09/12/2021
SPEECH BY MR. HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA AT THE COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY
LUSAKA SHOWGROUNDS
9th DECEMBER 2021
• HER WORSHIP THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF LUSAKA
• CABINET MINISTERS PRESENT
• MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT
• HIS LORDSHIP THE ACTING CHIEF JUSTICE AND JUDGES PRESENT
• MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
• SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
• THE UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME COUNTRY REPRESENTATIVE AND UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR
• THE ACTING DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF THE ANTI CORRUPTION COMMISSION
• REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR, CIVIL SOCIETY AND THE CHURCH
• MEMBERS OF THE PRESS
• DISTINGUISHED GUESTS
• LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I AM DELIGHTED TO BE ACCORDED THE PRIVILEGE OF OFFICIATING AT THIS YEAR’S COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY, ESPECIALLY THAT IT IS THE FIRST COMMEMORATION SINCE MY GOVERNMENT TOOK OFFICE IN AUGUST THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR’S INTERNATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION DAY IS BEING COMMEMORATED UNDER THE THEME: “YOUR RIGHT, YOUR ROLE; SAY NO TO CORRUPTION”, A THEME WHICH COULDN’T HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME, AS IT EMPHATICALLY RESONATES WITH WHAT MY GOVERNMENT AND INDEED, WHAT I, PERSONALLY STAND FOR WITH REGARD TO THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION.
THIS YEAR’S THEME, AMONG OTHER THINGS, BRINGS TO THE FORE THE INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT EACH ONE OF US HAS, IN ENSURING THAT THE SCOURGE OF CORRUPTION IS SURGICALLY REMOVED FROM OUR SOCIETY, SO THAT WE CAN HASTEN OUR COUNTRY’S PROGRESS TOWARDS ECONOMIC PROSPERITY AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF OUR PEOPLE.
THIS THEME IS A CHALLENGE TO ALL OF US, THE STATE, GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, CIVIL SERVANTS, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THE MEDIA, THE PRIVATE SECTOR, CIVIL SOCIETY, THE CLERGY, ACADEMIA, THE YOUTH, AND INDEED MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC. IT IS CHALLENGING US ALL TO ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS: WHAT AM I DOING TO FREE MY COUNTRY FROM THE CLUTCHES OF CORRUPTION AND ITS PERPETRATORS? WHAT IS MY ROLE IN THE ANTI-CORRUPTION CRUSADE? AM I ADEQUATELY PERFORMING MY ROLE TO COMBAT CORRUPTION?
THESE QUESTIONS REMIND US THAT THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IS NOT MEANT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES ALONE. IT IS NOT FOR THE ACC, ZAMBIA POLICE SERVICE, OR DRUG ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION, IT IS FOR ALL CITIZENS AND RESIDENTS.
JUST AS YOU THE CITIZENS ROSE UP, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, TO MAKE A DECISION TO CHANGE GOVERNMENT ON 12 AUGUST, SO MUST YOU, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY, TAKE A STAND AGAINST CORRUPTION, BY SAYING NO! TO CORRUPTION AND PLAYING YOUR PART IN BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE FOR OUR COUNTRY. A FUTURE WHERE EVERY HOUSEHOLD WILL BE ABLE TO AFFORD THREE DECENT MEALS A DAY, A FUTURE WHERE NO CHILD WILL BE DEPRIVED OF AN EDUCATION FOR LACK OF SCHOOL FEES. A FUTURE WHERE NO LIVES WILL HAVE TO BE LOST BECAUSE SOMEONE CORRUPTLY SUPPLIED SUBSTANDARD OR EXPIRED DRUGS. THAT FUTURE IS IN OUR HANDS, ALL OF US.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
CORRUPTION IS A GLOBAL PROBLEM. A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN LISTED AS ONE OF THE BIGGEST THREATS TO THE ATTAINMENT OF THE GLOBAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS, AND A HINDRANCE TO A PROSPEROUS AND PEACEFUL AFRICA.
