If You Are Going To Serve The Public You Need To Be Autonomous – Woolley

British High Commissioner to Zambia Nicholas Woolley has said that there is need for public institutions to peruse allegations in order to ensure accountability and reduce corruption within the country.

Speaking during an interview, Mr Woolley stressed that investigative wings such as the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) need to be independent.

“It is absolutely vital, first and foremost, these public institutions are there to serve the public. If you are going to serve the public you need to be autonomous,” Mr Wooley said.  

Mr Wooley also commented on President Hichilema’s “important” commitment to ensure that these public institutions had independence to act.

“For there to be accountability, you need to have institutions that are able to act on the information that they get in order to ultimately pursue any allegations or reports of illegal or misappropriation of Zambian taxpayer’s funds, which should be spent on the Zambians themselves,” Woolley added.

The British High Commissioner’s comments comes as President Hichilema promised to cut corruption in the country, following on from rampant corruption under the previous Patriotic Front government.