Zambia launches national slogan against graft

Zambia joined the rest of the world in marking the International Anti-Corruption Day with the launch of a National Slogan Against Corruption meant to drive the country's anti-corruption crusade.

The slogan "A Corruption-free Zambia Begins with Me" is meant to be a rallying call for all anti-corruption strategies in Zambia.

Vice-President Inonge Wina, who launched the slogan, said the government was hopeful that the slogan, if fully embraced and applied, will result in the attainment of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the country's Vision 2030.

"I am confident that the slogan will permeate every level of our society. It is a noble call for everyone to embrace and practice that which can make this country corrupt-free," she said.

The vice-president said corruption was a cancer which had the potential to impede development, adding that fighting it should be the goal of all stakeholders.

According to her, the devastating effects of corruption could not be over-emphasized as it siphons the country's wealth into individual pockets resulting in the deprivation of the provision of quality education, health, infrastructure and other vital basic services.

The vice-president said her government recognizes the urgent need of enhancing transparency and accountability systems in the operations of public institutions which will place the country in a good position to achieve the SDGs.

While acknowledging that administrative processes and procedures meant to address corruption and related malpractices exist in most public institutions, the vice-president expressed concern that such processes and procedures were weak and not being followed.

According to her, it was disturbing that the Auditor-General's report has continued to highlight misappropriation and misapplication of public funds every year, adding that the situation did not seem to improve.

According to official figures, over 5 million Zambian Kwacha (about 500,000 U.S. dollars) was unaccounted for in 2014 while the amount increased to 8 million Kwacha in 2015.

"This scenario is unacceptable and must be put to an end," she said.

She has since directed senior public officials to devise stringent measures to effectively prevent loss of public funds and achieving zero audit query by 2018 in every public institution.

The day's commemoration was preceded by a march past from the Civic Center, which houses offices for the local authority, to the Inter-Continental Hotel by various government institutions as well the private sector and civil society groupings. Endit