Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) is gravely concerned by the arrest and continued detention of Mr. Lawrence Makumbi, President of the Cleaning Association of Zambia, who was taken into custody on Tuesday, 6th May 2025 and is currently being held at Ridgeway Police Station in Lusaka.
Mr. Makumbi is facing two counts of criminal libel following public commentaries he made regarding alleged procurement irregularities at Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL). Notably, his statements were made in his capacity as Chairperson of an industry stakeholder association, not in his personal capacity. This raises serious concerns about the use of criminal charges to respond to matters that could otherwise be addressed through open and meaningful dialogue or civil recourse.
According to publicly available information, the 2023 Auditor General’s Report on Parastatals flagged several irregularities at ZACL, highlighting the need for institutional accountability. Additionally, recent coverage by Hot FM’s Red Hot Breakfast Show brought to light a controversial K22 million contract awarded by ZACL to Caribian Investment Limited, a company reportedly lacking traceable experience in the cleaning sector. The company was reportedly the highest bidder for a contract to provide cleaning services at Zambia’s international airports, raising serious concerns about the transparency and cost-effectiveness of the procurement process. These circumstances have fueled public interest and concern, prompting civil society and the media to call for further scrutiny and accountability.
TI-Z is particularly troubled by the fact that, following his arrest, Mr. Makumbi was denied police bond on the grounds that the officer in charge would allegedly only be available on 9th May—well beyond the 24-hour window prescribed by law for either bond or court appearance. If accurate, this development undermines constitutional protections against arbitrary detention and suggests procedural irregularities.
While TI-Z does not take a position on the truthfulness or legality of the statements made by Mr. Makumbi, nor does it make any pronouncement regarding the Zambia Airports Corporation or its Board Chairperson, we are deeply concerned about the broader implications this case has for whistleblower protection and the use of criminal law to respond to public interest discourse. The escalation from civil to criminal proceedings in this context risks setting a dangerous precedent for freedom of expression and anti-corruption efforts in Zambia.
Taking all this into account, TI-Z:
- Urges the Zambia Police Service to ensure that Mr. Makumbi’s constitutional rights are respected and that due process is followed, including the lawful granting of bond or timely presentation to court;
- Calls for restraint in the use of criminal defamation laws in circumstances where public interest reporting or whistleblower disclosures are involved;
- Encourages the government to expedite the amendment of the Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act No. 4 of 2010 in order to safeguard those who expose suspected wrongdoing in good faith;
- Reaffirms the need to strengthen oversight of public procurement in all parastatals, ensuring that taxpayer funds are used transparently and efficiently.
As a civil society organization dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability, TI-Z will continue to advocate for the creation of a governance environment where stakeholders—including media, professional associations, and ordinary citizens—can raise concerns without fear of reprisal.
Maurice K. Nyambe (Mr.)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
