Transparency International raises the alarm over rampant corruption in Zambia’s land admistration system (Video)

Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) has expressed concern over persistent corruption in Zambia’s land administration system, warning that it continues to deprive citizens of rightful land access and erode trust in governance institutions.

According to the 2022 Zambia Bribe Payers Index, a study by TI-Z and the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), bribery in accessing land services stood at 62.6 percent.

TI-Z Executive Director, Maurice Nyambe, said recent reports of forged land documents, irregular allocations, and manipulated land-use processes were fueling inequalities and disputes.

“The prevalence of corruption in land governance is linked to abuse of power by officials, exploitation of customary land systems, and opaque registration processes,” Nyambe said in a statement on Tuesday.

He noted that Zambia’s dual land tenure system—comprising leasehold and customary land—had created loopholes frequently exploited by unscrupulous individuals.

TI-Z welcomed the decision by Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Gary Nkombo, to suspend the Mayor and all Chongwe Municipal Council councillors over allegations of illegal land alienation.

Nyambe also commended the appointment of a Local Government Administrator to oversee the council and the formation of a task force involving the Zambia Police, ACC, and the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) to investigate the matter.

“This is a step in the right direction and sends a strong message that abuse of power in land governance will not be tolerated,” he said.

However, Nyambe urged the government to implement long-term reforms rather than reacting to cases as they arise.

Through its Land and Corruption in Africa project, TI-Z has identified key areas requiring urgent action, including digitizing land records to prevent corruption.

“The lack of an integrated and transparent land administration system fosters corrupt practices. We call for the full digitization of land records and a centralized land management system accessible to the public,” Nyambe said.

He also emphasized the need for transparency in land allocation, protection of women’s rights in land access, and strengthening legal frameworks to combat corruption in the sector.

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