Salutations
Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen. Allow me to also extend a warm welcome to you all to this very important launch of the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index. As we have seen from the results, the 2023 Corruption Perceptions Index reveals that only 28 countries around the world have significantly improved their transparency levels. For 34 countries out of 180, the situation has in fact gotten significantly worse, while in an overwhelming two-thirds of countries globally, there has actually been a stagnation. What these overall results tell us is that progress made in strengthening the legislative frameworks and implementing anti-corruption measures at different levels has often failed to reflect real and significant improvements on the ground, suggesting that there remains yet more work for all of us gathered in this room if the war against corruption is to be won
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, the theme of the 2023 CPI Report is “Corruption and Injustice,” and the analysis has revealed that a global trend of weakening justice systems is reducing accountability for public officials, which has allowed corruption to thrive. We have also established that corruption and the rule of law are closely intertwined: when justice can be bought or be politically interfered with, laws stop applying equally to all, and serving private interests rather than the common good becomes the norm.
This year’s CPI also shows mixed results in Africa, with significant improvements in a few countries. However, most African countries showed stagnation, and this resulted in the continent maintaining its consistently poor performance at global level, with an average continental average score of 33/100. However, some positive developments have been observed for individual cases. In 2023, a record 5 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have achieved their highest ever CPI scores, including Seychelles (71), the top performer on the continent, and our neighbour Tanzania, at 40/100. Another neighbouring country, Angola, retains the record for the best 5-year improvement in the CPI score globally, jumping up 14 points since 2018Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, the results also portray an encouraging picture for Zambia, with the country improving its CPI score for the first time in a decade. The 2023 CPI Score for Zambia has improved from 33/100 in 2022 to 37/100 in 2023, and consequently improving the rank by 18 places, from 116/180 countries in 2022 to 98/180 countries in 2023. Zambia’s corruption situation is now comparable to the year 2017 when the CPI score was at 37/100. This means that the current administration’s policy pronouncements and actions against corruption, in collaboration with all other stakeholders, while not perfect, have contributed to a reversal of the past 6 years when Zambia’s score has been in decline.
It is however important to note that this 4-point improvement in the CPI Score for Zambia, although unprecedented and therefore worth commending, does not mean that the prevalence of corruption has reduced to zero. It certainly does not mean that government and other stakeholders should relax when it comes to fighting corruption. Corruption continues to be endemic in Zambia as the country remains an under performer in the sub-region. Countries such as Tanzania (40), South Africa (41), Namibia (49), Rwanda (53) and Botswana (59) all performed better than Zambia in 2023. Zambia should therefore continue on this path of progress by further improving the legal, policy and institutional frameworks; strengthening governance institutions; and scaling up the implementation of corruption prevention measures at all levels.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, A more detailed analysis of the data sources used to derive the CPI score for Zambia reveals that the Bertelsmann Stiftung Transformation Index (+12), the Global Insight Country Risk Ratings (+12) and the Varieties of Democracy Project (+5) all recorded significant improvements, while the
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African Development Bank Country Policy and Institutional Assessment (-2) recorded a marginal decline. The rest of the indicators remained constant. Through our local analysis of these data sources, we have attributed the 2023 CPI improvement to the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Court; the proliferation of Integrity mechanisms such as Integrity Committees, gift policies and service charters; the reduction in the risk of bribery in the business environment; and minimal reductions in political corruption. TI-Z therefore calls on the current administration, and all other stakeholders to do everything in their power to build on these improvements in order to continue the trajectory of improvement in all these data sources.
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to now give more specific key recommendations in line with the 2023 CPI findings for Zambia.
- The Government should accelerate 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.
- The Government should take action to limit excessive patronage, nepotism, job reservations, exchange of favours, secret party funding and suspiciously close ties between politics and business, through enacting a law to regulate political party and campaign financing, and promoting merit-based appointments and recruitment.
- The Government should accelerate corruption prevention efforts such as whistle-blower protection and declaration of assets, interest and liabilities, especially for public officials in central government, the public health system, regulatory agencies, the police service, and the court system.
- The Government should expand avenues for accountability in grand corruption in order to further reduce political corruption and the prevalence of bribery. This can be achieved through strengthening the independence of the justice system and promoting cooperation among Law Enforcement Agencies and other stakeholders in the Justice System
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It is our conviction that implementing these recommendations will contribute towards more favourable anti-corruption outcomes arising from an improved policy, legal, and institutional framework for the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance. As TI-Z, we reiterate our continued commitment and availability to collaborate with government and all other stakeholders in fighting corruption, and we call on you all to wage this war with us.
It is now my honour and privilege to declare the 2023 Corruption Perception Index for Zambia officially launched!
I thank you!
