TIZ Turns Spotlight on SONA

The transparency watchdog urges Hichilema to advocates for openness, credible elections, and active citizen participation.

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 

Lusaka, Zambia24  - (11 September 2025) – Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) has urged President Hakainde Hichilema to use Friday’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) to announce clear, time-bound measures that respond to Zambia’s deepening governance, economic, and electoral challenges.

Zanji Sinkala, TI-Z Communications Officer, said citizens and civil society want more than assurances. 

“People expect practical commitments that directly tackle Zambia’s most pressing problems,” she said.

She urged the President to withdraw Bill No. 7 and initiate an inclusive, transparent reform process that reflects national consensus.

Sinkala also pressed for swift enactment of the revised Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act and full rollout of the National Anti-Corruption Policy to strengthen institutions and curb graft.

On leadership accountability, TI-Z called for public disclosure of assets by the President and Cabinet ministers, alongside a permanent framework to entrench transparency beyond the current government.

With the 2026 elections approaching, Sinkala stressed the urgency of clarifying the Public Gatherings Bill and the Political Parties Bill, which she said are vital to protecting political freedoms and ensuring a fair electoral environment.

She acknowledged the passage of the Access to Information (ATI) Act in July but said its impact depends on operationalising ATI offices, raising public awareness, and putting in place accountability mechanisms.

Sinkala further highlighted economic hardships, pointing to rising living costs, food insecurity, unemployment, power shortages, and debt concerns. 

She said the SONA should present strategies for recovery while cushioning vulnerable groups.

TI-Z also called for stronger public participation in decision-making, citing Zambia’s poor ranking in the 2023 Open Budget Survey, and urged government to open budget and planning processes to wider citizen involvement.

On resource governance, Sinkala said the address must tackle environmental sustainability, mining oversight, and the power crisis, assuring the public that natural wealth will be managed responsibly while advancing renewable energy solutions.

“The SONA is not just a formality,” she concluded. 

“It is an opportunity for the President to prove his political will, restore confidence, and safeguard national resources.”