Zambian govt calls on all stakeholders to fight corruption

GOVERNMENT HAS CALLED ON ALL STAKEHOLDERS TO COME ON BOARD AND ENSURE THAT CORRUPTION IS FOUGHT AT ALL LEVELS.

INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING MINISTER LIEUTENANT GENERAL RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA STATES THAT IT IS EVIDENT THAT GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO THE FIGHT AGAINST THE VICE CONSIDERING THE NUMBER LEGISLATION AND THE POLICY THAT HAVE BEEN PUT IN PLACE.

SPEAKING ON RADIO PHOENIX LET THE PEOPLE TALK PROGRAMME, THE MINISTER DECLINED THAT GOVERNMENT DOES INTERVENE WITH THE RUNNING OF PUBLIC MEDIA INSTITUTIONS CHARGING THAT THE DISMISSAL OF THE TIMES OF ZAMBIA NEWS EDITOR WAS DONE BY THE BOARD.

GENERAL SHIKAPWASHA STATED THAT THE PUBLIC MEDIA IS NOT A PRESERVE OF THE RULING MMD ADDING THAT AT NO TIME DO THEY CENSOR THE PROGRAMMES OR NEWS ITEMS THAT ARE PUBLISHED.

MEANWHILE, THE CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON HAS CHALLENGED OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES TO HOLD CONVENTIONS JUST AS THEY ARE DOING.

AND GOVERNMENT HAS REITERATED THAT IT WILL ENSURE THAT THIS YEAR’S ELECTIONS ARE HELD IN A PEACEFUL AND TRANSPARENT MANNER.

AND RESEARCHER, LECTURER AND POLITICAL ANALYST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ZAMBIA DR ALEX NG’OMA HAS PREDICTED THAT THE OPPOSITION IS LIKELY TO WIN THIS YEAR’S ELECTION PROVIDED THEY MOVE IN AS A UNITED FRONT.

DR NG’OMA HOWEVER NOTED THAT IN THE RECENT YEARS THE CIVIL SERVICE HAS WORSENED AND ATTRIBUTED THIS TO INEFFICIENCIES WITHIN THE VARIOUS MINISTRIES.

AND SPEAKING ON THE SAME PROGRAMME BUSINESS AND ECONOMIC CONSULTANT BOB SICHINGA CHALLENGED GOVERNMENT TO BE TRUTHFUL AND ENSURE THAT IT EMBRACED THE DIVERGENT VIEWS FROM ALL CITIZENS.

HE SAID GOVERNMENT AND ALL POLITICAL PLAYERS IN THE COUNTRY MUST IMMEDIATELY INSTITUTE A CAUCUS MEETING THAT WILL CHAT THE WAY FORWARD ESPECIALLY WITH REGARDS TO VIOLENCE AHEAD OF THIS YEAR’S GENERAL ELECTIONS.

AND RADIO PHOENIX PROPRIETOR ERROL HICKEY HAS ASKED GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER WORKING WITH ALL THE MEDIA HOUSES AHEAD OF THIS YEAR’S GENERAL ELECTIONS.

MR HICKEY STATES THAT THE RADIO STATION AND MANAGEMENT STANDS READY TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DAY.

AND ONE OF THE CALLERS’ REVEREND EDITH MUTALE NOTED THAT NEED TO TRADE ON CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES EVEN AS THE COUNTRY GOES TO THE POLLS AND STOP IMPOSING LEADERS ON THE PEOPLE.

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