The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has proposed that corruption cases should be non-bailable to deter would-be offenders and rid the communities of the vice.
Speaking when he officially opened a Copperbelt joint stakeholders workshop at Hotel Edinburgh in Kitwe yesterday, ACC northern region senior corruption prevention officer Masauso Lungu proposed that stakeholders should advocate that corruption becomes a non-bailable offence.
“Usually, investors find it difficult to invest in a corrupt country.
Corruption destroys the image of any country. There is need to make corruption a high risk undertaking by advocating stiffer punishment to those found wanting,” Mr Lungu said.
He also said the ACC is of the view that poor service delivery and bureaucracy contribute to corruption.
He said ACC will continue to support initiatives aimed at strengthening the fight against corruption. Mr Lungu commended Transparency International (TIZ) Zambia for sponsoring the workshop.
He called for team work among law enforcement agencies in the fight against corruption.
The workshop attracted participants from the Road Transport and Safety Agency, Department of Immigration, Zambia Revenue Authority and the police.
And Immigration Department deputy director-general Denny Lungu commended the ACC for its continued support to integrity programmes in government agencies.
He also thanked TIZ for working hard to rid the communities of corruption.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
and PF will use this as a way of punishing others
This is not good proposal at all.It will be abused by politicians.What is needed is a professional ACC,DEC,Police and Judiciary to fight this vice.The problem as we I see it is that these institutions are heavly comprimised such that even ordinary citizens with information fear to approach the officers because very few if any are clean of corruption.Mr Lungu should assure us of his institutions independence from political interference then we can hear his plea.Besides making corruption a no bailable offence will not reduce the vice.What we need is public awareness and Education .
This is irresponsible of ACC! To make corruption a non-bailable offense would be little more than a license to witch hunt – point fingers and say that one is corrupt so lock ’em up.
ACC should know that all investors, foreign and domestic, also find it difficult to invest in countries without due process! As much as no one can tolerate corruption, society also cannot tolerate a system that lets people be locked up on a hunch or whim. ACC must do a better job than this.
Well it sounds like a good move,but what are the consequences……………………….?
Horrible proposal.bail is refused when it is clear that one is a flight risk.DO suspects facing this charge normally run away?FUrther corruption is not too serious offense as compared to murder and treason.
What weed does that Lungu guy smoke? I hope its not from John Laing one.Thats is so irresponsible a statement.Even haters will all stand to accuse progressive minds as corrupt.If we put that character under a microscope,he will be found to be more corrupt than any other normal person.
YES! THAT SOUNDS GOOD TO ME. ONLY OTHER LAWS MUST BE PUT IN PLACE TO DETER OTHERS VICTIMISING PEOPLE THEY PERCEIVE ENEMIES. HOWEVER, THE ABUSE OF AUTHORITY/OFFICE LAW CAN DEAL WITH VINDICTIVE INDIVIDUALS OR GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS. AND COMPENSATION FROM THE GOVT/ORGANISATION FOR PEOPLE WRONGLY DETAINED MUST BE PEGGED VERY HIGH OR INCREMENTALLY GROW WITH THE DAY SPENT IN PRISON/CELLS.
I see what you are getting at, but frankly it would never work to “peg” the penalties very high or to make them incremental for every day spent in prison for wrongly accusing someone. What would stop a very rich person from saying OK, it will cost me K100m to lock my enemy up for a couple months but that actually sounds like a bargain? We already have a big enough problem in Zambia with the poor being denied access to justice (can’t afford good lawyers, etc), and what you are suggesting would only make it worse by allowing the rich folks to play the game of locking each other up.
However you slice it, there is no substitute for due process!
I NOTICE THE PREVIOUS BLOGGERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE IDEA. ONE CAN ALMOST CONCLUDE THAT OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS STILL HAVE CORRUPT MINDS AND GIVEN A CHANCE THEY WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE WHEN THEY GO BACK TO ZAMBIA. ZAMBIA SHOULD TAKE EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO RID OF CORRUPTION. HOWEVER, THE BEST SOLUTION IS TO INVOLVE COMPUTER SYSTEMS.
Peter, your hasty conclusion that anyone who disagrees with the ACC’s proposal must be corrupt is EXACTLY the problem. What evidence do you have of this other than a hunch? Personally, I agree with you that Zambia must take every opportunity to rid itself of corruption, but I also feel even more strongly (!) that Zambia must follow due process and uphold the principle that everyone (you, me, and even the thief around the corner) is innocent until proven guilty. To make it any other way would have very dangerous – even disastrous – consequences for our society. Sometimes the ends do not justify the means and it could be you that is whisked away to jail without a trial next!
Masauso Lungu: This will take all former leaders to jail, including Alexander Chikwanda after 2016
What nonsense is this? There are so many innocent people that are falsely accussed of corruption and you want to make it non-bailable. Infact, the law of non-bailable offences is unconstitutional as it infringes the presumption of innocence until guilt is proven. It is also utter idiocy to say the offence of corruption should be made non-bailable. Corruption is not a single offence, but an umbrella word that embraces a myriad of offences. Why should the majority suffer just to deter a few criminals. ACC officers should go back to school.
Ha! Imwe! Sata will definitely refuse, otherwise he will be jailed for life for his family forest in government. That is first class corruption.
It is the best proposal ever. Please the government should consider it serious. Corruption has to go at all cost.
This is a good move so all that think they can get away with it repent now or never……. #11 how does employing friends or relatives translate to corruption….stop misleading others….if riches are gained through bribery or tenders awarded same way then its corruption, what is someone earning a normal salary got to do with corruption. Corruption knows no relative, race or age, gender
This proposal should not be accepted because it is draconian. The ACC should employ sharp investigators who will be able to successfully prosecute cases and not trying to hide in such inhuman laws. This Lungu guy is forgetting that he might be a victim of this draconian law he is proposing one day. The bible says those who think that they are standing firm must be careful lest they fall. Take heed.
That is not a good proposal. It would mean people being locked up just on the basis of accusations – politicians would ride on this. Don’t make their lives any more confortable than they already are. ACC, DEC and the other lae enforcement agencies should work more proffessionally so as to have full-proof cases….they should have solid grounds for prosecution.
I accuse all people in favor of this with corruption – please lock them up now!
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I?ll try to get the hang of it!
trying so hard to get rid of people they do not like nha, this is so target driven..
then defilement and rape should be non-bailable,,,must actually
Awesome article, definitely regret not likely to the USO style dinner. Keep up the superior function!
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