Paper Title
Evolving Cultural Norms at Crossroads with Legal Frameworks in Reducing Corruption in the Procurement of Construction Projects in Zambia

Abstract
The construction sector in Zambia is riddled with bribery, extortion and fraud. Corruption has direct negative consequences on socio-economic development and quality of life. Thepurpose of thispaper is to examine knowledge and effectiveness of core laws in Zambia and attempts to contextualize corruption in the socio-cultural environment where it is practiced.The sample consisted of 737 respondents who participated in the stakeholders survey conducted in five provinces of Zambia. Results of this study show that despitegovernment efforts, corruption remains unabated in Zambia due to amyriad of prevailing socio-economic factors that thwart or contradict the legal framework and related interventions designed toprevent corruption in the Country. Positive traditional norms or practices which existed to support the extended family values system are now being misappropriated and ‘new’ norms are emerging to support corruption. If not checked these corrupt practices will be deeply rooted and jeopardize anti-corruption efforts in the country and seriously undermine development and perpetuate inequities in the distribution of the socioeconomic resources in the country. Key Words: National Council for Construction Act (NCCA), Anti-Corruption Act (ACC); Public Procurement Act (PPA); Public Interest Disclosure (Protection of Whistleblowers) Act(WB); Citizens Economic Empowerment Act(CEEA); Prohibition and Prevention of Money Laundering Act PPML); Public Finance Act (PFA); and Competition and Consumer Protection Act (CCPA). Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC), Competition & Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Judiciary, Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), National Audit Office (NAO), Zambia Police (ZP), Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA).