TIZ ties Zambia’s success in corruption fight to Levy

TIZ ties Zambia’s success in corruption fight to Levy
By Chibaula Silwamba
Wed 18 Nov. 2009, 04:01 CAT

TRANSPARENCY International has attributed Zambia’s improvement in the 2009 corruption perception index ranking to the late president Levy Mwanawasa’s personal efforts.

And Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) has challenged President Rupiah Banda to do every thing possible to prevent Zambia from sliding back into a period when corruption was rife and institutionalised.

Meanwhile, TIZ said government should not protect a few people from prosecution on corruption charges.

Launching the TI corruption perception index 2009, TIZ treasurer Sampa Kalungu said corruption was still rampant in sub-Saharan Africa.

“In the 2009 CPI, Zambia has a score of 3.0 out of 10 points. This score indicates that Zambia this year has recorded another slight improvement of 0.2 points from last year’s 2.8 and is in the 19th rank category out of 69 ranks from last year’s 17th rank out of 60 ranks. This is an important development notwithstanding the fact that this CPI does NOT take into consideration the current situation as most surveys on Zambia mainly covers the two years starting from 2007 – 2008,” Kalungu said.

“The slight improvement in Zambia’s position is a clear indication that some of the measures instituted by the government and particularly the administration of the late president Levy Mwanawasa are beginning to bear fruit. It is also an indication that Zambia can perform even better than most countries if our approach to the fight against corruption remains focused and devoid of self-serving interests.”

He said TIZ had always maintained the position that while corruption was still rampant during the reign of Mwanawasa, he did his best to publicly address the scourge of corruption.

“The late president demonstrated his eagerness to do something about corruption and it is these efforts among others which have been noticed by various stakeholders. It is true to state that nearly all the high profile corruption cases before the courts of law as well as those that have been concluded, were started by the Mwanawasa Administration,” Kalungu said.

“We do appreciate that President Banda’s approach to fighting corruption will not necessarily be the same as that of his predecessor but what is important for us is that everything possible should be done to prevent Zambia sliding back into a period when corruption was rife and institutionalised.”

Kalungu said for Zambia, the CPI was coming at a time when public sector corruption had become glaring.

“The 2009 CPI therefore, should be used as a reference point to assess what progress Zambia has made in the last two to three years. The results of the CPI for Zambia should serve as a unifier of efforts of all Zambians who are interested in making this country- corrupt free and we do sincerely hope that the 2009 CPI will mark a turning point in the approach towards the fight against corruption by all stakeholders especially President Rupiah Banda and his administration,” Kalungu said.

He said the government leaders, particularly the top leadership should be careful in the positions that they take on corruption cases.

“Government’s actions or lack of action on cases of corruption are closely watched by the international community and we wish to counsel President Banda to provide demonstrated leadership in the fight against corruption.

Everything possible should be done to fight corruption and it should not be left to mere political rhetoric. President Banda and his cabinet should recognise that a lot is riding on this fight against corruption. For instance, it is due to corruption and lack of transparency and accountability in the use of public funds that some cooperating partners are withholding financial aid,” he said.

“It has always been our conviction that Zambia can do better in the fight against corruption and it does worry us greatly when we see government not doing enough to build on what has been started in the fight against corruption.”

Kalungu said it was evident that economic development would only be possible if the government and all stakeholders work together and clean up the country of corruption.

“Transparency International Zambia would like to reiterate its philosophy that corruption anywhere and everywhere should be fought vigorously. We will support efforts to rid all sectors of corruption whether this is in the public sector, private sector, media, Church, civil society, or in the international development community.

The same rules should apply and there should be no sacred cows - we do not subscribe to protection of any person from prosecution if at all overwhelming evidence exists. The last thing that government (all the three arms of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary) should do is to be seen to be protecting a few people from prosecution – this will send wrong signals both to the local and international community,” Kalungu said.

“The fight against corruption needs strength of character and the courage to do the right thing – political costs notwithstanding. The fight against corruption needs political will demonstrated in form of support for the independent functioning of the Judiciary, law enforcement agencies and watchdog institutions.”

He said it was time Zambians started to support the heroes in the fight against corruption while condemning the villains.

Kalungu said TIZ recommended that the government and other stakeholders should not sit back but use the 2009 CPI results to consolidate efforts in fighting corruption.

“We recommend that: (a) government recommits itself to the fight against corruption and this should be exhibited in the timely action taken against all allegations of corruption. No person or persons should be insulated from prosecution. Where necessary, government should not hesitate to appeal all cases where cogent evidence exists; (b) the implementation plan for the National Anti-Corruption Policy should be completed as soon as possible and funded as part of the 2010 budget; (c) government, the private sector, civil society including the media, should all embark on initiatives to prevent corruption in their respective sectors at the earliest opportunity. For instance, Codes of Ethics should be developed and enforced to cover all public servants and senior government leaders including the Permanent Secretaries, Secretary to the Treasury, Secretary to the Cabinet etc; (c) government should domesticate the UN Convention against corruption so that the national laws and policies can adequately reflect the various progressive provisions aimed at facilitating the fight against corruption,” Kalungu said.

“(d) President Banda should extend the forensic audits to all government spending ministries as soon as possible and in the same light, we call on the cooperating partners to support the work of the Office of the Auditor General as they conduct these important audits; (e) law enforcement agencies should expeditiously conclude the investigation and prosecution of corruption cases that have been pending for a long.

The Zambian people deserve to know the final position on the procurement of the hearses, the inflation of invoice payments by some food suppliers to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the dubious registration and award of government construction project contracts to construction companies owned by senior government leaders.”