Maravi

Sata vows to deal with plunderers

Sata vows to deal with plunderers
By George Chellah in Mbala
Sat 14 May 2011, 04:00 CAT

MICHAEL Sata says once in power the PF government would promptly and firmly deal with plunderers. And Sata says the numerous financial scams being witnessed under President Banda’s leadership could not be ignored.

Sata said the levels of corruption in the current administration were alarming and embarrassing and the PF government will speedily deal with the Rupiah Banda regime’s corruption.

“There are so many cases of single-sourcing, overpricing and corruption in the procurement and construction. Rupiah knows what we will do when we take over power this year so he is scared,” Sata said.

“They have been given enough warning but this time we will nip this scourge in the bud by speedily dealing with this administration’s corruption.”

He said PF would create a special body to resolutely deal with plunder cases.

“It may not be called Task Force but we will bring a body which will speedily investigate and prosecute the culprits,” Sata said.

“We shall also strengthen the Anti-corruption Commission (ACC). We need to strengthen that institution.

“We need a strong, efficient and effective commission to deal with these things and ultimately bring back the integrity of the country.”

Sata said the numerous financial scams being witnessed under President Banda’s leadership could not be ignored.

“Rupiah Banda removed Section 37 of the ACC Act and we have promised our people that we will reinstate it,” Sata said.

“The reason we want to reinstate this law is because we want to restore sanity in our country. What is currently obtaining in this country is so embarrassing.”

Sata said to fight corruption and restore public confidence in the ACC, PF would ensure that the National Assembly ratifies members of the commission supervisory board.

“We will ensure that the commission submits periodic reports to the National Assembly for consideration and direction,” Sata said.

He said PF would also increase the ACC’s budgetary allocation and introduce stiff penalties for corruption offences.

Sata said the PF would domesticate international protocols on the fight against corruption.

He said the panic exhibited by President Banda over his stance on the fight against corruption was understandable.

“They know what they are doing. Just look at their reaction to my recent trip to the UK where I was invited by Oxford University,” Sata said.

“In all this desperation, one thing I am glad about is that Rupiah and company have acknowledged that they blundered on the Task Force on Corruption and they are scared.

“They have acknowledged that the Task Force was scrapped in a corrupt manner. There was no justification to scrap the Task Force.”

He said President Banda must realise that he only has powers to pardon convicts but not to interfere with justice.

“But we will remind our people wherever we go that the lack of social services and unemployment they are facing is as a result of corruption by this government,” said Sata.

Labels: CORRUPTION, MICHAEL SATA, PF

posted by MrK @ 4:49 AM