By Mubanga Mubanga
Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) president Priscilla Chansa says Zambia’s score on the corruption perception index (CPI) for 2025 has dropped.
Speaking during the CPI 2025 presentation in Lusaka yesterday, Chansa said Zambia’s score declined from 39 in 2024 to 37 in 2025, while the ranking dropped from 92 in 2024 to 99 in 2025.
She said the score showed the country was having challenges in sustaining the anti-corruption efforts.
“As seen in the presentation made earlier, Zambia’s CPI score declined from 39 in 2024 to 37 in 2025, and its global ranking dropped seven places, from 92 out of 180 countries to 99 out of 182. This means that 98 countries performed better than Zambia in 2025, compared to 91 the previous year,” Chansa said “Importantly, this is the first decline in Zambia’s CPI score in the past five years, which points to the fact that as a country, we are having serious challenges in sustaining our anti-corruption efforts.”
Chansa said three key drivers that led to the country’s score and rank to drop were, collusion between business entities, public officials, and professional gatekeepers, vulnerabilities in government social empowerment programmes and absence of political and campaign financing law.
“Reports by the Financial Intelligence Centre show how procurement processes are exploited through networks involving politically connected companies, lawyers, and real estate agents. Weak access to and use of beneficial ownership information further amplifies these risks. Second, vulnerabilities in government social and empowerment programmes, including CEEC loans, farming input distribution, Cash-for-Work, and the Constituency Development Fund,” Chansa said. “Despite increased allocations, audits continue to reveal financial irregularities, poor loan recovery, and politicisation — particularly in areas considered political strongholds. Third, the absence of a political party and campaign financing law.”
Chansa said the CPI 2025 sent a clear message that where democracy was weakened, corruption thrived.
“The 2025 CPI sends a clear message: where democracy is weakened, corruption thrives. Countries with strong institutions, transparent political financing, and open civic space are more resilient to corruption risks, and the onus is on Zambia to choose which path to follow. The CPI is not an end in itself. It is a warning and a call to action,” said Chansa. “If we are serious about safeguarding public resources, restoring trust, and protecting Zambia’s democratic future, then commitments must translate into action, laws must be enforced without fear or favour, and accountability must be visible and impartial. Let us choose integrity as we prepare for the 2026 general elections.”
In picture: Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) director general Daphne Chabu (left) in conversation with Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) president Priscilla Chansa during the CPI presentation in Lusaka today
