Government Working Hard to Fight Corruption - Treasury Secretary
Secretary to the Treasur Felix Nkulukusa detailed the government’s progress in battling corruption and reaffirmed its dedication to openness and responsibility at an event in Washington on Friday.
Speaking at the 14th Annual African, African American, and Diaspora (AAAD) Interdisciplinary Conference held at James Madison University, Nkulukusa pointed to several new key initiatives, including the enactment of the Access to Information Act, which promotes transparency and empowers citizens to hold public and private bodies responsible.
He also highlighted the new Inter-Agency Coordination Framework, which is comprised of 21 law enforcement and government agencies. The group, led by the public prosecutor's office, uses existing laws and agreements to track stolen money and fight corruption.
The government’s anti-corruption efforts are already being praised by international observers. In January, Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) upgraded the country’s score in its Corruption Perception Index (CPI) from 37 to 33 – the first time Zambia’s score has improved in ten years and edging closer to the global average of 43.
Expressing confidence in the effectiveness of new measures, Nkulukusa stated that "private and public bodies will be held accountable by civil society, the media and the public," leading to reduced corruption through an increased risk of exposure for individuals engaging in such activities.
Zambia's Ambassador to the United States, Chibamba Kanyama, also spoke at the conference, commending the success of decentralisation initiatives in empowering local communities, including the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), a decentralisation scheme whereby the government allocates funds to communities for local development projects, ensuring resources reach citizens directly.
Nkulukusa acknowledged that challenges remain in the fight against corruption, but expressed confidence in ongoing efforts, commending the international anti-corruption agenda for galvanising attention and efforts to address the issue.