A survey by Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has showed that petty corruption in Zambia is on the increase over the past years despite the government has made anti-corruption efforts since inauguration in 2002.

Petty corruption was usually seen among junior or mid-level officers who might be grossly underpaid and who depend on relatively small but illegal sources of income to feed and house their families, according to the survey available here on Friday.

It said increasing levels of petty corruption were generally associated with declining quality of service delivery, increased expense and operational costs related to investments and investment promotion.

TIZ President Alfred Chanda said there were a number of factors that facilitated and reinforced petty corruption, which in turn set in motion a vicious cycle of corruption.

He said not only does corruption siphon state revenues but also constitutes an unofficial tax levied on members of the public, some of whom might be too poor to pay.

The president said when officials misuse public office and resources for personal gain, the poor and vulnerable were the hardest hit.

TIZ executive director Goodwell Lungu said the fight against corruption in the country needed positive individual efforts to supplement other measures that all key stakeholders ranging from government, civil society, the media, donors and general public were undertaking.

Source: Xinhua