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(LUSAKATIMES) Draft national anti-corruption policy in place - Dr. kanganja

Draft national anti-corruption policy in place - Dr. kanganja
November 10, 2008

SECRETARY to the Cabinet Dr Joshua Kanganja says government through the the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has developed a draft National Anti Corruption Policy and Strategy aimed at harmonising and coordinating efforts in the fight against corruption.

Dr Kanganja disclosed that one of the key elements of the policy was that of institutionalising the prevention of corruption adding that this called for individual institutions to develop and implement corruption prevention mechanisms.

He said while investigations and prosecutions would continue, it was better to prevent corruption in the first place because investigation and prosecution was not easy given the nature of the crime.

The Secretary to the Cabinet was speaking in Livingstone today when he swore in 22 integrity committee members drawn from the Judiciary, Kitwe City Council, Livingstone City Council, Zambia Police, Immigration department, National Registration and Pssports and the Ministry of Lands.

Dr Kanganja said he was confident that the draft National Anti Corruption Policy would be approved before the end of this year as it was just pending approval by Cabinet.

He said the policy was meant to remove opportunities for corruption and ultimately improve service delivery in public institutions.

Dr Kanganja noted that the concept of institutionalisation of corruption prevention through integrity committees was not unique to Zambia as there were other jurisdictions around the world who had similar arrangements in place.

He said although the National Anti-Corruption Policy has not yet been approved, the government gave a go ahead for the implementation of the institutionalisation of corruption prevention through the formation of integrity committees.

He said this is because of the importance government attaches to the need for improved service delivery in public insitutions.

Dr Kanganja observed that during the FNDP , government will have to undertake a number of policies and key reforms in the area of transparency and accountability adding that some of the issues to be addressed through the ACC would include the revision of the ACC legislation so as to strengthen it and bring it in line with internationally accepted best practices.

He said the other issues included the placing of the emphasis on prevention of corruption and related malpractices in public and private institutions and to institutionalise corruption prevention in both public and private institutions.

Dr Kanganja called on the newly sworn members to spearhead and facilitate the process of preventing corruption in their respective organisations and providing information on what the integrity committee would accomplish in their organisations.

Speaking earlier, ACC Acting Director General Mrs Rosewin Wandi said the commission stands ready to work with government and all stakeholders in both private and public institutions to see to it that the government’s goal of enhancing governance and service delivery through integrity committees is achieved.

ENDS/FM/PK/ZANIS/.

Labels: ACC, JOSHUA KANGANJA, NATIONAL ANTI CORRUPTION POLICY

posted by MrK @ 5:01 PM