Article: The results of the 2023 CPI and Zambia’s fight against corruption
Global and regional results
2023 has marked the 30-year-anniversary since the foundation of Transparency International in Berlin, Germany. Throughout these three decades, our CSO has been at the forefront of the global fight against corruption, exposing corrupt individuals and practices across the globe, campaigning for transparency and accountable institutions, and conducting important research on the matter.
Undoubtedly the most important output of this research has proven to be Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), which ranks 180 countries and territories by their perceived levels of public-sector corruption according to experts and businesspeople. The CPI relies on 13 independent data sources from reputable institutions (e.g., World Bank, African Development Bank, the Economist, etc.) and uses a scale of zero to 100, where zero is highly corrupt and 100 is very clean. Through the years, the CPI has grown to become the most widely used index for measuring public sector corruption around the world.
Figure 1the results of the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index
Despite these important milestones, at Transparency International we believe that there is little room for celebration. The results of the 2023 CPI shed some light on some worrying dynamics and phenomena that affect our world today, which have unfortunately become a trend through the years.
The 2023 CPI shows that most of the world continues to fail to stop corruption. Indeed, an overwhelming two thirds of countries around the world has made little to no progress in tackling public sector corruption in more than a decade. Only 28 countries out of 180 have improved their transparency levels, and this is achievement is offset by the 35 countries that have significantly worsened their CPI score.
Through the years, the CPI has proved that countries with strong rule of law and well-functioning democratic institutions perform much better in the fight against corruption. It is hardly surprising that full democracies sit at the top of the index with a CPI average of 73, while flawed democracies have one of 48 and non-democratic regimes just 32.
However, we are seeing that even strong democracies with well-functioning institutions and a high CPI score have been dealing with a growing number of corruption issues, including facilitating illicit financial flows and transnational corruption – what we call “exporting corruption”. Sweden, the United Kingdom, Austria and Canada are examples of countries at the top of the list which have experienced a decline in their CPI scores in recent years.
In addition, the top 25 countries in the index make up just over 10 per cent of all people. Corruption therefore remains a challenge that directly or indirectly harms most of the global population.
The global CPI average for 2023 remains 43. Two thirds of countries around the world, accounting for 80% of the world’s population, score below the global average. Countries experiencing conflict or with highly restricted freedoms and weak democratic institutions tend to score worst. This year, Somalia (11), Venezuela (13), Syria (13) and South Sudan (13) are at the bottom of the index. And for most countries, which score around the global average, corruption remains endemic, improvements are rare.
The picture for Sub-Saharan Africa this year shows somehow mixed results. The region still detains the unfortunate record of worst performing region globally, with an average CPI score of 33 out of 100; ninety per cent of its countries scored below 50. However, some positive developments have been observed in some individual cases. In 2023 a record 5 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa achieved their highest ever CPI score, including Seychelles (71), and Zambia’s neighbour Tanzania (40). Another neighbouring country, Angola, detains the record for the best 5-year improvement in its CPI score globally, jumping up 14 places since 2018. And another important improvement concerns our country, Zambia.
Corruption and Injustice: the 2023 CPI theme
This year’s CPI took also a closer look at the correlation between corruption and injustice. 2023 has signaled a general weakening of justice systems globally, which in turn has led to the proliferation of corrupt practices everywhere. Even the progress made in strengthening the legislative framework and establishing anti-corruption institutions has often failed to reflect real improvements on the ground.
These trends are highly concerning because of the mutual interplay between corruption and injustice: weak justice systems worldwide are a natural breeding ground for corruption, and those abusing public power have massive incentives to curb justice and ensure impunity for their action, even where legal and institutional frameworks exist. Once this is achieved, there is very little room of maneuver left for those fighting against it.
Figure 2 shows the correlation between impunity and the CPI score
Research shows that the effects of corruption on access to justice are not felt equally across societies. It is often poor and marginalised groups that suffer most from corruption when seeking justice. Vulnerable people also find themselves at a disadvantage when bribes or political connections sway legal outcomes
Zambia’s performance and recommendations
For the first time in ten years, Zambia’s CPI score has improved, from 33 to 37 points, and the country currently ranks as 98th country in the world in the index (up from 116th in 2022). This follows a decade-long underperformance, in which the country’s score had progressively decreased from 38 in 2016 to 33 in 2020, and then had been stagnating at 33 for the past three years.
The rise of Zambia’s 2023 CPI score is due to improved performances measured by some of the independent data sources, such as the Bertelsmann Stiftung Transformation Index (+12), the Global Insight Country Risk Ratings (+12), and the Varieties of Democracy Project (+5). These measure, respectively, the extent to which corrupt public officers are prosecuted and the establishment of prevention mechanisms such as integrity committees; the risk of individuals or companies facing bribery or other corrupt practices in carrying out business; and the pervasive levels of political corruption.
The recent increase in Zambia’s CPI is thus a testament to some of the reforms and improvements that have been implemented during the last year, paving the way for higher levels of transparency observed within the country. These include the establishment of the Economics and Financial Crimes Court as well as integrity mechanisms such as Integrity Committees, gift policies and service charters which proliferated across many public institutions; reduced political corruption due to the elevation of the fight against corruption under the UPND Administration; and a general improvement in the bribery situation within the public sector, partly due to the roll-out of the Electronic Government Procedures (E-GP) in many institutions.
While recognizing these important steps forward, it is important to caution against excessive optimism and reflect on ways to consolidate the positive performance of this year. Indeed, while the CPI score has improved, Zambia’s score still falls significantly below the 50 global threshold. This is still unacceptably low, as it signals that corruption remains endemic in Zambia’s public sector. Many countries in the region such as Tanzania (40), South Africa (41), Namibia (49), Rwanda (53) and Botswana (59) performed better than Zambia in 2023 in their quest for transparency.
