Diego Cassili and the Business Coalition Taskforce (BCT) slams theft of public resources, bureacracy and red tape, and conduct of the corrupt police and illegal traffic police roadblocks
BCT ON THE LOOTING OF HEALTH CARE FUNDS
….Our health sector and economy is being looted by these self-serving criminal agents who appear confident that they are above the law and can avoid the justice…..
“It is therefore disturbing, that even after the discovery of 61 medicine-filled containers, in privately owned warehouses, in an attempted plunder of a USS65m Zambia / Egypt single-sourcing procurement, that such criminal acts are still entrenched in the Ministry of Health and ZMMSA.”
“President Hakainde Hichilema has announced that the Cabinet has resolved to classify all thefts within the health sector as economic crimes, as they undermine investments in that area”.
“The dubious procurement process for USS13million CDF ambulances, of which only 11 of the 156 have been delivered, and is now being investigated by the ACC…”
“BCT asks what these investigative bodies, including Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), who flagged an incredulous 1st Quarter ZMW 61billion (US$2.26bn) of fraudulent activities, tax evasion-tainted trade operations and illicit mining, are actually delivering regarding prosecution and recovery of proceeds of crime?”
“Our health sector and economy is being looted by these self-serving criminal agents who appear confident that they are above the law and can avoid the justice.”
ON POLICE ROADBLOCKS AND POLICE CORRUPTION
“The recent and highly publicized exploitation of a group of tourists by Zambian traffic police, during their journey through Zambia, where they were stopped multiple times, on spurious charges and detained for several hours until they paid cash fines to secure their release, is not only tarnishing the international reputation of Zambia as a tourist destination,
but also has a direct financial impact, which according to Tourism Council of Zambia, deprives Zambian owned businesses of approximately US$250m (ZMW7billion) in revenue opportunities.”
“In the World Internal Security & Police Index 2024, released in November, Zambian Police were ranked amongst the worst forces in the world at a shocking 118 out of 125.”
“The infamous reputation of our traftic police is massively detrimental for both local and foreign self-drive tourists for fear of harassment and being subjected to extortion.”
“These actions are not isolated incidents, but part of an ongoing pattern of abuse that local and forcign nationals, are subjected to on a regular and systemic basis.”
“This rampant corruption by officials has now reached such an appalling level, that it’s putting a serious strain on the relationship between citizen and state officials, which should be based on trust and mutual respect for the police as upholders of law and order.”
PRIVATE SECTOR DIALOGUE FORUM FAILURE
BCT has raised oncerns regarding the
efficacy of the PPDF, which was originally established to streamline the cost of doing business and reduce goverment bureaucnacy, licenses, controls and restrictions.
In short, the PPDF was mandated to make it easier for Zambians to do business in Zambia.
“Unfortunately, the very structure and methodology of the PPDF has evolved into exactly what it was designed to reduce and remove. It has become extremely
bureaucratic, slow, cumbersome and unable to make meaningful decisions that lead to positive changes”.
“Having been established for three years, very little has been achicved, and the PRIVATE SECTOR is in fact now worse off than it was prior to the formation of the PPDF”
“Not only are regulations not being removed, new and more cumbersome regulations are being imposed on businesses, that are slowing down development, disincentivizing investment and preventing job creation.”
“This self inflicted onerous bureaucracy has disadvantaged Zambian businesses to the extent that we are regionally uncompetitive.
Unfortunately, the PPDF agenda has been hijacked by overly-entrenched civil servants that are suppressing the valid and practical concems of the PRIVATE SECTOR and who are wrongly advising govemnment officinls,
presenting a positive, rose-tinted spin on the economy, that there is no need for a material change. This is simplynot the case.”
ABOUT THE BUSINESS COALITION TASKFORCE
The Business Coalition Taskforce (BCT) is a non-political alliance of private sector businesses dedicated to advocating for transparency, accountability, and the eradication of systemic challenges impeding Zambia’s economic growth. Focused on key issues such as public resource theft, bureaucratic inefficiencies, corruption, and regulatory overreach, BCT aims to create a conducive environment for business and investment.
ABOUT DIEGO CASSILI
Diego established Napoli Property Investments Limited as the property manager for the existing properties which include the premier and upmarket commercial and residential developments such as Acacia office park, East Park Mall, Jacaranda Mall and Saddle Yard executive townhouses.
Diego served as the Managing Director of Amanita, Zamanita and Amagrain from 1991 to 2008 where he oversaw the operations of three milling operations and an oilseed crushing plant.
Diego as managing director of Amanita oversaw well over 450 employees. Following the divesture of Diego’s agriculture processing facilities, he successfully developed a large portfolio of property holdings in Zambia
By Muleya Lungwangwa
So now, Diego is PF adviser or what?
A weed Smoker
Not a comment but a question
Where is the connection with your comment?
Its a question not a comment ,moron.
where is the connection with your comment?
Go to Makeni westwood police traffic check point on Mumbwa road, it is alleged by motorists who use that route that every commercial vehicle whether a canter, bus or truck or indeed any other has to be stopped for issues ranging from imaginary to non existent and very flimsy ‘ offences’. A lot of productive man hours for motorists lost there. It has some of the most overzealous traffic cops in the country , I also hear no receipts are issued there.
There is indeed nothing new in what Casili is saying because just from posts on social media the past five years one sees Zambia’s rotten rampant corruption. The entire political leadership knows about this but they are helpless. They do nothing. It benefits them even if it hurts the masses. The president only acts and removes a police chief when he isn’t loyal to state house.
Censored
By LT
Tebufi I grew upon the copperbel. my wife is from Zambezi in the North Western p and iam from Serenje. Our kids were born in Petauke where my wife was posted as a medical officer. They speak nsenga which I can only grasp but Speaking? Yayi. So when you start a civil war where will we run to?
It is neither bureaucracy nor red tape that people are corrupt. Those who do not follow the laydown procedures encourage corruption.
The job of Intelligence and the ACC is to catch before things happen. We need to grow this system there are just too few of them or they have lost the art of Intelligence and that of ACC or at the least they are also involved.
Is there any hope for our beloved country?
Hope is there for us progressives It’s only the tribalists who want to divide us. There was a professor Renee due Mont who visited KK from Europe France I think who explains what Zambia and other states are going through. It’s well explained in socialism theory. We are testing ourselves before finally becoming an autonomous nation
This article has been written by someone who hoped for favours but has not seen such.
LT publish my comment. Police together with the President are corrupt!
Are these not the same family that owned Portland Cement and Mutanda Farms?
The real Italians not these bankrupt Greeks and ama Lebanese abansala, in developed countries Greeks and Lebanese are the lowest crooks, even Indians are considered better as foreigners to accommodate but us in Zambia put them on a pedestal when in fact they truly are the most exploitative and worthless chaps (Greeks and Lebanese not Italians, Italians are people of substance not those other two!)
………
Jack Mwibu and the inspector of police must be sacked………
They have had enough time to reform the police…..
Let’s hope the president takes action against them
Forwadee 2031
Viva Spakaaaa! Now he is getting urbanised. Like those of us from Chamboli, Kantanshi, Masala, Chiwempala who don’t see the importance of tribe in our sociopolitics. Keep it up! I will inform Sishure Sishure and other members of our liberated club. But don’t be too excited. We have tests that check just how tribal you are before handing out our membership card
Kikikikikikikikiiii!
We all know what’s wrong as highlighted in the report but is the government going to do anything about it? NO!
A NEW VOICE OF THE PEOPLE
THANK YOU THANK YOU
Will it help I doubt it
@ubuntu bantu kikikikikiki!!