GOVERNMENT has issued a clarion call to Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), urging them to join forces in combating corruption and promoting accountability across the nation.
Ministry of Justice permanent secretary Mwenya Bwalya emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts to eradicate corruption and maintain transparency in government affairs.
Bwalya stated that CSOs play a vital role in keeping government accountable to its citizens hence, the need to work together to ensure that resources are used effectively and efficiently for Zambians to benefit.
She was speaking when she officially opened a stakeholders engagement meeting organised by the Alliance for Accountability Advocates Zambia (AAAZ) in Lusaka yesterday.
The meeting convened by AAAZ was an integral part of the enhancing accountability, transparency and anti-corruption project (EATAP), a far-reaching initiative aimed at rooting out corruption and fostering greater transparency in Zambia’s governmental institutions.
According to Mwenya, government is committed to partnering with civic actors to find effective solutions to corruption and mismanagement of public resources.
“Government recognises the invaluable role that civil society organisations play in uncovering instances of corruption and in advocating for greater transparency in the use of public funds,” Nsofu stated.
AAAZ board chairperson Mwansa Chungu stressed the importance of fostering a culture of transparency and accountability across various sectors, urging citizens to actively participate in efforts to combat corruption and mismanagement of public resources.
Chungu stated that EATAP aims to empower Zambian citizens to hold duty bearers such as public officials accountable by equipping them with knowledge and resources to effectively monitor and engage with government institutions.
She underscored the devastating consequences of corruption, which she described as a cancer that threatens to undermine the social fabric of nation.
Corruption, according to Chungu, not only impedes economic development and hinders the delivery of essential public services but also erodes trust in public institutions.
The board chairperson stressed the need for a bottom-up approach to accountability and transparency, stating that citizens should not wait for justice and accountability to trickle down from the top.
“They must be empowered to demand it from the ground up, asserting their rights and holding government institutions accountable,” Chungu stated.
“The project is aimed to bridge the divide between formal oversight bodies and grassroots accountability efforts by providing communities with tools and resources to monitor public spending, report instances of corruption or abuse, and actively engage with government institutions across various levels of governance,” Chungu added.
However, the stakeholder meetings brought together a diverse group of actors, including representatives from governmental bodies like the office of the Auditor General and the Anti-Corruption Commission, as well as civil society organisations and community leaders.
EATAP, supported by Diakonia Zambia Country office’s deepening democracy Facility, is being implemented by AAAZ to foster citizen-led accountability and ensure that the findings of audits are not only reported but also acted upon.
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba July 1, 2025
