At CFAO Mobility Zambia, ethics is more than just a word, it is the foundation of how we do business. But how do you take a principle as vast as ethics and turn it into something employees can embrace in their daily work and it part of our corporate culture: how do we make compliance not just a legal obligation but a shared commitment ?
This is where the idea of Compliance Week was born. From 17th to 21st February, 2025, CFAO Mobility Zambia embarked on a journey to make compliance come alive within our organization The initiative aimed to spark meaningful conversations about ethics, corporate responsibility, and the role each of us plays in fostering an honest and accountable business environment.
A Commitment Set in Motion
The week began with an inspiring address from Country CEO, Mr. Dino Bianchi, who reminded us that compliance is more than just following rules, it is about building trust. Trust among employees. Trust with customers. Trust with all stakeholders.
He reaffirmed our dedication to the CFAO Code of Conduct and Ethics (COCE), the Anti-Corruption Code of Conduct, and all local and international regulations guiding our operations. His message was clear: compliance is not a burden but a privilege, it is the very thing that allows us to grow as an ethical, responsible, and sustainable organization.
Five Days of Learning and Engagement
With that powerful start, Compliance Week took off, structured around five key themes, each one tackling a critical compliance area that affects how we work and the decisions we make.
Day 1: Understanding Anti-Money Laundering (AML)
Money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing may seem like distant threats, but in reality, they affect businesses and societies worldwide. Our Risk Officer, Chola Kaungu led an insightful session explaining how Zambia’s AML regulations work and why it is essential for companies like ours to stay vigilant. Employees learned how financial crimes can infiltrate legitimate businesses and what steps we must take to prevent, detect, and report suspicious activity.
It was the perfect way to set the tone for the rest of the week, reminding us that compliance starts with knowledge and awareness. That is how the tone was set for the week.
Day 2: Standing Against Corruption
Corruption is often talked about in whispers, but on this day, we made it the center of discussion. A guest speaker from Transparency International Zambia provided a gripping overview of the corruption landscape in our country. Employees were shocked to learn how small ethical compromises can spiral into systemic issues.
Our Risk Team reinforced CFAO’s zero-tolerance policy on bribery and corruption, stressing that every employee, no matter their role, plays a part in preventing unethical behavior. The biggest lesson of the day? Integrity is not just about knowing what is right, it’s about having the courage to stand up for it.
Day 3: Safeguarding Data and Information
In today’s digital world, data protection is no longer optional, it is the law. With Zambia’s Data Protection Act of No.3 of 2021 now in full effect, our responsibility to protect personal and corporate information has never been greater.
This session provided employees with practical strategies for safeguarding sensitive data, preventing cyber threats, and ensuring compliance with legal standards. Whether it was understanding how to handle customer information or learning the risks of weak passwords, every employee walked away with valuable insights on staying secure in an increasingly digital workplace.
Day 4: Corporate Compliance and Speaking Up
An ethical company is not one that never faces challenges, it is one where people feel safe to speak up when something is wrong.
On this day, our Risk Team introduced employees to CFAO’s Speak Up Policy and Code of Conduct & Ethics, explaining how reporting unethical behavior is not just encouraged but protected. A lively compliance quiz brought the session to life, testing employees’ knowledge of the Local Compliance Organization and Delegation of Authority framework.
The biggest takeaway? Silence enables misconduct. Speaking up builds integrity. This was indeed an interesting day yet felt self legally binding.
Day 5: Strengthening Our Ethical Commitment
As Compliance Week came to a close, we took time to reflect on everything we had learned. However theoretic learning alone was not enough, we needed to act.
In a formal commitment ceremony, employees and leadership signed the COCE’s 10 Creeds on what we termed a declaration board which was/is binding, publicly affirming their pledge to uphold ethical business practices. To celebrate the spirit of compliance, awards were presented to quiz winners and top-performing branches, recognizing those who demonstrated outstanding knowledge and commitment throughout the week.
A Tradition Begins
Looking back, Compliance Week was more than a series of sessions, it was a movement. It was a moment when compliance transformed from being just a policy into a shared purpose. Employees left not just with new knowledge, but with a renewed sense of responsibility to uphold integrity, transparency, and ethical excellence every day.
This is just the beginning. As we continue this journey, we invite everyone, employees, customers, and community members, to be part of this mission. Together, we can build a future where doing the right thing is not just expected, but celebrated.
See you next year for an even bigger and better Compliance Week!
And in the meantime, take a moment to view our photos from the week you might just see integrity in action.
