Zambia's newest chartered accountants were told in no uncertain terms on Thursday night, November 12, that their professional values are not for sale. Joseph Matimba, president of the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants, warned the fresh designates never to trade their integrity for personal or organisational gain, because from now on their judgement will shape public resources and the livelihoods of ordinary Zambians.
The warning came at the second CA Zambia convocation ceremony, held at the Golden Peacock Hotel in Lusaka, according to LusakaTimes.com. This is a big moment for our country. These are Zambians trained on Zambian soil, under a Zambian qualification, ready to guard Zambian money and Zambian institutions. That is something to be proud of, and something to protect fiercely.
A heavy title, not just letters after your name
Mr Matimba told the new professionals that the CA Zambia designation is the beginning of a heavier responsibility, not the end of their journey. He spelt out exactly how far that responsibility reaches.
“As Chartered Accountants, you will occupy positions in which your judgement and actions can influence organisations, investment decisions, public resources and the livelihoods of many people,” he said.
That is the truth, and it is a truth this country has learned the hard way. Every kwapa that goes missing from a public purse, every inflated contract, every cooked book hurts the Zambian worker and the Zambian family first. The ZICA president made it clear that the value of the title will be measured by conduct, not by certificates hanging on a wall.
“The CA Zambia designation represents competence, integrity, accountability and public trust. These are not merely values to be stated in professional documents; they must be reflected in the decisions you make, the advice you provide and the manner in which you conduct yourselves,” Mr Matimba said.
He drew a hard line between what the qualification can do for its holders and what only they can do for themselves.
“Your qualification will open doors, but your integrity, competence and commitment to excellence will determine the lasting contribution you make,” he said.
A Zambian institution with a Zambian mandate
Let us be clear about what ZICA is. It is the statutory body established under the Accountants Act No. 13 of 2008 to regulate and develop the profession in Zambia. Its mandate goes beyond qualifying accountants: it covers maintaining standards, promoting ethical conduct and supporting continuing professional development.
The CA Zambia qualification itself was introduced in 2017, and its purpose is to produce competent, ethical and adaptable professionals whose capabilities match international standards and the needs of our own economy. Notice the order of priorities. International standards, yes, but the needs of the Zambian economy come first, and that is exactly how it should be.
Mr Matimba was blunt that the institute is not chasing numbers for their own sake.
“Our ambition is not simply to increase the number of Chartered Accountants in Zambia. It is to develop professionals whose competence, integrity and leadership inspire confidence and create lasting value wherever they serve,” he said.
Technology changes, integrity does not
The ZICA president acknowledged that technology is reshaping the profession and pledged that the institute would keep strengthening professional education to keep pace. Emerging risks and increasingly complex decisions now demand that accountants pair technical foundations with analytical thinking, digital competence and leadership.
But he refused to let the machines take the moral high ground.
“Technology may change how accounting work is performed, but integrity, professional judgement and accountability will remain indispensable,” Mr Matimba said.
That is a message worth repeating across our public life. New systems will not save us if the people running them lack backbone. What saves a nation's resources is men and women who refuse to sign off on a lie.
Mutati gives the profession a national assignment
The guest of honour, Technology and Science Minister Felix Mutati, is himself a fellow of both ZICA and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Mr Matimba congratulated him on his appointment and cited his experience in the profession and in leadership across the public and private sectors.
Mr Mutati gave the new accountants an economic assignment of their own. He said the profession should take a leading role in the national quest to more than double gross domestic product by 2030, moving beyond traditional financial reporting to become a strategic partner in economic transformation.
“You must use your professional expertise, technical knowledge and ethical judgement to support the implementation of the Grow Zambia Agenda,” the minister said.
Here is where the rubber meets the road. The Grow Zambia Agenda underlines the need for national resources and opportunities to translate into tangible benefits for citizens. ZICA has said it stands ready to work with the Government, the private sector, professional bodies and academic institutions on initiatives that strengthen accountability and improve governance.
Our copper, our water, our land, our tax revenue: these belong to Zambians, and the people who keep the books on them carry a patriotic duty, not just a job description. Mr Matimba linked the profession directly to the country's economic goals, saying higher productivity, investment, job creation and sustainable growth depend on strong institutions, responsible stewardship of resources and confidence in financial information.
Before closing, Mr Matimba thanked the ZICA Council, the Education and Training Committee, management, employers, mentors, training partners and sponsors for supporting the qualification. The ceremony followed the institute's inaugural convocation last year.
The measure that matters
His final words went straight to the designates.
“Let your qualification be recognised not only by the letters you place after your names, but by the quality of your work, the integrity of your conduct and the positive difference you make in society,” Mr Matimba said.
The newly designated chartered accountants now take their title into public institutions and private firms across the country. Their regulator has given them one measure to work by: the true value of a chartered accountant lies in the trust earned and the contribution made. Zambia will be watching, and Zambia expects nothing less.
What is the CA Zambia designation?
It is the Zambian chartered accountancy qualification introduced by ZICA in 2017, designed to produce professionals whose competence matches international standards and the needs of the Zambian economy.
Who regulates accountants in Zambia?
The Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants, the statutory body established under the Accountants Act No. 13 of 2008, regulates and develops the profession, maintains standards and promotes ethical conduct.
What did ZICA tell the new chartered accountants?
At the second CA Zambia convocation in Lusaka on November 12, ZICA president Joseph Matimba told them never to compromise their values for personal or organisational gain, warning that their judgement will shape public resources and livelihoods.