Nip graft in the bud
Published On August 17, 2014 » 1538 Views» By Davies M.M Chanda » Features
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Beyond the news - KundaREVELATIONS by Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) that three officials from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing have been suspended for misappropriating funds meant constituency development; make sad reading let alone hearing.
Approximately K1.3 million, Constituency Development Funds (CDF) meant for Rufunsa district in Central Province was reportedly misappropriated by the three public service workers who have since been suspended by the ministry.
Local Government and Housing minister Emmanuel Chenda has since sounded a stern warning that his ministry and Government in general will not condone corrupt public service workers.
The minister is absolutely right because misappropriation of money meant for constituency development is a deterrent to economic growth.
It is unfortunate that the named officials were involved in such fraudulent dealings especially that the money was intended for the provision of clean water in a remote part of Zambia.
With civil servants now receiving improved perks, one wonders why pilfering of tax payers money is still not a thing of past in the public service.
Rural areas in particular will not develop without social amenities such as clean drinking water because how then will investors settle there to build infrastructure that will create much needed wealth and jobs for the locals?
At the moment, Rufunsa district is experiencing low water levels and residents are forced to travel long distances in search of the commodity from shallow wells.
Reports of the missing money raises queries to numerous to comprehend because it was expected that by now, all the Government ministries should have sealed the loopholes where money is extorted.
Has there been no action to the glaring financial irregularities revealed in the Auditor General’s Annual reports published in the recent past few years?
Punitive measures must be taken against all erring civil servants perpetuating the loss of public funds, a scourge which seems to still be at an alarming level.
This is one way in which the public can have confidence that their resources are being put to good use and Government must put in place long lasting measures that will curb the abuse of public funds.
Aside from the CDF, there other financial hand-outs that Government through the various ministries gives to the community for the sake of empowerment.
The ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health runs the social cash transfer scheme for the disabled, homeless and the vulnerable elderly in society.
Further, the Ministry of Youth and Sport annually disburses the Youth Development Fund (YDF) that is intended for the empowerment of young entrepreneurs.
How certain can Zambians be now that the circulation of these funds is actually prudent and reaching the intended beneficiaries?
Do the Ministries of Community Development and Youth and Sport have the monitoring mechanisms to ensure that what happened in the Ministry of Local Government does not reoccur?
Calls to abolish the CDF are unjustified at the moment unless there is an immediate means of extending financial aid to the undeveloped constituencies.
Zambia will not succeed in the fight against poverty if people continue to dip their fingers in public coffers and that is why the scourge must be put to a stop.
The success of any Government’s fight against corruption is determined by the amount of effort and the measures put in place to curb misappropriation of public funds.
And indeed, past government’s and now the Patriotic Front have made strides in this regard but more needs to be done as public funds are the taxpayer’s hard earned money from wages and other earnings.
This platform suggests Government continues to be firm on public servants who are misappropriating money intended for developmental projects to make a difference for the poor Zambians.
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