INTEGRITY A MUST FOR PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDERS – BISHOP MASUPA

By ADRIAN MWANZA

AFRICAN Union Interfaith Dialogue Forum (AU-IFDF) co-chairperson David Masupa has said that public officers should uphold high levels of integrity if the country is to get rid of corruption.

Bishop Masupa in an interview said that most public officers needed to emulate former Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Commissioner Henry Bwalya Mbushi who resigned on principle.

He said that he may not have the exact facts but that it took a man of integrity to step aside from a position without facing any form of pressure.

He said that the move by Mr. Mbushi was commendable because it shows that he was a man of great integrity.

He said it was unfortunate that some individuals who held high positions were marred in serious issues but that they refused to step down on principle.

“I should commend the former commissioner for stepping aside because it shows that he is a person of great integrity,” he said.

Bishop Masupa said that some people like ministers had in the past linked with serious issues but still refused to step aside due to lack of integrity.

He said that it was indeed necessary to ensure that all those issues stepped aside for the law to take its course and be able to clear them.

He said the head of state needed to ensure that his battalion was doing the right thing so that his image was not tainted.

“My call is for the head of state to instill high levels of integrity in the public service because the buck falls on him,” he said.

He said Zambians should emulate European countries where people resign if they are involved in scandals or are marred in any form of corruption.