The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has refuted media reports suggesting that Finland has drastically reduced bilateral aid support to Zambia due to corruption allegations.
Ministry spokesperson Dorcas Chileshe says Zambia and Finland have enjoyed 50 years of diplomatic relations as well as 45 years of development cooperation.
Ms. Chileshe said the two countries have over the years collaborated in various sectors of development including health, education, environmental protection and forestry and are currently exploring ways of further strengthening cooperation in various fields such as energy, agriculture, ICT and manufacturing, the Ministry said in a statement.
She said that since Zambia graduated from being a Low Income to being a Lower–Middle Income Country, several Cooperating Partners, including Finland, have been gradually reducing their development aid to Zambia.
Ms. Chileshe at the same time, there has been increased focus on enhancing trade and investment between Zambia and Finland. This development has been welcome since it has the potential to create jobs, increase foreign exchange earnings and contribute to the growth of our economy.
She said Zambia values the development cooperation that Finland continues to render through the new Country Strategy for Finnish Development Cooperation in Zambia for period 2016 to 2019, which focuses on promotion of democracy and growth of the private sector.
Ms. Chileshe said the Private Sector Development Programme is worth 9 million euros and it plays a major role in accelerating the growth of micro, small and medium sized enterprises by supporting implementation of Zambia’s social protection policy.
She said the Zambian Government therefore, reaffirms its commitment to the close relations with the Republic of Finland and to engaging in further cooperation for the mutual benefit of both countries.
So who do we believe PF or the finish? The Finish say otherwise
Lungu’s DNA is that of lying we are still for the social cash transfer scandal report, the post office is a mess
PFoools, too much stealing, Finish aid has been coming to Zambia for years, these crooks come in and start stealing aid meant for the poor and they say they are pro poor, my foot, they came in to make Zambia poor through theft.
Whether they reduce or not, the shameful thing to condone is corruption. This is what should be reduced drastically and annihilated altogether. We can’t blame our long standing friends for choosing to sever their friendship and cooperation with us because of our corrupt practices. It’s what sane people do – they do not make friendships with criminals.
It would have been great to show how much in value terms the trade happening between the two countries. That is how modern managers/leaders argue their points in an information age we are in today. Chances are that some leaders are not even aware what is the underpinning principle with the concept of information age, chances are that addressing media and the story showing up in the print media or social media to them it is the information age being referred to. Please get it right is the use of data metrics, to argue a position as numbers do not lie.
Excuses and excuses, in the Finnish papers it clearly say corruption/graft is one of the reasons they have been pulling out. It is a good lesson for the Zambian govt who tolerate corruption, as a country we have failed to utilised resource given to us due to corruption and mismanagement. Let us learn and change our ways, no country has ever developed under the umbrella of corruption.
Is Zambia a middle income country ??
@spaka.. In the eyes of Pf , yes it is a middle income country. Ooooh what nonsense..!
This would have been more credible if it came from the Finnish Ambassador.
Other sources point the other direction.
https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/finland_terminates_45-year_development_cooperation_with_zambia_over_graft_concerns/10651932
Ba pf so what kind? What is your bed time story on this one?