Maravi

Levy not to blame for current corruption - Sata

Levy not to blame for current corruption - Sata
By Patson Chilemba and Lambwe Kachali
Friday August 01, 2008 [04:00]

PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata has said President Levy Mwanawasa is not to blame for the current corruption going on in the country. And outgoing British High Commissioner to Zambia Alistair Harrison said the fight against corruption is a long and possibly never-ending battle.

During his farewell meeting with High Commissioner Harrison at the PF secretariat yesterday, Sata said the levels of corruption in the country had worsened but President Mwanawasa was not to blame. Sata instead put the blame on the line ministries.

He said although the British government had supported Zambia in the fight against corruption, the prevalence of the vice was worse than it was during former president Frederick Chiluba's regime. Sata attributed corruption to the lack of governance.

"We have never seen any Chinese teacher, we have seen some fake Chinese doctors. But you have seen their influence. You have seen the influence of Malaysians. You have seen the influence of Japanese. You have seen the influence of Libyans, people who have not contributed to build this country," Sata said.

"You can't blame the President. It's corruption in line ministries because the President does not know which land is going to be made a Chinese zone...the President doesn't know the ZNS farm which is going to be given to Japanese."

Sata said it was unacceptable that 44 years after independence, the country could experience university closures and have hospitals that were in bad state.

"If there are shortcomings, it's not because of the influence of the British government. The shortcomings are on our side," Sata said.

"Please be our ambassador in Foreign Office. Give them the truth because what they lack abroad more especially in Western countries is the truth."

Sata further asked High Commissioner Harrison to tell the British foreign office that the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) was a waste of money and a breeding ground for political problems in the country.

He said the British government had a huge input in improving good governance in the country through their financial support towards the Mwanakatwe and Mung'omba constitution review commissions.

"But I must admit as you go...you are one of the most senior diplomats. You should go and tell your colleagues that you have failed on this one because what we thought was going to come out from the NCC is not what has come out," Sata said.

He said the NCC had failed to incorporate major stakeholders such as the Catholic Church, important NGOs and the PF.

Sata said the process diluted the democracy that Zambia inherited from Britain.

"The whole world is battling to cushion the impact of fuel prices, to cushion the impact of food prices. Then here we have a sham similar to Muzorewa spending 54 million pounds to read a report prepared by another commission," he said.

Sata also highlighted Britain's efforts in realising freedom in South Africa and the former Rhodesia. dum of Understanding (MoU) between ZANU-PF and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), tension would be reduced.

And High Commissioner Harrison said it was a pleasure for Britain to assist Zambia in the fight against corruption. He thanked Sata for giving him a frank explanation on issues from his party's perspective. However, High Commissioner Harrison said he did not want to comment on the political issues that Sata had raised.

"I don't want to react to all the points that you have made. But I will certainly reflect them in my reporting to London," High Commissioner Harrison said.

High Commissioner Harrison also said envoys had a duty to interact with the government as well as political parties.

Labels: ALISTAIR HARRISON, MWANAWASA, SATA

posted by MrK @ 4:10 AM