The Impact of Board Attributes on Fraud Mitigation in Corporate Governance

This study investigates the impact of board attributes on the mitigation of corporate fraud within the context of corporate governance, with a specific focus on the Zimbabwean public sector. Despite regulatory reforms and an increased emphasis on governance principles, corporate fraud remains a pervasive threat to organisational integrity and stakeholder confidence. This research aims to bridge the gap in existing literature by developing a comprehensive analytical framework that evaluates the individual and synergistic effects of key board characteristics, including independence, gender diversity, financial expertise, tenure, and size, on fraud prevention, detection, and response. Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study collected data from 45 respondents across various Zimbabwean parastatals using questionnaires and interviews. The findings reveal significant concerns regarding board effectiveness, highlighting a lack of perceived board independence, inadequate gender diversity, and gaps in financial expertise, which collectively undermine robust fraud oversight. Furthermore, the study finds that the existing regulatory environment has a negligible moderating effect on the relationship between board attributes and fraud outcomes. Based on these insights, the study proposes a validated conceptual framework that links structural, diversity, and expertise-related board attributes to enhanced fraud mitigation outcomes. The research concludes with practical recommendations for enhancing board composition, strengthening regulatory frameworks, and allocating sufficient resources to fraud control, thereby contributing to both academic discourse and the improvement of governance practices in emerging markets