Zambia's task force on corruption faces disbandment: president

Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa said here Monday the country's Task Force on Corruption might be disbanded citing failure in recovering money plundered due to widespread graft.

Addressing a press conference at which he named the new cabinet after his re-election, Mwanawasa said a lot of money has been spent on the task force but this has produced very little results.

"We are very much aware that the Task Force on Corruption is confronted with complicated cases to investigate and prosecute, hence the slow speed in handling the matters. But I am beginning to think twice as regards the task force," Mwanawasa said.

He said the government would instead channel resources being pumped to the task force towards strengthening the capacity of law enforcement agencies in investigating cases of corruption and economic plunder.

"It may be well that we abolish the task force and instead strengthen the law enforcement agencies," Mwanawasa said, adding that the country's anti-corruption commission and drug enforcement commission performed better than the task force.

The Task Force on Corruption was established in 2002 shortly after Mwanawasa was elected as president. Mwanawasa made anti- corruption the hallmark of his government which earned him applaud from western countries. The anti-graft campaign was however accused of achieving little in tackling the country's widespread corruption.

Source: Xinhua