By Venus N Msyani
Every time he holds a press conference, President Hakainde Hichilema has been announcing a new approach rather plan in the fight against corruption. So far, no plan has worked for him.
Last Friday, December 22, Hichilema held end of year 2023 press conference in the capital Lusaka that lasted for almost four hours. Breaking a record in Zambia history.
The struggling Southern Africa nation leader revealed a new plan in the fight against corruption: “Corruption fight continue. I know some thought it is losing theme; we are working, we are working.” President Hichilema said after a long pause from several minutes of talking.
“Minister of justice is there; we have just passed two pieces of legislation.” Hichilema added and asked Justice Minister Mulambo Haimbe to remind him what they are.
After a brief interaction with the minister, the president resumed addressing the people on the subject in a tone that the author is finding hard to punctuate.
“Three laws I signed yesterday, just yesterday these three laws, thank you, thank you minister. And these three laws now allow us to do things we were not able to do in the last two years and four months.
You will see speed now in the fight against corruption. You will see amendments; procedures being amended. Because the law has been amended, now procedures such as if you are engaged in corruption going forward.
Before it took twenty years. There is a case which was only concluded, which started under the late Mwanawasa. It was only concluded this year. You can count years.
With those three pieces of legislation which were standing in the way and the accompanying procedures now that will be done operating procedures guidance note. If you engage yourself in corruption or you did, you will now be tried within five months.” In his own words optimistic appearing Hichilema narrated.
If he is paying attention, by now Hichilema would know that it is not speed that is making people lose confidence in the fight against corruption. It is a generated debate behind it.
The question is being asked. President Hichilema preaches transparency and accountability in the fight against corruption, why is he is refusing to publicly declare assets and liabilities? Lack of a convincing answer to the question is no doubt what is hindering the progress in the fight against corruption.
Many believe the fight is a scam; meant to silence the main opposition Patriotic Front (PF) party officials. Most of who are alleged to own properties believed to be proceeds of corruption.
If is true the idea is to silence the opposition, the three passed laws are self-sabotage. Current government officials’ corruption scandals have started overshadowing previous government scandals. It will be very challenging for the new dawn administration to apply these laws in a nonselective way.
To make the matter worse, the president himself is being perceived a suspect because he is refusing to publicly declare assets and liabilities. Applying these laws selectively will definitely recharge demand for him to disclose his assets.
The point is, the fight against corruption starts with transparency and accountability. Hichilema must publicly declare assets and liabilities to start with. Otherwise, all plans will continue to fail.
Is there no single woman in Zambia who can take Kakubo’s job?
HH did you ask the wise Ba Chishala Kateka if she can help bring dignity to UPND Government?
WHY SAY, ”A STRUGGLING SOUTHERN PROVINCE NATIONAL LEADERS ?” ARE YOU ,,,,,,? IS SOUTHERN PROVINCE A NATION ? ARE YOU A REGIONALISM OR TRIBALIST WRITER?
WHY SAY, ”A STRUGGLING SOUTHERN PROVINCE NATIONAL LEADER?” ARE YOU ,,,,,,? IS SOUTHERN PROVINCE A NATION ? ARE YOU A REGIONALIST OR TRIBALIST WRITER?
……….
10 years of PF celebrated corruption can not be fixed in 3 years, unless…….
The death penalty for corruption is the price……
It will take time, more likely 8 years to fix……
You right it will take a long long time
It should start with the police service
If they can get away with corruption then we all can
It’s piffle really. Their political hero Edgar Lungu changed the law to make presidential candidates’ assets and liabilities declarations and annual declarations by the Republican President an Electoral Commission of Zambia responsibility. If Venus Musyani is a journalist or political commentator who means well, he’s free to ask the ECZ to allow him access to all the presidential candidates assets and liabilities declarations. To be fair to Musyani, he has not written about ” the struggling Southern Province national leader but ” the struggling Southern Africa nation leader (sic)”and it’s a fair observation. It’s surely not hype to describe Zambia as a struggling nation.
What Kainde doesn’t realize is that he’s setting up very dangerous precedents that will grossly affect soon. When we elect another lunatic, he’ll just seize all his properties without even a court order and claim that he’s investigating, sit back and begin to scratch his balls. Kainde will languish as even Community House will be seized. That’ll mark the beginning of a very painful and humiliating exit from his current tour of duty. He’ll regret the day he decided to join politics. I feel sorry for him
You can only fight corruption if you have hands which are completely clean, a mind that is rightly decided and eyes that don’t see individuals.
HH is the most corrupt person.He thinks by appointing puppets like Gilbert phiri he can fool everyone.These guys will scatter in 2026
Transparency and accountability always work with a free media. Nothing will be transparent with a state broadcaster like DeadNBC. In short owning media by the government, greatly interferes with transparency. Let the media freely investigate the Kakubos, let media find out why Syakalima thinks Luapulans are daft. UPND like you promised us stop controlling media. Privatise it and make DeadNBC a Public Broadcaster. Act like the champion of democracy Zambia is in Africa. The only country that regularly changes government peacefully