Watchdog or Target




... TI-Z condemns the arrest of Lawrence Makumbi, warning it threatens civic freedom and accountability over public funds

By Francis Maingaila ♥️

Lusaka, Zambia24 - (8 May 2025) — Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) has condemned the arrest and continued detention of Cleaning Association of Zambia President Lawrence Makumbi, calling it an alarming attack on public accountability and free expression.

Makumbi was arrested on 6th May 2025 and remains in custody at Ridgeway Police Station in Lusaka.

He is facing two counts of criminal libel over public remarks he made regarding alleged procurement irregularities at Zambia Airports Corporation Limited (ZACL).

TI-Z has emphasized that Makumbi spoke in his official capacity as head of an industry association—not as a private citizen—raising serious concerns about the criminalization of public interest advocacy.

“Arresting a stakeholder for questioning how public money is spent, especially when there is documented evidence of irregularities, is deeply disturbing,” said TI-Z Executive Director Maurice Nyambe.

“This case represents a broader pattern of silencing voices that demand transparency.”

Nyambe cited the 2023 Auditor General’s Report on Parastatals, which highlighted procurement irregularities at ZACL, as evidence that Makumbi’s concerns were not unfounded.

Public attention around the issue intensified after Hot FM’s Red Hot Breakfast Show reported that ZACL awarded a K22 million cleaning contract to Caribian Investment Limited—a company reportedly without a track record in the cleaning sector and the highest bidder for the job.

TI-Z further criticized law enforcement for denying Makumbi police bond, allegedly because the officer in charge would only be available on 9th May—beyond the 24-hour legal requirement for bond or court appearance.

“If true, this is a serious violation of Makumbi’s constitutional rights and a troubling sign of procedural abuse,” Nyambe stated.

The organization is calling for Makumbi’s immediate release and a thorough investigation into the ZACL contract in question.

TI-Z warns that the continued suppression of whistleblowers and stakeholders undermines public trust and weakens Zambia’s anti-corruption framework.

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