Acting President Her Excellency Mrs W.K. Mutale Nalumango has said government recognises that the private sector can play an invaluable and pivotal role in complementing government’s efforts in combatting and preventing corrupt practices.
The Acting President said the private sector should work together with government in curbing corruption as the vice threatens the conducive environment for legitimate businesses to thrive.
“Corruption increases the cost of doing business, stifles competition, reduces productivity, creates loss of investor and shareholder confidence, damages business reputaton, and consequently increases regulation.”
Her Excellency Mrs. Nalumango was speaking at Mulungushi International Conference Centre when she officially opened the Anti-Corruption Private Sector Symposium organized by the Anti-Corruption Commission under the theme “Preventing Corruption Through Private Sector Participation’.
And speaking at the same occasion, Anti-Corruption Commission Board Chairperson Mr. Musa Mwenye, SC, implored on the private sector to join hands with the Commission in its effort to find solution against corruption that protects the interest of both the private sector and the public sector.
Mr. Mwenye said the fight against corruption has in the past targeted the public sector officials leaving out officials in the private sector or only using them as witnesses against public officials.
“It is now time to have a holistic approach and work with all sectors to collectively deal with the opportunities for corrupt practices. The Commission stands ready to work with you in this regard. We are elated to note that some of the private sector players have already made efforts in developing systems to detect and prevent corruption through Anti-Bribery and Corruption (ABC) Policies and/or compliance measures.”
Anti-Corruption Commission Director-General Gilbert Phiri expressed gratitude to the private sector participants for positively responding to the call for concerted efforts to the fight against corruption. Mr. Phiri thanked the German Development Aid (GIZ), Transparency International Zambia, and Konkola Copper Mine for their material and financial support towards the Symposium. He said the engagement was just the beginning of many more to come.
The Symposium which was an inaugural event for the Anti-Corruption Commission, was attended by over 180 participants from the private sector organisations and included the financial, constructive, manufacturing, health, as well as Civil Society Organisations and the media.
