Prudent use of resources key, says PS

By CHITE MTONGA

THE prudent use of resources is important if government is to succeed in reducing poverty and vulnerability in the country, Permanent secretary in the office of the vice president Stephen Mwansa has said.

Mr Mwansa said Government was implementing the 2018 theme of winning the fight against corruption in line with the African Union president’s declaration.

Mr Mwansa was speaking when he officially opened a workshop in Lusaka organised by the Finish embassy attended by government officials and other stakeholders on promoting integrity, transparency and accountability in poverty and vulnerability reduction programmes in the country.

He said the strategy by the finish embassy could not have come at a better time than when government was implementing the Seventh National Development plan (SNDP) and financial prudence was integral to succeed in implementation of the plan. Mr Mwansa said the government would continue fighting corruption as it was detrimental to poverty reduction.

And Ambassador to Finland Timo Olkkonen said there was a lot of debate going on in the country on corruption and mismanagement of funds in general.

He said the discussion on corruption was welcome and the important.

Amb. Olkkonen said the Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index have given poor ratings to Zambia and the Auditor General’s report as such was not direct proof of corruption, but raised more question marks than previous reports.

He said discussions were good and bringing the culprits to book was better and preventing corruption was best.

Amb.Olkkonen said the workshop was an opportunity to draw inspiration from expertise amassed from all around the world on the topic.