‘CRACK DOWN ON CORRUPT ELEMENTS’

By SIMON MUNTEMBA CORRUPT individuals killing corruption fight should be dealt with individually without delay to ensure they do not pollute the entire agencies, the Inter- Africa Governance Network (AFRINET) has said. In an interview, AFRINET executive director, Maurice Malambo said the only way to ensure that the government efforts of fighting corruption is not frustrated further is by cracking down on corrupt elements in the agencies mandated to spearhead the fight Mr Malambo’s remarks comes after President Edgar Lungu said the fight against corruption has seemingly lost the firm grip it is supposed to have because some people charged with the responsibility of fighting the vice are corrupt themselves. Speaking when ambassadors from the  European Union (EU) member states accredited to Zambia paid a courtesy call on him at State House on Friday last week, President said that his government was committed to fight corruption at all levels but some players in championing the fight were a letdown. But Mr Malambo said corrupt elements in the law enforcement agencies should be identified and dealt with individually to clean up the system. “We noted with sadness the President’s lamentation that corrupt individuals are killing the corruption fight. We are urging the government to act swiftly by identifying such corrupt elements and deal with them individually because these are the people denting the image of the agencies,” Mr Malambo said. He said cracking down on corrupt elements was  the only solution to the problem which was tarnishing the image of the system. Mr Malambo, whoever, praised the government for putting up measures aimed at stamping out corruption in the country. He said the launched national anti-corruption policy and strategic document aimed at providing a framework for preventing and combating corruption in a comprehensive, coordinated, inclusive and sustainable manner was a demonstration that government was determined to end corruption.