GONZALES SPOKE FOR GAGGED ZAMBIANS

GONZALES SPOKE FOR GAGGED ZAMBIANS

… Changala outgoing US envoy Gonzales exposed governance failures, corruption and shrinking freedoms under Hichilema

By Thandizo Banda 

OUTGOING United States (US) Ambassador to Zambia Michael Gonzales spoke for more than 20 million Zambians who living in fear under an authoritarian government, civil rights activist Brebner Changala has said.

Reacting to Gonzales’ hard-hitting farewell message, Changala said the departing envoy gave voice to ordinary citizens who had been silenced and were too afraid to speak out against President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration, which he described as brutal and intolerant.

He said President Hichilema’s regime had instilled fear and insecurity in the minds of the people.

“The outgoing US Ambassador to Zambia, Michael Gonzales, concluded his tour of duty by emphasising several keys, often critical, issues regarding governance, corruption, and the bilateral relationship between the two nations,” he said.

Changala said Gonzales addressed the concerns of everyday Zambians, including the systematic theft of donated life-saving medicines and the damaging impact of aid cuts on public health.

He accused the government of failing to stem rampant corruption in the mining sector, , which had resulted in the country losing more than US$500 million in tax revenue annually.

Changala expressed concern that these losses were crippling national development.

He also backed sentiments by Gonzales that what Zambia needed was not more monetary aid but leaders of integrity,  accusing successive governments of dependency and an abdication of responsibility.

He called on the government to heed Gonzales’ counsel by increasing transparency in licensing, strengthening accountability in governance institutions and safeguarding press freedom.

“So we urge Zambians to thank the outgoing US ambassador for speaking on their behalf. This is what it is and government should listen. All along, those people in government thought we hate them, but today Ambassador Gonzales has spoken. Sadly, all we see is insults from the UPND,” Changala said.

He said the August 13 general election was a critical window of opportunity for Zambians to change their leadership.

“What we are saying is that Zambians will have themselves to blame if they allow the UPND to sail through to the next term because they have experienced the worst form of suffering and intimidation from this regime,” he said.

Gonzales, who was sworn in as ambassador in August 2022, completed his tour of duty on April 30, 2026, as discussions over the future direction of the US-Zambia relations continue.

Meanwhile, Changala has pushed back at critics of the large field of opposition presidential candidates, arguing that the number reflected the rich pool of talent among Northerners and Easterners.

“Those criticising the large number of opposition presidential candidates are wrong; it shows the abundant talent among Northerners and Easterners and it will not in any way split votes,” he said.

Changala said the move had given the electorate a wide choice from which to choose as opposed to a region that only had a sole candidate in Hichilema.

“The strategy also confuses the opponent, who may be scheming to sideline potential threats ahead of the crucial August 13 general elections,” he said.