International Secretariat
Alt-Moabit 96
10559 Berlin, Germany
Tel: +49 30 34 38 200
Fax: +49 30 34 70 39 12
ti@transparency.org
www.transparency.org
Berlin, 16 April 2025
Mr President Hakainde Hichilema
President of the Republic of Zambia
Lusaka, Zambia
Subject: Advancing Political Finance Reform in Zambia Ahead of the 2026 Elections
Dear Mr President,
It is my pleasure to address you one year since our encounter in Lusaka, when we exchanged views on the actions of your government to tackle corruption effectively.
I have followed with interest the recent analysis of Transparency International Zambia that links some reforms promoted by your government to lower perceptions of corruption in your country. Among them, the digitisation of mining licencing applications and enhanced beneficial ownership requirements in procurement are examples of building a more transparent business environment.
Allow me to echo Transparency International Zambia’s recommendations for your country to continue in this growth path, in particular transparency and accountability reforms Zambians need to make informed choices at the 2026 General Elections.
By ending secrecy in the funding of political parties, the much-expected Political Party Bill could, as we discussed in Lusaka last year, close opportunities for exchange of favours between politics and undue interests and minimize risks of corruption. Such transparency can in turn enhance trust between the people of Zambia and their leaders.
In the summer of last year, Transparency International Zambia facilitated a dialogue leading to multi- party consensus among 35 political parties over critical political finance provisions within the proposed Political Parties Bill. The draft bill proposes the establishment of a Political Parties Fund to support political parties’ functioning with public funding, as well as the establishment of a Registrar of Political Parties Office to monitor and supervise they do so in compliance with democratic norms. The bill also introduces minimum accountability and transparency requirements for private funding.
The draft could certainly be further improved. For instance, by mandating the publication of data online, in timeframes that enable accountability to voters, and in accessible formats prescribed by the Registrar. Furthermore, the bill could extend the same reporting obligations to candidates as those for political parties; and must include a clear set of administrative and criminal liabilities for failure to comply with the law.
We urge your government to capitalize on these efforts from civil society, and make this draft your own by reviewing, improving and tabling a bill with Parliament -so it can be debated, passed and enacted in time for the 2026 elections.
We make ourselves available to support the Ministry of Justice both in the technical aspects of drafting the bill, as well as to encouraging public input from all concerned stakeholders to its parliamentary debate.
By enacting this reform, Zambia can further its commitment to transparency and accountability, positioning itself as an example of good governance in the region. We stand ready to assist you and your government in this important endeavour.
Looking beyond national reforms, I respectfully encourage your government to consider taking a leading role in the international arena by championing transparency in political finance at the upcoming Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC CoSP) in Doha, Qatar. Zambia’s leadership in tabling and supporting a resolution on political finance transparency would not only reflect its commitment to democratic accountability but also inspire similar efforts across the region and globally.
Yours sincerely,
François Valérian
Chair,
Transparency International
chair@transparency.org
