PF has performed well in good governance – Simbyakula

Justice Minister Ngosa Simbyakula says the Patriotic Front government has performed extremely well in promoting good governance in the few years of being in office.

Speaking during the National Forum on Governance in Africa with a focus on Zambia in Lusaka today, Dr. Simbyakula says with the support of the people of Zambia and other stakeholders, the PF government will continue to improve on its governance record.

Dr. Simbyakula recalls that in 2011, Zambia was ranked16th on the Mo Ibrahim Index (MII) and 91st on the Corruption Perception Index (CPI), but that in 2014, Zambia was ranked 13th on the same MII and 85th on CPI which shows an improvement in promoting good governance.

Dr. Simbyakula states that Zambia has demonstrated significant maturity of democracy by holding peaceful elections, peaceful handover of power, protection of human rights, encouraging participation through decentralization and provision of social public services among others.

He says the stagnation of discourse on governance in Africa around corruption and elections is by far as a result of the absence of reporting mechanisms.

The Justice Minister has however, noted that the forum is expected to be mutually beneficial to the Zambian people, government officials, practitioners and academia on the other hand, and to the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.

Speaking at the same event, Mo Ibrahim Foundation Board Member Abdoulie Janneh says results of the 2014 Ibrahim Index of African Governance (IIAG) show that high ranking countries cannot assume that future achievement will necessarily follow previous accomplishments.

Mr. Janneh says the 2014 IIAG results have also revealed that the main drivers of the overall positive trend in African governance have changed.

Speaking earlier, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Representative to Zambia Janet Rogan encouraged government to embrace the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which she says are aimed at promoting freedom, equality, respect for nature, tolerance and solidarity among others.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation, which was established in 2006, helps to bring about meaningful changes in Africa by providing tools and advocating for progressive leadership and responsible management.