Zambian government to ensure accountability
17 February 2012
By Times Reporter
THE Government will ensure accountability in the utilisation of public resources including funds from cooperating partners.
Foreign Affairs and Tourism Minister, Given Lubinda, said the PF Government was alive to the fact that citizens were expecting better service delivery, hence the need for prudent utilisation of funds.
The minister, who was speaking when he met Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and other dignitaries accredited to Zambia, said the Government would continue with its fight against corruption and other vices.
Mr Lubinda said there would be no room for corruption in the PF rank and file but would ensure full accountability of national resources from tax payers’ money as well as cooperating partners.
The current administration, he said, was strengthening the Public Expenditure Management and Financial Accountability programme (PEMFA).
The objective of PEMFA is to improve public expenditure management and to strengthen overall financial accountability.
“The PF Government will take measures to ensure fiscal accountability through the strengthening of the PEMFA programme. The PF government is also committed to making reforms in the agriculture marketing policy to factor pro-poor policies,” he said.
Mr Lubinda said the fight against corruption will be fought at all levels by using concrete, effective and deterring anti-corruption measures because the vice could destroy society.
“This is a self cleansing process which without doubt demonstrates the Government’s commitments to fight corruption. I wish to express my Government’s gratitude to your Governments for the moral, financial and material support so far rendered in this fight.
Meanwhile, when he met newly appointed Zambian diplomats at his office, Mr Lubinda cautioned them against abusing public funds in their respective foreign missions.
Mr Lubinda has also called on the envoys to work towards attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to the country.
He said the diplomats should strengthen cordial relations between Zambia and their respective countries of deployment.
He said the Government would not tolerate any envoy found abusing public resources adding that diplomats needed to conduct themselves professionally because the Government would not hesitate in recalling those falling into temptations of misusing public resources.
“All monies sent to various foreign missions are for Government and the Zambian people not for your personal gain because you will come
back faster if found abusing any public resources,” he said.