THE launch of the 2024 Zambia Bribe Payers Index Report, which highlights a disturbing rise in bribery incidents from 10.1 percent in 2022 to 15.3 percent in 2024, is a stark reminder that corruption continues to undermine national progress.
The increase in bribery, especially within public institutions, calls for immediate action from both government leaders and the broader Zambian society.
The findings should serve as a wake-up call to all sectors – government, private sector, civil society, and citizens – to unite in the fight against corruption and safeguard national resources, including the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which is particularly at risk.
The focus on the CDF in the report is deeply troubling. The CDF, a vital tool meant to promote local development and decentralise government services, is being hijacked by corruption, with political bribery, nepotism, and favouritism in its allocation. Such practices not only betray the trust of ordinary citizens but also deprive them of the essential services and opportunities they are entitled to.
We note that Government has in the past tended to ignore the concerns raised in particular by opposition parties that the CDF has become a conduit for corrupt practices, dismissing them as “sour grapes.”
These funds, intended for uplifting communities, are instead being diverted for personal gain, thereby deepening inequality and entrenching poverty.
Justice Evans Hamaundu, Chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), was right to express concern over these findings. His admission that the ACC’s reach remains limited, with only a few district offices across the country, underlines the need for greater expansion of anti-corruption efforts.
The promise to open new district offices in Sesheke, Kasempa, Mbala, and Chingola is a step in the right direction, but it is not enough. To truly combat corruption, there needs to be an integrated, nationwide strategy that ensures transparency, accountability, and active citizen participation at all levels.
The report also highlights the positive impact of the ACC’s anti-corruption interventions in reducing bribery in certain institutions. However, these efforts must be scaled up and replicated across all sectors and districts. The findings demonstrate that when there is a visible presence of anti-corruption mechanisms, bribery rates tend to decrease.
This reinforces the idea that curbing corruption requires consistent enforcement and a commitment to building ethical governance across both public and private sectors.
We feel the 2024 Bribe Payers Index is not just a report – it’s a clarion call for action. It is a moment for the country to reflect on the moral and ethical foundations of its society and to commit to a future where public resources are used for the benefit of all.
If the nation is to develop, it must confront this corruption crisis head-on and ensure that the CDF serves the people it was meant to help, not those who seek to exploit it for personal gain.
Meanwhile, citizens must demand better and hold their leaders accountable for CDF, in a nutshell must be accessed and enjoyed by all Zambians across the political divide.
