Transparency International of Zambia (TIZ) says the removal of abuse of office clause from the Anti Corruption Commission Act will have serious consequences on the fight against corruption in the country.
TIZ Executive Director Goodwell Lungu said Zambia has diverted from the United Nations convention against corruption and the southern African developing community SADC protocol against corruption which it signed.
Mr. Lungu said the removal of the clause which acted as a deterrent to would be offenders, will be an opportunity for individuals to misappropriate public funds.
He appealed to President Rupiah Banda to ensure that the bill is not passed into law as it will be a tragedy for the country.
And the TIZ executive director has advised employers in the country not to take advantage of Zambian employees who do not know their rights.
Mr. Lungu said casualization of labour is a sign of bad governance amongst employers.
He noted that there is need for the Ministry of Labour to intervene in the workers plight for better conditions.
Mr. Lungu was commenting on the recent shooting of eleven miners at the collum coal mine in Sinazongwe and the rioting by Zcon construction workers at the levy business park.
Both working groups were fighting for better conditions of services at their work places.
[ QFM ]
Ba fikamba mwala onaula ichalo.
Lack of understanding and misinformation are worse than absolute ignorance. These guys are acting like they r not lawyers or professionals just for a morsel of bread, which won’t even come. The CLAUSE as stated ASSUMES a person TO BE GUILTY BEFORE PROVEN INNOCENT. HUMAN RIGHTS REQUIRE THAT a person is INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. Abuse of office is still tackled and is still prosecutable in the PENAL CODE. Please understand. Politicians are sensationalist and liars by nature, their mis-understanding of something should NOT constitute the truth, TIZ should know that.
If u remember SITET, that’s where the clause came from but it’s not useful in modern day culture. It encourages among many things retrogressive witch-hunting. Every time someone buys something, a report will be sent to ACC to investigate. It will be a waste of resources if that person genuinely earned it from other reasonable businesses.
The Whistle-blower clause also solidifies the abuse of office clauses found in the penal code.
The law as is will encourage legal gymnastics that make clever guys come clean despite the glaring evidence in criminal cases. It’s important to understand these things and not just politicise them.
TIZ is too professional to act like a monkey
3, Where did you get the notion that TIZ is professional? After late Donald Chanda the thing has been turned into another senseless opposition. Making noise and telling lies earns some NGOs donations while making good publicity for the day when they want to stand as MP.
Like I always say, you get good results by cooperation rather than confrontation. Rather than condemning that clearly unfair Clause outright, TIZ should have have guided the opposition and propose to modify the amendment appropriately to accommodate any legitimate views. It’s a lost opportunity all because of the culture of intransigence that we have ignorantly adopted in the name of opposition and democracy (sic). Anyway the other laws will cover these concerns.
#3 Sata is Gay says- My friend you surprise me. The whole ACC hinges on art 37. Without this the ACC has right to exist. Abuse of office can destroy a country 1million times more than armed robbery.Your quote is misguided as no body has been assumed guilty before trial by this Article. Ask your self why MMD came up with the idea of removing this Article from the ACC. Simple these guys are raping the country’s economy by using their positions and want to ensure a safer exit. They are wrong. Just as they have manupilated the law to suit themselves, the new government will do the same to bring the to account for their(MMD) activities
#5 Deja Vu, seek the counsel of a wise lawyer. You may have to pay but again, knowledge comes at a price. I can’t argue with you, no one will be able to tell the difference.
#4 H.H. Sata, good point my bululu.