Abstract
The study investigated police officers’ perceptions about corruption in Zimbabwe. The study was informed by Bourdieu’s theory of habitus. A case study design involving a self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from sixty-four respondents sampled using a census method of sampling. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and presented on tables and pie charts. The study revealed that police officers were aware of corruption through training, discussions, presentations by bosses and literature. Police officers do not continue to learn about corruption through formal means like workshops. They perceived that corruption existed in the police force; believed that police corruption was due to low salaries, poor working conditions and greediness. Police officers perceived that the existence of corruption in society was due to low salaries, long time in positions of authority and greediness. They also said that corrupt people were usually the rich, the middle class, company owners, top politicians or top management. The factors contributing to corruption in the police force are not due to lack of awareness but relate to power, conditions of service or selfish behaviour or interests. It is recommended that the government improves conditions of service for police officers to reduce corruption. Key words: Awareness, police officers, corruption, habitus, power, field.
Highlights
The media in Zimbabwe has carried many stories about police officers being involved in corrupt activities
It went on to assert that approaches to corruption have shifted from finding out whether police corruption existed to finding out about the „size, nature and impact of the problem.‟ this study has revealed that corruption in police force is a result of low salaries, poor working conditions and greed
This study has revealed that police officers believed every rank in the police force is involved in corrupt activities
Summary
The media in Zimbabwe has carried many stories about police officers being involved in corrupt activities. The Commissioner General of the Police is on record lambasting police officers involved in such activities. Of particular interest are traffic officers who are said to be involved in taking bribes from motorists, sometimes doing that in full view of passengers in buses. Many complaints about the corrupt activities of police officers seem not to have yielded any change. One of the main duties of security forces is to fight corruption. If people who are supposed to combat corruption are involved in corruption, who will help to reduce corruption in the country? Neild (2007) says about police and corruption, “When those sworn to uphold the law engage in corruption themselves, it saps citizen confidence in democratic institutions- and could foster cynicism toward the notion of democracy itself” If people who are supposed to combat corruption are involved in corruption, who will help to reduce corruption in the country? Neild (2007) says about police and corruption, “When those sworn to uphold the law engage in corruption themselves, it saps citizen confidence in democratic institutions- and could foster cynicism toward the notion of democracy itself”
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