The Centre for Policy Dialogue, CPD, says Zambians are not yet convinced with government’s efforts in the fight against corruption.
CPD Executive Director, Neo Simutanyi, told QFM in an interview that despite president Rupiah Banda’s assurances that his government is committed to fighting corruption, most Zambians are still far from being convinced that the fight against the vice exists in the country.
Dr. Simutanyi says even though government might have allocated more money to the Anti Corruption Commission, there is still more to be done to convince the people of Zambia.
He explains that this has been so because there are still deals government engages itself in that disappoints the general public as to whether government is really committed to this fight.
Dr. Simutanyi however says the fight against corruption is a complicated matter that despite government’s efforts to address the issue, the country’s ranking on the global corruption index is low.
He recalls that even the late president, Levy Mwanawasa used to complain that despite his administration doing so much in fighting corruption, Zambia’s ranking on the global corruption index remained poor.
[QFM]
chameleon iwe!
which govt graft fight? what convincing? please ba neo just say it is non existent. period.
You see when you are broke then you say there is corruption just because the contract has gone to another NGO. Zambia has several hundred NGO’s and they all cant be getting the US$1.0 million contracts every day. sometimes you win and another ypour loose… Neo…Bob Sichinga got the fake World Bank corruption contract and dont expect them to float another anytime soon…wait for your time please…patience pays.
He has to say something otherwise the donors will withdraw funding. Who gave him the mandate to speak for the people of Zambia? I am amzed that ever since we got multiparty democracy we now have more un-elected, un-democratic quangos talking all over the place. They are all playing the tunes called by their paymasters. Where were they when we had UNIP dictatorship?
this is another complicated one. I think zambians want accountability. we want to see our money working. when we see our roads maintained and hospitals built, we’ll regain confidence.
K970 million court complex construction begins in Zambezi
Government has started the construction of the K970 million court complexes at the Zambezi Boma and Nyabinga situated on the West Bank of the district.The construction of the two courts in the district will enhance court procedures and reduce on the time spent on travelling to Solwezi District to handle criminal cases.
Zambezi district commissioner Bisalomo Luwaile said the Government would spend K690 million for the construction of the court complex at the Boma and K280 million for the Nyabinga (West Bank).
Mr Luwaile said the contractors for the two projects were already on site and works were expected be completed next year.
“It is important that we put up modern courts that will handle civil and criminal cases and we thank the Government for coming to our aid,” he said.
Currently, the court sessions are being held at the district commissioner’s board room and all criminal cases are handled in Solwezi district 560 kilometres from Zambezi Boma.
“I had to give up my office for the court session and most of the criminals cases are transferred to Solwezi but the court proceedings will improve once the courts are completed,” Mr Luwaile said.
Meanwhile, Government has opened up tenders for the construction of the Zambezi-Chavuma road. The district commissioner said the construction works on the M8 were progressing well with the opening of tenders.
Mr Luwaile said with the oil exploration activities taking place in the province, good road network was required for sustainable development. Access to market will be opened and trade is expected to increase once the M8 road was completed.
Japan hails Zambia’s recovery
Outgoing Japanese ambassador to Zambia,Hideto Mitamura has hailed Zambia’s remarkable economic and political recovery in the last three years.
Mr Mitamura says this has led to the change in perception of Zambia by European and Asian investors.
He says this is owing to a remarkable recovery that the country has recorded both politically and economically in the last 3-years following the global economic crisis and the loss of former republican president Levy Mwanawasa.
Mr. Mitamura said this today when he officially bid farewell to the Common Market for Eastern and Southern African COMESA Secretary General, Sindiso Ngwenya.
Reflecting on his 3-years tour of duty to Zambia, Ambassador Mitamura observed it was shocking to see how Zambians have peacefully resolved its challenges on both the economic and political fronts.
He notes that Zambia is changing economically and that the interest of investors who left the country is once again shifting back to the country.
Mr Mitamura has however called on government to consider venturing into agricultural projects because of the vast unused land that Zambia possesses.
Anf COMESA Secretary General Sindiso Ngwenya has commended the Japanese government for their new approach of assistance to Zambia of not only giving aid but also building strong trade relations between the two countries.
Mr Ngwenya notes that Japan has played a critical role in the area of infrastructure development in Zambia which puts the country on the continental market in the area of trade.
I have noticed that each time Mwata contributes, he always does the “Cut and Paste” of the entire article elsewhere… I don’t know what others think, but I find it difficult reading all his reproductions… Mwata,
why can’t you do your own summary and then point us to the source, and we need to see it in full, we get there on our own?… What I really look forward for is “YOUR OWN WORDS AND ANALYSIS” not full text copy and paste of the entire article. I ve been observing for more than 5 months now… have a gr8 day!