Moreover, sporadic year-to-year changes in the CPI score often occur and do not necessarily reflect a significant change in trend in the fight against corruption. A significant change in trend can be confirmed only after a sustained period of improvement. For this to happen, more needs to be done.
Figure 3 TI-Z Chapter President Priscilla Chikonde Chansa at the launch of the 2023 CPI in Lusaka
As TI-Z’s Chapter President Priscilla Chikonde Chansa had the opportunity to highlight during the official launch of the 2023 CPI results in Lusaka, the most pressing priority for Zambia’s is reforming the justice system. Recommendations addresses to the government concern, first, accelerating the implementation of the Access to Information Act No. 24 of 2023, in order to make justice more transparent in out-of-court settlements and enforcement, as well as to make legal procedures and administrative rules more open to public scrutiny. Second, strengthening the independence of the Zambian justice system and promoting cooperation among Law Enforcement Agencies and other stakeholders, to reduce the extent of political corruption and the prevalence of bribery. Third, accelerating corruption prevention efforts such as whistleblower protection and declaration of assets, interest and liabilities, especially for public officials in the public health system, regulatory agencies, the police service, and the court system. Fourth, enacting a Law to regulate political party and campaign financing and promoting merit-based appointments and recruitment.
Implementing this type of reforms will go a long way in consolidating Zambia’s positive performance in the 2023 CPI and confirming a change in trend from the past decade.
Reactions from stakeholders
At the launch event of the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index, Mrs. Thandiwe Daka Oteng, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Justice, welcomed the progressive findings from the 2023 CPI, expressing great pride and optimism: “this is indeed a significant milestone that reflects our government’s will to enhancing good governance and accountability by tackling corruption as well as engendering justice and rule of law”.
During the event, Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) Director General Thom Shamakamba highlighted the positive role played by the private sector’s involvement in fighting corruption, the Commission’s efforts toward recovery of ill-gotten assets, and the increase in public awareness activities on the negative effects of corruption; these also contributed to improving Zambia’s CPI score in 2023. During his speech, Mr. Shamakamba also mentioned some of the current projects implemented by the Commission, which partly address some of the recommendations already advanced by TI-Z and which will contribute to further increasing transparency levels in the country. These include the development of a Bill on Asset Declaration for all public officers, the upcoming launch of an online anonymous whistleblowing platform, the reviewing of the Public Interest Disclosure Act (Whistleblowing Act) of 2010 and the reviewing of the Anti-Corruption Act No. 3 of 2012 with a view of putting in place stiffer penalties for corrupt practices.
Outside of the event room, the reception of the 2023 CPI has been quite varied across the public. Many UPND supporters were happy to celebrate the result, which they see as a testament of President Hichilema’s long-professed quest to curb corruption.
The President himself was quick in reiterating his government’s commitment to continue this quest: “we’re committed to the fight against corruption until Zambia is among the top countries on this index”. Similar statements emerged from other members of the cabinet, such as Hon. Charles Milupi, Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development: the result “is an indication that we are heading in the right direction and of course, more needs to be done through the law enforcement offices.”
The opposition was more critical of the results, highlighting some of the ongoing corruption issues that are still endemic in Zambia’s public sector:
“I have just completed reading the 2023 report on corruption published by Transparency International. I had hoped that (…) the CPI would reflect that nearly all major public procurements have been done through direct bidding or single sourcing. This is a major source of concern by stakeholders as public funds are not being spent prudently, transparently and fairly.” - Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba, Member of Patriotic Front party.
The results were sometimes misinterpreted as a deliberate attempt by TI-Z to support the UPND government. Attempts to politically instrumentalize the CPI results were evident across the political spectrum, from the opposition calling into question the CPI validity to the ruling party defending TI-Z’s independence.
“The CPI is merely based on perceptions and not facts. In fact, the perceptions are on the number of cases that have been reported.” - Mr. Antonio Mwanza, Member of the Socialist Party.
“Transparency International Zambia, the anti-corruption watchdog institution of international repute is not swayed by any political party and has remained independent over the years. Therefore, the CPI results have vindicated President HH.” - Hon. Cornelius Mweetwa, Minister of Information and Media.
TI-Z’s online audience has been similarly divided across different factions, with UPND supporters claiming the result of the CPI as proof of the government’s success in fighting corruption, and opposition supporters questioning the result itself or TI-Z’s non-partisan stance; some also claimed that the result was elaborated to satisfy the agenda of international donors, who financially support TI-Z.
A more nuanced stance was taken by the representatives of civil society and of the international financial and technical partners: while recognizing the important achievement, many stressed that the 2023 score is still unacceptably low and that the road ahead remains long.
“Despite progress on these, the government is not talking about citizen engagement in the fight against corruption and service delivery and should clarify if this is what they will also focus on going forward.” - Mr. Robert Liebenthal, Partnership for Transparency Fund.
“Interestingly, today’s Transparency International Zambia launch of the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) has corroborated the findings of the 2022 Zambia Bribe Payers Index (ZBPI) Survey Report. The 2022 ZBPI showed an overall percentage point decrease of 0.8 in the likelihood of paying a bribe solicited by a public officer from any public institution, when compared to 2019. Not a bad trajectory, but we can surely do much better, innit.” - Mr. Mbinji Mufalo, Governance Research Consultant.
To conclude, we present the words of Mr. Rueben Lifuka, a long-serving member of TI-Z and Chair of the International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC):
“I would like to congratulate TI-Z and the government of Zambia on the improvements made on the CPI. It is important that as a country we invest in integrity-building despite progressive efforts in the legal and policy reforms. There is need to look into changing the behaviour of the people with regards integrity.”
