The 2021 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) reveals that the fight against corruption has
stagnated worldwide at a time when human rights and democracy are also under attack.
This is no coincidence. Corruption enables human rights abuses. Conversely,
ensuring basic rights and freedoms means there is less space for corruption to go
unchallenged. Transparency International’s research shows a strong correlation between
anti-corruption and respect for human rights, and that very few countries have managed
to establish effective control of corruption without also respecting human rights.
The 2021 CPI shows that, out of the 180 countries assessed, 154 countries, representing
86%, have either declined or made no significant progress in tackling corruption in the
last decade, while 27 countries are at historic lows in their scores. Zambia is one of these
countries. Zambia’s CPI score has steadily declined from 38/100 in 2016 to 33/100 in
- The 2021 CPI results have revealed that the score and rank have been maintained
at 33/100 and 117/180 respectively, as compared to 2020.
A more detailed analysis of the nine (9) underlying data sources, which inform the CPI
score for Zambia, indicates that Zambia’s score would have likely declined, if not for the
change of regime. The only data source that showed an improvement is called the
Varieties of Democracy Project, and measures the pervasive nature of political corruption
in the three arms of government. The data suggests that political corruption was likely
disrupted following a change of the political players due to a change of
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government. This does not necessarily mean that the new government has implemented
any measures that have prevented the score from getting worse. Rather, the mere
change of political players necessitated by the change of government presented a
disruption in the political system, and that was enough to influence a significant positive
score on that particular data source. The maintained score therefore presents an
opportunity for the new regime to begin turning the tide and implement anti-corruption
measures that are going to improve the corruption situation in Zambia. This is possible
as evidenced by Malawi where the CPI score increased by 5 points in 2021 as compared
to 2020.
Transparency International Zambia therefore calls upon the Zambian Government to
uphold human rights and the rights needed to hold duty bearers to account by rolling back
any restrictions on freedom of expression, association and assembly introduced by the
previous regime. This includes reforming the Public Order Act and amending the
Constitution. Government and Law Enforcement Agencies should also partner with global
and regional financial and anti-corruption agencies in order to close legal loopholes,
regulate professional enablers of financial crimes and ensure that the corrupt and their
accomplices do not escape justice.
Tangible steps to restore and strengthen institutional checks on those holding power must
also be taken by guaranteeing the independence of public investigative and oversight
bodies such as the Anti-Corruption Commission and Office of the Auditor General. As the
Government scales up its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, there is also need to
uphold the right to information and introduce anti-corruption safeguards in public
procurement in order to maximize transparency, protect public resources and save lives.
TI-Z believes that putting all these measures in place will go a long way in addressing the
corruption problem in Zambia, and we stand ready to work with all stakeholders in
achieving that goal.
IT IS NOW MY HONOUR TO DECLARE THE 2021 CPI REPORT FOR ZAMBIA
OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED!
