President Mugabe Thinks Nigeria Is More Corrupt Than Zimbabwe

President Robert Mugabe. Public Domain photo belonging to U.S. Air Force.

President Robert Mugabe. Public domain photo belonging to U.S. Air Force.

Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe has angered Nigeria with comments made on March 15, 2014 during his 90th birthday luncheon that Nigeria and its citizens are corrupt.

Mugabe asked, “Are we now like Nigeria where you have to reach into your pocket to get anything done? You see, we used to go to Nigeria and every time we went there we had to carry extra cash in our pockets to corruptly pay for everything. You get into a plane in Nigeria and you sit there and the crew keeps dilly dulling without taking off as they wait for you to pay them to fly the plane.”

The Nigerian government summoned Zimbabwe's envoy last week over Mugabe's remarks. However, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL) in Nigeria has asked the federal government to deal with the message and not the messenger. 

The 2013 Transparency International Corruption Index shows the level of perceived corruption to be higher in Zimbabwe than in Nigeria.

Mugabe's comments have received mixed reactions on Twitter. Some netizens argued that what he said is the truth:

@figure007 felt that although Mugabe said the truth, he has no moral justification:

Others disagreed with his assessment of corruption in Nigeria:

3 comments

  • HRH Prince Farouk I

    Whether what he said was true or which country is more corrupt than the other is not the matter. Corruption should be fought no matter the level. As a Nigerian, I m not outraged. Both Nigeria and Zimbabwe need to tackle our corruption problems and not engage in Corruption Olympics.

  • Mia

    yes yes hilarious at least Mugabe has a sense of humour! or is this diversion tactics….Hmmm I wonder. “Zimbabweans fear not you should be grateful you are no where near as corrupt as Nigerians” DUH!!!!!
    Says the person who paid for a plane to be flown – what can I say? If you can’t beat them join them – that’s the (im)moral of the story?

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