Abstract:
Politics can either be democratic, monarchical, oligarchic or authoritarian. This depends on the
rule of the country and its acceptance of the rule. How then do politics and ethics relate? The
leaders’ role is to attain and maintain high standards in their private and work lives. This
article explores and discusses the argument that politics in Zimbabwe has not only negatively
affected planning, but has also had detrimental effects on professional planning ethics. The
professional planner's virtues have been compromised in certain situations. It is against the
background that politics and planning are interlinked; planning caters for the good of citizens
and politics aims at delivering to the people. The article plugs the gap in the literature that
professional planning ethics can be eroded or built upon by politics. Evidence points to a few
issues: politics can be a hindrance to planning activities because of the differences between
politicians and planners; professional planning ethics can be eroded by politics; and planners
face a variety of ethical issues due to difference in cultures and values.