IN ZAMBIA, WE HAVE HAD A DEVASTATING EXPERIENCE WITH CORRUPTION AND ITS RELATED VICES. IT IS NOT A SECRET THAT BILLIONS OF KWACHA HAVE BEEN LOST THROUGH CORRUPT DEALS, MISAPPROPRIATION OF PUBLIC FUNDS, AND THEFT. OUR TREASURY HAS BEEN ALL BUT EMPTIED, BECAUSE CORRUPTION WAS ALLOWED TO THRIVE BY THOSE WHO WERE ENTRUSTED BY ZAMBIANS TO MANAGE THE COUNTRY’S RESOURCES.
WHEN MY GOVERNMENT WAS ELECTED INTO OFFICE, I MADE IT VERY CLEAR, AND LOUDLY SO, THAT ONE OF OUR MAIN AREAS OF FOCUS WOULD BE TO STAMP OUT CORRUPTION, SEAL ALL CORRUPTION LOOPHOLES, AND RECOVER MONIES AND ASSETS THAT HAVE BEEN LOOTED THROUGH CORRUPTION. IF YOU READ THE UNITED PARTY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT 2021 MANIFESTO, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION STANDS OUT AS ONE OF THE KEYSTONES FOR THE UPND GOVERNMENT IN OUR QUEST TO BUILD A UNITED, PROSPEROUS AND EQUITABLE ZAMBIA.
MY GOVERNMENT HAS PLEDGED TO IMPLEMENT A ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY TOWARDS CORRUPTION, THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF NEW STRATEGIES SUCH AS THE SETTING UP OF FAST-TRACK ANTI-CORRUPTION COURTS TO EXPEDITE THE DISPOSAL OF CORRUPTION CASES. THIS WILL ENABLE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO QUICKLY CONCLUDE CASES AND TAKE REMEDIAL ACTION AS DETERMINED BY THE COURTS.
MY GOVERNMENT WILL ENSURE THAT WHAT WAS STOLEN FROM THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA IS RETURNED AND PUT TO USE IN UPLIFTING THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE. THE PROCESS OF RECOVERING STOLEN ASSETS IS ALREADY UNDERWAY, AND GOOD PROGRESS IS BEING MADE BY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN THIS REGARD.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
MY GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ALLOW CORRUPTION TO THRIVE DURING OUR TENURE OF OFFICE. WE ARE WHERE WE ARE AS A COUNTRY, BECAUSE CORRUPTION WAS ALLOWED TO SEEP INTO THE VERY FABRIC OF OUR SOCIETY. IT BECAME ACCEPTABLE TO THE EXTENT THAT CRIMINALS WERE BEING GLORIFIED FOR AMASSING ILL-GOTTEN WEALTH, CITIZENS WERE BEING MADE TO PAY BRIBES TO ACCESS SERVICES THAT ARE DUE TO THEM BY RIGHT. MARKETEERS HAD TO PAY BRIBES JUST TO BE ALLOWED TO TRADE FROM THE MARKET.
THIS WILL NOT HAPPEN IN MY GOVERNMENT. WE WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR CORRUPT ELEMENTS TO THRIVE. THIEVES WILL NOT ENJOY THEMSELVES, NOT WHILE WE ARE IN OFFICE. PERPETRATORS OF CORRUPTION WILL FACE THE LAW REGARDLESS OF THEIR STANDING IN SOCIETY.
OUR FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IS NOT VINDICTIVE, IT IS NOT TO PUNISH POLITICAL OPPONENTS OR SILENCE VOICES OF CRITICS. OURS IS TO SAFEGUARD THE RESOURCES OF OUR COUNTRY AND LEAVE A LEGACY OF TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE LEADERSHIP THAT WILL BE A BEACON TO THE CONTINENT AND THE WORLD AT LARGE.
