Transparency International Zambia warns funding for anti-corruption war still short despite increase (video)

Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) has expressed concern that, despite an upward adjustment, the allocation to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) remained insufficient to meet the Commission’s operational and strategic needs.

The ACC has been allocated K199.96 million in 2026, reflecting an 11.1 percent increase from 2025.
TI-Z Executive Director Maurice Nyambe, speaking to the media on Thursday, called for greater investment in investigations, prosecutions, and asset recovery to ensure that more arrests translate into convictions and deterrence.

Nyambe said that while the increase appeared positive, it fell short of the current inflation rate of 12.3 percent, effectively reducing the Commission’s purchasing power.

He noted that 65.9 percent of the budget was absorbed by personal emoluments, leaving limited resources for investigations, prosecutions, and preventive work.

“The ACC’s own recent performance data illustrates why this matters. Between 2021 and June 2025, the Commission recorded arrests, convictions, and significant asset recoveries,” Nyambe said.

He highlighted 2024 as the best-performing year, with 25 convictions and asset recoveries valued at K241.5 million, demonstrating what was possible when investigations were pursued effectively and adequately resourced.

However, he noted that this success contrasted with other years where conviction rates and forfeitures were much lower, highlighting the inconsistency caused by underfunding and capacity gaps.

“We are also deeply concerned that despite a small increase in the allocation for corruption prevention and education, the number of planned public education activities has dropped from 202 in 2025 to just 60 in 2026,” Nyambe said.

He stressed that this reduction was a major step backwards, as lasting success in the fight against corruption depends not only on arrests and prosecutions but also on fostering a culture of integrity among citizens.

Nyambe called for budget allocations that match med or exceeded inflation to safeguard the ACC’s operational capacity and for the restoration and expansion of public education programmes to build long-term citizen resilience against corruption.

He also urged stronger collaboration between the ACC and other law enforcement agencies to ensure that cases were concluded efficiently and without duplication.

“The lesson from 2024 is clear. When adequately supported, the ACC can deliver meaningful results, both in convictions and in recovering public resources,” Nyambe said.

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