Mr. Hichilema, who launched the National Policy on Anti-Corruption today, said punitive sentences send a strong message and that imposing stronger sentences on certain crimes but not others sends the wrong signals.
“It leads to misunderstandings in society for the judiciary to convict someone who steals a cow to [serve] 14 years, but someone who steals $10 million from the government is convicted for three years only or even less,” he stated.
The President stressed that corruption is the same as theft, therefore, everyone must get involved in stamping it out.
Mr. Hichilema assured the nation of his government’s commitment to fighting “this scourge that has seen a lot of national resources get embezzled by the corrupt few.”
He said that since assuming office, his government has implemented the fast-track court, asset recovery, and forfeiture laws, which have led to the recovery of many properties, and that this would continue.
He said that he understood the public sentiments that the fight against corruption had relaxed but assured the nation that his administration was not relaxing at all.
“We are fighting past, present, and future corruption. If anyone who engaged in corruption is arrested and convicted, they must not cry victim to seek sympathy from innocent citizens. Therefore, we must remain firm and deal with these matters with the firm hand of the law,” said President Hichilema.
Main image : Lusaka Times
