TI-Z Calls Out Siliya On Corruption Comments
Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) has called out Minister of Information and Chief Government Spokesperson Hon. Dora Siliya following comments she was reported to have made during an interview on ZNBC Radio 2.
The minister is quoted as stating that the fight against corruption should not be a daily song since there are corrupt elements in every country on earth. Her comments were interpreted by some as trivialising the problem of corruption. While it is true that corruption is not unique to Zambia, international rankings continue to highlight the scale of the problem in the country. Earlier this year Transparency International’s latest Corruption Perception Index suggested that corruption was worsening in Zambia as the country recorded a further drop in its score in 2019. According to the measure Zambia has been on a downward trend since 2016.
“The logic that can be construed from Hon. Siliya’s statement is that since there are thieves and corrupt persons everywhere, Zambians should not be overly concerned or melodramatic about similar activities in Zambia. Hon. Siliya, knowingly neglected to equally state that while it is true that corruption is not exclusive to Zambia, not all countries have turned into kleptocracies,” reads a statement from the group’s president Rueben L. Lifuka.
“There are many countries around the world and in Africa who are making sterling efforts to curb the scourge of corruption and they pragmatically demonstrate their intolerance for all forms of corruption. Many governments unequivocally continue to exercise strong political will to fight corruption and this is where the difference lies- the degree of efforts to decisively deal with corruption as opposed to live in perpetual denial of the existence of this malignant problem. Hon. Siliya and the PF government should not seek solace in this moral equivalence they are wittingly creating that corrupt people or thieves are everywhere but they should instead make concerted efforts to chart a pathway for this country to step out from the ranks of endemically corrupt countries,” Lifuka continued.
TI-Z also criticised the timing of the statement, coming as Zambia is looking for international support for its Covid-19 response.
“Such statements erode donors’ trust and confidence particularly that we do have a recent history with corruption and donor funding in a few ministries. Our anti-corruption credentials as a country remain weak and statements of this nature serve little purpose other than cast further doubts about government’s commitment to this fight,” Lifuka noted.
TI-Z reiterated the seriousness of the problem explaining, “Corruption is not only a crime but is a social injustice as well. The trail of destruction caused by corruption in Zambia, is acutely felt by its peoples especially the poor and vulnerable. This reality should not be lost on the Hon Minister even when she extraordinarily tries to absolve her government of its failure to effectively deal with this scourge.”
Lifuka also pointed out that in opposition the PF made a continual song of the problem of corruption, using their anti-corruption agenda as a central part of their election campaign. However, in office he has accused Zambia’s leaders of acting in a way that “normalizes” corruption. He called on Zambians to reject the culture of impunity.
“We want to urge the Zambian people not to be swayed by statements which deliberately trivalise the seriousness of corruption. We should always remember that these seeds of corruption which are being planted today, shall surely give rise to a generation(s) of Zambians whose lives with forever be impaired by the legacy of many years of corruption. In response to the Hon. Minister’s point that our children will not eat corruption, we wish to bring it to her attention that there are in fact children in Zambia today who cannot eat as they should because their parents’ or guardians’ ability to provide for them has been decimated by corruption,” Lifuka cautioned.
“In this vein, we wish to reiterate our stand that contrary to the Minister’s views as reported, corruption remains an enormous problem in Zambia and efforts to eradicate it should be enhanced rather than diminished or ridiculed upon by senior government officials or anyone else for that matter. We owe it to ourselves and our children to rid this country of corruption in all its forms. Unlike what the Chief Government Spokesperson appears to believe, the anti-corruption song should actually be sang louder than ever before because corruption and political impunity should not be allowed to define or characterize who we are as a people,” he concluded.
TIZ President Rueben L. Lifuka