CHIEF Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa observed yesterday that former President Edgar Lungu is not the right person to talk about the fight against corruption because of his tainted record.
He is right.
We expect our leaders, past or present, to conduct themselves with sufficient honour and integrity. But the conduct of former President Lungu leaves much to be desired.
For any leader worth their salt, hypocrisy should be an abhorrable attribute which they should shy away from.
In calling out what he thinks are tendencies of corruption in the current Government, Mr Lungu is exhibiting high levels of hypocrisy.
We call Mr Lungu’s behaviour hypocritical because he is projecting himself as a champion in the fight against corruption, yet he demonstrated otherwise when he had the opportunity to serve this country as president.
As Mr Mweetwa notes, Mr Lungu shielded those facing corruption allegations. He refused to fire ministers allegedly involved in corruption during his reign.
Under him, ministers suspected of corruption would turn up for questioning at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) while enjoying privileges of a Cabinet minister rendering, the investigations against them mere academic exercises.
Throughout Mr Lungu’s presidency, ACC repeatedly came under scrutiny for its lack of independence and efficacy in combating corruption.
Under his leadership, the country saw numerous allegations of embezzlement, misuse of public funds, and corrupt practices within governmental institutions. The failure to effectively tackle widespread corruption during his tenure has left a stain on his legacy, undermining his legitimacy in addressing issues of corruption within the country.
Mr Lungu’s own administration was marred by numerous instances of alleged corruption, including questionable procurement deals, contract irregularities, and the misuse of public resources for personal gain.
Zambians have not forgotten the procurement of second-hand fire tenders at an inflated price of US$1 million each. They have not forgotten the procurement of ambulances at a cost of US$280,000 each, which was about four times the standard price for such vehicles. The list of alleged corrupt activities under Mr Lungu is indeed long.
Such allegations tarnished the reputation of his government and also eroded public trust in his leadership. With such a tarnished, tainted record, Mr Lungu’s criticisms of the Hichilema administration’s commitment to fighting corruption are hypocritical and lack credibility, to say the least.
As Mr Mweetwa said, “he is not the right person to talk about corruption.
Right now, his own wife is appearing before the court of law… This was a bad administration. That’s why the people of Zambia voted them out.”
Under the New Dawn administration of President Hakainde Hichilema, there is a renewed emphasis on transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, which signals a clear departure from the previous governments’ approach to governance. President Hichilema has expressed a firm commitment to rooting out corruption and implementing comprehensive reforms to strengthen institutions and oversight mechanisms.
The enactment of the Access to Information law is just one demonstration of the New Dawn government’s commitment to transparency and the fight against corruption.
The dismissal last year of a police commissioner, district commissioner and a provincial minister for their involvement in the sugilite scandal is yet another example of this Government’s commitment to the fight against corruption.
In light of these efforts, Mr Lungu’s attempts to cast doubt on the current Government’s commitment to fighting corruption are not only unwarranted but also lack any moral standing. It is incumbent upon all political leaders to engage in constructive and fact-based dialogue, rather than resorting to unsubstantiated attacks that do little to advance the nation’s interests.
As Zambia seeks to turn a new chapter in its governance and development trajectory, it is crucial for all political stakeholders to prioritise the nation’s interests above personal or partisan agendas. This calls for constructive engagement and a departure from cheap politicking.
Lungu has no moral right to talk about corruption
CHIEF Government Spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa observed yesterday that former President Edgar Lungu is not the right person to talk about the fight against corruption because of his tainted record.
He is right.
We expect our leaders, past or present, to conduct themselves with sufficient honour and integrity. But the conduct of former President Lungu leaves much to be desired.
For any leader worth their salt, hypocrisy should be an abhorrable attribute which they should shy away from.
In calling out what he thinks are tendencies of corruption in the current Government, Mr Lungu is exhibiting high levels of hypocrisy.
We call Mr Lungu’s behaviour hypocritical because he is projecting himself as a champion in the fight against corruption, yet he demonstrated otherwise when he had the opportunity to serve this country as president.
As Mr Mweetwa notes, Mr Lungu shielded those facing corruption allegations. He refused to fire ministers allegedly involved in corruption during his reign.
Under him, ministers suspected of corruption would turn up for questioning at the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) while enjoying privileges of a Cabinet minister rendering, the investigations against them mere academic exercises.
Throughout Mr Lungu’s presidency, ACC repeatedly came under scrutiny for its lack of independence and efficacy in combating corruption.
Under his leadership, the country saw numerous allegations of embezzlement, misuse of public funds, and corrupt practices within governmental institutions. The failure to effectively tackle widespread corruption during his tenure has left a stain on his legacy, undermining his legitimacy in addressing issues of corruption within the country.
Mr Lungu’s own administration was marred by numerous instances of alleged corruption, including questionable procurement deals, contract irregularities, and the misuse of public resources for personal gain.
Zambians have not forgotten the procurement of second-hand fire tenders at an inflated price of US$1 million each. They have not forgotten the procurement of ambulances at a cost of US$280,000 each, which was about four times the standard price for such vehicles. The list of alleged corrupt activities under Mr Lungu is indeed long.
Such allegations tarnished the reputation of his government and also eroded public trust in his leadership. With such a tarnished, tainted record, Mr Lungu’s criticisms of the Hichilema administration’s commitment to fighting corruption are hypocritical and lack credibility, to say the least.
As Mr Mweetwa said, “he is not the right person to talk about corruption.
Right now, his own wife is appearing before the court of law… This was a bad administration. That’s why the people of Zambia voted them out.”
Under the New Dawn administration of President Hakainde Hichilema, there is a renewed emphasis on transparency, accountability, and the rule of law, which signals a clear departure from the previous governments’ approach to governance. President Hichilema has expressed a firm commitment to rooting out corruption and implementing comprehensive reforms to strengthen institutions and oversight mechanisms.
The enactment of the Access to Information law is just one demonstration of the New Dawn government’s commitment to transparency and the fight against corruption.
The dismissal last year of a police commissioner, district commissioner and a provincial minister for their involvement in the sugilite scandal is yet another example of this Government’s commitment to the fight against corruption.
In light of these efforts, Mr Lungu’s attempts to cast doubt on the current Government’s commitment to fighting corruption are not only unwarranted but also lack any moral standing. It is incumbent upon all political leaders to engage in constructive and fact-based dialogue, rather than resorting to unsubstantiated attacks that do little to advance the nation’s interests.
As Zambia seeks to turn a new chapter in its governance and development trajectory, it is crucial for all political stakeholders to prioritise the nation’s interests above personal or partisan agendas. This calls for constructive engagement and a departure from cheap politicking.