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DFID urges govt to be clear over corruption fight

DFID urges govt to be clear over corruption fight
Written by Patson Chilemba
Friday, August 28, 2009 3:11:13 PM

DFID head in Zambia Mike Hammond yesterday urged President Rupiah Banda’s government to be clear on their commitment to sustaining the fight against corruption regardless of who is involved. And President Banda said even in the fight against corruption, the nation should not lose sight of the constitutional rights of those accused. During the launch of the National Anti-Corruption Policy at Hotel InterContinental in Lusaka yesterday,

Hammond, who is head of the United Kingdom's Department for International Development (DFID) in Zambia, said strong leadership and political will from President Banda and his government would be needed for the successful implementation of the policy.

"The message needs to continue to be clear that you are ready to confront corruption no matter who is involved and that a policy of zero tolerance means just that. If the government of Zambia is to build on the momentum of the past successes, it must be seen to take action against those that do not abide by rules and no individual should be above the law," he said.

Hammond said this message should be embedded into the culture of all organisations, public and private.

"We will all be watching developments with great interest. But ultimately government is accountable through the ballot box and it will [be] the Zambian people [who] will be watching very closely to ensure that its government remains fully committed to the fight against corruption and who will be the final judges of our success or failure," he said.

Hammond said both the Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Task Force on Corruption had so far done a commendable job in tackling corruption.

He said the Task Force had successfully prosecuted individuals "who have abused Zambia's resources."

"This led to Zambia enjoying a strong reputation internationally for the fight against corruption. But reputations can easily be tarnished if the basis on which they are built is not deepened and strengthe[ned]," Hammond said. "We hope that this strategy and the actions that flow from it will provide the evidence that will maintain Zambia's reputation."

Hammond said while the anti corruption policy would form the basis for further strengthening of the fight against corruption in the country, the challenge would be to effectively implement the policy.

He said it would be important for the government to come up with an implementation plan, which would set out clear actions to combat corruption across government and private sector.

"This must include supporting organisations to develop procedures that prevent corruption, financial mismanagement or money laundering; and supporting investigation and prosecution where prevention has failed," Hammond said. "Where laws and institutions are weak, the plan should also be clear on how government will strengthen the legal and institutional framework."

Hammond said the UK and other donors stood ready to support implementation building on their previous support in the fight against corruption in Zambia.

He said since 2000, the United Kingdom alone had provided seven million pounds to the ACC, and 1.4 million pounds to the Task Force on Corruption.

He said the UK and other donors also supported the development of the National Anti Corruption Policy.

Hammond commended the government for approving the policy, but that good policies did not always lead to good actions.

"...And it is the impact of this policy that the Zambian in the street will be watching with interest," he said.

Hammond said corruption diverted money from delivering public services and away from those who needed it most, mothers and babies who urgently needed health services, children who needed education.

He said decisions based on a corrupt act, were not taken for the public benefit but for private interest.

Hammond said corruption reduced people's confidence in public institutions, making it harder for governments to raise money in the first place.

"Electors are less willing to pay taxes and support corrupt regimes, donors are less willing to provide funds. Corruption will only be tackled if all concerned work together. Government must take the lead and set the place. Donors can provide expertise, which if they are to be effective have to be aligned behind the government's strategy," said Hammond. "Civil society has a key role to play in demanding higher standards and in holding public institutions to account. But it is the average Zambian who will be watching the implementation of the policy and who will want to see its impact on their lives and who will judge us all."

And President Banda emphasised that the responsibility to judge cases of corruption shall remain that of the Judiciary.

He said the government would remain committed to the rule of law and respect for human rights.

"Even as we fight corruption, we should not lose sight of the constitutional rights of the accused. We should always remember that everyone is innocent until proven guilty by the courts of law," President Banda said.

He said he was confident that the policy would galvanize Zambians into forging a strong national alliance against corruption.

"We renew our commitment and resolve to uphold the motto of Zero Tolerance against Corruption. In this regard, I urge all Zambians, and in particular, the institutional stakeholders who participated in developing the policy, to ensure that the agreed actions in the policy are implemented," President Banda said.

He said it would be imperative that the policy be publicized throughout the country, saying the fight against corruption was the responsibility of everyone. He said corruption should not become a norm and should not become an accepted way of life.

President Banda said the support given to the government and investigative agencies by all was indicative of the fact that Zambians abhor corruption and were ready to fight it in a united effort.

He said a practical way of ensuring the realisation of the goals spelt out in the policy was for each sector to develop a code of ethics for its members.

"On our part as government, we shall continue to fulfil our mandate in fighting corruption. Apart from the NACP, government will also ensure that necessary legislation is enacted to enhance the fight against corruption," President Banda said. "In addition, the justice delivery system should continue with its role of providing efficient and expeditious justice to the public. In this regard, all the players in the justice delivery system, that is to say, the Judiciary, the Director of Public Prosecutions Office, the Anti Corruption Commission, the Drug Enforcement Commission etc, should double their respective roles in achieving this goal. At the end of the day, justice should not only be done, it must be seen to be done."

President Banda directed the Secretary to the Cabinet, permanent secretaries and chief executive officers in all the government ministries, departments and agencies to ensure that the aspects of the policy which touched on the public sector in general were speedily implemented.

He said under the policy, ACC would be strengthened and would be the lead institution in the fight against corruption.

President Banda said once the policy was implemented, he expected to see a paradigm shift in the manner in which national affairs were conducted.

President Banda also said the nation should remain focused on putting in place a public service that was current free.

He pointed out a Judiciary that was corrupt free and which dispensed justice fairly and impartially in accordance with the law.

"A free media which practices responsible, balanced and professional journalism, in its role as a purveyor of information," said President Banda. "A labour force which is motivated and dedicated to hard work; one that derives tangible benefits from its daily sweat; a labour force that abhors corruption in all its manifestations."

ACC chairperson Valentine Chileshe, who initially forgot to carry his speech when he went to address the people and caused laughter in the process, said the National Anti Corruption policy sought to address issues of corruption at three levels; namely the institutional, legal and social frameworks.

Labels: CORRUPTION, DFID, MIKE HAMMOND

posted by MrK @ 2:13 PM