11.07.25
Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) joins the African Union and citizens across the continent in commemorating Africa Anti-Corruption Day 2025, under the theme:
“Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight against Corruption.”
This year’s theme serves as a powerful reminder that corruption is not merely a governance failure, but a direct attack on the dignity, rights, and well-being of the people. Every act of corruption diverts resources from essential public services, denies citizens their right to quality public goods, and deepens poverty and inequality. It is the poor and vulnerable who suffer most when public funds meant for health, education, water, infrastructure, or social protection are misused or embezzled.
As TI-Z, we are of the firm belief that the fight against corruption is inseparable from the fight for justice and equity. Our work under the Public Resource Management (PRM) thematic area aims to ensure that public funds are used transparently, equitably, and in ways that respond to the actual needs of communities. In 2025, this work has included monitoring the implementation of the Constituency Development Funds (CDF) across selected districts through Third Party Monitoring (TPM), amplifying citizen voices in public finance processes, and demanding stronger accountability from duty bearers. Through promoting public participation in the budget process, debt transparency, effective delivery of public services, and independent auditing, we seek to ensure that no Zambian is left behind due to financial mismanagement or corruption.
Our experience has shown that communities are ready and willing to engage in governance processes, but they often lack access to essential information or meaningful platforms to hold public officials accountable. Therefore, strengthening citizen participation and ensuring responsiveness from public institutions is essential to rebuilding trust in public institutions and upholding the dignity of all citizens.
TI-Z remains fully committed to the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption (AUCPCC), which Zambia ratified in 2007. However, commitments alone are not enough. The gap between policy commitments and implementation continues to widen. This is characterized by the lack of legislation to effectively regulate political party financing, limited autonomy of oversight and anti-corruption agencies, limited protection of whistleblowers, and delayed operationalization of the access to information law, among others.
We take this day as an opportunity to call on the Government to prioritize reforms that strengthen transparency, responsiveness, and equity in the use of public resources. We also urge the administration to reaffirm their campaign promise that every Zambian, regardless of political affiliation, geographic location, or economic status, deserves to benefit from national development. In addition, we also encourage citizens to remain active, informed, and courageous in demanding accountability at all levels of governance and public service delivery.
This year’s Africa Anti-Corruption Day must not be a ceremonial reflection, but a renewed commitment to action. Promoting human dignity through accountable public resource management is not an option but a duty. In doing so, we can build a Zambia anchored on citizens, businesses and institutions of integrity.
Maurice K. Nyambe (Mr.)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
