4251 New ISS Monograph 159.indd

This report examines the state of policing, anti-corruption, and drug enforcement in Zambia, focusing on the Zambia Police Service, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), and the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC). It identifies systemic weaknesses in investigative capacity, human rights compliance, and public accountability, while noting the impact of HIV/AIDS on personnel and the growth of an unregulated private security industry.

• The Zambia Police Service suffers from a significant personnel shortage, with only 13,000 officers compared to an ideal complement of 27,000. This capacity is further strained by a national HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of 16 per cent, which leads to death and illness among staff.
• Investigative and forensic capacities are severely limited across agencies. The Police Forensic Laboratory remains under construction, forcing samples to be sent abroad or to a university teaching hospital, which contributes to low prosecution rates.
• The rule of law is undermined by the Preservation of the Public Security Act of 1960, which grants the President extraordinary powers to detain individuals indefinitely and limits the ability of courts to challenge security force activities.
• Public perception of the Zambia Police Service is generally poor, with a 2003 UNODOC survey showing over 50 per cent of Zambians are dissatisfied with police performance, specifically regarding the handling of crimes (69.3 per cent dissatisfaction).
• The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) faces low conviction rates—ranging from 5 per cent in 2006 to 7 per cent in 2007—due to insufficient investigative capacity and the withdrawal of key witnesses during court proceedings.
• Zambia's private security industry is growing rapidly and is largely unregulated, with spending on private security doubling the budget of the criminal justice system.
• Despite the existence of multiple oversight bodies like the Public Police Complaints Authority (PPCA) and the Police Professional Standards Unit, the system is deemed weak. The Professional Standards Unit has handled only three cases since its inception.
• The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) is perceived as being more focused on securing convictions than providing lasting solutions, as it lacks facilities for the rehabilitation of drug users, leading to high recidivism rates.
• The government has attempted to professionalize the police by introducing 'custody officers' to ensure humane treatment, medical access, and hygienic conditions for detainees.
• The Zambia Police Service has established Victim Support Units to assist vulnerable groups, including women, children, and the aged, specifically addressing domestic violence, sexual assault, and land grabbing.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (n.d.). 4251 New ISS Monograph 159.indd. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/M159CHAP3.PDF

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. 4251 New ISS Monograph 159.indd. n.d. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/M159CHAP3.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=4251 New ISS Monograph 159.indd |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/M159CHAP3.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/M159CHAP3.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }