A study finds a majority of Africans are displeased by government efforts to fight corruption, and that many are still paying bribes to get basic services.
In the study by the independent research firm Afrobarometer, 56 percent of those surveyed said their governments are doing a poor job of battling corruption. Nigeria, Egypt and Zimbabwe got the worst ratings, while Malawi, Lesotho and Botswana got the best.
About 30 percent reported paying a bribe at least once in the past year, often to receive medical treatment, a required document, or to avoid a problem with police.
Among state institutions, police got the worst ratings, with 81 percent saying some or all of them are involved in corruption. Negative perceptions were highest in Nigeria, Kenya and Sierra Leone.
The study also found that poor people pay bribes more often than the middle class or wealthy.
Afrobarometer says its findings are based on surveys of more than 51,000 people in 34 African countries, done between October 2011 and June of this year.
The organization, which has partner groups in many African countries, conducts regular surveys to track trends in public attitudes.
Last month, it released a study that said despite reported high levels of economic growth, most Africans are still deprived of basics like clean water, food, and medicine. Seventy-six percent of those surveyed said they had gone without cash income at least once in the previous year.
In the study by the independent research firm Afrobarometer, 56 percent of those surveyed said their governments are doing a poor job of battling corruption. Nigeria, Egypt and Zimbabwe got the worst ratings, while Malawi, Lesotho and Botswana got the best.
About 30 percent reported paying a bribe at least once in the past year, often to receive medical treatment, a required document, or to avoid a problem with police.
Among state institutions, police got the worst ratings, with 81 percent saying some or all of them are involved in corruption. Negative perceptions were highest in Nigeria, Kenya and Sierra Leone.
The study also found that poor people pay bribes more often than the middle class or wealthy.
Afrobarometer says its findings are based on surveys of more than 51,000 people in 34 African countries, done between October 2011 and June of this year.
The organization, which has partner groups in many African countries, conducts regular surveys to track trends in public attitudes.
Last month, it released a study that said despite reported high levels of economic growth, most Africans are still deprived of basics like clean water, food, and medicine. Seventy-six percent of those surveyed said they had gone without cash income at least once in the previous year.
