YOU CAN RUN BUT YOU CAN’T HIDE, NALUMANGO WARNS THE ‘CORRUPT’

Lusaka ~ Friday, 8 July 2022

By Brightwell Chabusha

Vice President Mutale Nalumango has said the New Dawn Administration is 100% plus one committed to fighting corruption.

Mrs Nalumango said this after being questioned in Parliament today if government is still committed to fighting corruption whether in the past, present or future.

The question emanated from allegations that President Hakainde Hichilema is awarding the contracts which are allegedly being single sourced to his “friends.”

The Vice President however said the Head of State is friends with anyone adding that picking on some Zambians as being friends and therefore they should not work is very difficult.

“Are we committed to fighting corruption? 100% plus one committed. Whatever we are doing will be done……. although I heard him talk of secrecy, I don’t know which one. To bring the President in this matter today is extremely unfair,” she said.

“The President is a friend of all Zambians. So to start picking on Zambians as being friends and therefore they should not work is very difficult. What is important is to see that there is a transparent process that is followed by everybody. Some of these contracts you have mentioned are some of the issues that began some time. For example, the medical one you referred to, $100 million, something like that, that has even been cancelled my dear.”

Mrs Nalumango however sounded a warning that those that committed corruption crimes can run but they cannot hide.

“Just know that you can bring a case at a time and we will be able to explain to you. You can go to the ministries; you can go to those that give contracts. There must be proof of having done the right thing through the right procedures, following our policies and the laws of the country. So there is no deviating from the fight against corruption,” she said.

“People will be convicted that are found corrupt, that is all, whether it is from here or from there, the law will follow everybody. You can run but you can’t hide. But if you are innocent, no matter how much they follow you will prove yourself innocent. So we are here to fight corruption. To give an environment that will attract both local and foreign investment.”