By CHARLES CHISALA
ON New Year’s Eve President Sata addressed the nation via a statement issued in Lusaka by his special assistant for press and public relations, George Chellah, in which he made several policy pronouncements ranging from development to governance.
But to me the most striking part of the message was his pledge to intensify his fight against corruption.
The President wished citizens a happy New Year. But I do not think the goodwill message was extended to the greedy and corrupt at whatever level they are. I am, therefore, warning them that they should expect a sorrowful 2014 unless they reform now and start leading a life guided by honesty, hard work and service to others.
If they don’t take President Sata’s words seriously they should not blame anyone when the full weight of the law crashes down on them like a multi-million tonne avalanche. Did they read the President’s statement or the lead story on the front page of the Wednesday edition of the Daily Mail, by the way?
“The fight against corruption remains one of the top priorities of my government’s good governance agenda for next year [this year] and beyond,” the President declared.
He couldn’t have been any clearer. Anyone who will have the temerity to doubt his resolve to crush the head and limbs of corruption will be doing so at their own peril. Corruption is evil! It should have no place in a decent society.
Of course, to the innocent President Sata’s statement was a mere reminder that they must continue upholding the godly virtues of honesty, hard work and compassion for the poor. But it surely must have ruffled the dirty feathers of the wicked and corrupt-hearted, although some of them must have coiled in fear like frightened centipedes [ifiyongoli or vichongololo]. The earlier they stop their dirty activities and repent the better.
Both the corrupt and the ‘clean’ must have by now realise that the man occupying the nation’s highest office is not a ‘man of words’ but a ‘man of action’ who takes no pride in mere rhetoric.
They have seen for themselves. In the last few months his hatchet has been looming high and ominous, ready to fall on the neck of anyone who has turned corruption – instead of honest work – into a hobby and their source of livelihood.
I personally haven’t seen any sacred cows or bulls. Where members of his government or party, the Patriotic Front, have attracted allegations of engaging in ‘unclean’ or ‘dishonest’ activities that have the potential to taint the image of his administration, Mr Sata has not hesitated to show them the door to give them a chance to defend themselves.
Some of such people are already appearing in courts of law on allegations of corrupt practices while others are under active investigations by security wings of the government for similar reasons. Such is the President’s level of commitment to the fight against the scourge.
He has put national interests before personal relationships, although he is fully aware that those decisions are likely to cost him a few friends. For who wants to lose a position of influence in the government or ruling party, and subsequently shed the trappings of power that accompany such positions?
But didn’t the President swear to defend the interests of the people of Zambia, even at the risk of losing friends? The fight against corruption in Zambia requires the kind of courage President Sata demonstrated in 2013. But he will need even more support from everyone this year as he battles to cleanse this nation of corrupt elements.
The author is Zambia Daily Mail editorial editor.
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