Zambia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has proposed establishing a specialised Criminal Assets Management Agency to oversee property and other assets seized, confiscated or forfeited through law-enforcement processes.

ACC Director-General Daphne Chabu presented the proposal during a stakeholder consultation workshop in Lusaka on September 22. The proposed agency would be responsible for preserving, maintaining, valuing and disposing of recovered assets, with the aim of preventing them from losing value while cases progress.

The draft framework covers assets such as houses, farms, livestock, vehicles and bonds. Chabu said a dedicated professional body could help ensure recovered property is properly managed while allowing investigative agencies to focus on their core duties.

The proposal is still under consultation. Lusaka Province officials urged stakeholders to clarify how the proposed agency would work with existing institutions and laws, including ways to avoid overlapping responsibilities, institutional conflicts and delays.