There is dignity in fighting corruption - Maureen

There is dignity in fighting corruption - Maureen
By Bright Mukwasa
Wed 18 Apr. 2012, 13:29 CAT

MAUREEN Mwanawasa says there is dignity in fighting corruption. And NIPA head of law Raphael Mungole says corruption committed in the last decade has a left a "scar on the conscience of the nation".

Maureen, also former first lady and whose late husband Levy Mwanawasa is admired for launching a spirited fight against the vice, said corruption lowered private investment which leads to economic negation.

She said corruption undermined the "very under-pinnings" of good governance resulting in higher poverty levels.

"The Zambian government must be commended for taking bold steps in the fight against corruption. It is a matter of good citizenship that all well-meaning Zambians support the current efforts in the fight against corruption aimed at promoting integrity, accountability and proper management of public affairs and property," said Maureen during the graduation ceremony of the 4th financial crimes investigation course at the National Institute for Public Administration (NIPA).

"The fight against corruption is a noble and legitimate cause which should be supported by all Zambians. It is gratifying to note that our President Michael Sata is equally taking the fight against corruption to another level in the interest of the nation. There is dignity in fighting corruption and I commend NIPA for training the foot soldiers in the fight against corruption."

Maureen said today's sophisticated schemes to defraud the government and other sectors of the economy demanded financial analytical ability for forensic investigators to handle.

She said in some instances corruption thrived where the economy was not open enough to give people opportunities to genuinely create wealth.

Maureen said it was incumbent upon government to ensure that the economy doubled up its growth to inspire people to be creative and economically empowered.

And Mungole said the fight against financial crimes required a strong judiciary to protect individual and national interests.

"The importance of strengthening criminal justice systems in the country cannot be over-emphasised. And yet what is certain is that a criminal justice system that is ridden with corruption is almost as bad as no criminal justice system at all," Mungole said.

"It has been noted that with the reintroduction of the abuse of office clause, there will be greater need to train and re-train role players and other stakeholders in the implementation of new legislation to secure appropriate convictions, forfeiture of assets and proceeds of crime. The training course also took special note of the undisputed fact that corruption and other financial crimes committed in the last decade have left a "scar on the conscience of the nation".

Mungole said there was a growing national momentum to ease the suffering caused by the scar by fighting organised crime especially that of corruption and money laundering.