Parliamentary Accounts Committee Chairperson Charles Milupi has commended President Rupiah Banda for directing Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja and law enforcement agencies to work together and get to the root cause of alleged corrupt practices in government.
Mr. Milupi, who is also Luena area Member of Parliament, says the President’s move to call for forensic investigations into abuse of public funds is a positive indicator of government’s commitment to fight corruption.
He said in an interview that it is encouraging to note that the President has come out strongly to condemn the abuse of public resources.
Mr. Milupi said the call for forensic investigations into abuse of public funds illustrates the political will which citizens needed to see coming from the highest level of the political hierarchy in the country.
He pointed out that corrupt practices diverted national resources to selfish personnel gain at the expense of national development.
Mr. Milupi noted that when a person steals from government, they derail the social and economic development of the country.
The lawmaker has since called on the public to develop a culture of zero tolerance toward corruption.
And Youths Against Corruption (YAC) has expressed dismay at reports of misappropriation of public resources.[quote]
YAC Executive Director Rickson Kanema said youths in the country are appalled that public resources have been abused by some selfish individuals.
Mr. Kanema has since called for stringent measures to be put in place so that abusers of public resources are severely dealt to deter would-be offenders.
And in Mazabuka, two Chiefs in have come out in full support of President Rupiah Banda’s directive to the Anti Corruption Commission to investigate the government ministries involved in financial scandals especially the Ministry of health.
Chiefs Mwanachingwala and Mwenda said in Mazabuka, the timely directive is welcome and deserves support from all stakeholders.
The two traditional rulers said the directive by the President signifies his commitment in the fight against corruption.
The Chiefs complained that health service delivery in the district has deteriorated to a point where patients are given prescriptions to buy their own medicine because of theft of public funds by government workers.
They charged that the K 10 Billion scam unearthed by the ACC was just a tip in the ice berg adding more scandals are yet to be uncovered in the ministry of health which has been turned into a reservoir for embezzling public funds.
Chiefs Mwanachingwala and Mwenda observed that the K 10 Billion scam if it was channeled towards infrastructure development could have resulted in many district hospitals built.
The Chiefs have since called on the Opposition parties and other members of civil society to support President Banda’s quest to rid the country of corruption and theft of public funds.
ZANIS
Yes well done RB. But, please do not spare the hung-ons!
RB should also be closely watched!!
Corruption is a scourge that should be fought from all fronts.Some of the best ways to fight corruption is to pay decent wages to the Public and Civil servants.
Right now,people still because they have nothing to lose.Kaundas Govt provided accomodation as an incentive to stay and work in Government.Chiluba sold them off and started salaries in cash from state house.
RB is right to say that this vice did not start in the last 6 months of his office neither did it worsen then.
there is merely more transparency and whistleblowing now.
The Power of words we shall wait to see the results already Kapoko says most of the things impounded are not his because they are in other peoples names. Its not easy its complicated over such a long period of time thiefs lern to cover there tracks. And this issue of registering assets in other peoples names is not new for starters it was or still is to ensure that should you die the valtures (relatives) do not grab everything from your children who would have thought the corrupt had a different purpose for it?//
#3 Makweti, I agree with you that one way of fighting corruption is to pay Civil servants decent wages. However, not getting paid a decent wage is no excuse for thievery. Just as it doesn’t wash to have someone break into a bakery and steal bread because they are hungry. Worse, these guys are breaking into the bank, the “BANK of PUBLIC FUNDS” and hauling away millions at every Zambian’s expense. Pure or rich, you steal public funds; 25 years (minimum) in prison—my suggestion. This will serve as a huge deterrent.
soorry,
….Poor or rich…… in #5
only God will drive us out of this mess. Trust nobody.
Like #5 (Yambayamba), i do agree with #3 (Makweti), Public Service Conditions of Service are pathetic. Look at what teachers are having to resort to in order to get what is rightly theres, yet it the political leadership a very short time to approve their heft emoluments with some laughable justification (Particularly from Hon. Mulongoti and Tenta). And yet non has risen up to tell Govt to pay the teachers their dues, outstanding for more 5 yrs in some cases. So we already know the root cause, the leadership is simply trying to cease the opportunity and “sound” concerned. Corruption is cancerous and ADDICTIVE, those that fall to it fail to stop, lets not tempt public service workers to fall prey to it!!
Sorry, In # second sentence should be “.., yet it took the …”
WELL DONE RB
By the way is it ttrue that MPs and NCCs member earn an equivalent of a Public Service workers one month pay by “dozing” on the floor for two days, actually its even alleged that sometimes they don’t even show up at the dozing sessions.
#11,CS that is very funny.Not turning up for a dozing session?
On a serious note,people have resorted to having workshop after workshop to discuss the recommendations of the previous workshop in order to supplement their salaries.
NCC for one is not an exception.Given a chance,i too would have joined the sessions.
why not jail these buggers and through away the keys, or even cane them in public.
Words come easy. Make sure you back them up with action.
As I keep observing and asking; what kind of country is this whose investigative and security institutions only act upon the direction and request of the head of state? The never seem to initiate any action on their own!! Very strange indeed! What do these fellows get paid for?
Ukuteka imbwa mano. Its long overdue RB and his govt should also look into the plight of these Accountants. How do you explain an ACCA holder gettn the same salary as a cleaner. How do you put some one incharge of a portfolio with billions yet you give them a K100 pin housing allowance and rent something that resemble an anthill as a house in misis? I dont support thieving but the govt is creating some creative big time crooks. You cant allow a hungry dog to watch over your meat year in year out . RB and you team do something.
We should also look at the Govt Accounting System and its controls, how do we get to lose such huge fugures with seemingly no difficulties for those extorting or defrauding us. Arresting culprits is not as effective as good Accounting and Financial Control Systems. Else pipo have the innevitable need to survive (Systems Theory), regardless of the circumstances. Workshops, tours and what not are simple SURVIVAL MECHANISM in response to circumstances, which sometimes seem hopeless. RB hope u mean well and are clean enough (even during campaigns when u summon choppers to ferry you and your cronies at someone else’s expense). We are watching U! By the way, whats idea for sending Chiefs to China beyond th eyes of our watchful whistle blowers? Is it to “oil” them so that they can surrender…