From Egocentrism to Public Interest: Strategies for Fostering Ethical Behaviour in State -Owned Enterprises in Zimbabwe

Authors

  • Bronson Mutanda Department of Applied Business Management, Faculty of Agribusiness and Applied Social Sciences, Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences, Mutare, Zimbabwe Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3438-2126
  • Admire Mthombeni Graduate School of Business and Leadership, College of Law and Management, University of KwaZulu￾Natal, Durban, South Africa Author https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2439-302X
  • Obert Sifile Graduate Business School, Chinhoyi University of Technology, Zimbabwe Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4414-6306
  • Morgen Sithole Department of Applied Business Management, Faculty of Agribusiness and Applied Social Sciences, Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences, Mutare, Zimbabwe Author https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9543-8748
  • Chrispen Maireva Department of Applied Business Management, Faculty of Agribusiness and Applied Social Sciences, Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences, Mutare, Zimbabwe Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4992-5832

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71458/7924wg97

Keywords:

ethical behaviour, state-owned enterprises, corporate strategies, corruption and fraud, organisational ethics culture, governance and accountability

Abstract

This study seeks to investigate corporate strategies implemented as a way of fostering ethical behaviour in state-owned enterprises (SOEs) following widespread reports of corruption, bribery, kickbacks and financial fraud. To accomplish this objective, a survey was used and 90 workers from five different SOEs were selected to fill out questionnaires. Views of respondents on corporate strategies being implemented to foster ethical behaviour in SOEs in Zimbabwe were solicited through interviews. Ten workers were given the chance to answer interview questions. Participants to the study were selected from SOEs in the City of Mutare through purposive sampling. Analysis of research data was undertaken with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 23). The study established that 90.5% of SOEs employees were not aware of their organisation‘s code of ethics. In addition, 64.3% of the respondents indicated that they did not know of any strategy being implemented to foster an ethical culture in the organisation. The study concludes that there is lack of commitment to implement strategies for fostering an ethical culture in SOEs. The government must, therefore, establish measures to ensure an ethical culture in its enterprises. The study acts as a wakeup call to regulatory authorities as it reveals the urgent need to craft strategies for redeeming SOEs from the looming danger. The study also provides a model for the successful implementation of corporate ethical strategies in these enterprises.

Author Biographies

  • Bronson Mutanda, Department of Applied Business Management, Faculty of Agribusiness and Applied Social Sciences, Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences, Mutare, Zimbabwe

    I am a Finance Specialist, a PhD in Finance degree holder. Interested in the area of Financial Innovation, Financial Inclusion, Behavioral Finance

  • Admire Mthombeni, Graduate School of Business and Leadership, College of Law and Management, University of KwaZulu￾Natal, Durban, South Africa

    Admire Mthombeni is a Post-Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Kwazulu-Natal, Graduate School of Business and Leadership South Africa. He lectures at the Manicaland State University of Applied Sciences, Zimbabwe in the Department of Applied Business Sciences. Previously worked as a researcher and lecturer at the Police Staff College, Zimbabwe (An affiliate College of the University of University) as a full time Lecturer. His publications and research interests lies in strategic business leadership, corporate governance, environmental social governance, business management and entrepreneurship. He has been an external examiner for MBA students, a reviewer for refereed journals. Admire Mthombeni holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Business Management and Entrepreneurship.

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Published

2026-09-30

Issue

Volume 5, Issue 2 (2026)

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Mutanda, B., Mthombeni, A., Sifile, O., Sithole, M., & Maireva, C. (2026). From Egocentrism to Public Interest: Strategies for Fostering Ethical Behaviour in State -Owned Enterprises in Zimbabwe. Futures: The Zimbabwe Ezekiel Guti University Journal of Leadership, Governance and Development, 5(2), Pages: 203 - 220. https://doi.org/10.71458/7924wg97

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