IN ORDER FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION TO BE EFFECTIVE AND ACHIEVE THE DESIRED RESULTS, INSTITUTIONS THAT ARE MANDATED TO LEAD THE FIGHT MUST BE WELL EQUIPPED WITH THE NECESSARY SKILLS AND RESOURCES, BOTH HUMAN AND CAPITAL.
THIS IS WHY MY GOVERNMENT HAS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT THE ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION IS ADEQUATELY FUNDED TO ENABLE THEM DISCHARGE THEIR MANDATE EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY. WE ARE WELL AWARE THAT THE COMMISSION IN THE RECENT PAST HAS BEEN CONSTRAINED IN EXECUTING THEIR DUTIES DUE TO LACK OF ADEQUATE RESOURCES, WHICH HAS SEEN A RISE IN INCIDENCES OF CORRUPTION IN THE COUNTRY.
MY GOVERNMENT HAS THEREFORE INCREASED THE BUDGETARY ALLOCATION TO THE ACC IN THE 2022 NATIONAL BUDGET, TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE FULLY SUPPORTED TO CARRY OUT THEIR MANDATE.
THE 2022 NATIONAL BUDGET WHICH WAS PRESENTED BY MY MINISTER OF FINANCE DR. SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE IS CENTERED AROUND ECONOMIC GROWTH, JOB CREATION AND TAKING DEVELOPMENT CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE. THESE CANNOT BE ACHIEVED IF WE ALLOW CORRUPTION TO BE A PART OF THE PROCESS.
FOR INSTANCE, THE INCREASE IN THE ALLOCATION OF CONSTITUENCY DEVELOPMENT FUND (CDF) FROM K1.6 MILLION TO K25.7 MILLION WHICH IS MEANT TO DECENTRALIZE THE DEVELOPMENT PROCESS MAY NOT ACHIEVE THE INTENDED OUTCOME OF ACCELERATING DEVELOPMENT AT CONSTITUENCY LEVEL IF WE DO NOT DEAL WITH CORRUPTION.
IT MAY NOT WORK IF WE DO NOT ARREST CORRUPTION AND DISMANTLE ALL AREAS THAT OFFER OPPORTUNITIES FOR LAWLESSNESS IN THE PROCESS. WE MUST THEREFORE, GUARD OUR RESOURCES JEALOUSLY AND ENSURE FUNDS ARE USED ONLY FOR THE INTENDED PURPOSE AND NOT TO FATTEN INDIVIDUAL POCKETS.
I WISH TO CALL UPON LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DO THEIR PART AND ENSURE THAT THE SYSTEM DOES NOT OPEN UP OPPORTUNITIES FOR CORRUPTION. WHERE CORRUPTION REARS ITS HEAD, CRUSH IT IMMEDIATELY AND EMPHATICALLY. CITIZENS, DO YOUR PART TOO, BY REPORTING SUSPECTED MISCONDUCT IN MANAGEMENT AND DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
DISTINGUISHES GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
WE ARE ON A CLEAR PATH TO ECONOMIC RECOVERY. THE POLICIES AND STRATEGIES PUT IN PLACE BY GOVERNMENT ARE DESIGNED TO GET US THERE, AND GET THERE WE SHALL. BUT THE THREAT OF CORRUPTION REMAINS EVER PRESENT AND READY TO JEOPARDIZE OUR EFFORTS. WE WILL NOT ALLOW IT.
THE CHALLENGE THEREFORE IS TO OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO STEP UP EFFORTS TO COMBAT THE SCOURGE OF CORRUPTION, AND RECOVER ASSETS THAT WERE STOLEN THROUGH CORRUPTION AND RELATED CRIMES. MY GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO RENDER THE NECESSARY SUPPORT TO EASE THE WORK OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ENSURE THEY PERFORM TO THE PEOPLE’S EXPECTATIONS.
