Maravi

Lifuka welcomes Bulaya's sentence

Lifuka welcomes Bulaya's sentence
Written by Allan Mulenga
Sunday, December 28, 2008 12:38:28 PM

TRANSPARENCY International Zambia (TIZ) president Rueben Lifuka has said the five-year jail sentence of former Ministry of Health permanent secretary Kashiwa Bulaya will send a clear signal that abuse of office, corruption and the embezzlement of public resources do not have a place in society.

And Federation of Free Trade Unions of Zambia (FFTUZ) vice-president Charles Phiri has said the conviction of Bulaya was a wake-up call to other people still facing corruption charges.

Commenting on the five-year jail sentence of Bulaya after losing his appeal in the High Court against conviction by a magistrate’s court last year, Lifuka said the court’s decision was a testimony that no one person was above the law and those still serving in public office should not delude themselves that they would for one reason or another, be immune from prosecution if they were found wanting.

“Transparency International Zambia generally welcomes the conviction of Dr Kashiwa Bulaya for five years. This decision handed down by the courts is important as it sends a clear signal that abuse of office, corruption, embezzlement of public resources does not have a place in our society,” he said.

Lifuka said the investigation and prosecution of Bulaya was significant as it touched on the issue of public procurement and highlighted weaknesses inherent in the current procurement system.

“It also touches on the need for better and periodic scrutiny of all persons appointed or even elected to public office. These should be men and women whose sense of probity is beyond question,” said Lifuka.

And Phiri said the conviction of Bulaya was a wake-up call to other people still facing corruption charges, saying Bulaya’s case had been dragging for a long time.

“We welcome the conviction of Dr Bulaya because the court ruling was long awaited. As the labour movement, it saddens us to see corruption cases taking too long to be disposed off by the courts of law,” he said.

Phiri urged the judiciary to expeditiously deal with all corruption cases currently before the courts of law.

“The government should not delay justice. Corruption cases must be met with full force of the law. These cases have been dragging for a long period of time. Here we are talking of high profile cases that have been running for seven to eight years now,” he said.

Phiri said the five-year jail sentence slapped on Bulaya would serve as a lesson to all civil servants who were in the habit of engaging in corrupt activities.

“It is worrisome to note that most of the civil servants are involved in corruption. However, this will deter civil servants from engaging in corrupt activities,” he said.

Phiri hoped that other corruption cases that were still in the courts of law would quickly be dealt with and the judiciary would mete out stiffer penalties to all those who would be found wanting.

“We are urging the judges to come up with stiffer penalties for people who will be convicted on corruption. We feel that is one of the deterrent measures that need to be put in place,” said Phiri.

Labels: KASHIWA BULAYA, RUEBEN LIFUKA

posted by MrK @ 12:38 PM