Maravi

Removal of ‘abuse of office’ will increase corruption – Zukas

Removal of ‘abuse of office’ will increase corruption – Zukas
By Patson Chilemba, Christopher Miti and George Zulu
Tue 03 Aug. 2010, 10:00 CAT

SIMON Zukas has warned that the removal of the offence of abuse of office from the revised Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act will lead to an increase in corruption. And chief Hanjalika of the Tonga people of Mazabuka has pleaded with President Rupiah Banda to seriously consider the outcry of the people opposed to the procurement of mobile hospitals in the country.

Commenting on the manoeuvres by President Banda’s government to remove the offence of abuse of office from the ACC Act, veteran politician Zukas yesterday asked the government to think twice before implementing their plan.

“It removal of the clause will lead to corruption of all sorts. They should not go ahead with that. I think government itself will regret this step because it will lead to a lot of corruption. I think they should think twice not to go ahead,” Zukas said.

“Works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti has made a bad decision. If they want to go ahead, they should not. For their own sake they should not.”

Zukas said public opinion had indicated that it was bad to do away with the clause.

And Colonel Panji Kaunda said there was no way the country could fight corruption without the law on abuse of office.

In an interview in Chipata, Col Panji hoped that parliamentarians would be men enough to throw out the bill that seeks to remove the abuse of office clause from the ACC Act in the event that it is taken to Parliament.

“Corruption to me is the worst enemy we are fighting with at the moment. It’s just like AIDS. It’s killing us because the money that is supposed to go for certain areas is being abused by our people even
civil servants,” Col Panji said.

“I hope and pray this is just a rumour because there is no way you can be fighting corruption and you take out abuse of
office from the law. That one is a must, that’s when people can fear. If this law is taken out, what will stop me as president or as any member of the government to abuse my office?

“If this is just hearsay or what, I hope when it comes out in Parliament, I hope our MPs will be men enough to throw it out because we must have that otherwise the fight against corruption will just be a waste of time. Abuse of office is what has brought out all sorts of corruption issues, without
mentioning names but we have seen cases which are in court because of
abuse of office.”

The government plans to review the ACC Act by removing the abuse of office clause and the decision has been justified by justice deputy minister Todd Chilembo and works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti among others.

On the government’s recently contracted US$53 million loan from China to procure mobile hospitals, Col Panji said acquiring mobile hospitals will be a sheer waste
of money because they cannot work in Zambia.

Col Panji said mobile hospitals were tried in the Kenneth Kaunda government but they failed.

“As I was driving past the council I saw two hearses being parked there so I don’t know whether these are being used by our people. Now this mobile hospital issue is a thing that government must think about because first and foremost what kind of roads do we have? Are they mobile hospitals going to be taken to the provincial centres or the rural areas where there are no roads?” he asked.

“If we have infrastructure like very good roads then it’s a good idea but if you are going to reach a few people because of the roads then the whole thing is a mess.”

Col Panji suggested that the money meant for mobile hospitals go to clinics and hospitals.

“The government can even buy motorcycles for our clinical officers so that they can visit villages but bringing the whole truck carrying mobile hospitals, in my personal view, is a waste of money. It will not work. We had them before during the Kaunda days, they were there for clinics, for eyes, they were there for dental, they are all parked up in the yard so the mobile hospitals were tried before but we don’t have infrastructure and also personnel,” he said.

Col Panji said the money meant to buy mobile hospitals could be spent in better ways.

And chief Hanjalika observed that President Banda’s decision over the purchase of mobile hospitals was not made in the best interest of the people.

“I am saddened that this government has finally gotten that loan of US$53 million to purchase mobile hospitals for the nation. I am appealing to the President not to rubbish whatever people have said over the mobile hospitals because it is the truth that we do not need them,” chief Hanjalika said.

“Maybe people around him have not told him about the poor road infrastructure throughout the country. I think what people want now is infrastructure development than those moving hospitals.”

He said the government should seriously consider redirecting the loan to
building hospitals in rural areas to foster economic national development through infrastructure development.

“I am not happy about this development because of not having good roads. These things they want to bring to us will just go to waste. I don’t even think we have the capacity to repair these mobile hospitals. People have opposed the mobile hospitals so it is prudent for government not to force these things on the people because they won’t last and be appreciated,” he said.

Chief Hanjalika questioned the national leaders’ interest in the mobile hospitals deal.

He said the leaders should explain their insistence on procuring these hospitals as opposed to building permanent structures, which could last for many years.

“This loan is not sustainable. Let leaders explain the rationale for mobile hospitals. Why can’t they use the same money to build at least two modern hospitals and improve on the housing unit of the government workers especially nurses in rural areas,” wondered chief Hanjalika.

The government recently acquired a US$53 million loan from the Chinese government to procure mobile hospitals, a concept that has been opposed by various stakeholders in the country.

Labels: CONSTITUTION, NCC, SIMON ZUKAS

posted by MrK @ 7:07 PM