HH should walk the talk on graft fight
A CORRUPTION-FREE Zambia will continue to be elusive because successive governments continue to shield those in positions of authority from prosecution. President Hakainde Hichilema is seemingly following in the footsteps of his predecessors by protecting corrupt officials as long as they are in good standing with his administration. This is contrary to our expectations that he would learn from such mistakes and fight corruption head-on.
Since assuming office in August 2021, Hichilema has made good use of his now-famous phrase “you are on your own” to demonstrate his commitment to ridding the country of corruption. However, there is a stark contrast between his rhetoric and the political will to combat corruption in a transparent and tangible manner.
The New Dawn administration lacks the political will and commitment to fight corruption at the highest level within its ranks. This administration, through Law Enforcement Agencies (LEAs) like the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and the Zambia Police Service, among others, has been quick to name and shame opposition figures who are being investigated, but they have been reluctant to name the corrupt ministers and senior officials under probe.
In February this year, Hichilema directed the (LEAs) to work quietly because publicising cases damages investor confidence. These are the same LEAs that have been quick to organise press briefings to inform the nation about investigation and arrest of opposition leaders while they remain silent on those that are serving in under the New Dawn administration. This amounts to hypocrisy. What is good for the goose is surely good for the gander.
At a press briefing in April 2022, Hichilema told the nation that he did not find then minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Stanely Kakubo guilty of corruption after ‘hearing from him’ through a phone call over allegations that he was involved in bribery at Chinese-owned Sinoma Cement Plant in Lusaka.
Kakubo was later forced to resign after a video of him surfaced in the act of receiving huge sums of money.
In August last year, Vice President Mutale Nalumango told Parliament that it would be unfair to name ministers and senior government officials under investigation for corruption because they could easily take legal action against the State.
“Keep cool. If you believe we are corrupt, the law shall catch up with us . I can sue you if you make allegations. ACC will name us at the right time and we shall be prosecuted,” Nalumango said.
It is worrisome that the two highest offices of the land, who are supposed to encourage accountability and transparency by LEAs, are making such claims in a bid to conceal wrongdoing. We believe that accountability and transparency are essential components of both good governance and a society free from corruption.
We agree with international financial expert and analyst Bob Sichinga that Hichilema should desist from shielding corrupt ministers but instead take decisive action in order to save the country’s economy.
Sichinga said Hichilema has a tendency of shielding corrupt ministers and other senior government officials which he said is a danger to the economic growth of the country.
“The President must come out and take a bold step across all government ministries and seriously deal with all corrupt elements if the country’s economy is to be saved,” Sichinga said.
It is crucial to rid the New Dawn government of corrupt elements because that is the only way to win back investors and donors’ confidence. It is critical that this government combats current corruption with the same vigor as it does with officials from the previous administration. LEAs should not be selective in naming and shaming individuals under investigations for various offence because they are established to serve the people regardless of their political affiliation. Shielding corrupt individuals in government amounts to abetting corruption, which defeats the very crusade against the vice that the New Dawn government claims to pursue.
