GOVERNANCE activist Rueben Lifuka says President Hakainde Hichilema has an opportunity to reset the fight against corruption as he addresses the nation today because it has suffered setbacks in recent weeks.
In a write up, Sunday, Lifuka said the fight against corruption had suffered setbacks with the controversy surrounding the Director of Public Prosecution’s office, adding that the anti corruption crusade was currently suffering from low public trust.
“President Hichilema has an opportunity tomorrow to reset the whole fight against corruption which in recent weeks has suffered setbacks particularly with the controversy surrounding the DPP’s office. President Hichilema and his government should realise that the anti corruption crusade is currently suffering from low public trust. Unfortunately, the UPND government, which has been given the benefit of doubt, being a new administration, has failed to demonstrate that its approach to the fight against corruption will be any different from their predecessors in both the PF and the MMD. In the process of being methodical, the UPND government has instead become lethargic with no real movement in the fight against corruption,” he said.
He said the cutting of deals with wrong doers was a sure way of weakening the fight against corruption.
“The sporadic nature of the measures taken so far do not inspire confidence that the UPND government can effectively deal with the scourge of corruption. It is imperative therefore that the President in his press conference goes beyond telling us the obvious I.e that his office was not involved in negotiations for the granting of the immunity to the former KCM provisional liquidator. What we want to hear from him are concrete and comprehensive measures to fight corruption. It has to be put to him for the umpteenth time that asset recovery is just one of the anti corruption measures but for purposes of achieving justice for the victims of corruption, all perpetrators of corruption should be brought to book,” Lifuka said.
“This cutting of deals with wrong doers is a sure way of weakening the fight against corruption. This pedestrian approach to fighting graft is creating a culture of impunity where the corrupt no longer fear the long arm of the law and instead they look forward to negotiate their freedom by offering to return proceeds of crime. This is definitely lowering the risk and fear factors associated with corruption.”
Lifuka said government should not be dismissive of public criticism on its performance.
“It is important also that the President gives an honest assessment of his government’s performance in the 8 months in office, particularly in promoting good governance and fighting corruption. Does he indeed have the right team working with him? And why is public trust in the fight against corruption beginning to wane? Is his government communicating enough on challenges faced and successes scored? The UPND government should not be dismissive of the public criticism of its performance. The government should take heed of the advice rendered by stakeholders. UPND should learn from the fate of the PF which became arrogant and tone deaf . The time for making strategic realignment to the fight against corruption is now,” Lifuka said.
He said President Hichilema, through his press conference, should inspire confidence that his administration was listening attentively and willing to make amends where need be.
“All and all, President Hichilema should come out tomorrow and inspire confidence that his administration is listening attentively and willing to make amends where need be. The worst that the President can do is to come to the press conference to give a long monologue on what he hopes to do the election campaign where sweet nothings are said is over and we want to hear practical solutions to the myriad of problems including the economic challenges faced by the people,” said Lifuka.
