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Rupiah challenges Zambians to be proactive in corruption fight

Rupiah challenges Zambians to be proactive in corruption fight
By Ernest Chanda
Thu 10 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has called on Zambians to play a proactive role in the fight against corruption.

President Banda, who was represented by Vice-President George Kunda at the commemoration of the World Anti Corruption Day in Lusaka yesterday, said the government had already demonstrated its commitment to fighting corruption through various measures and interventions put in place.

He said society would achieve the intended results if everyone got involved in the fight against corruption.

“My government has continued to demonstrate its commitment to the fight against corruption through various measures and interventions that have been put in place to fight this scourge. Further, in August this year, my government launched the National Anti Corruption Policy which will ensure that the fight against corruption is well coordinated and meaningful,” President Banda said.

“However, for us to achieve the desired results, it will require that all Zambians take a keen interest in the implementation of this policy and play a proactive role in the fight against corruption. As I have always said on similar occasions before, the war against corruption is the responsibility of everyone.”

President Banda said government had further demonstrated its desire to remove corruption in the public service through the launch of the code of ethics.

“… In 2008 an umbrella Public Service Code of Ethics was launched with a view of instilling professionalism and core values in the public service while various institutions have also developed institutional code of ethics, service charters, and established customer service centres in a bid to streamline and ensure transparency and accountability in the process at key points of public service delivery,” he said.

“I therefore urge all public service employees to adhere to this code of ethics in their discharge of duty. My government shall continue to strengthen the Anti Corruption Commission and other governance institutions involved in fighting graft by providing the necessary resources for them to operate effectively.”

And United Nations resident coordinator Macleod Nyirongo urged the government to domesticate resolutions of the UN Convention Against Corruption and Organised Crimes.

“…This occasion should also be an opportunity for the government and the people of Zambia to reflect on some of the areas that still need improvement. These areas include the fact that the UN Convention against Corruption and Organised Crimes has not yet been domesticated in Zambia. The UN Convention against Corruption and Organised Crimes would provide tremendous opportunities including capacity development of national institutions; increased collaboration with the international community on tracking and forfeiture of assets acquired corruptly and; the promotion of integrity, accountability and proper management of public affairs and public property,” said Nyirongo.

Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president Reuben Lifuka bemoaned the country’s lack of ambitious goals and targets in fighting corruption.

“We believe that as a country, we should have high ambitions in fighting corruption. Unfortunately, we seem not to set ambitious goals and targets where the fight against corruption is concerned. We are content as a country with a few convictions in the courts of law; we are comfortable with a 0.2 per cent improvement on the TI Transparency International Corruption Perception Index and indeed, we bask in the warmth of the praises we receive from the international community for minor achievements. But in all sincerity, our fight against corruption remains pedestrian and needs a new lease of life,” said Lifuka.

African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption, Zambia chapter president Given Lubinda called on the private sector to get actively involved in the fight against corruption by setting up norms of good practice.

Anti Corruption Commission chairperson Justice Valentine Chileshe said fighting corruption required concerted efforts from all key stakeholders regardless of political or social affiliation.

Labels: CORRUPTION, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 6:09 AM