By 
Green Economy and Environment Minister, Mike Mposha, has issued a stern warning to officers at the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) against corruption, poor work culture, and absenteeism.
Mposha said he was deeply concerned by reports that some ZEMA officers were soliciting bribes from project applicants by deliberately delaying approvals.
During an impromptu visit to ZEMA Headquarters in Lusaka on Monday, the minister expressed disappointment after finding only a handful of employees present out of a workforce of nearly 100.
He said the persistent delays in approving projects, particularly Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), were partly due to poor punctuality and lack of seriousness among staff.
Mposha emphasized that President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration expected ZEMA to function as a facilitator of national development, not a bottleneck.
“When investors complain that ZEMA takes too long to approve projects, it’s because officers are not in the office on time. We cannot attract investment if we continue inconveniencing clients,” Mposha warned.
He condemned such conduct as a form of corruption that undermined government credibility and development efforts.
“I am extremely disappointed that some officers are extorting money from clients. Some deliberately delay decisions to pressure clients into paying bribes. That is corruption, and it must stop immediately,” he said.
Mposha cautioned that officers found engaging in such practices will face legal and disciplinary action.
He added that the surprise inspection, initially intended to check punctuality and discipline, instead revealed worrying levels of laxity.
“This visit was meant to surprise you, but I ended up surprising myself. Out of nearly 100 employees, very few were present. This is unacceptable for an institution of such national importance,” he stated.
The minister also criticized late reporting, noting that many offices were still locked past 8:20 a.m. while clients waited to be served.
“Our President works tirelessly — even on weekends and late into the night. If the President and Cabinet can sacrifice their rest for the country, what excuse do we have for reporting late? This government does not recognize 17 hours as the end of duty,” Mposha said.
He reminded staff that ZEMA operated under the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment and was not an independent institution beyond ministerial oversight.
Mposha further criticized ZEMA for failing to respond swiftly to environmental violations, citing illegal mining and pollution along the Kafue River and on the Copperbelt as cases of neglect.
“I recently visited the Copperbelt and found people excavating tailings along the Kafue River. Such negligence poses a serious threat to our water sources. Yet ZEMA officers claim to be unaware,” he said.
He directed inspectors to take full responsibility for environmental issues in their respective areas and warned that those who fail to act will be held personally accountable.
“If I visit an area and find pollution or illegal activities, the inspectors responsible for that region will answer. You cannot be sitting in the office while people’s lives are at risk,” Mposha said.
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