Lubinda bemoans lack of sufficient resources in corruption fight

Lubinda bemoans lack of sufficient resources in corruption fight
Written by Ernest Chanda
Sunday, September 20, 2009 8:27:05 AM

AFRICAN Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC) Zambia Chapter president Given Lubinda has bemoaned the lack of sufficient resources in the fight against corruption on the continent.

Speaking at APNAC’s 3rd Annual General Meeting in Lusaka yesterday, Lubinda said despite the efforts made in fighting corruption on the African continent, more efforts were still being hampered by lack of adequate resources.

“We have tried our best as African parliamentarians to sensitise people and fight corruption, but in many situations resources have limited our efforts. Inadequate resource base has been our main challenge, but we thank several cooperating partners who have helped us many times. In spite of limited resources we shall continue to fight corruption,” Lubinda said.

“We cannot say we have won the battle, but what is important is that we are committed to the fight and we have people’s support. And for as long as we continue with this spirit we hope that some people will learn from this commitment.”

And APNAC Africa president, Augustine Ruzindana said currently parliamentarians were perceived as part of the corruption problem.

“The objectives of APNAC include building the commitment of parliaments and MPs to effectively exercise their accountability role in the budget process and thereby contribute to the control of corruption in their countries. Members of APNAC have, within the constraints imposed by their parliamentary rules, routine and programmes, to achieve these objectives,” he said.

“Currently MPs are perceived as part of the corruption problem and APNAC aims at changing this image by making them part of solution. The existence of public confidence, in any political and administrative institution, depends on the assurance that the public is getting value for money for taxpayer’s money and donor funds. In Africa, this assurance is believed, by the public, largely not to exist.”

Ruzindana said Parliament was a major pillar in the prevention against corruption.

“With regard to Parliament, corruption can be addressed in the context of oversight role which enforces accountability, transparency and openness. The legal requirement of the Executive to seek parliamentary approval, to collect taxes or borrow or spend money and after spending it government must be able to show that it has spent the correct amount for the purposes approved, is the basic source of parliamentary oversight functions and powers. It is the effective exercise of this power over the management of the budget that gives Parliament the opportunity to reduce the opportunities for corruption to occur. Parliament is thus a major pillar in the prevention strategy against corruption," said Ruzindana.

And deputy chairperson of committees in the Zambia Parliament, Mkhondo Lungu urged parliamentarians to live by example in the fight against corruption.

“Parliamentarians in whatever they do, must live by example, and this applies to the fight against corruption, whether it be on a voluntary basis or otherwise. This is cardinal, especially that the fight against corruption is a fight against an insidious disease which continues to ravage our continent, searing it of its economic flesh and leaving only economic skeletons which cannot sustain our people," said Lungu.