Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) has expressed concerns over the UPND administration’s approach to fighting corruption, citing an excessive focus on civil forfeitures and limited prosecution of cases during its third year in power.
Speaking during the quarter 3 press briefing, TI-Z Chapter President Priscilla Chansa said that while the organization supports the recovery of plundered public resources, it believes that the current approach does not provide a strong enough deterrent against future corruption.
Chansa says that the forfeiture approach should be part of a wider effort to prosecute those suspected of corruption, highlighting that the Forfeiture of Proceeds of Crime Act provides for conviction-based forfeitures.
She has emphasized that this should be the foremost approach to fighting corruption in Zambia.
The TI-Z Chapter President also raised concerns about the effectiveness of the Financial Intelligence Center (FIC), noting that out of 102 cases disseminated to Law Enforcement Agencies, only one case ended in a conviction, while most cases are still under investigation or in court.
TIZ additionally analyzed the Auditor General’s Special Audit Report on External Public Debt, which Chansa says reveals that the government was not transparent about the state of public debt, despite calls from stakeholders for greater disclosure.
Furthermore, TI-Z has called on President Hakainde Hichilema to expedite the process of appointing a new Director General and Board at the Anti-Corruption Commission, addressing the leadership vacuum and creating confidence among stakeholders involved in the fight against corruption.
She recommends a comprehensive anti-corruption strategy that promotes transparency, accountability, and good governance.