President Edgar Lungu has directed Permanent Secretaries and heads of public institutions to put in place stringent measures to effectively prevent loss of funds in public institutions.
President Lungu says he is disturbed by the misappropriation and misapplication of public funds and other assets highlighted in the Auditor General’s report carried out on an annual basis.
He said it is unacceptable that over five million kwacha was unaccounted for in 2014, while the amount increased to over eight million kwacha in 2015.
The President said this in a speech read on his behalf by Vice-President Inonge Wina during the commemoration of the International Anti-Corruption Day in Lusaka.
He called on the Anti-Corruption Commission and other law enforcement agencies to double their efforts by being proactive in cases of criminal nature as revealed in the auditor general’s reports.
The head of state also cautioned the law enforcement agencies to ensure that recoveries of embezzled funds and other assets are realised.
Mr Lungu added that it is only when the benchmark of preventing the loss and waste of public resources is met that achieving Sustainable Development Goals and the vision 2030 will become a reality.
He reiterated that government will not be selective in holding the corrupt accountable regardless of their status in society.
The President also disclosed that the Anti-Corruption Commission and other stakeholders involved in the anti-corruption fight have almost concluded the process of reviewing the national anti-corruption policy.
The head of state also urged the national steering committee responsible for overseeing the implementation of the policy to ensure that past lessons are taken into account when the new policy is formulated.
The President, however, called for concerted effort from all stakeholders during the implementation of the new policy.
And Anti-corruption Chairperson Justice Timothy Kabalata noted that corruption is a major impediment to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s).
He said the fight against corruption should remain top priority if the country has to record development, peace, and security.
And Transparency International Zambia President Lee Habasonda advised government to invest more resources in the fight against corruption.
Mr Habasonda further pointed out that there is need for law enforcement agencies to work together with the Auditor General’s office to successfully prosecute cases of abuse of public funds highlighted in the auditor General’s reports.
At the same event, African Parliamentarians Network against Corruption (APNC) Chairperson Cornelius Mweetwa pledged support to government initiatives meant to strengthen the fight against corruption.
He also urged politicians to be role models in society by desisting from any forms of corrupt practices especially during elections.
All this talk show is a dipiction of Zambians suffering from ‘Stockholm Syndrome’. Lungu and ACC are tools in the vice of Stockholm syndrome
Why put him on the photo …if he was not present!!
Lungu needs to account for the Euro-bondage. Euro-bondage is were the real story is.
Also we need to have roads development agency audited with all the road works since PF took RDA to state house evaluated on value for money basis.
Let the ACC start with Chuulu, Isaacs and the Con Court judges and tell the Nation about how you Lungu STOLE THE ELECTION!
That is the biggest corruption ever seen in Zambia.
Alungu anabwelA should start by being an example . Cut down on those trips which are a misplaced priorities . Your ministers also traveling like u . There’s just confusion . Tone it down then the grz institutions will take u seriously
What is Mweetwa doing there. Ha he has forgotten the instructions of not attending government functions. This is anarchy and I hope Mweetwa won’t be crucified
Acc is just f..ked up,why should they wait for some one their suppose to prosecute to tell them wat to do,or ar they forgetting that it’s an independent board.we ar tired of hearing lungu said tightened the set belt,lungu said loosen then,rubbish then make him the president of Acc.
KUWAYAWAYA CHABE!!
This is like the head Crocodlie telling other Croc’s NOT to eat the wilderbeast that come to drink @ the watering hole, while the head Crocodile is on a daily basis seen eating the same wilderbeast, & gettig fatter by the day.
WILL NEVER HAPPEN under Lungu, as he himself is KING CORRUPTION!!
The only reason Lungu instructed A.C.C, to pursue chi Kambwili is because Kambwili began to get too big for his boots, & was harbouring Presidential ambitions, & beginning to stifle “Edward’s 7 year itch”
Unfortunately these are written speeches and even the president was reading it it was not his thoughts there. The problem in Zambia is that everything is a ka ceremony after which the misappropriation goes higher and the punishment never comes. Yaba. We are getting cynical – we need real leadership for once in our lives mwe. KK used to grandstand some firings at least so despite the despicable one-party non.sense there was some semblance of order…
Actually, the President should now be seen to be “acting tough” – and not ” just talking tough”. He knows what his ministers are doing with public money. If any one of those ministers was stopped at a road-block and their vehicle searched, you will be shocked at the millions in Kwacha and Foreign currency you would find in their vehicles. It’s shameful…….
As long as ACC is not independent the reality is a pipe dream.
It like you are going hunting with a dog on the leash, do you expect the dog to chase the animal?
I see sense in what Lungu has said. What the devil knows he destroys what he doesn’t know he confuses. Viva Lungu
This is just empty talk by the illegitimate Edward. How can he complain of theft of Public funds when we all know that as a practicing lawyer Edward stole Trust Funds? Edward is always breaking the country’s laws. He broke the law by keeping Ministers in their posts ilegally after the dissolution of Parliament. Now he is Illegally keeping Ms Mwanakatwe and Luo in their Ministerial posts after the High Court disqualified them recently. He broke the law when he refused to handover power to the Speaker of Parliament during the Petetion Hearing. Edward is prone to breaking the Law with impunity and he is the last person to complain about theft of public funds becoz Edward is a leading corruption guru. Its just Talk. No Action.
A speech read for him by his Grandma Bo Inonge whilst he is wasting taxpayers funds