PRESIDENT Michael Sata says democratisation in any country should move with zero-tolerance to corruption as the vice robs nations of all economic gains.
The President has meanwhile released 2,314 prisoners from various prisons in the country to mark the commemoration of African Freedom Day, which falls today.
In his address to the nation on the eve of Africa Freedom Day last evening, Mr Sata said corruption was a cancer that robbed countries and citizens of their dreams and resources, hence the need to weed it out so as to entrench democratic tenets effectively.
“Where corruption is rife, people are denied their right to receive education, health care, clean water and proper sanitation as well as business opportunities,” he said.
He re-affirmed his Government’s continued fight against corruption with vigour and determination.
President Sata said there was a positive desire to broaden and deepen democratic rule and that no part of the continent was now immune to democratisation calls.
He said last year Zambia demonstrated that a peaceful transfer of power was possible when the Patriotic Front defeated the MMD while Senegal went through a similar peaceful transfer of power.
President Sata said Malawi recently made Africa proud when it followed its constitution after President Bingu wa Mutharika died. The vice-president Joyce Banda took over as Head of State.
The African Union (AU), he said, was created in Lusaka at the last Organisation of African Unity summit in 2001 to foster regional and continental integration through promotion of intra-Africa trade and development.
Zambia, therefore, recognised the importance of regional integration as a key factor in boosting intra-Africa trade.
Mr Sata said this was the more reason why Zambia was a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the tripartite initiative involving the Eastern African Initiative, COMESA and SADC.
He said intra-COMESA trade had increased from US$13 billion in 2009 to $17 billion in 2010 and that trends in the SADC region showed a steady growth since the coming into force of the SADC Free Trade Area (FTA)
Mr Sata said the proposed COMESA-East African Community-SADC tripartite FTA was expected to boost inter-regional trade even further.
He said the Zambian Government would remain committed to pursuing the regional economic integration agenda with its partners within SADC, COMESA and the tripartite initiative.
The President urged the Zambian business community to be more aggressive and positioned in order to take advantage of the emerging trading opportunities.
“Zambia hopes that the forthcoming AU summit in Malawi will reach consensus on a roadmap to take us towards the creation of a grand FTA by 2014,” he said.
He said the road for Africa was one of promise because economies were growing and that was the reason the creation of the continental FTA was timely as it would create employment and wealth for the people.
[Times of Zambia]
What about the Nchito and Mémbe saga involvind DBZ? That where the country has lost a lot of money. Start there Sir.
#1 Operation:Owl, please shut up young man, the law applies to commoners like you. Those are my close friends and I owe my presidency to them. Do what I say and NOT what I do.
Is single sourcing a judge from Malawi not a form of corruption? What about blatantly lying to the electorate to get into power, is that not a form of corruption as is nepotism and tribalism? Donating or is it selling fuel to Malawi and thereby creating shortages in the country is that not a waste of the country’s resources?
You got issues. Get a life!
When you come from a family which does not give… then you become bitter when you see others giving. You just want to receive from USA AWE MULI CHIPUBA nimwe.
Root out corruption, or at least bring it to a minimum, and watch how quickly development will take off in Zambia. It is very true; corruption stunts innovation and discourages genuine entrepreneurial minded folks from participating in the building of a Country’s economy.
Just like a reckless drunk driver is likely to kill innocent people, unchecked corruption can kill a nation too!
Another unproductive and irrelevant holiday in a country whose economy has been crippled by scandals, billions of kwacha being pocketed by a few individuals while the majority are being treated to slogans. Africa Freedom Day really, free from what?
So you don’t know?
Distant Drum please read Animal Farm once again. We are in the Napoleon and Squealer era and we have been for sometime. At least we can walk in to a shop and buy whatever we can afford; if you want you can use a kantemba to buy through a window. Kekekekekeke…we are free!
corruption has become the chorus of this misfit,every time he is given a micophone, he opens his mouth with the worth fight against corruption but he can not act as he says,very neuseating.
can his advisors clearly define the word corruption to him them follow up by giving him examples just in case they dont know this is the lead,
1.shielding two plunderers who looted goverment coffers under the guise of a loan from repaying what is due to the nation
2.giving a tender to rehabilitate goverment property to a fellow old man and tribesman without goverment tender procedure
Mr. President Let the PF government clearly shows that they do not tolerate this cancer you always talk about, my concern is the way our Ministers behave?? They have already started going the MMD route. Just hate this disease of leaders thinking they are Doing ZAMBIANS a favor. Deliver services to the People, be innovative and change the country. NO MORE TALK BUT ACTION
You have released criminals back in to society. A lot of tax payer’s monies was spent to arrest and prosecute them.
Great President. By relesing the Prisoners, Sir, You Have done a very humane work and i wish to thank u. Pooverty and hunger drives good people to steal and you understand their plight. Thank u Once Again.Wish u the best to fight your battle to remove Pooverty.God Bless.
No clue with what you are saying
More criminals in the society.Welcome fellows
Prison is intended to reform people, not to put them away for eternity. Their reintegration and behaviour will tell us if our prison services need reforms.
it needs agent reforms.
Wat the…., Chaos about to be the order of the day. All these criminals, oh LORD save us!!!