DISTINGUISHES GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I AM AWARE THAT GOVERNMENT, THROUGH THE ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION AND STAKEHOLDERS, IS CURRENTLY REVIEWING THE NATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION POLICY WITH A VIEW TO COME UP WITH A NEW POLICY TO PROVIDE NATIONAL GUIDANCE ON STRATEGIES AND PROGRAMMES THAT WILL DEAL WITH THE PROBLEM OF CORRUPTION. I URGE THE TEAM RESPONSIBLE TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS AND ENSURE THE REVIEW IS CONCLUDED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
MY GOVERNMENT WILL WORK WITH DIFFERENT SECTORS IN SOCIETY, IN ENSURING THAT THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION IS ALL INCLUSIVE, AND ALL CITIZENS ARE MADE AWARE OF THEIR ROLE AND ACCORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION. THE YOUNG PEOPLE, FOR INSTANCE, ARE KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN ADVOCATING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE, AND AS SUCH THEY HAVE A HUGE STAKE IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION. DELIBERATE STRATEGIES TO ENGAGE THEM WILL THEREFORE BE PUT IN PLACE.
WE NEED SPECIFIC PROGRAMMES TARGETED AT THE YOUNG PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN LEARNING INSTITUTIONS, THAT WILL HELP TO INSTILL IN THEM VALUES OF HONESTY, INTEGRITY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY, VALUES WHICH THEY GROW WITH INTO ADULTHOOD.
MY GOVERNMENT ALSO REALIZES THE IMPORTANCE OF INSTITUTIONAL COMMITMENT TO THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION, AND AS SUCH GOVERNMENT, THROUGH THE ANTI-CORRUPTION COMMISSION WILL CONTINUE TO ENGAGE INSTITUTIONS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION.
THE INTEGRITY PROGRAMME FOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS IS AN EFFECTIVE WAY OF INSTITUTIONALIZING THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION. INSTITUTIONS, BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, MUST BE ENCOURAGED TO FORM INTEGRITY COMMITTEES THAT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING STRATEGIES AIMED AT STRENGTHENING INTERNAL CONTROL SYSTEMS AND SEALING LOOPHOLES FOR CORRUPTION AND THEFT WITHIN RESPECTIVE INSTITUTIONS.
I AM AWARE THAT CURRENTLY, A NUMBER OF INTEGRITY COMMITTEES ARE MAKING PROGRESSIVE HEADWAY IN COMBATTING CORRUPTION WITHIN THEIR SPHERE OF OPERATIONS. THIS IS COMMENDABLE, AND SHOULD BE AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHER INSTITUTIONS TO EMULATE.
I FURTHER WISH TO REITERATE THAT IN COMPLEMENTING THE ALREADY EXISTING EFFORTS IN FIGHTING CORRUPTION, MY GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO WORK CLOSELY WITH THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY AND CO-OPERATING PARTNERS IN FINDING COMMON SOLUTIONS TO THE GLOBAL CORRUPTION PROBLEM.
DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
LET ME END BY REMINDING YOU, FELLOW CITIZENS, THAT THE SOLUTION TO OUR CORRUPTION PROBLEM MUST COME FROM ALL OF US, INDIVIDUALLY AND COLLECTIVELY. WE MUST ALL TAKE A STAND AND CONDEMN CORRUPTION REGARDLESS OF WHO IS INVOLVED. WE MUST REJECT IT, AND WE MUST REPORT IT TO RELEVANT AUTHORITIES. ONLY THEN CAN WE ACHIEVE A CORRUPTION-FREE ZAMBIA.
MY GOVERNMENT WILL NOT WAVER FROM ITS STANCE OF ZERO TOLERANCE TO CORRUPTION, AND WITH EVERYONE’S SUPPORT, WE WILL STAMP OUT CORRUPTION FROM THE PUBLIC SERVICE, THE PUBLIC PROCUREMENT SYSTEM, AWARDING OF GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS, AND ALL OTHER SECTORS OF OUR ECONOMY. ZAMBIA WILL BE PROSPEROUS ONCE AGAIN.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS OUR GREAT NATION ZAMBIA.
I THANK YOU.
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