President Hichilema Initiates Clampdown On Corruption

President Hakainde Hichilema has instigated a nationwide clampdown on corruption, reiterating his administration’s aim to make it “uncomfortable” for public officers to engage in corrupt behaviour.

Speaking to journalists during a press conference at State House yesterday, the president said his government was working to hand over reports from the Auditor General, the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and others to the prosecutions authority. 

He told reporters that his government was determined to fight the deep-rooted corruption that had set in during the previous Patriotic Front administration. As an example, he revealed there were concerns that the Gulf Stream presidential jet purchased under President Edgar Lungu had been procured at a highly exaggerated price. 

President Hichilema said his party “did not agree with the price of the Gulf Stream” while in opposition and said his suspicions had now been “proved right” since coming into office.

The matter of the plane, which is operated by the Zambia Air Force, will now be taken to parliament. However the president issued a caveat, saying that the plane would likely not be scrapped as it was nonetheless necessary to the Zambian presidency.

President Hichilema further warned those who had been appointed to high office to “check” themselves and ensure that they did not fall foul of corruption. On Thursday, the state appointed liquidator tasked with splitting up Konkola Copper Mines, Milingo Lungu, was arrested by the DEC for laundering more than $2 million. 

Mr Lungu was appointed to the position by President Lungu in May 2019 and has been engaged in a long-running legal dispute with the mine’s private owners, Vedanta Resources, ever since.

At Thursday’s press conference, President Hichilema was asked whether his government would remove the immunity conferred on former President Edgar Lungu if he was ever found to have engaged in corruption during his time in office. In response the president said “we will cross the bridge when we reach there”.