The Right to Information (RTI) is essential for good governance as it strengthens anti-corruption measures by reducing secrecy, increasing the risk of exposure, and enabling legal and political accountability. While corruption schemes exploit opaque procurement, fragmented oversight, and inaccessible records, RTI laws are intended to mitigate these corruption risks by making decision-making transparent for citizens, the media, and oversight institutions.
Therefore, RTI measures such as mandatory disclosures and routine openness increase the likelihood that illicit transactions will be detected, thereby raising the expected cost of corrupt behaviour. Furthermore, access rights empower citizens, civil society, journalists, auditors, and courts to demand explanations, initiate proceedings and obtain remedies. RTI also underpins transparent systems for procurement, budgeting, and asset declaration, thereby preventing corruption from becoming institutionalised. Studies in Africa link stronger RTI regimes and implementation to reduced opportunities for the abuse of public power, although the effect depends on enforcement, institutional capacity, budget allocations, and civic mobilisation.
This policy brief draws on the comparative research report on South Africa and Zambia and translates its legal and implementation findings into policy recommendations for Southern Africa.
