 | This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
Despite several steps taken by the previous government in order to fightcorruption inZambia, there has not been a dramatic improvement in the public perception of anti-corruption efforts over the past years.Corruption remains pervasive in the country, yet in April 2014 the Business Anti-Corruption Portal reported that the situation in Zambia is relatively better than that of other countries in the region.[citation needed]
In 2007, Zambia ratified the United Nations Convention Against Corruption, committing to address and tackle corruption on all levels.[1] OnTransparency International's 2007Corruption Perceptions Index, the Corruption Perceptions Index for Zambia was 2.6 out of 10 on a scale from 0 ("high levels of perceived corruption") to 10 ("low levels of perceived corruption").[1]
In 2024, Zambia scored 39 on a scale from 0 ("highly corrupt") to 100 ("very clean"). When ranked by score, Zambia ranked 92nd among the 180 countries in the Index, where the country ranked first is perceived to have the most honest public sector.[2] For comparison with regional scores, the average score among sub-Saharan African countries[Note 1] was 33. The best score in sub-Saharan Africa was 72 and the worst score was 8.[3] For comparison with worldwide scores, the best score was 90 (ranked 1), the average score was 43, and the worst score was 8 (ranked 180).[4]
Unnecessarily long and complicated administrative procedures are common inZambia's business environment, leading many companies to operate in theinformal sector. The risk of widespread use offacilitation payments is also high due to the bureaucratic procedures for obtaining licences.[5]
Political corruption is seen as the most prevalent, specifically bribery. According to the Global Corruption Barometer Africa 2019 survey by Transparency International, 18% of public service users have paid a bribe in the past twelve months.[6]
Britain, Finland, Ireland and Sweden stopped their financial aid which was $34 million to Zambia due to corruption andfinancial mismanagement in 2018. A year later, Britain urged Zambia to take serious measures to fight corruption to get financial assistance.[7]
