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The Post Says ” Zambia Has Too MANY CROOKS”
APAKOMAILA nondo pali ubulema. So goes a Bemba adage, meaning where there is a weakness, one does not stop attempting to correct the weakness. Taken literally, we should never tire talking about problems and challenges besetting our nation, the serious problems that have plagued Zambia.
There are serious problems in this country that need to be resolved in order to make Zambia a more fair, a more humane society for all of us, our children and our children’s children.
Corruption is among those debilitating problems that require to be fought with all our strength. The face of corruption in Zambia is ugly. It has killed, it has trampled down on many weak souls.
We, as a country, have painfully lived with this scourge for a long time with little success in fighting it. It cannot be argued otherwise that corruption has affected the development process of this country, it has made the poor poorer, raised the cost of doing business, and made access to public services difficult, if not impossible, for the majority poor of our citizens.
And this is a subject we are willing to be boring about if in the end it takes us to a more acceptable condition, if it takes to the formulation of more effective anti-graft measures, if it leads us to uplift the downtrodden. We have stated before that corruption raises the cost of everything including governing the country.
If corruption is passionately fought, our people’s lives would be improved in so many ways – materially, socially, politically, spiritually and so on and so forth. We agree with Emmanuel Hachipuka when he says, “We need to cleanse this country and unless we can do that, we will never get back into serious development. Abuse of resources is a very serious crime and I feel we should deal with it now.”
And Hachipuka adds that, “Yes, people must be prosecuted and acquitted if found innocent but at the same time we must realise that this country has got too many crooks.”
Yes, we need to be resolved to fight graft, we must take action against corruption because it is an evil. The Bible tells that evil must be punished. Corruption as an evil, a cancer must be purged from among us because it kills if left uncorrected. The vile, the crooks of yesterday, and they are many, and of different shades and stripes, must be pursued and brought to justice.
We cannot think of a more contemptible citizen – our power of imagination fails us to bring into our minds’ eyes a more despicable citizen – than the one that steals or abuses his or her poor country’s very limited resources and by so doing destroys the hopes and lives of the poor.
Yes, we have seen how this country’s finances have been abused by corrupt elements. We have seen how, because of corruption, justice has been abrogated, thrown to the winds; we have seen how construction projects have stalled because funds have been abused, how the sick cannot get proper healthcare because resources have been abused!
And we should not cheat ourselves, corrupt elements are still living with us. We need a total cleansing and we have to do that today, not tomorrow, for tomorrow will be too late. We urge all our people to turn their backs on corruption. We have to struggle to free Zambia of graft.
And we are seeing signs of this fight being exhibited by Michael Sata and his government. Their commitment to zero tolerance to corruption has been made clear and we have witnessed some moves in bringing to account past leaders suspected of having ill-gotten wealth.
And as we have stated before, this should not be treated as witch-hunting. We want to know, Zambians want to know how the wealth was gotten, they want to satisfy themselves that it is not their money that was used to acquire that wealth. Zambians want to satisfy themselves that their money will remain safe and only used for those things beneficial to them, those things that improve their lot.
Anyone being pursued for suspected corruption has a duty to explain. Any honest human being would not take offence at being asked where they have gotten their wealth. If any of us, including our very selves, is suspected of having wealth of any sort that seems to be beyond their earned income, they must be pursued and made to account for that unearned wealth.
And this fight against corruption that Michael has resuscitated, from where Levy Mwanawasa left it, should not be seen to be targeted at the former government leaders only but all citizens regardless of political, social affiliation.
That is why we urge vigilance in this fight that we cannot afford to lose. Wherever and whenever corruption, in all its forms, raises its ugly head, we must strike it. We should not turn a blind eye just because one involved is close to me, is my relative, or did something for me. Let’s fight corruption like we fight any cancer.
We should not wait until it has grown to unmanageable levels for it will quickly and surely constrict the country to death. And this should be done at all levels, starting with the most basic unit, the family. Don’t allow your children to bring home things that are beyond their earnings or what you cannot afford to buy them.
When they do, tell them to return those things to their owners. This is how our previously honest societies were constructed. There was accountability at every level or stage. We are saying all these things mindful that the best government in the world, the best parliament and the best president, cannot achieve much on their own.
