Ambassador Speeches
U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Carmen Martinez’s Remarks for the Official Closure of the “Walk Against Corruption” Campaign
Lusaka. Wednesday, April 30th, 3:00 P.M.
I am honored to have the opportunity to speak at the official closing of the “Walk Against Corruption” event. I congratulate the participants, Richard Mwanza and Wendy Mwachilenga, who walked an astounding 358 kilometers (nearly 215 miles!) over the past two weeks. These two highly committed Zambian citizens have set high standard for all Zambians to emulate in the anti-corruption fight in their country.
I see that today’s event has drawn the attention of numerous stakeholders, as well as the people in the towns and villages between Kitwe and Lusaka. The United States has a productive relationship with the Anti-Corruption Commission and Transparency International Zambia, and we will continue to lend our support.
I commend President Mwanawasa for the priority he has placed in stamping out corruption. His efforts show courage, leadership, and direction. I encourage others to follow his lead. To all Zambians I say that it should not fall to the President alone to conduct this struggle. The government in its entirety should rally behind him, including every single civil servant. The campaign against corruption also requires the unwavering commitment of Parliament, civil society, the private sector, and the general public. I challenge you to follow the President’s lead in “Zambia’s campaign against corruption” - and share in the responsibility and the success.
In practice, this means that we each make a commitment to abide by principles of honesty and integrity and that we each refuse to support, condone, or overlook acts of impropriety. It means that we hold ourselves, one another, and our leaders accountable. It requires a higher level of civic engagement, and a willingness to speak out.
It will always be easier and less costly to prevent corruption than prosecute it, so there is every incentive to strengthen laws and institutions to limit opportunities for corruption. Many of these measures are simple to implement and do not require sophisticated or expensive programs. I would like to discuss three areas of anti-corruption:
First, the passage of new laws, and the strengthening of existing laws, such as asset disclosure, asset forfeiture, whistleblower protection, evidence, plea bargaining, procurement, and anti-money laundering.
Second, the capacity to enforce existing laws and regulations, and the strengthening of institutions that fight corruption, such as the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Task Force on Corruption, as well as non-government organizations like Transparency International. A Financial Intelligence Unit that meets international standards is also important, by helping to identify financial crime and combat money laundering.
Law enforcement agencies, such as the Zambia National Police and the Drug Enforcement Commission, should become models to other Government agencies of uprightness, incorruptibility, transparency, and respect for the rule of law.
This institutional strengthening should also include public sector reform, including public sector pay reform so that government employees earn sufficiently to attend to the needs of their families. Pay reform should be accompanied by greater expectations of public service delivery, and improved productivity. This precludes nepotism, tribalism, and favoritism. It means assigning jobs to qualified candidates.
Our United States Constitution was drafted according to the assumption that power, unchecked, corrupts. To prevent any individual or office from yielding too much authority, the drafters of our Constitution gave us three independent branches of government that maintain checks an balances on each other: executive, legislative, and judicial.
With a strong legislature that is responsible for our nation’s budget, the executive branch is held to a certain standard. Government agencies are held accountable by the people, through their representatives. When services are not adequately delivered, Congress can withhold funding. I admire the work of Zambia’s Public Accounts Committee and Auditor General’s Office, and I encourage you to consider ways to make Parliament an even more effective national assembly, which steers the direction of the country with vision and enlightened debate.
We sometimes refer to the free and independent media as the fourth estate. This brings me to my third and final point. A strong, active, independent media is essential to democracy. Responsible journalism can steer public opinion and policy. Investigative journalists can be a dynamic force for good. We, as Americans witnessed this first-hand, when two journalists at the Washington Post, Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, uncovered the Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of a U.S. President.
A Freedom of Information Act will provide for access to greater information, to make leaders more accountable and journalists more effective. I commend the Government for its consideration of such an Act.
In conclusion, allow me to thank you once more for the opportunity to address you on this important subject. There is a saying that “After all is said and done, there is usually more said than done.” I encourage you to prove that saying wrong. Don’t just talk about corruption, fight it. Don’t just talk the talk. Walk the walk. Don’t just demand greater results from the Government. Demand greater performance from yourselves. Have confidence that you will succeed, and you will.
Thank you.