TRANSPARENCY International Zambia executive director Maurice Nyambe has urged government to implement agricultural programmes and interventions that will be devoid of corruption as a means of securing nutritional resilience and food security.

In a statement, Wednesday, in commemoration of the Africa Freedom Day, Nyambe said the rot of corruption and nonchalance of governments towards their people were key factors that should be addressed to solve the problem of food insecurity and malnutrition in Africa.

“The rot of corruption and nonchalance of governments towards their people are key factors that must be addressed to solve the problem of food insecurity and malnutrition in Africa. Here in Zambia for instance, corruption in land administration at different levels has had a negative effect on the ability of the poor and vulnerable to access and make use of land for productive purposes, thereby threatening their nutrition prospects and consequently their food security. TI-Z therefore urges African governments in general and the Zambian government in particular to implement agricultural programmes and interventions that will be devoid of corruption as a means of securing the nutritional resilience and food security of the poor and vulnerable in society,” Nyambe said.

“It is our fervent hope that the Zambian government will use this year´s commemoration of Africa Freedom Day as an opportunity for reflecting on the promises that were made with regard to enhancing productivity in the agricultural sector in order to enhance food security through targeted interventions devoid of any form of corruption.”

Nyambe urged African leaders to continually introspect on the roles they ought to play in driving the continent´s political, social and economic agendas.

“Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) joins the rest of the African continent in commemorating and celebrating this year’s Africa Freedom Day themed “Strengthening Resilience in Nutrition and Food Security on the African Continent”. We would like to remind every African of the continued importance of this day, which provides a yearly opportunity for us to reflect on many different aspects of our livelihoods as we collectively seek to steer our continent towards greater prosperity and real political, social and economic emancipation. In reflecting on this year´s theme, TI-Z would like to remind every African that the fight to strengthen resilience and food security is a relentless fight, and one that is emblematic of the wider fight for good governance and the continent´s continued quest for economic emancipation,” said Nyambe.

“We therefore urge African leaders to continually introspect on the roles they ought to play in driving the continent´s political, social and economic agendas and to ensure that they do not betray the collective trust and hopes of the citizens who elevated them to their positions of prominence in their respective societies.