Africa Loses $100B Annually to Corruption – ACC DG
Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Director General Daphne Soko Chabu has sounded the alarm on the staggering cost of corruption in Africa, revealing that the continent loses an estimated USD $100 billion every year to corruption and illicit financial flows.
Speaking during a public sensitisation event at Kalukungu Market in Kafue District to commemorate African Anti-Corruption Day, Mrs. Chabu stressed that the continent cannot afford to continue losing such colossal sums while essential public services remain underfunded.
“Corruption is not just a governance issue—it is a direct assault on human dignity,” she said. “It denies citizens access to quality healthcare, education, employment, and essential services. It weakens public institutions, distorts economic progress, and disproportionately affects the poor, women, youth, and persons with disabilities.”
Observed annually on July 11, this year’s African Anti-Corruption Day is themed “Promoting Human Dignity in the Fight Against Corruption.” Mrs. Chabu used the occasion to reaffirm the ACC’s dedication to fighting corruption in all its forms through investigation, prosecution, and prevention.
“Our work is grounded in the belief that every Zambian deserves to live in a society guided by merit, fairness, and accountability,” she said, quoting former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan: “If corruption is a disease, transparency is a central part of treatment.”
Kafue District Commissioner Maurice Hikapulwe echoed her sentiments, stating that African Anti-Corruption Day serves as a vital reminder of the collective responsibility to tackle corruption and restore public trust.
“Promoting human dignity in the fight against corruption means placing citizens at the heart of governance. It means institutions like the ACC must protect the weak and vulnerable, punish the corrupt, and uphold justice and equity,” Mr. Hikapulwe said.
He further reaffirmed President Hakainde Hichilema’s commitment to empowering and ensuring the independence of institutions mandated to combat corruption.
The event in Kafue forms part of a broader national campaign to raise awareness and mobilize citizens in the fight against corruption across Zambia.
