DISCLAIMER: The views and opinions expressed in the following article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of Daily Revelation
The national debate on economic plunder through corruption has not received the due attention it deserves.
Corruption erodes effectiveness of any government to deliver and to provide services to its citizens.
Erosion of government performance has unintended consequences of depriving citizens of their rights to receive quality education, clean and treated water and right to clean environment just to mention a few.
Despite this jaw dropping spectacle of inactivity by many citizens towards corruption, news of huge sums of monies stolen through payments to institutions and sometimes to individuals during the Patriotic Front government’s reign for services not rendered is not only chocking to many Zambians but also nauseating to say the least.
The failure of Ant-Corruption Commission and other prosecuting government agencies to secure convictions in the courts of law has now become a big joke.
The latest news of 33,7 million US dollars alleged paid out to a Chinese construction company meant to build the ‘invisible’ FTJ University, a public university in Luapula Province for the benefit of the people especially from that area has shocked many Zambians.
What is mind boggling, is the account of a former cabinet minister during the PF reign who makes what appears to be weird claims over the construction.
The country is still reeling from the shock of Faith Musonda’s K65 million-kwacha cash which was stashed in her house and now the Mary-Go round media public discussion of Milingo Lungu on one hand and the government on the other and boom the 33.7 million US dollars!
The country is yet to know the full scale of national plunder under the kleptocratic PF regime, and this can only be known if the current government could carry out a forensic audit of all government ministries and quasi government institutions.
The Anti-Corruption Commission unfortunately in its current form appear to have challenges to fight complicated corruption cases and no sooner the State realizes this the corruption fight will be lost in the courts of law.
Corrupt individuals are always cunning and have huge monies to hire any expensive Attorneys to defend themselves.
It must be known that courts ‘decisions are evidence based and facts before it. A party that gives the most compelling evidence and facts based on the established law carries the day.
Citizens must stop vilifying the courts but encourage them to effectively fight every ugly face of corruption driven by greed.
Whilst ACC has a duty to tell Zambians the progress on the anti-corruption crusade, they must stop playing to the gallery to appease politicians.
Before arrests are mad, officers should always ensure that they have enough evidence to secure convictions. Unfortunately, ACC is most of the times ill prepared with scant evidence and facts because of pressure from politicians.
One need not to be an engineer or consultant member of the National Council for Construction, Road Development Agency or indeed National Road Fund Agency to note the scale of poorly constructed roads and public infrastructures to know that something is amiss.
The public and investigative agencies have concentrated on the architect of tenders and who won the tenders than also paying attention into service provision or the end product and how and who issues the completion certificates as a guarantee for a job done to specifications.
Our roads which were built just a few years back for example the Great North Road which has caused so many accidents resulting into so many deaths due to its poor state is a case in point.
The road has developed some folds or have become corrugated in many places causing accidents especially at the infamous six miles and Chibombo areas as well as Kafulafuta on the Copperbelt just to mention a few.
Our roads are not just expensive on comparable terms but rather of substandard in the region.
The media reports seem to suggest that the engineering Agencies referred to above created by Acts of Parliament are quickly becoming conduits of national plunder by its members.
The institutions referred to in here must come out clean and warn their members as the nation continues to lose millions of its skimpy resources under their watch by their members and member organizations.
The public is disappointed with the performance ACC this far however they seriously need our support, NCC, RDA and NRFA inclusive.
Equip ACC officers with modern corruption techniques as this vice is becoming more complex. Incentivize the officers with good pay, good pays will also attract skilled human capital.
Lastly, the government must galvanize full support from all the citizens for everyone to own the corruption fight. By so doing everyone will be involved and the corruptors will have no place to hide.
Currently, the country is divided over the corruption fight because the public is politically polarized.
Francisco Mumba
The author is a Peace and Conflict Expert
Specialises in Human Rights governance
