By NATION REPORTER
THE US$16 million pledged by the United States (US) Government towards the fight against corruption will not be used prudently because the investigative wings have been highly compromised, Zambia Republican Party (ZRP) president Wright Musoma has charged.
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Mr Musoma said the pledge of US$ 16 million towards the fight against corruption should be taken with a pinch of salt because the ACC and other investigative wings were not conducting the corruption fight with equity.
He said that the money could have been channelled to the vulnerable people in society because in Zambia even whistleblowers were now being victimized.
“To me this is a waste of resources because the fight against corruption is not done in a proper and equitable manner,” Mr Musoma said.
Recently, Ms Harris announced that more than US$16 million has been released towards the fight against corruption and other reform programmes.
Ms Harris said the US was keen on helping accelerate the fight against corruption to help pave way for democracy to flourish.
Speaking at State House on Friday, Ms Harris said the strong ties between Zambia and the US would continue, which included support towards the fight against corruption.
“Democracy is a priority for the United States. We have released more than US$16 million for programmes including anti-corruption and other reform programs,” she said.
She commended President Hakainde Hichilema for the strides being made in the fight against corruption as well as debt restructuring.
“We will quicken the debt restructuring and we advise other bilateral official creditors to have meaningful debt restructure for Zambia as well,” she said.
And President Hichilema said Zambia valued the bilateral relationship with the US and would ensure to maintain the good historical friendship.
He noted that Government’s priority is to rebuild the economy.
“What is keeping us down is debt overhung. It is contributing towards the affected foreign exchange market prices and so we are pushing to unlock that so that we create more jobs and more businesses,” he said.
Mr Hichilema further reiterated that Zambia would continue upholding good governance and also stated that Zambia was a democracy by choice and not through persuasion.
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