Maravi

TI denies praising Rupiah

TI denies praising Rupiah
By George Chellah
Sun 31 Oct. 2010, 04:01 CAT

TRANSPARENCY International (TI) has refuted State House's statement that its Director of Global Programmes Christiaan Poortman praised President Rupiah Banda for his leadership and commitment to the fight against corruption. TI director of communications Andre Doren stated that Poortman made specific reference to the late president Levy Mwanawasa and not President Banda.

This was after President Banda's special assistant for press and public relations Dickson Jere issued a statement on Friday claiming that Poortman had praised President Banda for setting a good example in the fight against corruption.

In his letter dated October 29, 2010 to IRIN news agency where Jere is suspected to have got the story, Doren stated that Mwanawasa initiated a major campaign to uphold the values of good governance and anti corruption.

“In your article ‘Corruption Hampers MDGs-Transparency International’ of October 27 you provided a number of quotes from Mr. Christiaan Poortman, Director of Global Programmes at Transparency International. When Mr Poortman mentioned that leaders must display a commitment to getting rid of corruption, he cited, amongst others, the case of Zambia,” Doren stated.

“What did not get recorded in the article is Mr. Poortman's specific reference to Zambia's third president, the late Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, who initiated a major campaign to uphold the values of good governance in the country. Without this clarification, the article could be misleading.

“We would appreciate it if you could amend the reference: ‘Leaders must display a commitment to getting rid of corruption,’ said Poortman, who cited Botswana, the USA and the progress made by the late Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa in Zambia as setting good examples.”

And Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president Reuben Lifuka also dismissed Jere's statement, adding that the news article by IRIN in fact, does not mention President Banda by name as claimed by the State House aide.

“Transparency International through its Director of Communications Andre Doren, has categorically refuted the statement attributed to Mr Dickson Jere that our Director of Global Programmes Mr Christiaan Poortman, praised President Rupiah Banda for his leadership and commitment to the fight against corruption,” Lifuka said.

“Mr. Poortman, in his reference to Zambia, focused on the third President Dr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa and lauded his commitment in embarking upon a process to address corruption in the country. The news article by IRIN in fact, does not mention Mr Rupiah Banda by name and leaves out an important distinction made by Mr Poortman in his statement.

“As Transparency International Zambia, we do realise that President Banda seeks the warmth of accolades from time to time and we definitely will not begrudge this - however, we believe this praise, just like respect, should be earned.”

He said TIZ believed in constructive engagement with government and does not subscribe to the notion that they should be relegated to a role of praise singers.

“Unfortunately, we are very incompetent praise singers and our forte lies in engaging government on an intellectual level and what this means is that there are no issues that are out of bounds as long as these impinge on the fight against corruption. We raise these issues not because we are the epitome of knowledge on the subject matter but in the strong belief that even in our brokenness or imperfection, we owe it to the Zambian people and posterity to make this country corruption free.
Some of the issues we raise today, we equally raised them during the tenure of the late President Mwanawasa, and we will continue to raise as long as there is no movement,” Lifuka said.

“President Banda has the unique privilege of being Head of State and he should use this opportunity not just to improve the status of the people but to equally reform government particularly by ridding the public sector of corruption and all other malpractices. Indeed he should also provide leadership in cleaning up any other sector including the private sector and civil society of corruption. This challenge requires leadership anchored on strong character and courage and not one, which easily seeks praise. The criticism we give, is not meant to slight him as an individual, rather it is to point to those aspects that are not working well.”

He said corruption should not be condoned by anyone.

“At times, statements such as the one made by Mr Jere provide false comfort to the President that all is well and yet the truth is, a lot still needs to be done. Zambia and Zambians should not take pride in the 'motion without movement' status that our corruption fight periodically finds itself in. It is not too late for President Banda to get the anti-corruption fight into gear. Indeed, the vehicle is already moving, but it is moving too slow going uphill and that is our concern,” Lifuka said.

“We advocate for a corruption free country not because we have selfish motives but rather because we have compatriots who see immense value in a Zambia that is peaceful and corruption free. Who is more patriotic and has national interests at heart - a political leader who condones corruption and dalliances with the corrupt, or ordinary citizens who abhor corruption and courageously voice out their concerns?”

Labels: ANDRE DOREN, CHRISTIAAN POORTMAN, CORRUPTION, TIZ, TRANSPARANCY INTERNATIONAL

posted by MrK @ 5:07 PM