Drifting Toward Uprightness in Zambian Politics?

Zambians have seen time and again corrupt leadership come and go. It 's a rare occurrence that a politician found wanting, while in office, on account of engaging in activities bordering on corruption resigns. In the recent past there has been many who held high offices in the land and were involved in corruption but still refused to resign until the powers that be forcibly relieved them of their positions. For instance, some of them are known to have stolen public funds while serving in the Ministry of Finance. One of such corrupt individuals went to a rare extent of going into hiding and purportedly used wizardry to hide from the law. However, taking advantage of the fact that Zambians are so forgiving of thieves, the man returned to active party politics as soon as  the dust began to settle.

Many of our readership are aware of the case involving Dora Siliya in which she is alleged to have contravened tender procedures to award a contract to RP of the Cayman Islands to value Zamtel as a prelude to it's eventual sale or privatization. Just as everybody was beginning to entertain the idea that Dora Siliya was going nowhere, she came out of the woodwork to announce her resignation. Rather surprisingly, the President swiftly accepted her resignation and much to the relief of many Zambians who felt that the President was shielding her and dragging his feet on her case and RP. The President's swift acceptance of her resignation raises questions impropriety in the way the case has been handled. But, come to think of it, the President had no any other option to deal with her request to resign lest he be construed as having blessed her decision to grant RP the contract to value Zamtel.

Let this be a lesson to all the politicians and all the Zambians that are involved in various business engagements with and on behalf of the Zambian Government that the culture of corruption leads the country nowhere and those involved eventually end up discredited. While the benefits of corruption and impropriety trickle into individuals pockets, it is the ordinary Zambians who feel the pain. These corrupt leaders and many other people that connive with the politicians to swindle the treasury of public funds, must appreciate that it is evil to engage in unscrupulous activities at the expense of the masses. Therefore, as a people and country, we need to seriously rethink and embark on a programme to rid the country of this corrupt culture.

In order to wage a credible and effective war against corruption and its offshoots, there is need for much more stringent and impartial laws to be promulgated in the country. Such new laws would have to be equally applicable to both those who have and the have-not without favouring those who have the undue financial capacity to throw money inappropriately.  I believe there is need to clean the judiciary by re-organization and ridding the system of those in the Justice system that have questionable integrity. This necessary change would transcend all areas of human existence and endeavour. I know corruption is now deeply institutionalized and so entrenched that any measures to fight it would face a long prolonged and tortuous battle. The fight to make Zambia upright again will be hard, but given the zeal and will to do it, the goal of a corruption-free society is possible although perfection is usually unattainable. 

With the resignation of Dora Siliya from her Ministerial position, the question that comes to mind is whether her resignation, in any way, signals cultural shift or simply a change in morals. If her example is anything to go by, the future may hold a little promise for morality and uprightness in the way politics and business is conducted in Zambia. Keep fingers crossed on this one!