By Chinoyi Chipulu
Catholic Priest Father Andrew Mukosa is wondering who the people will entrust in order to deliver the country from corruption as the trend seems to be repeating itself from administration to administration.
Speaking with Daily Revelation yesterday, Fr Mukosa wondered who Zambians were going to vote for to deliver on corruption.
“Who are we going to vote for, so that we know that when we vote for this man or woman, they can deliver? Because everytime we have this trend repeating itself from time in memorial, governments have been trying to curb corruption but they are certain individuals even in government itself that are being corrupt,” he said.
He condemned all forms of corruption in the country saying that such hindered development.
Fr Mukosa said there was widespread corruption in the country that had led the United States of America to cut K1.4 billion I. funding to Zambia, a decision which will affect more poor people.
Fr Mukosa said US government’s decision’s impact was bug but some people did not see how serious the situation was.
“I am here with concern over an issue that has sparked interest in our country, Zambia. I’m here to highlight and also magnify the seriousness of that situation..Now, we as a country, what are we learning from this? Because what I have seen is that we are not taking it seriously and we are treating it lightly,” he said.
He said there was need to curb all forms of corruption in all sectors in the country.
“We know that this corruption is not just there, where we can say that this is the top leadership. No! The corruption that we are trying to address is about civil service, it’s about the doctors in hospitals diverting medications that are supposed to be used in hospitals for poor people and for underprivileged people,” he said. “You can take an example of the University Teaching Hospital, the doctors have drug stores outside there and they are selling medicine that is not supposed to be sold. It’s among the civil servants, it’s among the teachers’ civil servants, when they increase allowances that are not supposed to be there, when they hold seminars that are not necessary.”
He said there was need to stop the theft and corruption in the country in order for it to develop.
“Let’s help our president so that he can rule. But when we look at this, it is not helpful. You know, we have political corruption that is going on in Zambia. We have undue influence, lobbying kind of things. We have peddling,” he said.
He said there was too much corruption happening in government institutions and a lot of judicial corruption
He said sometimes the judiciary was being influenced by the executive to make certain decisions.
Mukosa said there was corruption too among traffic police officers in the country who accepted bribes.
“You know, they are doing it publicly. Where is the the Inspector General of police? Where are all those who are supposed to curb such a vice and other corruptions that are happening in common public places?” he asked.
He said corruption also caused erosion of public trust.
He said that the country’s corruption was wide spread such that it was now being seen by foreign nationals who were now cutting aid to the country.
He urged residents to learn on the dangers of corruption and stop the dangerous vice.
