To say what is obtaining in our country is nauseating is an understatement. The open corruption Zambia is now experiencing under the Patriotic Front is not only disgusting but it is becoming apparent this filthy stench will be very difficult to overcome for a long time to come.
There may never be a cure to clear the stench the PF will leave but perhaps this is a lesson to all Zambians that in future blinding voting damages the reputation of the country.
It should not be surprising if Zambia turns into an example of a West African state. It will be excruciatingly painful to hear cries about Zambia ranking with Nigeria, Ivory Coast, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon where corruption is concerned.
To be rated in the ranks of Nigeria is nothing good. Of course, not all Nigerian brothers and sisters are corrupt but that country is a disaster. Corruption is somewhat everywhere, it greets you upon arrival at any port of entry. Next door, the Democratic Republic of Congo is another disaster. Go to either Mokambo, Kipushi or Kasumbalesa border posts and set your foot on the other side. How about Kenya’s Nairobi? Another disaster.
And this is where President Michael Sata and his ordained chief apostle of corruption, Minister of Justice and PF General Secretary, Wynter Kabimba are taking us.
Wynter has already warned us. He brought with him thugs to the Anti Corruption Commission to show how powerful he is in Zambia.
In unprecedented style, he was elevated to act as Vice-President of the Republic when Guy Scott briefly left the country last week.
This was just a few days after President Sata openly told the Anti Corruption Commission that the could not institute investigations without telling him – the powerful king.
Such things are only heard of elsewhere, not in Zambia. But yes, it is happening in Zambia under President Sata. Clearly, there is no will to fight corruption in as much as the streets are flooded with vague pronouncements to counter the vice.
When a man serious to fight corruption like Levy Mwanawasa was on that mission, the ACC did not need permission from him to investigate someone.
When Rupiah Banda was fighting corruption, the ACC did not need permission to investigate any of his top officials.
Vernon Johnson Mwaanga was a top official in the Mwanawasa government but at the mention of some suspicions visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo where he made some remarks inconsistent with the government at the time, he was gone.
Gladys Nyirongo, a top minister in the Mwanawasa government, was gone for not being investigated but just being linked to some land scandal. She was later convicted for abuse her office.
Dora Siliya, as minister in Rupiah Banda’s administration, was forced to quit in the face of a tribunal that was investigating alleged corruption in some tender process. No cadre from her constituency traveled to the Supreme Court to intimidate the Judge Denis
Chirwa Tribunal. At least she had a constituency where she could draw legitimate cadres. Not when you are just a nominated MP like Kabimba whose passport to parliament is not the people’s mandate but how wash the boss’ shoes.
Dr Simon Miti, a permanent secretary in the Ministry of Health, was fired for the infamous Henry Kapoko donor funds scandal under the Rupiah Banda administration.
Today, President Sata and his minister of justice Wynter Kabimba in league with director of public prosecutions Mutembo Nchito can’t even talk of appealing Henry Kapoko’s suspicious acquital. Instead, they are happy to continue awarding a renowned money launderer like Rajan Mathani nolle prosequis as if they are gifts from Father Christmas.
Now the corruption fight has changed. Going with thugs, criminals drawn from the street and fed on tugiligili has become the source of praise.
Wynter took every opportunity to condemn Rupiah Banda’s administrations branding it the most corrupt claiming State House was a deals den. He called Rupiah and his administration all sorts of names.
More than one-year in office, Wynter, President Sata and the PF government are still trying to come up with corruption charges against Rupiah Banda or any of his sons.
The closest they have come to tell us about corruption in the previous regime is taking Gabriel Namulambe, Maxwell Mwale, Situmbeko Musokotwane and Dora Siliya for a few campaign bycicles they can even manage to purchase with their own income.
At the same time the PF is telling us about some flimsy corruption charges against Rupiah Banda’s former ministers, it is courting some of the same characters for position in government.
While courting them for positions, Wynter Kabimba is busy enriching himself with oil deals at State House. This is the same State House Wynter sung kalindula songs about it being turned into a deals den by Rupiah Banda and his sons.
In an interview with The Post on July 2011, Wynter said there were various reports including from international organizations, the same bodies he is now despising in parliament, that claimed Rupiah Banda’s administration was corrupt.
“What it means in effect is that the man is not serious with the fight against corruption. Mr Rupiah Banda served in late president Mwanawasa’s cabinet under a president who was very, very serious with the fight against corruption,” Kabimba said.
“For him to trivialise the levels of corruption in our country now that he has become President is not only an insult to the Zambian people.” Who is now insulting Zambians? This same Wynter Kabimba or Rupiah Banda?
If Rupiah Banda had honestly trivialized corruption, what then has Wynter and his boss Sata reduced this fight to? Their shameless mouthpiece, partaking in their corruption, can’t even report the thuggery that Wynter Kabimba took to the Anti Corruption Commission. Oh, may be they are doing a donchi kubeba (don’t tell the slogan) on their faithful readers.
Any genuine agent determined to fight corruption will find a prima facie case against Wynter. But not under this government. Between Wynter and his counterpart for defence Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba common commonly known as GBM, Wynter will be an easy target to identify as a corrupt element. Both are being investigated but going by what President Sata said, there is nothing to expect from ACC. The investigations are as good as over.
But between Wynter and GBM, it is not the first time the latter is doing business with the government although it may be worse now that he has a lot of influence. But look at Wynter, when did his useless law firm become advocates for a public institution like NAPSA? When did this former Town Clerk become an energy expert to run a consulting firm that would link Trafigura to the Zambian government? Is this not the same Wynter that was moving around with a begging bowl during campaigns when GBM was bailing out Sata?
What business did Wynter do apart from running a law firm on a shoe-string budget? Yet Wynter Kabimba is taking the centre stage of every deal relating to the government. He wants to be in the oil business, maize deals and legal representation deals. He basically has become the chief apostle of corruption in PF and where there is corruption and PF, its Wynter. How can Wynter convince Zambian and the international organizations he faithfully quoted when today almost everything producing the stench of corruption smells of him?
Believe that Zambia is genuinely fighting corruption under this PF government is as bad as believing another 90 days campaign promise by President Sata, Wynter Kabimba and their agents in any given election – present or future.