Only $9.8m for corruption says UK govt

The following story which appeared in the Zambia Daily Mail of April 2, 2009 on how much Britain has spent in the fight against corruption in Zambia comes in the wake of reports that the Task force had spent 500 million pound in its fight against graft. It comes amid an outcry from some civil society organisation for a thorough audit of the operations of the Task Force.

United Kingdom government has disclosed that it has spent only 7 million British pounds (9.8 million U.S. dollars) in support of Zambia's fight against corruption, contrary to the reports that it has spent 500 million pounds (700 million dollars),Zambia Daily Mail reported on April 2, 2009.

British High Commissioner to Zambia Tom Carter said in a statement on April 1, 2009 when he refuted claims in some sections of the Zambian media. He said reports that the British government had spent 500 million pounds in helping Zambia's anti-corruption crusade were not correct. Britain, through its Department for International Development (DFID), had spent the money, most of which in support of the activities of the Zambia's Anti Corruption Commission and the Task Force on Corruption.

The money provided is for a period of seven years, the Mail report said.

"The British government will continue to support the Zambian authorities in the fight against corruption and in this context, warmly welcomes the recent approval of the National Anti Corruption Policy," Carter was quoted as saying.