Maravi

SACCORD challenges govt to restore confidence in fight against corruption

SACCORD challenges govt to restore confidence in fight against corruption
By Salim Dawood
Fri 20 Aug. 2010, 13:30 CAT

SOUTHERN African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has asked government to restore confidence in the fight against corruption by ensuring that the law that relates to corruption is applied fairly on all those who violate it.

Commenting on government's decision not to appeal against the High Court ruling that threw out government's application to register the London High Court judgment that found second republican president, Fredrick Chiluba and seven others guilty of theft of about US $46 million, SACCORD Information Officer Obby Chibuluma, said his organization, like many Zambians, was greatly concerned.

Chibuluma said Zambia’s image had been dented and it would take some time to restore the confidence in government process to fight corruption and injustice.

“The government’s indication that they will not appeal judge Hamaundu’s judgment only adds to the continued perceptions that they are directing the outcomes of cases against Dr Frederick Chiluba and those who are closely associated with the state,” Chibuluma said.

He said it was evidently clear that government does not take its responsibility seriously going by the way it was handling matters to do with Chiluba and his associates and their intention to remove the abuse of authority clause from the Anti Corruption Act.

“The people of Zambia have spent huge sums of money on these cases involving plunder of national resources and it is shocking to see the same government turn around and declare the fight against corruption as not being part of its current priorities when it involves Chiluba,” he said

Chibuluma wondered what the priority of government was if it not to ensure that it protects people’s resources and promote accountability among public officials.

He charged that the action by government to abandon the fight against corruption will only result in continued plunder of national resources and increase in poverty levels in the country.

“The seemingly clear government policy of embracing corruption and the corrupt will ultimately result in our people who have no connections continuing to wallow in poverty while those connected to the government making money in all ways including illegal and immoral ones,” he said.

“We would like to urge the government to restore confidence in the fight against corruption by ensuring that the law that relates to corruption is applied fairly on all those who violate it.”

He said government must ensure that the cases it started were allowed to go through the whole due process of the law instead of what has now become the trend of stopping or influencing outcomes when cases involve those who are associated with it.

Chibuluma appealed to the Attorney General and the Minister of Justice to live up to the expectations of Zambians and appeal against the judgment so that the Supreme Court can determine the outcome of the case and many others which he has decided against appealing.

He has since called on Zambians to make government leaders pay for their failure to respond positively to the wishes and aspirations of our people in ensuring that there is prudence in the utilization of national resources.

Last week High Judge Evans Hamaundu threw out an application by the state to register the London High Court judgment that found Chiluba and seven others liable of theft of US $46 million.

The ruling has sparked widespread outcry calling on the government to take the matter to the supreme court.

But Chief government spokesperson, Lieutenant Ronnie Shikapwasha last Thursday told the Post On-line that government was satisfied with the ruling and had more important things to pursue than appeal against the High Court ruling which will subsequently undermine the work of the Judiciary.

Labels: CORRUPTION, SACCORD

posted by MrK @ 7:12 PM