Maravi

Politics, military are not for making money

Politics, military are not for making money
By The Post
Mon 25 June 2012, 13:25 CAT

"THOSE who want to make money should not attempt to go into military or politics. If the top leadership is careless and misusing public funds, even those who are under them would do the same. Those in the military should not have cruel motives of making themselves rich at the expense of people they are supposed to serve."

Who is saying these words? These are words of a retired general of our armed forces, an officer who participated in the liberation wars of our region. These are the words of General Malimba Masheke.

And he goes on to add: "During the time Dr Kenneth Kaunda was president, he led an exemplary life. Those who were under him whether in the political, military or any other leadership stayed clean following his example. But when we started having the regime of late president Frederick Chiluba, his style of leadership was misuse of public funds. As a result of Chiluba's leadership style, many people are still facing court trials.

For those under Chiluba, not to be seen to differ with their commander-in-chief, they also started stealing. During our time, the army was looked at as something that was special for the nation. The political leadership must also change.

If the political leadership is crooked, the whole nation will be crooked. If the country has a president and commanders stealing, every officer in rank and file will compete to steal." Gen Masheke was not only a leader in the military, but also served as prime minister of our country - a top political leadership position.

Dr Kaunda set a very outstanding example of selflessness and honesty in leadership. But we as a nation, it would seem, have failed to live up to the standards set by this apostle. We seem to have been unworthy followers of his and have strayed from his example.

We need to seriously reflect on comrade KK's example. We should give serious thought to his teachings. Not only we but succeeding generations will remember his example, his message and bear the imprint in their hearts of this great son of our homeland, magnificent in his faith and strength and courage and humility. We should never allow the torch of his example in what selfless and honest leadership means to be blown out, however high the wind or stormy the tempest.

Comrade KK led our people for more than 27 years, if we count the pre-independence years as well. But today this comrade has far less property, money or any other form of wealth to his name than Rupiah Banda who only led this country for three years. In three years, Rupiah and his sons accumulated much more than comrade KK and his entire family were able to accumulate in more than three decades of leadership and public service.

Truly, if people got into political leadership positions to enrich themselves, then there is a problem because political leadership was never meant to be a business where profit is the main motive.

There are great dangers when political leadership positions are seen as opportunities for self-enrichment and aggrandisement. Of course, there are many dangers in the present situation where an unlimited wave of consumerism has been unleashed on our people. There is also the danger of weakness. In saying all these things, we are not in any way implying that those in leadership positions should not live decent lives in accordance with their earned income.

If a man thinks that dedicating his entire life to the service of his people means that in return he should not have such worries as that his children lack certain things, or that his children's shoes are worn out, or that his family lacks some necessity, then he is entering into rationalisations which open his mind to infection by the seeds of future corruption. We are not asking for the children of our leaders to go without those things that the children of the average man have or go without.

We would like them to simply understand the standard set by comrade KK on this score and strive to uphold it. The changes we want in our country will be made by human beings and these human beings must forge their selfless spirit day-by-day. Leadership is the capacity and will to rally men and women to a common purpose and the character which inspires confidence.

A leader who tries to enrich himself or live lavishly at the expense of his people will never inspire confidence.No one is forced to be a leader. If leadership is too much a sacrifice, one is free to do something else that is more profitable to oneself.

Leadership is the ability of a single individual through his or her actions to motivate others to higher levels of achievement, of conduct. Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitudes and in actions.

If you have a thief for a leader, it is highly unlikely that he will have clean followers behind him. People follow their leaders. And for this reason, example is not the main thing in influencing others; it is the only thing.

Ethics must begin at the top. It is a leadership issue and the top most leader must set the example; must follow the grain of his own wood. There is no power on earth that can neutralise the influence of a high, simple and useful life. A leader is one who knows the way, does the way and shows the way.

Leadership is doing what is right at all times. And as Martin Luther King Jr once observed, "the time is always right to do what is right". The highest proof of virtue is to possess boundless power without abusing it.

As for our military, it has been disgraced by those appointed to lead it over the last two decades or so. We now have a corrupt military. We say this because the great majority of those who have led our armed forces over the last 20 years have been found to be corrupt.

And this includes their commanders-in-chief. Something has to be done to cleanse our military of this vice and give it an honourable reputation it deserves because, as Gen Masheke has correctly pointed out, the military is a very noble profession.

This is a profession of selfless people. Only those who are prepared, who are ready to sacrifice themselves for their country, for their people should be in our military and be given the privilege to lead it. But over the last two decades we have had all sorts of scoundrels, crooks being appointed to lead our armed forces. This should stop.

There are many decent officers who can be appointed to lead our armed forces. Our army, air force, Zambia National Service and indeed our intelligence services are not short of decent men and women. It is just a question of setting a criteria in our appointments that favours and honours honesty and integrity.

We should not accept to give in to a culture of corruption; "Never give in! Never give in! Never, never, never, never - in nothing great or small, large or pretty. Never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense" (Winston Churchill).

Labels: MALIMBA MASHEKE

posted by MrK @ 3:01 PM