Don’t target opponent in corruption fight- RB
THE fight against corruption should not only be targeted at opponents, says Zambia’s fourth President Rupiah Banda.
Mr Banda said that there was a bad trend that was emerging in Africa where former Presidents are threatened with prosecution immediately they leave office.
Mr Banda said it was difficult to attract meaningful development in countries that embraced corruption.
Speaking during a media briefing organised by the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Addis Abba, Mr Banda, however, cautioned that the fight against corruption should not be targeted at political opponents.
When asked on why some African leaders fail to hand over power freely when they lose elections, Mr. Banda attributed the failure to fear of prosecution after leaving office.
On the proposed reforms by the African Union, Mr Banda said it was important that reforms that will be introduced will be accepted by all memberstates.
He called for more consultation from member-states on proposed reforms that include among others free movement of people and financing the African Union.
Mr. Banda is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to attend a meeting for eminent people who sit on a committee for the Trade and Development Bank.
Meanwhile, Mr Banda has said that Zambia remains one of the few countries in Africa with a shining record of Democracy and peace. Speaking during a media briefing organized by the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs In Addis Abba, Mr. Banda said Zambia remains a beacon of peace and that this can be attested by the peaceful transition of governments.
He said the country has never experienced political turmoil when there is a change of government. Mr. Banda said all successive governments have embraced democracy and have allowed opposition political parties to exist freely in the country. He said Zambians are bound by the slogan One Zambia and One Nation, a slogan he said promotes oneness among Zambians.