Maravi

Political will alone cannot overcome corruption , says Aka

Political will alone cannot overcome corruption , says Aka
By Gillian Namungala
Thursday June 05, 2008 [04:00]

ANTI-CORRUPTION Commission (ACC) commissioner Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanika says high command leadership and political will are not sufficient to overcome the country’s compulsive habit and pervasive reputation of corruption. Opening a workshop for the Zambia Police service integrity committee focal officers at Tuskers Hotel in Kabwe on Tuesday, Akashambatwa said it took a social, political and institutional environment of free expression and full participation by all members of society to fight corruption.

Akashambatwa observed that the line up for the fight against corruption would be incomplete without the mental, verbal and action support of broad representation of citizens.

He said that was the only way police officers could weed out corrupt persons and practices in their organisation.

“For several years there has been an expressed negative public perception that the fight against corruption may be selectively targeted and driven by political expediency,” he said.

Akashambatwa said that was confirmed in the findings of the 2004 national governance baseline survey.

“Currently, the stigma against the agencies fighting corruption is partially sustained by the few corruption suspects or persons not perceived to have integrity,” he said.

He said the challenge to ACC together with the police service was about improving their performance and having the public see that they were working.

Akashambatwa however said the fight against corruption still rages with greater performance.

Labels: ACC, AKASHAMBATWA MBIKUSITA-LEWANIKA

posted by MrK @ 5:08 PM