Rupiah is being dishonest on corruption - Habasonda

Rupiah is being dishonest on corruption - Habasonda
By Roy Habaalu
Fri 08 July 2011, 15:00 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda is becoming alien to the governance of the country, says SACCORD. Commenting on President Banda's statement that there was no corruption in Zambia, Lee Habasonda who is Southern Africa Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) executive director said the claim by President Banda was in itself a potential conflict in a country where money had to be repaid to international financiers after it was misapplied.

He said the President was being dishonest by claiming that there was no corruption when top government officials were appearing in court on corruption charges.

“The President is actually making himself an object of ridicule. We would rather he appreciates and be open and frank about the situation,” Habasonda said.

He said it was people in higher offices that should show and lead by example in fighting corruption.

“Self righteousness and lip-service is a wrong approach to take in fighting corruption,” he said.

“Corruption is a serious cancer in this country in which every sphere of life people solicit for bribes before offering a service,” he said.

Habasonda said the claim was denting the record of the government further by denying what everybody else was seeing.

“As civil society organisations we are greatly dismayed and disappointed with the utterances by our Head of State,” he said.

During a presidential luncheon at Mukuba Hotel on Saturday, President Banda said there was no corruption in Zambia.

“Let's not listen to doom speakers who say that there is corruption in the country. I feel the enthusiasm of the people when it comes to the movement of the country forward,” he said.