Zambia’s Hichilema has so far failed on corruption, US ambassador says in withering speech

President of Zambia Hakainde Hichilema.

The government of Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema is not doing enough to combat corruption, the United States ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales, said in a withering speech.

It is time to force all public officials, and their immediate families, to declare their assets, Gonzales said – for starters.

“I would argue that to be effective, we must expand these requirements to include permanent secretaries, directors general, and all controlling officers and employees managing, responsible for, or involved in public procurement and contracts, he said, speaking at the Transparency International Zambia 2023 Anti-Corruption Conference in Livingstone on Sunday.