And it would also be wrong to expect the eradication of corruption from Michael and his government only. The fight against corruption calls for the participation of all of us.
Corruption will not disappear by itself – it has to be fought and defeated. Let us strive to plant honesty in all our dealings, let’s nurture honesty because it is beneficial to the individual and the collective.
It must start from the home, from the family and be taught to our children at school, college or university. Honesty is something that we should inculcate wherever we are, nurture it and, like all virtues, it must be nourished. We are not doing much as a nation to encourage or inculcate the spirit of honesty and accountability among our people, especially the young ones.
That is why we are having defensive reactions like retribution and witch-hunting whenever one is asked to account. But we are forgetting that accountability had been the bedrock of the development of our traditional society.
We need to embrace the culture of responsibility and accountability and to commit ourselves with dedication and sacrifice in creating an honest, just, fair and human nation.
We must utilise all arsenals at our disposal to assail corruption. All legal means should be employed.
Even the abuse of authority offence that was removed from the Anti Corruption Commission Act on the backdrop of corrupt minds should be reinstated as a matter of urgency.
It is clear that no genuine reasons or intentions were advanced in removing that progressive legislation. It was removed simply to shield crooks from being pursued.
The Post
Posted by
Objectiveless Post
January 3, 2012 at 1:49 pm
The post is no longer making sense, they have allowed all their journalist to be rewarded as if they were not doing their job on principle- shame.The post’s articles now seem to long and void.
Osmuka
January 3, 2012 at 1:55 pm
I share the cry the of the post. ZAMBIA STINKS OF CROOKS INCLUDING PASTORS . What a country of crooks ! No wonder fools like George kunda are crying like babies. May every responsible citizen rise up against corrupt people. Let every corrupt person perish. May the government step up the fight please.
oNe.
January 3, 2012 at 2:11 pm
Elo mwaishiba bane? Look at the shame our RB is subjected to with his bunch of thugs,he wil soon develop a medical problem then become pastor.
Jomie
January 3, 2012 at 2:46 pm
Milupi wants RB’s immunity lifted
What is Sata waiting for? Christmas is over. Is he really serious with the so called fight against corruption? Mwanawasa who was serious with the corruption fight was quick to remove Chiluba’s immunity and started mobilising the cases and legal proceedings immediately. RB himself, most of his sons and his wife have already been implicated in corrupt deals involving billions of kwacha and therefore what is there to pull one’s feet for? I doubt whether Sata has what it takes to remove RB’s immunity because of the corrupt party cadres who have been appointed to senior positions to enrich themselves using the Rupiah Banda formula of stealing in broad day light (The Boma-ni-Boma formula or its modification- nabula fye formula). Could he be thinking and worried about consolidating the precedent that Mwanawasa started and how it affects his future after state house? We are watching empty rhetoric on corruption without action. The killer/ deadly combination of the Nchitos should show us at least even its teeth only. We haven’t seen anything at all. Zambians are now too clever to be fooled by a government- ask RB. Should Sata allow his government to be corrupt, he will pay dearly. Muchinga province will be turned into a prison for plunderers.
Chosen one
January 3, 2012 at 2:57 pm
Disgusting just what the country has taken to. I can only feel for the poor for they are the victims of all this. God, have mercy on mother Zambia!
William
January 3, 2012 at 3:06 pm
Great stuff…
wanzelu
January 3, 2012 at 3:47 pm
I think the Headline should be “THE POST HAS SO MANY CROOKS” than generalising everything.
Helper
January 3, 2012 at 4:28 pm
amend the laws to hang the corrupt. We are too soft with these criminals. what society is this where you have to give something to the police even for a simple police report? the corrupt should be in the same class as robberers, rapists, muderers and even adulteres… it seeems the ten commandments should be invoked!!
Mafaa, Mafaa
January 3, 2012 at 4:32 pm
yes its true, too many crooks in Zambia including the post itself
Sam Cook
January 3, 2012 at 4:38 pm
What about Levy & Maureens and Matanhis crimes. Let’s not beat around the bush, Levy was a crook!
Babygal
January 3, 2012 at 5:24 pm
Where do da register for one to be part of da crook team, you pipo who are pretendn to right, you dnt know what you are talkn about coz i promis u dis investigatnz will die a natural death, da wont prosecute them coz da r connectd in one one or another. The best thing one can do iz give me the address were crooks link up i wnt to be part of them rather than talkn tryn to right with poverty in my mouth.
