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The Zambia Compulsory Standards Agency (ZCSA) Executive Director, Gerald Chizinga, has cautioned agency officers against corruption and other actions that could compromise their integrity, warning that such behavior poses risks to public health and safety.
Addressing the official opening of a five-day induction for ZCSA’s Integrity Committee, organized in collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) at Protea Hotel, Cairo Road, Chizinga emphasized that the agency’s primary mandate was to protect citizens’ health and safety by enforcing compulsory standards.
He reaffirmed ZCSA’s commitment to working closely with the ACC and other institutions to promote ethical behavior among staff.
“I urge ZCSA staff to uphold the agency’s core values, which include integrity, teamwork, innovation, hard work, confidentiality, and accountability,” Chizinga stated.
“We believe the fight against corruption should not be left to the ACC alone.”
In a speech read on behalf of ACC Acting Director General, Monica Mwansa, by ACC Assistant Director for Corruption Prevention Kelvin Siwale, Mwansa highlighted the vital role ZCSA played in protecting the public.
She stressed that corruption within the agency could undermine public safety by allowing substandard products into the market.
“Corruption threatens the nation’s safety and health by allowing unsafe products on the market,” Mwansa said.
He said: “It also reduces transparency and accountability in the enforcement of health-protecting regulations.”
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Mwansa commended ZCSA for prioritising integrity as a core value, noting that it reflects the agency’s commitment to high ethical standards and public accountability.
“This pledge to uphold high morals, honesty, and national obligations above personal interests speaks to the agency’s dedication to its mandate,” she stated.
However, Mwansa pointed out challenges facing Integrity Committees, including a lack of corporate support, limited funding for committee activities, absence of a full-time secretariat, inadequate dedication among committee members, and workplace tolerance of unethical behavior.
She called for strengthened measures to address these issues, ensuring that Integrity Committees are empowered to promote ethical standards across institutions.
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