Conducted by Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), the study provides a detailed analysis of bribery trends in public services.

The report shows bribery has risen from 10.1% in 2022 to 15.3% in 2024, reversing past progress. The ZBPI, based on firsthand accounts from households, measures real bribery encounters in government institutions.

According to Bright Chizonde, Advocacy, Policy, and Research Manager at TIZ, corruption is measured using two methods: direct surveys, which track personal experiences, and expert-based perception studies like the Corruption Perceptions Index. The ZBPI falls into the former category, focusing on actual incidents of bribery. Chizonde explained, "The probability of a citizen encountering a bribery request when seeking services is now at 32.2%. This rise is alarming and calls for urgent action."

Public institutions remain the worst affected. Zambia Telecommunications Company, the National Registration Office, and the National Health Insurance Management Authority ranked among the most corruption-prone entities. "Unfortunately, these institutions have seen an increase in bribery-related interactions, making it difficult for citizens to access essential services without illegal payments," Chizonde noted.

The mining sector leads in private-sector corruption. While bribery requests have declined slightly, the actual payment of bribes has increased, particularly in urban areas where people seek to bypass service delays. "People pay bribes to avoid long waits, but this only fuels the cycle of corruption," said Chizonde.

The report calls for greater public awareness and stricter enforcement to combat its normalisation in Zambian society.

--ChannelAfrica--