ZAMBIANS LOSING CONFIDENCE IN CORRUPTION FIGHT
ZAMBIANS are not only losing confidence in the fight against corruption, but are also losing confidence in the UPND government and the law enforcement agencies who have clearly taken a selective approach in the fight against the vice by intimidating and frustrating whistle blowers, the Patriotic Front (PF) has said.
Munalula Moola, the PF information and publicity chairperson says Zambians were losing confidence in the fight against corruption because the crusade against the vice was selective and being used as a tool for political persecution.
He said it was surprising that those who were raising alarm about the corruption in the new dawn administration were being harassed and intimidated through arrests.
Mr Moola was reacting to the arrest of Munir Zulu for allegedly failing to comply with several requests to present himself to authorities after he accused Finance and National Planning Minister Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane and his Infrastructure counterpart Charles Milupi of having received US$250,000 as bribes in relation to the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway project.
In an interview, Mr Moola said the arresting of the whistle blower Mr Zulu whom is Lumezi Member of Parliament was not only an act of intimidation, but also an act of dictatorial tendencies aimed at silencing whistle blowers.
He said it was ridiculous and shameful that a government which boasted of democratic values, rule of law and justice could be exhibiting dictatorial and corrupt tendencies by arresting a whistle blower.
Mr Moola said the conduct of the new dawn administration and some government wings after the allegations were made were clear that they were shaken about the revelations hence the decision to intimidate the whistle blower.
“On the same day, the allegations were made, the Chief Justice, the Finance Minister and State House issued separate statements in defence of the two ministers. To wrap it all, the republican President Hakainde Hichilema jumped to the defence of his two ministers ordered them to sue the whistle blower, accusing him of being mischievous. Now, one would ask, why the panic? Is it because the guilty are always afraid?”
“After the panic, then the whistle blower in Munir Zulu is arrested. And he is arrested at the time when the country was set to host the Summit for Democracy. Is this democracy which the UPND and its leadership has been bragging about. This UPND is exhibiting dictatorial tendencies and is not so clean to fight corruption,’’ Mr Moola said.
Mr Moola said it was impossible for the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and other law enforcement agencies to carry out their duties professionally when President Hichilema had already cleared them.
Mr Moola said it was sad that instead of laying a firm foundation for poverty alleviation and food security, the new dawn administration was busy dividing the country on political and tribal lines using law enforcement agencies.
“Let us look at the mining of Sugilite and the Mkushi Sacko mine. In the Mansa matter, a number of people have been arrested starting with the Deputy Permanent Secretary (DPS), some District Commissioner (DC), now recently a Chairperson and more.
“Yet in the Mkushi issue where the UPND National Youth Chairman Gilbert Liswaniso also known as General Mosquito and Obvious Mwaliteta who was given shares on the street by some Chinese and his counterpart a Provincial chairman are still free and untouched.