Zambia’s CDF Bribery Woes
Lusaka, Zambia – March 26, 2025
The 2024 Zambia Bribe Payers Index (ZBPI) Survey Report has raised alarm over a disturbing trend in the country’s corruption levels, particularly within the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects.
The report, launched by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in partnership with Transparency International Zambia (TIZ), reveals a significant rise in bribery, intensifying the urgency of tackling corruption at all levels of governance.
Patrick Kangwa, the Secretary to the Cabinet, led the launch of the ZBPI Report 2024 and expressed serious concerns over the rising bribery rates.
According to the report, bribery has increased from 10.1% in 2022 to 15.3% in 2024, showing a worsening trend in both the public and private sectors.
“This is sad reading,” Kangwa remarked during his keynote address, reflecting the gravity of the situation.
“Corruption remains one of the most critical barriers to Zambia’s economic and social development, as it diverts valuable resources that should be spent on improving public services and infrastructure.”
Kangwa reaffirmed that the government is taking decisive steps to address these issues but acknowledged that there is still much work to be done.
The rise in bribery within CDF projects, Kangwa noted, is particularly concerning. The CDF was intended to decentralize development efforts and empower communities by giving them control over local resources.
However, the decentralization process has, in some instances, created new opportunities for corruption. Kangwa called for a re-examination of the current system to mitigate these risks.
“The rise in bribery highlights the fact that while decentralization can bring about more localized decision-making, it has also spread the risks of corruption from Lusaka to district levels,” Kangwa explained.
“While this allows for more localized control, it also creates new challenges in monitoring and ensuring accountability.”
He stressed that decentralization, although beneficial in many ways, has unfortunately made monitoring more complex and increased the chances of corrupt practices in CDF allocations.
Kangwa emphasized the government's determination to take corrective actions, focusing on strengthening transparency and accountability in the CDF process.
He announced that one of the key measures would include more robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks across all districts to ensure CDF funds are used as intended.
“The government is committed to intensifying efforts through comprehensive policy reforms and strengthening anti-corruption mechanisms. We are determined to implement measures that ensure better oversight and transparency in the allocation of these critical resources,” Kangwa said.
Kangwa closed the event with a powerful call to action. He urged citizens to take a stand against corruption and called on all government officials to act as role models in rejecting bribery.
“Corruption can only be tackled when everyone, including citizens and government officials, rejects it,” Kangwa declared. “We cannot afford to let this culture of bribery undermine our progress as a nation.”
Kangwa acknowledged the importance of the ZBPI Report 2024 in guiding government efforts.
He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that public services are delivered fairly, efficiently, and transparently.
“We remain determined to address corruption wherever it exists and restore the faith of the Zambian people in their government,” Kangwa concluded.
Justice Evans Hamaundu (RTD), Chairperson of the ACC Board, echoed Kangwa’s sentiments and highlighted the specific nature of the corruption highlighted by the survey.
Hamaundu expressed concern that political corruption, bribery, and nepotism were rampant in the selection of beneficiaries for CDF projects, leading to unfair practices.
The report revealed that local leaders have been exploiting their positions for personal gain, further deepening the trust deficit among citizens.
“Corruption is not only a financial crime but also an obstacle to the growth and development of the country. It compromises the very purpose of decentralization,” Hamaundu said.
“The aim was to ensure equitable development, but instead, corruption in the selection of beneficiaries has undermined this effort.”
Hamaundu also emphasized that despite the negative findings, some positive developments have emerged in sectors where the ACC has implemented anti-corruption initiatives.
In particular, he noted that corruption levels had decreased in some government institutions due to the ACC’s ongoing interventions.
He called for further efforts in ensuring that these positive changes are replicated in the CDF implementation process.
“Through our investigations and enforcement efforts, we have seen some reductions in corruption in various sectors, but this is not enough. We need to expand our efforts and create an environment where corruption cannot thrive,” Hamaundu stated.
“That is why the ACC has made it a priority to open new offices in Sesheke, Kasempa, Mbala, and Chingola to extend our reach in monitoring CDF projects at the grassroots level.”
Mrs. Daphne Pauline Soko Chabu, the Director-General of the ACC, also addressed the concerns raised in the report.
She pointed out that the growing bribery rates within CDF projects have highlighted the need for greater accountability in how public funds are allocated and utilized.
“We cannot ignore the role of public servants in perpetuating this system of bribery and corruption,” Mrs. Chabu said.
“There must be transparency in the selection of projects, in the allocation of funds, and in the monitoring and execution of these projects.”
She emphasized that civil society organizations, development partners, and the media all have crucial roles to play in holding both the government and the public sector accountable.
“The media, civil society, and the public must continue to raise awareness about corruption and ensure that everyone is held accountable,” Mrs. Chabu added.
Mrs. Chabu also stressed that the anti-corruption message should not only be about enforcement but about promoting behavioral change.
The ACC, she noted, has been engaging in campaigns to educate the public and officials about the damaging effects of corruption on Zambia’s social and economic well-being.
The launch of the 2024 ZBPI Report serves as a critical reminder of the challenges Zambia faces in the fight against corruption, particularly within the decentralization process.
While there are steps being taken to address the issues, the battle against corruption remains a long-term endeavor that requires sustained effort from all sectors of society.
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