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TIZ calls for domestication of UN Convention against Corruption

TIZ calls for domestication of UN Convention against Corruption
By Margaret Mtonga
Sun 10 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT

GOVERNMENT should domesticate the UN Convention against Corruption so that the Corruption Perception Index (CPI) for this year yields positive results, Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) executive director Goodwill Lungu has said.

In an interview yesterday, Lungu said it was important for the government to ensure that national laws and policies adequately reflected the progressive provisions aimed at facilitating the fight against corruption.

“Transparency International Zambia has the conviction that our country can do better in the fight against corruption, and it does worry us greatly when we see government not doing enough to build and improve on the available interventions in the fight against corruption,” he said.

Lungu said while the National Anti-Corruption Policy (NACP) was important to the fight against corruption, it should be recognised that these were efforts which go back in time and were overshadowed by the numerous failures by the government to effectively reduce corruption in the public sector.

“Corruption continues to be rampant and systemic and in 2009, nothing significant had been done to change this scenario. There are a number of things which the Zambian government and all stakeholders can prioritise to improve the score on the TI CPI,” he said.

He said TIZ expected the government not to allow a reversal on the CPI due to the numerous failures that the country recorded last year.

He advised the government to recommit itself to the fight against corruption and that 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 strong cogent evidence exists. We do not expect the protection of suspected culprits by the Republican President as was largely exhibited in 2009,” Lungu said.

He said for the fight against corruption to be achieved, it was prudent for the government to take action against public officials who did not account for public funds.

“We feel such lack of action may be contributing to lack of significant improvements on the CPI too among other factors,” Lungu said. We should see more action being taken on officials involved in abuse of public resources especially those cited in the Auditor General’s reports,”

Lungu said everything possible should be done to fight corruption and it should not be left to mere political rhetoric.
“We expect in 2010 that the fight against graft will be re-enforced with the efforts and participation of various anti-corruption and governance stakeholders. 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,” said Lungu.

“We also expect all key governance institutions such as the ACC Anti Corruption Commission, DEC Drug Enforcement Commission and ZP Zambia Police Service not to operate under political instructions and influence but exhibit a sense of professionalism and pro-activeness if the fight against corruption is to be achieved this year.”

Labels: CORRUPTION, CPI, GOODWELL LUNGU, TIZ

posted by MrK @ 4:16 PM