In a shocking revelation, the Anti-Corruption Commission – ACC – of Zambia has revealed that it has seized assets worth over K700 million due to flourishing corruption in the country last year, despite the Government’s commitment to combating corruption in all its forms.
The staggering amount of assets seized is a stark reminder of the deep-rooted corruption that has plagued Zambia for years and has resulted in a significant loss of public funds.
According to the ACC, the seized assets include motor vehicles among other properties. The Commission stated that these assets are believed to have been acquired through illegal means and are therefore subject to seizure.
ACC Head of Corporate Communication Timothy Moono said, that during the year 2023, the commission received a total of 1,037 reports of suspected corruption. “Out of these cases, a total of 463 were non-corruption-related. While 574 reports contained elements of corruption, only 541 were authorized for investigations.”
“11 reports were referred to relevant authorities for action, 8 were complaints authorized for corruption prevention exercise, 2 were not authorized, and 12 were still under deliberation by the close of the year.”
Meanwhile, Moono said the commission closed a total of 183 investigation cases and recorded only 38 arrests in 2023 adding that the commission also recorded 17 convictions and 5 acquittals in 2023.
He added that the estimated value of assets or properties seized by the commission in the course of investigations stood at K756,452,853 stating that by the close of the year, a total of 19 motor vehicles were forfeited to the state.
Corruption has remained a major challenge in Zambia, despite the government’s efforts to curb it. The ACC’s latest findings reveal the scale of corruption and the need for urgent action to address it.
Although the Commission has been at the forefront of investigating and prosecuting corruption cases in the country, it is evident that more needs to be done to eradicate this vice as corruption not only undermines the rule of law but also hinders economic development and social progress.
