Government must immediately release the Social Cash Transfer abuse report because it has been over three months since the scandal first surfaced, says governance activist McDonald Chipenzi.

In a statement, Chipenzi, the Governance, Elections, Advocacy, Research Services (GEARS) executive director, wondered why government had not yet released the Social Cash Transfer abuse report had still not been released.

“It is now over three months since President Lungu fired Emerine Kabanshi and suspended ZamPost Master General, Macpherson Chanda over Social Cash Transfer fund irregularities. At first, Secretary to the Cabinet (Dr Roland Msiska) was given a week to report the findings but to-date, the nation has not been updated on really what transpired even on how some funds were found stashed intact in a Zanaco Account in Lusaka,” Chipenzi stated.

“Why has the inquiry or investigation into the Social Cash Transfer fund abuse taken this long? Is this a sign of incompetence in our institutions investigating this matter, such as police, DEC and ACC or it’s pure political interference? Does government think with the passage of time people will forget about this scandal of the year? We need the report to be released because peoples’ names were damaged over this saga, and it is just better President Lungu briefs the nation on the progress of these investigations.”

He added that the fight against corruption is significantly weakened with the protracted delay in finalizing investigations into abuse of public funds.

“Why has this investigation remained unconcluded to-date? What are the challenges the investigation is encountering? Is it lack of cooperation from the culprits or what? If we continue with this kind of approach to fighting abuses in government, then let us forget about realising our dream of ‘not leaving anyone behind’,” stated Chipenzi.