PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda has challenged people with information on alleged corrupt officials in his Government to report such acts to the investigative wings for action instead of making unsubstantiated statements.

Speaking to journalists in Lusaka shortly after his arrival from Livingstone yesterday, Mr Banda said people who had information on corrupt Government officials should take a bold step by reporting them to law enforcers.

"There are investigative wings that deal with issues of corruption and so if some people have information on who is corrupt, they should report them to the investigative wings for action," he said.

Mr Banda specifically defended the recent appointment of Mr Michael Mabenga as Lands deputy minister, saying his appointment was based on the fact that he was not a corrupt person.

He said Mr Mabenga had been in Parliament for many years and was known by leaders of various political parties who, if they felt was corrupt, could have reported him to relevant investigative wings.

Mr Banda said Parliament did not allow corruption and, therefore, wondered why leaders could start talking about Mr Mabenga after the appointment.

He appealed to people opposed to the appointment of Mr Mabenga to respect him and also accept his appointment because there was nothing peculiar about his appointment.

On the decision not to pay the striking health workers, Mr Banda said he made it clear and that the decision not to pay the workers was final.

Last week, President Banda pardoned the striking Health workers but said they would not be paid for the period that they stayed away from work.

Recently, Secretary to the Cabinet Joshua Kanganja directed permanent secretaries to ensure that public service employees who absconded from duty during the strike are not paid for the days they stayed away.

Chief Government spokesperson, Ronnie Shikapwasha challenged United Party for National Development leader, Hakainde Hichilema to seek legal redress if he was not happy with President Banda's appointment of Mr Mabenga.

In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said the Government found it absurd that the opposition leaders could accuse Mr Mabenga of being corrupt over an issue that he was cleared of by the courts.

Gen Shikapwasha, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services minister, said if Mr Mabenga was corrupt, he could not have been allowed to contest the Mulobezi seat in the previous elections.