The Zambian government has ratified the African Union Convention on prevention and combating corruption and accession of the United Nations Convention against Corruption, chief government spokesman Vernon Mwaanga said Wednesday.

He said in a statement the approval was made during a Cabinet meeting held Tuesday.

Mwaanga said the move demonstrates the government commitment and political will it attaches to accountability and transparency in managing public resources.

The Information Minister said the ratification of the two protocols means that Zambia has now ratified all the conventions and protocols worked out at regional and international level in combating corruption.

He said that the ratification means that it will be easier to build partnerships between the government and stakeholders in the quest to strengthening the graft fight through harmonization of policies and legislations, prevent, detect and punish corruption perpetrators.

The African Union Convention on prevention and combating corruption was adopted by the AU assembly of heads of State in Maputo, Mozambique on 11 July, 2003 and it urges the member countries to fully cooperate and intensify efforts to achieve a better life for the African people.

The UN Convention against Corruption, which entered into force on December 14, 2005 aims to prevent, investigate and prosecute corruption as well as freezing, seizing and confiscating and returning of the proceeds of the offences established in accordance with the convention.

Source: Xinhua