By Mike Sichula
On Tuesday, January 29, 2019 the annual global corruption perception for the year 2018 will be released by Transparency International, a global graft watchdog.
The corruption perceptions index ranks countries and territories based on how corrupt their public sector is perceived to be.
From our position, we have seen the results which we are holding on not until the actual day for official Launch.
Our Team of Analysts, are not interested to scoop all media outlets in Zambia as we want to maintain the good relations we have established with Transparency International Zambia Chapter and it’s mother body based in Berlin, Germany.
However, we can confidently say that from the statistics we have before our Desk we can safely say “Without giving too much away, we’re seeing the continuation of some long-term patterns”.
Here is a background about our focal point or Country of reference which is Zambia, the Second Leading Copper producer on the African Continent scored 37 points out of 100 on the 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index reported by Transparency International.
It will interest you to note that Zambia has averaged 31.55 Points from 1998 until 2017, reaching an all-time high of 38 Points in 2013 and a record low of 25 Points in 2003.
A Country’s or territory’s score indicates the perceived level of public sector corruption on a scale of 0 (highly corrupt) to 100 (very clean).
Analysis
Our observations over the years are that since the PF took over the Affairs of government, little in terms of change of approach to fight corruption has remained almost the same without landmark exposes. A situation we consider as a trend that keeps Zambia not recording good marks on the Corruption Perception index.
Zambia’s President Edgar LUNGU, is on record telling off his Ministers not to engage in corrupt activities or risk to be dismissed from his administration. From that stance it seems no one has gone over that red line to be in his firing range.
Despite that being the case, our understanding is that “corrupt Ministers” are using “proxies” that is Junior Civil Servants to commit crimes. Have you not wondered how it is easy, quick and predictable to find guilty Junior Officials wanting with such easy and not the same thing applies to Cabinet Ministers?
Late last year Government through the Civil Service Commission dismissed twelve accounting and one operations staff who were involved in misappropriation of public funds as spelt out in the Public Financial Management Act, 2018.
The dismissed officials were from the Ministry of General Education, Ministry of Commerce Trade and Industry, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Lusaka Provincial Administration.
Now, ask yourself how it is possible that Controlling Officers in the mentioned Ministries are not major offenders, worse still Ministers in Charge. According to our observations, the law is hard on Junior Officials and soft on political appointees. Political appointees are influencing a culture of stealing, a culture of under the table deals in government Ministries.
We have heard from reliable sources of a Government Minister, who offers money to Media Personnel that accompany this Policy Maker on PR events.
The Journalists do not sign anyway, as proof of payment for a service rendered, an indication that this money is not coming from the treasury but from outside sourcing which raises too much dust because there is no way someone doing government work and pays for such services using his or her personal money.
And indeed, we cannot blame the Head of State too much for corruption in Zambia because corruption is rife in almost all circles of National development. We all want to acquire luxurious properties and we don’t care by what means such worth comes by. That is the problem and it starts at a personal level.
Many average people in our Communities have amassed so much worth, worth that is beyond their monthly salary and nobody cares to question.
That is a big challenge we have. We are told by our Freedom fighters, how hard it was to acquire a television set in the first administration of first President Dr. Kenneth Kaunda. Such watchfulness was good for national good and not for personal development.
Moving on, the Legal Fraternity has to some extent contributed to corruption not reducing in the Country as the Professional has made more millionaires if not billionaires in our Country because the law forbids the men and women of the wig to disclose vital information to Security agency for speed conclusion of Corrupt related activities.
In conclusion, the best option to manage corruption is to have a robust system that will educate patriotism in the younger generation to make them understand the evil associated with corruption for the Nation’s overall development. Without that, National development will elude Zambia while a few select will amass wealth to support their generation of generation until maybe the World ends.
Don’t be too expectant about the 2018 Zambia’s Corruption Perception index as it is far from satisfaction. Stay on this page as we shall provide the picture tomorrow morning. You must see first the index here. Those are benefits of liking and following our page.
The Speech Analyst
28.01.2019
