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Rupiah has no right to talk about corruption - Ng'oma

Rupiah has no right to talk about corruption - Ng'oma
By Allan Mulenga
Tue 30 Oct. 2012, 14:20 CAT

RUPIAH Banda does not have moral standing to talk about corruption, says Dr Alex Ng'oma. Commenting on former president Rupiah Banda's statement that the anti-corruption fight should not be selective, Dr Ng'oma, a University of Zambia political science lecturer, said Banda should have "walked the talk" when he had the instruments of power.

"It is extremely disjointed if Rupiah Banda can begin to talk about corruption today when he doesn't even have the platform on which to talk about corruption, when he had all the instruments of power to be able to fight corruption," he said.

"He should have walked the talk when he was in government. When he had the resources; when he had the instruments of power to really combat corruption, he chose to look the other way. Because after all what we have now is 100 times better than what he tried to do."

Recently, speaking at the Crans Montana forum in Geneva, Switzerland, Banda said people must always be aware that the fight against corruption in Africa and on other continents could itself become corrupted.

"There are cases in which the authorities use anti-corruption as an instrument to pressure their political opponents, pursue personal grievances, or even use it as an instrument against investors and business competitors," he said.

"The anti-corruption fight should not be selective. The real fight against corruption- the substance over the form- should be supported by a robust legal framework and must be carried out by truly independent judiciary, anti-corruption agencies and law enforcement that uphold the rule of law that can carry out efficient prosecutions."

But Dr Ng'oma said of all the presidents that Zambia has had, Banda could rank the lowest in the fight against corruption.

"The best he can ever do is to live a quiet life...Try and be neutral, rise above all these issues because he ignored them when he had the time," he said.
Dr Ng'oma urged Banda to take a leaf from what Dr Kenneth Kaunda.

"Dr Kaunda has risen above partisan politics. He is there to try and play the role of father of the nation giving guidance to Michael Sata and to the nation; not just criticising unnecessarily. Mr Banda should have walked the talk when he had the means to do that," he said.

Dr Ng'oma said Banda should not sound like a champion of corruption when he led the most corrupt government in the country.

"Now that he has reached a point where a lot of people really believe that the MMD was the most corrupt government we have had, that is when he wants to run around to sound like a champion!" remarked Dr Ng'oma.

Labels: ALEX NG'OMA, CORRUPTION, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 6:38 PM