Transparency International Zambia is excited to join the Anti-Corruption Commission for this important launch of the “No Bribes But Fines” campaign. From the onset, we would like to commend the ACC for this innovative initiative, and for continuing to take the lead in the anti-corruption fight in Zambia, as per their constitutionally given mandate. As many of you here will know, corruption in Zambia takes many forms, one of the most common ones of which is bribery. It is also very evident that bribery has and continues to occur in different sectors and contexts, making it paramount for us as different stakeholders to devise effective ways and means of addressing it.
One of the most common areas where bribery has taken root has been on our roads in general, and in the day-to-day interaction between the traffic police and motorists in particular. This bribery has been largely fuelled by the prevalence of loosely regulated institutional environments, which have created opportunities for day-to-day corruption to take place on our roads. While the traffic section of the Zambia Police Service has shouldered much of the negative public perception about this situation, the saying that “it takes two to tango” is very applicable in this scenario. Members of the public in general, and motorists in particular, have in many cases been equal and willing parties in perpetuating traffic-related bribery in a bid to either circumvent traffic regulations or escape punishment for road traffic offences they have committed. This has resulted in the perpetuation of a culture of bribery, which has had the negative effect of putting a price tag on wrongdoing on our roads. In other words, rather than serving as a deterrent for traffic offences, the official fines for those offences have been used as a baseline for negotiating lower bribery payments that have allowed culprit motorists to get away with those offences.
Ladies and gentlemen, some of you may be aware that TI-Z, in collaboration with the ACC, conducts the Zambia Bribe Payers Index study, and previous results from this study have consistently highlighted traffic-related bribery as one of the most common aspects of the corruption problem that we have been grappling with for so long as a country. It is therefore not surprising that the traffic section of the Zambia Police Service is widely perceived by members of the public to be at the centre of this undesirable situation. TI-Z is therefore excited to note that the Police Service is part of the Campaign being launched today, and we believe the fact that the High Command is represented here shows the importance that the Police Service attaches to changing the negative perception that exists among members of the public.
It is worth mentioning that arising from the results of previous Bribe Payers’ Index studies, TI-Z and the Zambia Police Service have been working collaboratively to
address some of the factors contributing to traffic-related bribery. For instance, we recently launched the Police Ethics Training Module and Service Charters to promote integrity and professional standards among new recruits in the Police Service. Through these modules, recruits are educated from the onset on the
moral and ethical issues that exist within policing practices, and we are confident hat over time, this will contribute towards a reduction of traffic-related bribery in
Zambia. But while these interventions are commendable, it is important to note the need for more concerted efforts from different stakeholders if we are to
address the issue more comprehensively.
It is for this reason that the “No Bribes But Fines” campaign is an important intervention that will contribute to the broader fight against corruption in Zambia. We commend the ACC for their continued public awareness interventions to curb corruption in different sectors, and we urge all well-meaning Zambians to support the Commission in this endeavour. The fight against corruption is not just for the ACC alone, or for TI-Z or the Zambia Police Service. Rather, it requires the involvement of everyone, including and especially members of the public, who should take it as their civic responsibility to report corruption whenever and wherever they see it.
As I conclude, allow me to reiterate TI-Z’s continued commitment to work with the ACC, the Zambia Police Service, and other stakeholders in ridding our
country of bribery. We look forward to playing a key role in the “No Bribes But Fines” campaign, and we are confident that the campaign will yield positive results that will contribute to a better Zambia for all of us.
I thank you for your attention, and may God bless us all.
Maurice K. Nyambe (Mr.)
Executive Director
Transparency International Zambia
