe’s leaders must recognise that political loyalty should never supersede the need for capable governance.
If Zimbabwe is to revive its economy, it must abandon the politics of patronage and embrace meritocracy. The future of the nation depends on it.
- *Reward Magadhi can be reaching via email: rewardmagadhi@gmail.com