By Mubanga Mubanga
Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) executive director Maurice Nyambe says corrupt actors at different levels typically target land belonging to Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs).
And Nyambe says corruption is a global problem, which affects many different sectors of people living in Africa.
Speaking during the launch of the beautiful land, corruption and discrimination in land rights in sub Saharan Africa report at Grand Palace Hotel in Lusaka, Nyambe said corruption was denying people access to land and natural resources which they relied upon for survival.
“As you may be aware, corruption is a global problem that affects many different facets of people’s lives in Africa,” Nyambe said. “The natural resources are typically the worst affected by this scourge and has continued to bear the brunt which has continued to deny people access to land and natural resources which they rely upon for survival, at the same time, both direct and indirect discrimination on grounds ranging from disability to ethnicity and from gender to religion has led to denial of land rights for some marginalized members of society across the African continent, including here in Zambia.”
He said according to the research findings by TI-Z, persons with disabilities face difficulties in obtaining State land, due to their weak social- economic position.
Highlighting some of the key findings from the Zambia case study which focused on access to land for persons with disabilities (PWDs), TIZ established a range of challenges linked to their status.
He said with regard to the manifestation of corruption in the land sector and specific reference to PWDs, TIZ found that corrupt actors at different levels typically targeted land belonging to PWDs.
Nyambe said the the results further established that bribes were required to obtain State land.
“With several affected community members indicating that they had received requests for facilitating payments from administrative officials at different levels. A lack of access to financial resources means PWDs are less likely to be able to meet the demands of corrupt actors,” said Nyambe.
