4251 New ISS Monograph 159.indd

This report chapter examines the incidence and nature of crime in Zambia, focusing on the challenges of data collection, high levels of perceived corruption, drug and human trafficking, and the complexities of illegal migration. It highlights a systemic failure in the criminal justice system, where reporting and conviction rates vary significantly by province, and identifies corruption as a pervasive issue across public institutions, particularly within the police service.

• Zambia's criminal justice system exhibits significant regional disparities in crime reporting and convictions. In 2005, Copperbelt Province had the highest number of reported cases, yet only 47.44% were taken to court and 38.01% resulted in convictions. In contrast, Luapula Province reported very few crimes, with fewer than 10% of court cases resulting in convictions, suggesting either a lack of police facilities or low public trust in the formal system.
• Corruption is perceived as a systemic and widespread problem in Zambia, often viewed as a 'way of life'. A 2004 National Governance Baseline Survey found that 80% of interviewed households and public officials rated public sector corruption as a very serious challenge, and 67% of managers saw it as the most burdensome obstacle to business development. The Zambia Police Service was identified as the most corrupt institution in 2003 and 2004, accounting for 24.6% and 25% of reported corruption cases respectively.
• Zambia has evolved from a transit point for illicit drugs to a 'gateway and distribution centre' for drugs destined for North America and Europe. The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) reported dealing with 1,677 drug-related offences between January 2006 and May 2007, resulting in 1,627 convictions. Drug trafficking is often linked to money laundering; for instance, in 1998, the DEC seized approximately US$3 million from a single bank for money laundering.
• Human trafficking occurs in Zambia, primarily as a source and transit country for victims—mainly children and young women—being moved to destinations like South Africa. A 2006 Central Statistical Office study found that 6% of surveyed children reported being trafficked, with 77% of girls and 51% of boys reporting sexual abuse or forced prostitution. Syndicates have also used the tourism sector to camouflage the transit of foreign nationals, such as a May 2007 case involving five Bangladeshi nationals.
• Illegal migration is a persistent issue exacerbated by porous borders with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Angola, and Zimbabwe. The Immigration Department struggles with insufficient resources, such as a lack of speed boats for the Luapula River and four-wheel-drive vehicles for other borders. Migration is further facilitated by historical and cultural ties, where traditional chiefdoms span across national borders, leading to local tolerance of illegal migrants.
• Organised crime in Zambia, while not empirically well-documented, involves sophisticated networks engaged in motor vehicle theft, aggravated robbery, drug and human trafficking, money laundering, illegal poaching, and weapons trafficking. Some communities, such as Kalikiliki compound in Lusaka, reported attacks by gangs of up to ten criminals in early 2007.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (n.d.). 4251 New ISS Monograph 159.indd. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/M159CHAP2.PDF

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. 4251 New ISS Monograph 159.indd. n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/M159CHAP2.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=4251 New ISS Monograph 159.indd |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/M159CHAP2.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudiesnd4251, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{4251 New ISS Monograph 159.indd}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/M159CHAP2.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }