DAILY
Friday 15 May, 2020
Tel: +260 211 243527
Plot No. 5251B Mukwa Road, Heavy Industrial Area. P.O. Box 34553, Lusaka Email: dailynation@ymail.com www.dailynation.info
UNINSPIRING ACC IDEALLY, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) should instill pride and confidence among the people, that it has what it takes to tackle corruption in all its forms. But the ACC in its current form has failed to inspire confidence and only provides cannon fodder for the opposition as it belts out its corruption chorus in the government. Allegations of corruption in whatever form is what provides the opposition figures access to the media – it is what attracts the public. Sadly however, little attention is paid to the role of law enforcement agencies that Government has given the leeway to tackle all forms of corruption without interference. The ACC has not been inspiring in its performance. Neither has the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), nor the Zambia Police Service. Their combined failure to tackle corruption with zeal is what has eroded the public’s confidence in these state organs. For the Zambia Jubilee Coalition Secretary-General, Kwaela Mwanza, failure by the Anti-Corruption Commission to fight corruption is embarrassing to Government. We cannot agree more. For the truth of the matter is that when the ACC fails to carry out its mandated task of investigating a matter of public interest for reasons best known to itself, it is the government that shoulders blame. Mr Mwanza said the inefficiency by the ACC to stamp out corruption was placing Government under unnecessary attacks from unscrupulous individuals who did not understand governance. According to Mr Mwanza, the ACC has for example failed to fight corruption among traffic officers and public officials who were looting resources with impunity. The corruption that has been exhibited by the Traffic Section of the Zambia Police Service is a classic example of how the ACC has failed to nip the practice in the bud – even with overwhelming evidence. But of more worry to the public has been the failure by the ACC to pursue the case of the 48 housing units in Lusaka’s Chalala area whose ownership it failed to identify. It even declared the case closed. Yet, the Daily Nation as a newspaper was able to unearth all the pertinent details about who owned the property. President Edgar Lungu was even forced to step in and ordered the ACC to get to the bottom of the housing scandal. Ideally, the President is not even supposed to involve himself in the operations of the ACC. It has all the authority to institute investigations and not wait for instructions from anywhere. But this is not happening. What the public demands is a proactive ACC that will not sit on cases and will be politically blind to those involved as its mission statement says. This is the ACC’s Vision Statement: “A proactive, impartial and professional anti-corruption agency that promotes the attainment of a corruption free Zambia.” And “To effectively and impartially prevent and combat corruption in order to promote integrity, transparency and accountability for the attainment of a corruption-free Zambia.” What has been happening is scandalous to say the least. The few cases it has managed to take before the courts of law have ended up in acquittals due to botched or compromised investigations. Serious allegations of corruption have not been followed up. We have in the past questioned about the many times President Lungu complained about the inflated costs of road construction tenders yet we have not seen any action. But the chorus has continued from the opposition that there is wanton corruption in the tendering process. "We call for the ACC to investigate corruption in Government institutions, civil service, in public entities as well as in privately-owned corporate entities," Mr Mwanza said. But not all hope is lost. The ACC can still win back the public trust by changing for the better – becoming pro-active and not being selective in the manner it investigates cases.
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PARTNER WITH ARTISANAL MINERS, STATE TOLD By SILUMESI MALUMO
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OVERNMENT must partner with smallscale and artisanal miners to achieve its target of moping enough gold in the country, SmallSale Miners Association of Zambia Covid-19 has said. Association president Kunda Chani said small-scale miners were key in supporting production of gold at national level. Mr Chani said the sector played a critical role in the
economy and it was important for benefits of the gold resource to trickle down to the ordinary citizenry. “I think Government should consider partnering with small-scale and artisanal miners, it is very important if they want to meet their post target particularly under ZCCM-IH. We should commend the political will under the Ministry of Mines particularly Honourable Musukwa and PS Barnaby Mulenga. “The will is there but it is important to engage the
‘ACC ineptitude embarrassing state’ By PETER SICHALI
INEPTITUDE by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to fight corruption is embarrassing to Government, Zambia Jubilee Coalition Secretary-General, Kwaela Mwanza has said. Mr Mwanza said the ACC had failed to fight corruption among traffic officers and public officials who were looting resources with impunity. He said the inefficiency by the ACC to stamp out corruption was placing Government under unnecessary attacks from unscrupulous individuals who did not understand governance. "The traffic police officers are now engulfed in rampant corruption right on the nose of the ACC, if you go in Lusaka town where the ACC headquarters is located, corrupt cops are hovering around freely," Mr Mwanza said.
Mr Mwanza said it was unfortunate that the ACC has failed to provide information on 48 mysterious houses, leaving public to speculate about the owner. "We have the issue of the 48 houses, nothing tangible has come out of their investigations," he said. Mr Mwanza has called on the ACC to be proactive and investigate corruption in the civil service and private sector. "We call for the ACC to investigate corruption in Government institutions, civil service, in public entities as well as in privately-owned corporate entities," Mr Mwanza said. Mr Mwanza said there was need for the ACC to invest in whistle blowing and instill a sense of protection among whistle blowers. He said the ACC should not be a breeding ground for speculations that painted some sections of political players as corrupt.
major stakeholders who are the small-scale and artisanal miners and cooperatives. This will see the dream they want to realise in the gold mining come to fruition,” Mr Chani said. Mr Chani said small-scale miners needed to work jointly with ZCCM-IH to mop the required resource across the country. He said the association understood where the right deposits were, what was happening in certain areas and how best small scale miners
could help the country to improve the national treasury through gold mining. Meanwhile Mr Chani has appealed to the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development and Ministry of Commerce and Industry to expedite the distribution of gold panning equipment across the country. He said the equipment would enable small-scale and artisanal miners enhance their operations which was critical to the country’s economy.
CEEC gets US$10.3 million for aquaculture seed fund By PETER SICHALI
THE Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock has released US$10.3 million to Citizens Economic Empowement Commission ( CEEC) for aquaculture seed fund, Permanent Secretary Benson Mwenya has said. And Dr Mwenya said the ministry has approved 736 aquaculture business loan applications valued at K118.3 from the Zambians from all the ten (10) provinces. Dr Mwenya said has implored CEEC to start the disbursement of the funds without delay as the ministry is aggressively implementing strategies that are aimed at reducing the fish deficit which is estimated at 87,000 tonnes annually. "The 736 projects are in addition to the twelve (12) fish hatcheries and nurseries in all the 10 provinces valued at K20.7 million that were approved in 2019 and are already receiving the
funds through CEEC," Dr Mwenya said. Dr Mwenya said the initiative will create 4,366 sustainable jobs impacting further 21,830 individuals. He said the Ministry projects an increase of aquaculture production in Zambia by 1,148 metric tons by December 2020, thereby, contributing to poverty reduction and food security by developing the aquaculture value chain. Dr Mwenya said the objective of ZAEDP is to promote the aquaculture sub-sector as a viable and inclusive business opportunity through enhanced production and productivity in order to improve the livelihoods of beneficiaries along the aquaculture value chain. Meanwhile, CEEC Director General Likando Mukumbuta said the commission will expedite the disbursement of funds to the beneficiaries.
‘Kambwili day-dreaming, PF getting stronger’ By PETER SICHALI
CHISHIMBA Kambwili is daydreaming to think that the Patriotic Front (PF) will crumble next year when the ruling party is becoming stronger every day, PF Secretary General Davies Mwila has said. Mr Mwila said PF had continued growing in numbers owing to the good Leadership of President Edgar Lungu and its development agenda. Mr Mwila said it was pure day dreaming for the NDC leader, Mr Kambwili to claim that PF was on the verge of crumbling. "It is wishful thinking for Mr Kambwili to even think PF members will defect next year to join his NDC. PF has
continued to attract new members across the country and no one can join his party because it has no future," Mr Mwila said. Mr Mwila said Mr Kambwili should instead concentrate on mobilising for his party ahead of next year's general elections as opposed to dreaming about PF. "How can he claim that members have lost confidence in the party when numbers are increasing every day?" he wondered. Mr Mwila said someone can only claim that PF are losing when members resign like what was happening in the UPND. Mr Mwila said no genuine politician can join Kambwili's party because it has no polit-
ical future. He has advised NDC members to stop wasting their time and join the ruling PF. He said the future is PF and no members are planning to defecting to the opposition. And Mr Mwila has challenged Mr Kambwili to mention names of PF and government officials that are benefitting from North Western gold scandal. Mr Mwila said culprits in the North Western gold scandals have been arrested and police have continued to investigate the matter. "As far as the party is concerned there are no beneficiaries of Kasenseli gold scandal in PF and we challenge Kambwili to mention party or government officials that are
beneficiaries, "Mr Mwila said. The Secretary general said no PF member is benefitting from gold scandals.
Mr Kambwili
