Citizens’ perspectives on the form, contributory factors and impacts of white-collar crimes on local authorities in Zimbabwe

Figures & data

Table 1. Types of white-collar crimes and their prevalence

	Very Low prevalence		Low prevalence		Prevalent		High prevalence		Statistics
Type of crime	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Mean	SD
Embezzlement	15	5.2	27	9.4	104	36.2	141	49.1	3.29	0.843
Fraud	13	4.5	11	3.8	157	54.7	106	36.9	3.24	0.730
Procurement Fraud	25	8.7	46	16	118	41	98	34	3.01	0.924
Corruption	4	1.4	9	3.1	107	37.3	167	58.2	3.52	0.630
Bribery	39	13.6	14	4.9	95	33.1	139	48.4	3.16	1.026
Nepotism	11	3.8	17	5.9	124	43.2	135	47	3.33	0.757
Extortion	61	24.3	44	15.3	97	33.8	85	29.6	2.72	1.106

Table 2. Causes of white-collar crime

	Strongly Disagree		Disagree		Agree		Strongly Agree		Statistics
Reason	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Mean	SD
Greediness	9	3.1	32	11.1	152	52.6	94	32.5	3.15	0.737
Poverty	13	4.5	24	8.3	75	26	175	61	3.44	0.829
Economic and Financial pressure	16	5.5	24	8.3	99	34.5	149	51.9	3.33	0.847
Poor internal controls	35	12.2	18	6.3	89	31	145	50.5	3.2	1.01
Wide disparity in salary structure	10	3.5	21	7.3	187	64.7	69	23.9	3.1	0.667

Table 3. Impacts of white-collar crime

	Strongly Disagree		Disagree		Agree		Strongly Agree		Statistics
Reason	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Mean	SD
Reduced revenue inflows	13	4.5	17	5.9	181	63.1	76	26.5	3.11	0.703
Increased expenditure	11	3.8	27	9.4	164	57.1	85	29.6	3.13	0.728
Poor service delivery	14	4.9	20	7	94	32.5	159	55	3.39	0.819
Creation of an unethical culture	23	8	19	6.6	170	59.2	75	26.1	3.03	0.806
Damaged reputation	20	7	40	13.8	120	41.8	107	37	3.09	0.886

Table 4. Strategies for curbing white-collar crime

	Strongly Disagree		Disagree		Agree		Strongly Agree		Statistics
Reason	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Freq	%	Mean	SD
Auditing	19	6.6	41	14.3	122	42.5	105	36.3	3.09	0.876
Awareness campaigns	15	5.2	41	14.3	154	53.7	77	26.8	3.02	0.789
Sound internal controls	18	6.3	45	15.6	108	37.6	116	40.4	3.12	0.894
Code of conduct	30	10.5	53	18.5	97	33.8	117	37.3	2.98	0.989
Segregation of duties	24	8.4	34	11.8	130	45.3	99	34.5	3.06	0.893
Whistleblowing	18	6.2	27	9.3	108	37.6	134	46.7	3.25	0.868