President Hakainde Hichilema has called on law enforcement agencies to step up efforts to combat corruption. President Hichilema said that Government will continue to render the necessary support to ease the work of law enforcement agencies and ensure they perform to people’s expectations.
This was contained in a speech read on his behalf by Justice Minister Mulambo Haimbe during this year’s International Anti-Corruption Commemorations themed ‘ Your right, your role: say No to corruption.’
President Hichilema said aspirations contained in the 2022 national budget centered on economic growth and job creation cannot be achieved if corruption is allowed to be part of the process.
He reiterated that his administration’s fight against Corruption is NOT vindictive and is not meant to punish political opponents or silence the voice of critics.
President Hichilema said his Government wants to safeguard the country’s resources and leave a legacy of transparent and accountable leadership.
He stated that Government will make it difficult for corrupt elements to thrive and that perpetrators of the vice will face the law regardless of their standing in society.
And United Nations Resident Coordinator Coumba Mar Gadio who was represented by United Nations Development Programme Resident Representative Lionel Laurent said the UN has noted the commitment by President Hichilema to strengthen accountability and transparency as well as fight corruption.
Dr Mar Gadio said weak institutions and governance structures provide a conducive environment for corruption to thrive.
Meanwhile, Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) Acting Director-General Silumesi Muchula said the Commission appreciates the political stance taken by the new dawn administration since assuming office to get rid of Corruption.
Mr Muchula said the Commission is eagerly looking forward to the revision of the Anti-corruption legislation, establishment of the fact track Anti-corruption court as well as increased funding to raise public awareness on the vice.
AND Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) Chapter Vice President Anne Chewe called for the inclusion of young people in the Fight against Corruption and the need to amplify their voices.
Dr. Chewe said the fight against Corruption is limited by the existing legal framework and called on the Government to improve the independence as well as oversight of law enforcement agencies.
As you follow up on Corruption committed before you became president, please kindly clarify on the issue a fertilizer contract given to someone close to your goverment which is more expensive than previous sources. Clarification on this issue will make me one happy person.
Personal happiness is your go? who do you want the contract to be given to ; not Zambian? If anybody bids and qualifies why not?
Not very serious with corruption fight I would say. The Faith Musonda case is an example here, we opted to ‘recover’ the cash and let the thieves go free.
And our so called investigative agencies are afraid to give a statement over the award of a contract without tender.
A repeat of everything else in the previous regime sadly.
Yes let’s talk about the us$50 million fertilizer deal and 48 houses…don’t pick and choose who you want to prosecute…and also can you tell us more about privatization process…what really happened…
uli kulungwe walya umwaka umo HH chi…..
What everybody must know is that every human being is corrupt I mean everyone including the one fighting it , that is what the word of God says however there must be laws to put into place laws to watch strong laws indeed to keep everyone exposed to national asserts in total checks.
Now the problem we have in Zambia at this time is a president who has chosen to keep all financial security wings in his pockets, how safe are our asserts and finances !
Are we safe but he keeps on saying fighting corruption when he knows he is also corrupt like everyone else in the nation how can he say finances are safe when they are in his pockets.
“President Hichilema said his Government wants to safeguard the country’s resources and leave a legacy of transparent and accountable leadership.”
“He stated that Government will make it difficult for corrupt elements to thrive and that perpetrators of the vice will face the law regardless of their standing in society.”
For years every administration from Kaunda to Lungu had paid lip service to the vice of corruption and President Hichilema has shown leadership on this issue. PF treated government money as their own. Lusambo was even boasting on the radio that Zambians should produce billionaires . How can you become a billionaire with stolen public funds?
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This is how they get created when they test power. He will show us real dictatorship not the grasshopper version.
LT are stopping me from saying dictatorship sure!