Professionals Face Scrutiny Amid Rising Corruption in Zambia
Lusaka, Zambia – Zambia’s ongoing battle against corruption is intensifying scrutiny on the effectiveness of professional bodies in regulating their members.Human rights defender Ngande Mwanajiti has highlighted concerns over unethical practices across various fields, calling for stricter accountability measures.
Mwanajiti, a respected human rights advocate, expressed alarm at the growing involvement of professionals in financial scandals, citing a case where an individual was found with $25 million.
He questioned how such a substantial amount could be linked to a member of a regulated profession.
“A professional is expected to adhere to ethical and operational guidelines,” Mwanajiti stated, emphasizing the need for integrity.
Professional bodies such as the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) and the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) have implemented laws and regulations to govern member conduct.
While these measures are designed to maintain standards, Mwanajiti argues that they fall short of addressing deeper systemic issues of corruption within these fields.
Mwanajiti highlighted a troubling pattern of unethical behavior in multiple sectors. In the legal profession, some law firms have been implicated in transferring large sums of money abroad under dubious “client instructions.”
The Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) reports on these transactions have underscored the need for enhanced oversight within the legal community.
The accounting sector is also under scrutiny, with reports of ZICA members involved in facilitating questionable payments. Such actions undermine public trust and expose governance weaknesses within the regulatory framework.
In construction and infrastructure, engineers have certified roads as meeting standards, only for them to fall into disrepair shortly afterward.
“Roads that were approved as sound are now in disrepair, raising serious questions about the quality of professional assessments,” Mwanajiti noted.
Mwanajiti criticized the state of sanitation and cleanliness in Zambian cities, attributing failures to professionals employed by municipal authorities.
“Hiring a professional should ensure quality service, but our cities paint a different picture,” he said.
The media, often regarded as the “fourth estate,” was not spared from Mwanajiti’s criticism.
He pointed out that journalists are increasingly vulnerable to manipulation by employers, compromising the press’s role in promoting accountability.
“The media must uphold ethical standards just like any other profession,” he stressed, calling for self-regulation to restore trust.
Mwanajiti emphasized that governance is fundamentally about responsibility and that professional bodies should enhance their regulatory efforts to uphold ethical standards.
He argued that while laws are crucial, they are insufficient on their own, and professional bodies must enforce regulations without exploiting loopholes.
He cited reports from the Auditor General, the FIC, and the Director of Public Prosecutions as evidence of widespread irregularities and called for more proactive measures to address these issues.
Mwanajiti called for a renewed commitment to integrity among professionals and urged the public to demand accountability, warning that inaction could jeopardize efforts to build a sustainable Zambia.
“This is our country, and we must hold each other accountable,” he concluded. “Ignoring these challenges is not an option.”
Mwanajiti’s remarks underscore the need for professional bodies in Zambia to strengthen regulatory frameworks and improve governance to combat corruption effectively.
As Zambia continues its fight against graft, the ethical conduct of professionals will remain under close watch.
Professional bodies should regularly enhance regulatory measures to address emerging ethical challenges and strengthen oversight and enforcement actions against members involved in unethical practices.
Transparency should be promoted by making reports from oversight bodies accessible to the public.
Additionally, secure channels for reporting unethical practices should be established to protect whistleblowers, and ethical conduct should be emphasized in continuous professional development programs.
These guidelines are essential steps for professional bodies in Zambia to uphold their integrity and play a critical role in the nation’s broader fight against corruption.
