Daily Nation Newspaper

ESTABLISH INTEGRITY INSPECTORA­TES

- MAURICE KHONDOWE

Dear Editor

I FIND it very amazing and indeed intriguing that frontline institutio­ns such as the Police, Ministry of Health and also Lands which deal with the public do not have intelligen­ce and integrity teams to ensure quality service delivery.

These organisati­ons are prone to rampant abuse and corruption which citizens must endure.

The worst part of the matter is that the so called Public Protector is absolutely useless in championin­g the public cause and yet they could have been in the forefront of the anti-corruption campaign in this country.

The tribulatio­ns that patients go through in hospitals, the corruption b\ traffic police and indeed mismanagem­ent of land deeds would be a thing of the past if rotating integrity teams were employed to en- sure constant inspection.

Social media is awash with videos of policemen and women in the traffic department being arrested in Tanzania and Kenya after integrity teams were constitute­d.

Somehow our high command will only respond to complaints if evidence is adduced by complainan­ts. This is unrealisti­c; how can a driver who pays a bribe at a roadblock near Nakonde come and report to the High Command in Lusaka.

The truth is that most Zambians will work better if they know that they are being watched. Give them leeway even the most hardworkin­g will be dispirited and demotivate­d by those who have no interest in their work.

The truth is that due to the severe shortage of jobs many Zambians are engaged in all manner of menial pursuits to survive, they will take any job for as long as it gives them an income, hence the poor performanc­e that is evident in all the profession­al skill including teaching, which should be a noble profession.

Look at the hospital, doctors and highl\ Tualified people will feel nothing to send patients to private services where they will earn an extra amount.

It is safer for the government to assume a cynicism in the capacity of their workers rather than assume that all the public service workers are dedicated to their calling.

I therefore appeal to Dr. Chilufya the Minister of Health and the Inspector General of Police Mr. Kanganja to immediatel­y recruit integrity inspectora­tes to continuall­y assess service level delivery. They will be surprised by what will come of such an exercise.

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