Residents urge arrest of corrupt officials

Residents urge arrest of corrupt officials
Written by Brighton Phiri in Mazabuka and Charles Mwanamukando in Choma
Tuesday, February 24, 2009 8:34:03 AM

SOME Mazabuka residents have called for the arrest and prosecution of public officers allegedly misappropriating public funds.

During the Newsmakers Forum organised by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post at Mazabuka Golf club on Sunday, Caritas Zambia Mazabuka branch co-ordinator, Simon Musune called for the arrest of all public officers in Southern Province linked to financial irregularities as cited in the Auditor General's report.

“Whenever a crime is committed, it is only proper that prosecution follows and all the culprits should be arrested and if found guilty, they should be jailed,” Musune said. “It is only proper that the law enforcement agencies pursue all the culprits.”

Musune said the government’s failure to punish the culprits would render the Auditor General’s office useless.

''This office has done a commendable job by exposing wrong doing in public offices but we are disappointed by government’s failure to act because each time a report is submitted, it is just shelved in the drawers while culprits are left to enjoy their freedom. What is disappointing most is the fact that some erring officers have either been promoted or maintained their positions without facing justice,'' he said.

Musune urged Zambians to take keen interest in the Auditor General’s reports and begin to demand the arrest of all the culprits.

“Cowardice is the biggest form of injustice to oneself,” he said.

Pastors Fellowship representative Beaton Siamasumo asked politicians to be of service to the people.

“It is common now to see political leaders being jailed for stealing public resources instead of going to prison for fighting for the people’s liberties as our founding freedom fighters did. We need leadership which has the country at heart,” he said.

Former UPND councillor Oliver Mulomba wondered why the government had maintained the controlling officers who were linked to the abuse of public resources.

He asked the Task Force to pursue all the public officers who were linked to the abuse of the public resources as highlighted by the Auditor General’s report.

“Let the Task Force move in and investigate our provincial office. This (Auditor General’s report) is a clear case for the Task Force to investigate. The PS must be arrested and answer charges,” Mulomba said.

UPND district chairman Lyod Buumba urged Zambians to ask the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) to reduce some of the constitutional powers for a sitting President if interference in the running of the three arms of government was to stop.

“Some controlling officers cited for abusing public funds in the Auditor General's report could not be arrested because they enjoy political protection. The law enforcement agencies cannot effect any arrest before the Republican President orders them to do so,” he said.

Patriotic Front representative Sylvester Simayaba challenged President Rupiah Banda to prove to the nation that he fully supported the fight against corruption by suspending all the senior government officials cited for abusing and misapplication of public funds.

“The President must show us that he is serious by ensuring that Southern Province Permanent Secretary Darius Hakaayobe is immediately arrested following glaring financial irregularities as cited in the Auditor General's report,” Simayaba said.

''We demand for the immediate action by the police, Drug Enforcement Commission, Anti Corruption Commission. The office of the Auditor General is doing a commendable job by exposing public officers abusing and misapplying funds. But why are our law enforcement agencies sleeping in the face of such criminality?” he asked.

Mazabuka resident Derrick Chela said unless the government prosecuted erring public officers, most people would refuse to pay tax to the government.

''How do you expect me to pay tax when I know that the people who are stealing my money are left free? Why is government quick in collecting tax and taking punitive action against defaulters and yet it is reluctant to prosecute thieves?'' asked Chela.

And police in Choma have referred Southern Province PF coordinator Opper Hamiyanze to the divisional command in Livingstone to lodge his official complaint against Hakayobe over the misapplication of funds highlighted in the 2007 Auditor General's report.

Choma police officer-in-charge Victor Mateyo confirmed in Choma on Monday that Hamiyanze had visited the police station to lodge his formal complaint but was referred to the divisional command in Livingstone.

Last Saturday during the newsmakers' forum organised by the Press Freedom Committee of The Post at Crystal Lodge in Choma, Hamiyanze vowed to become the first complainant against Hakayobe on the revelations of the 2007 audit report on Southern Province.

The 2007 audit report has revealed poor management of contracts, accounting irregularities, excess payments, unretired imprest and unsupported payments at the provincial administration.