Maravi

Join the fight

Join the fight
Written by Editor

The highest level of political thought was reached when some people became aware that no one had the right to rob others and that the fruits of the efforts and intelligence of each human being should reach all others; that no one really had to be a wolf, but could be a brother or sister to others.

We salute all those who have arrived at these stimulating convictions and we also salute those who, although they may not share such ideas, are honest democrats and progressives, because consistently practiced, political honesty is the road that leads a person’s mind and will to doing good. We say all this in the light of the observations made by Michael Koplovsky, the charge d’affaires at the United States Embassy in Lusaka, about the need to fight corruption in Zambia.

No honest politician, no honest citizen would tolerate corruption. As we have seen, corruption robs our people of the resources needed to develop their country and themselves.

We agree with Koplovsky’s observation that the Zambian people deserve a responsive and responsible government and that they should demand transparency and accountability from their government. Without accountability, our political leaders will start to pursue their own interests and forget about the plight of our people. They will steal public resources to enrich themselves.

Power is power. It is said that the most important struggle for someone in power is the struggle against himself or herself, the struggle for self-restraint. That could well be one of the most difficult things.

It is not easy to struggle against corruption, and even against the abuse of prerogatives. One needs to have a very well developed and strong conscience, because we have seen people become conceited and use power incorrectly; the tendency to use power incorrectly is something that we see in this country almost on a daily basis.

We have consistently advised that the exercise of power must be the constant practice of self-limitation and modesty. Without this, there will be no wrong that one cannot do when in power. Entrusting the running of government to dishonest people, to corrupt people, is very dangerous. It is not even easy to remove corrupt people from power by a simple vote. Sometimes it takes a lot of sacrifice to remove corrupt people from office, people may be forced to vote with their blood. At the rate things are going, we don’t think this government will be capable of conducting free and fair elections in 2011. Nothing will stop them from manipulating the process, from rigging the elections to continue their hold on power. These are people who don’t seem to be able to function meaningfully without political power, without access to state resources. Such people will do anything within their means to hold on to power.

So the fight against corruption is not only for the preservation of public financial resources. It is also for the preservation of democracy and good governance in general. Corrupt people cannot run a democratic government. Corrupt people will steal anything including elections, votes. Those who think they can allow this government to operate corruptly and then deliver a devastating blow against them in the 2011 elections are cheating themselves. If this corruption is allowed to continue unabated, Rupiah Banda and his friends will retain power in 2011.

It is good that the whole world, including the American people, is starting to be aware of the corruption that is going on in our country. History shows that no problem has ever been solved until it has become a tangible reality of which everyone is aware. We cannot fight this corruption alone. We need the support of all progressive and honest people in this world. The support of other nations is absolutely necessary, regardless of political concepts, systems of government, philosophical convictions and other beliefs. This is not the first time we will seek the support of others. We sought it in our independence struggle and we had the support of others, including of the American people. With the support of others, we have confronted complex and difficult situations in the past with firmness and determination. Together we have striven and struggled and together we have scored victories. In this same spirit and with this same determination, we must be ready to wage the most colossal, legitimate, worth and necessary battle against corruption, for our people’s lives and future.

Therefore, we should not be bothered about the issue of perception. What should bother us should be the corruption that is taking place in our country, that is robbing our people of the resources needed for their development and sustenance of their lives that are being stolen by greedy people. If the news that is getting to the world about corruption in our country is true, why should that bother us in terms of perception? What should bother us is that what is being reported in the international media is actually happening here. And the stories that appeared in the American media about corruption in Zambia are true. Everything that was said in those stories was true and can be so proved. If this means loss of financial support from the American people, let it be. We say this because we also don’t want the American people to waste their money by sending it here to be stolen. Today the American people are facing many problems and they need all the resources. But if they can spare something for us in these circumstances, we owe them a duty to use that money in an efficient and effective manner and not to steal it or abuse it.

It cannot be denied that there is so much wastage and abuse of public funds in this country. Wastage and abuse of public funds is corruption. And in this country, that wastage and abuse starts at State House itself; it starts with Rupiah himself. Rupiah started abusing public resources during last year’s presidential election campaigns. We saw ambulances from the Ministry of Health being used to transport Rupiah’s campaign staff. What is the difference between that and directly stealing government money? The fuel that was propelling those vehicles was bought with government funds. The drivers who were being paid to drive those vehicles were paid for by the government. Clearly, here public funds were stolen to finance Rupiah’s campaign. The gallivanting around, the excessive travel allowances that Rupiah and his team are being paid by the government amounts to nothing but wastage and abuse of public funds. Again, this is corruption. Why should the American people and others be made to pay for this?

If we need and seek the support or help of others, we have a duty to use such assistance prudently. And it is not only what others give us that should be used prudently. We have to start with our own money and use it wisely. What is the use of misusing our own resources and after that go and ask others for help? It is like someone takes his whole pay, squanders it and then the following day, starts to trouble the neighbour for all sorts of things – charcoal, salt, sugar, soap, relish, mealie-meal and so on and so forth.

If we cannot account for our resources well, we don’t deserve other people’s assistance. If we are going to spend our taxpayers’ money on unnecessary travel allowances for our politicians and public servants, then we don’t deserve funding from others who are not misusing their money in like manner.

Therefore, it is clear that every Zambian of goodwill should play a part in fighting corruption, in fighting abuse of public resources. This is the only way we can ensure that our government provides our people with the necessary services. And as we have stated before, there is nothing which makes people more appreciative of a government than that it should be able to deliver services. And it doesn’t matter how much money a country earns. If that money is not used properly, there will not be development in that country and poverty and despair will be the order of the day. We have many examples of such countries in Africa. We have on this continent countries with very high levels of income from oil but with their people suffering worse forms of poverty than some countries with lower incomes which are managed by relatively more honest governments.

We therefore make a clarion call to all Zambians to join the fight against corruption. And we also urge the co-operating partners of our country to join in this fight because if they don’t, their assistance to us will be of no value, will not yield any positive results.

Labels: CORRUPTION, PATRONAGE

posted by MrK @ 1:23 PM