Zambia leader pledges to take graft fight to another level

Zambia joined the rest of the world in commemorating the Anti-Corruption Day here Wednesday with President Edgar pledging to take the fight against the vice to another level.

Lungu, who officiated at the event, said he wanted to be remembered as a president "who walked the talk" in fighting corruption by ensuring that he does not interfere with government agencies tasked with the responsibility of fighting the scourge.

The Zambian leader further reiterated that he will not protect any public officials caught up in corrupt activities and has since warned public officials and contractors who were in the habit of channeling public resources for their personal gain that the wrath of the law will visit them.

The government, he said, is still committed to ensuring that it strengthens all institutions involved in fighting corruption in order to achieve zero tolerance to corruption and advised the institutions not to be used by certain individuals to settle their personal scores.

The Zambian leader further asked the anti-corruption agency to strengthen and enforce the law on the protection of whistle blowers in order to encourage more people to give out information on alleged corruption activities.

Meanwhile, the head of the country's Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) said the institution will continue devising mechanisms aimed at breaking the corruption chain.

Justice Timothy Kabalata said corruption has devastating effects on the economic development of any country if left unchecked.

And the global anti-corruption watchdog, Transparency International, has called on political parties in Zambia to reveal their sources of funding as a matter of transparency and to avoid putting the nation on fire.

Lee Habasonda, the head of the anti-corruption watchdog in Zambia also called on political parties to avoid engaging in corruption during next year's general elections.

This theme for this year's Anti-Corruption Day is "Beak the Corruption Chain". Endit