President Hakainde Hichilema says his administration remains resolute in fighting entrenched and prevalent corruption in the country.
The Head of State explains that in its efforts to fight corruption, the government is implementing and enforcing comprehensive anti-corruption laws and regulations that hold individuals accountable for corrupt practices.
President Hichilema said this when a delegation from Global Transparency International led by its Chairperson François Valerian accompanied by the TIZ Zambia Chapter members called on him at State House on Wednesday.
President Hichilema stated that corruption undermines economic development and poses a great danger to democracy, Human Rights and social progress hence the need to root it out.
“Professor and your delegation here, I wish to inform you that we shall not shield anyone in our fight against corruption. We know those who ruined this economy are saying we are only targeting them, but the reality is that even the people I appointed under my signature have not been spared,” he said.
The President has since reiterated his government’s resolve to recover all assets and finances deemed to have been dubiously acquired.
President Hichilema also called for collaboration with other countries and international organizations such as the Global Transparency to share information, coordinate investigations, and recover stolen assets.
“The lesson we have learnt from Angola was that they combined prosecution plus asset recovery and they have done very well. If there is an African country we want to learn from as far as asset recovery is concerned, it’s definitely Angola,” President Hichilema stated.
He stated that as a way of transparency in the governance system, government has signed into law the Access to Information Bill, tightened the appetite to borrow, and established the Judicial Training Institute through the Judicial Institute of Zambia Act number 14 of 2023 to equip the judiciary as well as the establishment of the Economic and Financial Crimes Court dedicated to speedily deal with corruption cases.
Meanwhile, Global Transparency International led by its Chairperson François Valerian commended Zambia for the remarkable progress made in the fight against corruption.
Prof. Valerian said the 33 percent to 37 percent corruption perceptions Index recorded by TIZ is a clear testament of the Zambian government’s corruption fight campaign.
“Mr. President, in 2021 you made a promise to fight corruption and under your administration, we can safely say we as an institution have seen steady progress,” Prof. Valerian said.
The meeting was also attended by Justice Minister Mulambo Haimbe, Reuben Lifuka who is the Vice Chairperson of the Global Board of Transparency International, and Vice Chairperson of the Council of the International Anti-Corruption Conference as well as TIZ Executive Director Maurice Nyambe.
