afrol News, 10 December - Zambia president, Rupiah Banda has pledged to continue to support the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and other governance institutions involved in fighting corruption by providing the necessary resources to operate effectively.

The President’s statement follows Department for International Development (DFID) financial back-up of 5.7 million British Pounds (US$9.5 million) to strengthen the fight against corruption in the government and all public institutions.

The funds are expected to be channeled through the country's ACC in its efforts aimed at stopping the abuse of public funds.

Mr Banda said Government is on a smooth path to domesticating relevant clauses of international protocols and conventions into the national anti-corruption legislation.

President Banda, observing the International Anti-Corruption Day yesterday, also said the civil society and other stakeholders in the private sector need to continue supplementing government’s efforts by coming up with anti-corruption and sensitisation programmes.

“There is need to ensure that the public service is subjected to safeguards that promote efficiency, transparency, accountability and recruitment based on merit,” he said.

The head of DFID in Zambia, Mike Hammond, said corruption had the capacity to undermine the confidence of donors and the public had in the government if not properly checked.

According to Hammond, corruption impacts negatively on the poor, adding that World Bank survey found that in Zambia the poor paid 17 percent of their income in bribes for medical care while the middle class paid only three percent.

He further urged the Zambian government to cement the achievements attained in the fight against corruption to build a strong foundation to eradicate the vice.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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