By Mubanga Mubanga
Go back to the legal profession if you don’t want to work, President Hakainde Hichilema has told Anti- Corruption Commission (ACC ) Director General Tom Shamakamba.
Speaking during the launch of the National policy on Anti-Corruption at Mulungushi International Conference Center, President Hichilema said if Shamakamba didn’t want to work, he must go back to the legal profession
“So people don’t live with fear, fear in itself is a disease. So institutions don’t be afraid, if you don’t want to do this job, don’t accept the appointment to be director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission. Go back to your legal profession. I am not joking,” President Hichilema said.
President Hichilema said there should be no assumption that those in charge of fighting corruption are committed to fight it.
He shared that when he visited President Lolezo (Angolan President) in Angola for something else, the two got to talk about corruption there.
“He said HH my young brother, yes my President you want to know how to fight corruption? you need to learn few things from us here in Angola. One he said don’t assume that those that are charged with the fight against corruption are committed to the fight. Some of them take that as just a mere job for a salary really?” he said.
President Hichilema said where he was raised from, there was no difference between the corrupt and thieves because both take what does not belong to them.
“They are one and the same, they take what doesn’t belong to them, and somehow confer those assets onto themselves. When they know clearly this is not theirs, they never worked for it,” he said.
The President further said his government has made commendable progress in the fight against corruption as demonstrated by the corruption perception index (CPI) even though members of the opposition were saying the CPI was “doctored”
And British Ambassador to Zambia Nicholas Woolley said the UPND administration had shown commitment in the fight against corruption.
“Corruption undermines trust, hampers development and robes everyday people of vital life savings services. By addressing it head on and with the commitment that has been shown by the government and people of this country to tackle corruption, Zambia is making important progress in ensuring resources that belong to the poorest and the most vulnerable people are protected,” said Woolley said.
In picture: President Hakainde Hichilema confers with ACC board chairman Musa Mwenye after launching the Anti-Corruption Policy at Mulungushi International Conference Centre yesterday