Woviziba
January 3, 2012 at 6:19 pm
The Post doesn’t practice journalism but Politics. The owner uses it for his own political motives. It is a political propaganda machine dressed in Journalism. Anyone can masquerade as a journalist. We have seen shu shu shus acting as journalists, politicians, thieves etc. Its a wretched profession that anyone can join whenever they feell like hiding behind something
oNe.
January 3, 2012 at 7:14 pm
Babygal how rich are you for you to say critics of crooks are poor? Dont provok insults to your name, have manners.
magroova
January 3, 2012 at 8:34 pm
Well staed article .citizens of Zed don’t pretend that all is well a lot of things need to be ‘cleaned’ and this starts with corruption surely even drugs for the sick ma deal? PakA nichekeleko? Damn this rot must come to an end ,invistigate the buStards !!
poverty
January 3, 2012 at 10:02 pm
i agree. Zambians are crooks! Including the president! How and how does GBm’s daughter become 1st secritary to namibia? Are u tellin me we dont have people who deserve the job? This country went to the dogs when unip lost.
Wanu Ngwee
January 3, 2012 at 10:35 pm
One American motivational speaker, Les Brown says; “there’s a type of people who complain, mourn and groan all the time and never do anything to change their situation – they say am sick and tired of this, am sick and tired of that. But they never get to a stage where they are sick and tired of being sick and tired. In fact, they even believe that complaining about something is equivalent to doing something about it..” This is exactly what I think we Zambians are. We’ll keep filling up pages everyday like the Post are doing now while corruption also grows everyday UNLESS POEPL START SEEING CULPRITS BOOKED INTO PRISON, TWANAKA, WE JUST WANT RESULTS NOW!!
dennis sumili k.
January 3, 2012 at 10:46 pm
‘zambia has so many crooks!’ a very clear and obvious statement this is, at first it looked simple, however many crooks have come out unknowingly through careless comments.
THE OBSERVER
January 3, 2012 at 10:53 pm
#Dennis Sumili k. you mean careless comments like yours?
D.S.CHIBS
January 4, 2012 at 11:02 am
Many Zambians are corrupt that’s why only corrupt leaders can win elections in Zambia. Corrupt people always vote for corrupt leaders so that they can corrupt him .Those leaders who are incorruptable find it very difficult to find support from corrupt people. Corruption is sin so wherever there is sin there is corruption. As long as there is sin there will be corruption. Those who fight corruption without Christ are just planting it again.
If you are fighting corruption for good wages Satan will give you better wages for being corrupt.In the name of fighting corruption politicians are involved in corruption themselves.
Paul Chirwa
January 4, 2012 at 1:55 pm
The Post is right. there are many crooks. I want to comments on the failure by the PF to walk their talk in regard to the corruption which has been confirmed by the GRZ MOE Probe team at the Examinations Council of Zambia.
The probe team unearthed a lot of improprieties but the Minister of Education and the PF are singing about dealing with corruption yet the Director at the centre of all corrupt activities has been untouched and he seems to be supported.
I don’t know if it is enough to just sing about dealing with corruption and yet do nothing about the officials who are found wanting.
Please let us not just deal political corruption. The main corruption is with the officials in the government bodies where no accountability and transparency has been demanded.
What was the use of instituting a five man investigation team and yet do nothing about its clearly written findings. This is not the way we expect the PF to fight corruption.
We are watching what is being said and what is being done and we are trying to see the match between the two. I am sure the Minister of Education remembers when he promised the public that after the probe, it would be made public later.
What is just the problem?
Analyst
January 4, 2012 at 3:14 pm
idioto…spanish
Golden
January 4, 2012 at 4:30 pm
The post is right, CROOKS are too many in this country. This is the main reason why many people are suffering in this country. Crooks please stop stealing for the poor people in this country.
THE_Zambiano_2012
January 4, 2012 at 7:16 pm
corruption in this country started in 1964 and its has been with us ever since..
Hachipuka is not the right person to talk about corruption. He was MD Zambia Railways in KK days and i wont say much about his conduct while at ZR.
What we need is to strengthen systems to fight the problem NOT THE TALK TALK that we are witnessing now..