ACC Boasts 6-Point Improvement in Corruption Perceptions Index Since 2022

Zambia’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) score increased from 33 to 39 between 2022 and the 2024, the Anti-Corruption Commission’s Corporate Communications Unit shared in a press release on Monday.

Rather than recording documented instances of corruption, the CPI measures how a country is perceived, which has a resulting impact on reputation and soft power. The press release also noted that Zambia was one of just 32 countries to have significantly reduced corruption levels over the past decade.

CPI scores are percentages, with 0 indicating rampant corruption and 100 denoting a perfect record. This illustrates that while there is still plenty of work to be done, Zambians can be proud of significant strides made to clean up the political system in recent years.

In the press release, the ACC declared that this progress was the result of “ongoing anti-corruption efforts by the Zambian Government and the ACC. These efforts include strengthening anti-corruption strategies and interventions, enhancing enforcement mechanisms, and increasing public awareness campaigns”.

Specific undertakings acknowledged in the statement range from the government’s adoption of a National Policy of Anti-Corruption, to the introduction of an Online Anonymous Whistleblower System, with guarantees for the protection of whistleblowers.

These improvements to Zambia’s global image are important. It strengthens Zambia’s capacity to assume leadership positions, which it has done as recently as last week, hosting the UN-backed LDC Future Forum focussing on independent development strategies for the Global South. There is much improvement still to be made, but robust progress is clear and identifiable.