By Daily Revelation Correspondent
Citizens First (CF) leader Harry Kalaba says he will stiffen laws to exact maximum punishment on leaders who engage in corruption, including looking into extending years they spend behind bars.
Speaking after addressing his campaign rally in Chibombo today, Kalaba said if elected into office he would immediately strengthen investigative wings such as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and Zambia Police by making them autonomous. He said all the law enforcement agencies, especially the police would be properly incentivised by addressing their meagre wages so that they could focus on fighting crime in the country.
He said civil servants, starting from director level up to the President will have to undergo mandatory assets and liabilities declaration every year.
“Politicians sitting on the tender committees and influencing those tender committees to engage in wrong doing will face the full wrath of the law,” he said
Kalaba said he would have to reconcile with the provisions of the Republican Constitution, but he was intent on ensuring that laws on corruption were stiffened in order to increase the number of years spent behind bars by those who engage in corrupt practices.
“Laws on corruption will be very stiffened as a deterrent measure so that people know that they are going into public office to serve as opposed to cutting deals,” Kalaba said. “We will have to stiffen rules on corruption, and obviously depending on the levels of corruption someone will have to go in for a long time.”
Kalaba referenced China where the punishment for corruption involved the death penalty.
“We of course will not get to that level, but we should reach a level where those who engage in corruption will regret engaging in the vice for the rest of their lives,” said Kalaba.
