Maravi

Mulyata and GBM's corrupt connivance

Mulyata and GBM's corrupt connivance
By Editor
Sunday July 15, 2007 [04:00]

It is said that one does not achieve greatness by claiming it. And a man is judged by his actions, not his boasting. President Levy Mwanawasa usually boasts of running a government of laws and not that of men. This Levy’s statement or claim has often been challenged by many people, including ourselves who from time to time have criticised him for being selective in his anti-corruption fight.

With events such as the one in Livingstone last week where Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata had to forcibly release a bus impounded for a traffic offence simply because the bus belongs to a cadre from the ruling party, it will be an uphill battle for Levy to convince anyone that his administration is serious about promoting the rule of law.

In simple terms, governance by the rule of law means that there is no one above the law of the land, not even the President and his ministers. This is the principle that Levy usually propounds. He says there will be no sacred cows in the fight against corruption and that on his part, he will not shield any wrongdoer from prosecution. However, this statement is more said than turned into action.

Levy has appointed ministers and other government officials as his representatives or agents. Therefore, whatever a minister does is by implication the President’s action or decision because the President’s agents have both express and implied authority to perform duties in his name.

Indeed, it is funny that a minister who is supposed to be the custodian of the law is the one breaking it.

The Road Development Agency officers in Livingstone tried to implement the rule of law by impounding an overloaded bus and slapping the appropriate charges as provided for by the law. But minister Mulyata thinks these officers are being uncompromising. How can a minister who swore to defend the Constitution suggest that the provisions of the law should be compromised by enforcement officers?

Mulyata’s justification of his corrupt activity in Livingstone cannot hold water. He claims that the “chaps”, as he referred to the enforcement officers, slapped over K7 million as a penalty fee against MMD cadre Geoffrey Mwamba’s (GBM) driver and expected the driver to pay the same day. This is cheap justification. That is why it is said that a bribe blinds the eye of the wise one.

If K7 million is the prescribed fee, what does Mulyata expect the officers to charge? Does he expect them to charge K1 million where the law says they should charge K7 million? And it cannot be said that the officers insisted that the money be paid there and then because the bus was impounded for some days before Mulyata decided to interfere with the administration of the rule of law. In fact, the officers impounded the bus and then asked the driver to find an alternative bus for the passengers.

And if this is a straightforward transaction, why should GBM say that he is not aware of the incident when Mulyata says it is actually GBM who pleaded with him to help in releasing the impounded bus. This smells of corruption. Sadly, the people involved will get away with it because Levy is running an ‘animal farm’ administration where some animals are more corrupt than others.

But corruption is corruption. There is nothing like small or big corruption. And Levy always emphasises on being provided with evidence of corruption before he could take appropriate action. We wonder what he will say or do about Mulyata and GBM’s questionable activities.

If improperly handled, these are the things that hinder or inhibit the fight against corruption. Tomorrow, these hard working officers will have no reason to enforce the law because they would not want to be insulted for doing the right things. Instead of commending the officers for a job-well done, Mulyata decided to insult them and joined hands with his fellow party cadre in mutilating the law.

This is unacceptable. Clearly, Mulyata is not fit to hold public office because he is making decisions using his heart instead of using his brains. And how many such things has Mulyata done in the privacy of his office if he cannot have the shame to publicly accost honest-hearted and hardworking civil servants?

We are tired of rhetoric from the new deal government. We need action and not just words if people are to have confidence in the pronouncements about the zero tolerance on corruption.

Labels: EDITORIAL, JOSEPH MULYATA, SOUTHERN PROVINCE

posted by MrK @ 5:07 PM