ACC and Mulyata's case

ACC and Mulyata's case
By Editor
Thursday October 18, 2007 [04:00]

Justice can sometimes be a very difficult thing to administer. That’s why from time to time we hear and see inconsistencies from those who have declared to bring about justice by fighting corruption, injustice and other evils in society.

We have said before that those who declare to be for justice should emulate one of the most feared and yet admired wild animal - the leopard. Just as a leopard licks all its spots, justice should be administered fairly to all by those in authority. Indeed, the leopard licks both its white and black spots.

We cannot say that those in authority today are licking both their white and black spots when it comes to issues of corruption and good governance. In a number of cases and for reasons best known to themselves, inertia has been seen in those who are supposed to investigate or prosecute certain culprits.

But what they forget is that skinning a large beast is much more visible than skinning a mouse. A mouse can be skinned without anyone noticing. Usually, this saying refers to actions done in secrecy and still remain unnoticed.

That’s why those who really want to sit on cases like the one involving Southern Province minister Joseph Mulyata are facing a mountain to climb. They are attempting to skin an ox, which is a very visible activity, and yet they are behaving as though they are attempting to skin a mouse.

It is good that Anti-Corruption Commission director general Nixon Banda has restated that Mulyata will be arrested and taken to court to answer charges of abuse of authority of office. We say it is good not because we really want to see Mulyata nailed to the cross.

We say it is good because we want everyone to realise that involving oneself in corruption or indeed any other vice does not pay. We want people to realise that what happens to those that decide to engage in evil things is not admirable.

That is why we get upset and fight when we see those who transgress the law receiving undue protection from the powerful in society. We get upset and start battles aimed at redressing this not because we have grudges or axes to grind with those who are alleged to have committed certain offences.

We do this because we want justice for all. We do not want to be double-tongued, declaring that there are no sacred cows in the fight against corruption while at the same time shielding individuals from the long arm of the law.

Nixon Banda is today telling the nation that there has been no interference in the Mulyata case. This is far from the truth. But we forgive him, and many others in authority who would want to support and reinforce his point, because we realise that a polecat is not aware of its smell. One is often blind to his or her own weaknesses.

It cannot be sustainably argued that there has never been any interference in the Mulyata case because those who have followed this matter both within and outside Anti-Corruption Commission know what has been happening.

But we can excuse those who have become too blind to see because we hear that some people have been consulting witchdoctors to protect themselves from any calamity or eventuality. Maybe that is why even President Levy Mwanawasa would say he is satisfied with the performance of his ministers, yet some of them have been found wanting by the Director of Public Prosecutions, who wants them prosecuted for their misdeeds.

The truth is that there has been interference in Mulyata’s case from some quarters. We know it, just like Nixon Banda and many others do.

That’s why Mulyata was never suspended during the time he was being investigated. Even after the Director of Public Prosecutions indicated that there is sufficient evidence to warrant his prosecution, Mulyata has continued to perform official duties.
And Mulyata is not the only one being shielded in this way.

As we write, Luapula Province minister Chrispin Musosha is being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission for alleged abuse of authority of office, but he has not been suspended. Surprisingly, his permanent secretary Alfred Kalumba who is being investigated for abuse of some money was suspended as soon as investigations were commenced.

These are the double standards and inconsistencies we are talking about. Clearly, the leopard in the fight against corruption is not licking both its white and black spots.

Anyway, we will leave this matter here for now. What we would like to emphasise to those in authority is that the Anti-Corruption Commission, the police and Drug Enforcement Commission will only be seen to be credible when they are not just talking about justice but are also seen to be administering justice.

This is the only way to build confidence in these important institutions for our country’s democracy and good governance. When those in authority choose to undermine the very institutions they are expected to empower and protect, there will be nothing worthwhile to talk about.

It cannot be denied that the Anti-Corruption Commission and its sister organisations like DEC and the police are trying their best to live up to people’s expectations under very difficult circumstances. In some cases, their good and professional works are frustrated by those in power, especially politicians.

What is comforting, however, is the fact that we shall all be judged by our deeds, not words. In saying this, we take cognisance of the adage: “Great talkers are never great doers.”