Friday, April 20, 2007

LETTERS - Corruption, New Constitution

Public Accounts Committee
By T. M. Mukelabai
Friday April 20, 2007 [04:00]

This saga between Dr Miti of Ministry of Health and Chifungula, our eyes and ears in the corridors of government spending, is a sad one. How even Kanganja could support such arrogance from Dr. Miti baffles me and I'm sure many other people.

Compatriots, the office of the Auditor General needs all our support. It needs to be empowered even more by giving it real teeth to bite into this rotten government fabric. To push the point even further, I would say that if I appointed someone to oversee a business venture or entity and later on I am given evidence that the fellow is abusing his authority and misapplying the institution's funds, I would surely censure such a person and possibly fire him or her.

If I do not do that what will the public think? The Public Accounts Committee is indeed a good democratic and governance tool and it need not succumb to individuals who perceive themselves untouchable, otherwise we will never know what goes on in the public service as everyone will demand that their sessions be held in camera. This would defeat the whole purpose of the PAC.

We want accountability, transparency, good governance and the rule of law to prevail. The officers involved in any malpractices will come and go, perhaps scot-free, but the majority Zambians will continue to wallow in poverty. So let's act on these local vultures.




http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=25475

Public accounts
By Francis C Bwalya
Friday April 20, 2007 [04:00]

Auditor General Anna Chifungula must be commended for her professional approach to matters assigned to her office even when faced with great opposition and resistance from many of the permanent secretaries from the affected ministries.

Auditors the world-over have been tasked with this mammoth duty of checking that proper procedure and standards in accordance to the laid down rules which must be adhered to without compromise. That’s exactly what she is doing! Very few AGs have been as thorough in executing their duties dilegently. She remainds me of Stubbs Nundwe (a former AG) who was a professional, like Anna.

Second, apart from his latest mess over the expose in the Ministry of Health, chairman for public accounts committee Charles Milupi and his team were complementing her efforts well. These accounts are audited so that the public may know if their money is being used for the intented purpose. Please Milupi don’t choke anyone (like The Post) who is informing the nation of what we 'by right' ought to know.





http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=25476

Corruption fight
By Thomas
Friday April 20, 2007 [04:00]

It looks to me that the Mwanawasa government is not listening to the people on many issues. This is troubling indeed especially because of the fact that they did not get a majority vote countrywide.

It hurts me to see where our country is going, back to colonialism or is it slavery now. Where is the new constitution we were promised? Why is our commercial bank being sold despite opposition from the people?

What is the Anti-Corruption Commission doing about following these irregular actions? Brave whistle-blowers are needed in Zambia to fight against corruption at the top people. I urge the Auditor General to look into this and establish a paper trail as to where these funds originated from.

From time to time we have heard how government officials are awarding favours to party cadres without following laid down laws. This is corruption.
The Mwaanga statement should not be swept under the carpet said we hear maize was given to MMD candidates. Before we heard land was given to party cadres by the Minister of Lands, Masebo in Parliament once said development would first go to areas that voted for MMD.

Mwanawasa has also said something like that. So with people who think like this, where can they take Zambia?

The zero tolerance on corruption has ended, why? Is this a signal that now it’s okay to be corrupt, or has our leader now also joined?

The sale of KCM is still cloudy; someone must have got something that did not belong to them. As if we don’t know that selling the mines was a bad idea, the government is actively engaged in selling more to foreign companies.

All the hypocrisy shall one day be revealed. It is sad that Zambians are being sidelined in the affairs of the country yet very little is seen as resistance; not a placard, not a protest nor prosecution.




http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=25473

Selective prosecution
By Malcolm Chiyoba
Friday April 20, 2007 [04:00]

I want discuss a subject that has been the hallmark of Mwanawasa's government. This fight against corruption has not been as successful as it should have and this state is attributable to several factors. Among them is the apparent selectivity of who should be prosecuted. This has been questioned by several citizens and the President should have taken their concerns seriously. A recent act would quantify the occurence of the state, that is, where in the twinkling of an eye, Gladys Nyirongo was fired and her co-accused suspended!

The exact thing happened to Mwaanga for being found guilty of lies. But now we are having the persisting arguments in the health ministry and Mwanawasa is silent. If this continues, this fight will only be some form of verbal cholera! All corruption is equal in its anti-development contributions so all must be fired and none suspended and all must be visted by the law. And no entering pseudo nolles.





http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=25478

We want a new constitution
By Mambwe Daka
Friday April 20, 2007 [04:00]

I find the war of words between the Oasis Forum and the government over the enactment of constitution rather unnecessary. We may as a nation be going round and round over this issue until we reach 2011. I believe what the majority of Zambians want is a new constitution before the next elections and not these unnecessary debates about the road map.

One of the problems the Forum seems to have with the government road map is the conducting of a census because it will delay the process and that it is costly.
Constitutional reforms are never cheap. The government will have no option but to find the money, not to look for the money. On the delay, I am meant to understand that the government's road map does not go beyond 2010.

I stand to be corrected by the Oasis Forum. As for the census itself, there is no need to resist it because if it were to be held the majority of Zambians would participate, with the sensitisation of both the government and the Oasis Forum. Even the referendum result would be an overwhelming vote for the people's will.

I know a lot of people do not trust the seriousness of the government over the constitution reforms. Moreover, President blundered when he said the constitution reforms would be derailed due to the damage caused by the floods we recently experienced. That was undermining the will of the people.

However, I believe Parliament has passed a budget for the commencement of the the constitution reforms. Without access to the approved budget, I stand to be corrected by the MPs whether or not this is true. This is commitment on the part of government.
If the Oasis Forum feels strongly about the holding of a census and indeed any issue on the government road map, let it seek judicial interpretation of Article 79 as a matter of urgency.

The road map debate in my view is a waste of time and is to the detriment of the Zambian people. The government will be buying time with the unnecessary debate going on. If the budget has been approved and the constitution reforms catered for; let the constitution reforms begin. Viva new constitution.

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posted by MrK @ 11:35 AM

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