Is Austin Liato part of the Released Prisoners?
If Membe and Nchito are free, why waste tax payers’ money by imprisoning violent thugs? Moreover when you have the thug-in-chief of the Chawama massacres at state house, would it not be hypocritical for him to release his fellow violent thugs?
Mwaiseni ba Pombwe Mushibila Nsala! I have just realised that in today’s Zambia, some people could have proposed the renaming of “Mwaiseni Stores” on the basis that it was favouring a perceived enemy/group of people.
Ok, so where is the K14 billion that has been stolen from the poor zambia tax payers. No matter how much you talk about fighting corruption, as long as you dont deal with Mmembe and Nchito, then you are just shooting from the hip (you are talking rubbish). Do you think we are *****s???? Stupid president
Just make sure everything is run consistent as far as policies and zero tolerance on corruption.
Ok, so where is the K14 billion that has been stolen from the poor zambia tax payers. No matter how much you talk about fighting corruption, as long as you dont deal with Mmembe and Nchito, then you are just shooting from the hip (you are talking rubbish). Do you think we are *****s???? president wo pusa ngako uyu
Ok, so where is the K14 billion that has been stolen from the poor zambia tax payers. No matter how much you talk about fighting corruption, as long as you dont deal with Mmembe and Nchito, then you are just shooting from the hip (you are talking rubbish). Do you think we are *****s???? president wo pusa ngako uyu
More talk more promises, less action and less money in the pocket
Shameless venomous cobra that old serpent, the deceiver of men. Lip service and yet you are dinning with the most corrupt elements of our society. You are equally corrupt so shut your cigerate stinking beak.
Sata please stop talking about corruption, we don’t believe you anymore. Clean your house first.
Why the hell would you release 2300 prisoners?! Insane!
2,300 prisoners, there must be many of illegal prisoners then. I hope they will be accepted in their villages.
Nomba nga “ba tolele fye” chaba shani? Kuba releaza back into society where they came from! And mark my word, 90% of those released have names like Mulenga, Chilufya, Bwalya, Mutale fimo fimo! By the time this lunatic dick-head is done with his term, Zambia will be in pieces.
Nanga chija chimuntu cho nenepa chi Liato, ndiye kuti nacho a Ukwa a chitulusa lero?
They say u cn remove a person 4rm da village bt u cn nt remove da village mentality in dat person…welcome back 2society all x-convicts only hop u wil copy wt our way of life. Mr President I salute u 4da pardon. En I wish all thoz released wei nt released via dubious or corupt ways coz I believe thoz names 4da pardonees r jas sent 2da president 4rm respective prison warders..
Atase imwe fi kabolala fyonse ifyo….cant never!
Zambia will have no prisoners by 2015…. what kind of a president is Mr Sata? Not even Obama can release such a big number….Our country is sinking ladies and gentleman…..
Your song on corruption is so wonderful that decent people will continue dancing to it as long as we live. Its good to be living honest lives. Long live big man. There is no alternative yet. Show them.
Please lead by example and work on the issue with Nchito’s appointment and the cases he has. Shelding this man is preventing the law taking it due course, hence this equivalent to corrupt act. I want to understand you are allegic to corruption selectively.
Ya baa more criminal activities to heppen now 2300 on the loose free wow
But sir now arrest the UPND and MMD MPs who stole the 300 billion through the NCC. The entire UPND and MMD stole our 300 billion through a fake NCC. Sir since now there are 2000 empty spaces can you put these shameless thieves into these empty jails.
2300 thieves back onto the street, donchi kubeba, more money from your pockets into their pockets!
Please do not release the Killer Mohan. Let him rot in Jail.
Tell the nation the fuel you donated to Malawi if it was your personal fuel or Zambia’s fuel. Thew news was Sata donates fuel to Malawi during the funeral of late president Mbingu. Transporters who included your defence minister’s unregistered tankers were paid by Zambian govt. If fuel was procured with Sata personal money, transpotation of fuel need not be paid by govt. If fuel was Zambia’s donation to Malawi, it was Zambian govt’s donation and not Sata personally as the public was made to believe. Between these two scenarios one is deceptive leading to corrupt prictice of siphoning resources masquareding in donation. Explain to the nation to come clean, ‘Donchi Kubeba wony work now with Dr Mumber’s election as leader of opposition party to provide checks and balances in the nation.
How can the corrupt remove corruption?
How come Mumbwa Prison does not usuall have any Prisioner relased when ever Presidential decrees are made. Some one needs to take responsibility. Someone needs to follow up why.
Just hope radical criminals are not being released just to see another crime in the country soon. Our President Sata means well.
PF (Pa Fwaka & Ukwa) Obtained Power by False Pretense
Citizens, brace for an upswing in crime! In 2006, the late Levy Patrick Mwanawasa SC released only 886 prisoners country wide and there was an upswing in crime. Now we are talking of 2000 and something! Please city and town dwellers, make sure you fortify your houses! Ndemyebakofye ine!
I Hope you released Pastor FELIX MULEBA and his Wife, you know they did not kill the maid. The Nigerian guy did it, he happened to be living within after raping her to cover up his sins.
god help us all!!!!!