Does decentralization reduce corruption? Empirical evidence from Zimbabwe’s local authorities

Recently, there has been a renewed global effort to combat corruption to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.Corruption across all tiers of government stifles economic growth, undermines national development, and ultimately threatens socio-economic transformation.Devolution has been widely acknowledged as a contemporary governance system that promotes public participation, strengthens transparency and accountability, and democratizes government systems.This study primarily used a qualitative approach to examine the prospects of devolution in addressing corruption in local authorities in Zimbabwe.To achieve this, the study seeks to answer the following questions: To what extent does the implementation of devolution in Zimbabwe contribute to reducing corruption within local authorities?What are the problems the Zimbabwean government faces in utilizing devolution to combat corruption in local authorities?What anti-corruption strategies can the Zimbabwean government utilize to enhance transparency, accountability, and integrity, thereby mitigating corrupt practices through devolution?Data were primarily collected through a triangulation of documentary searches and indepth interviews, which allowed for the purposive sampling of key informants, including senior administrative officials and councillors in local authorities, senior central government officials in government ministries and departments, development partners, civil society organizations, and academics.The study established that, if adequately implemented, devolution could help reverse the discretionary abuse of public power and resources by central government elites.Findings also indicate that devolution enhances the efficiency of social service provision by enabling a match between local people's desires and aspirations and the governance of public institutions.This research has significant implications for designing anti-corruption strategies that devolution can offer to mitigate corruption while highlighting the challenges and opportunities associated with its implementation.