While the most commonly bribed sectors in Africa were the police, tax revenue and utilities, the biggest bribes were paid to obtain registrations and permits – on average, more than € 50. This is not a new phenomenon, however, and these findings strongly support those of past editions of the Barometer. The answer to how to counter such persistent corruption in services is simple: education.

Transparency International (TI) Zambia launched a campaign in 2006 to raise citizens’ awareness about the correct way to obtain public services without resorting to paying bribes. The “How '2' Avoid Corruption When Acquiring or Procuring Public Services” campaign was conceived after TI Zambia’s local Corruption Perception Index revealed that the procedures for acquiring public services are confusing, time consuming and often costly in many public institutions.

TI Zambia chose to target 12 institutions, perceived in TI Zambia's Corruption Perceptions Index to have high levels of corruption including: the Department of National Registration, Zambia Revenue Authority's Customs & Excise, Road Traffic Commission, Zambia Police Service, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Lands, Public Service Pensions Fund, National Pensions Scheme Authority, Passport Office, and Lusaka City Council Licensing Unit.

Working together with the above institutions, TI Zambia circulated information on the correct procedure for obtaining, for example, a passport, national registration card, or a driving license. This information was distributed on radio, television and in newspapers, as well as on posters, leaflets, and the internet. The posters were put up in various public services offices as a grassroots way of empowering citizens with the knowledge to access public services free of corruption.

Each poster features a flow chart visually representing detailed guidelines to on how to acquire services from the targeted institutions as well as recommendations on how to avoid corruption. General recommendations included: to be conscious of, resist and report corruption; always carry certified copies of identification documents; avoid engaging touts or middlemen; always demand for and keep official government receipts; understand the procedure and prepare required documents; and to only get advice from authorised officers.

Designed to promote the TI Zambia vision of building the country anchored on citizens and institutions of integrity, the campaign points out that citizens also must take responsibility to resist, reject and report corruption. So it seems taking the tactic of educating people about their rights is simple, but also effective. Take a page out of TI Zambia’s book and stay well-informed.

For more on the Global Corruption Barometer, please see: http://www.transparency.org/news_room/latest_news/press_releases/2006/2006_12_07_gcb . To learn more about TI Zambia’s work, or this information campaign, please see: http://www.tizambia.org.zm/howto .