Maravi

Zambia needs strong systems to fight corruption - Unzasu

Zambia needs strong systems to fight corruption - Unzasu
By Abigail Sitenge
Tue 14 Feb. 2012, 13:01 CAT

THE government should strengthen systems that have allowed corruption to thrive in the country, advises University of Zambia Students Union president Vincent Chaile. In an interview, Chaile, however, urged the government to embrace other important issues affecting citizens besides fighting corruption for the country to progress.

"The fight against corruption shouldn't be the main thing of the current government because it consumes a lot of money. The high levels of corruption in Zambia are due to lack of a strong system in place, so the best way to fight corruption is to strengthen the system. A strong system of collecting money for example, people steal because the system is porous," Chaile observed.

He said corruption is a complicated crime and affects other sectors of the economy.

"…Only lawyers benefit, they will be getting rich and rich so what about the poor? In as much as they fight corruption, let the fight (against) corruption be a continuous thing and not the main thing of the PF because like we learnt from the (Levy) Mwanawasa government, it spent a lot of money fighting corruption than what they had recovered," he said.

Meanwhile, Chaile said it was not possible to judge the PF government in 90 days because development is a process.

"We will judge President (Michael) Sata and the PF government in a period of five years, you know a policy takes time to mature, it's not a one day thing where today it is implemented and after six months you see results. We can't expect development overnight because maybe the first five years will be policy formulation and the next term for implementation. I think we will cheat ourselves to judge them within 90 days because those are just mere politics," he said.

Chaile further asked the government to come up with a deliberate policy to build more infrastructure, as it is the only way the government will create jobs.

He observed that improving the road network would create jobs, saying most developed countries have fought unemployment through such measures.

"Let the government build more infrastructure such as schools and improve the road network. I am sure that way, millions of Zambians will be employed," he observed.

Chaile said UNZA had produced thousands of graduates who were still languishing on the streets due to lack of jobs in the country.

Labels: PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS, UNZASU

posted by MrK @ 4:04 PM