By Daily Revelation Editor
Bowman Lusambo is a very polarising figure indeed, and in most cases can be very irritating and contemptuous, especially when given a little power. They say to know one’s character you must give them a little power. We all saw how Bowman used the little privilege he was given during the Edgar Lungu administration.
Most people would actually be less sympathetic with Bowman on the troubles he is facing today. This is someone who lived as if there would be no tomorrow. He thought the little bubble he was glowing in would continue forever, and that time for him to account would not come. He had little regard and treated the people he did not agree with, or those who disagreed with his deposed master Edgar Lungu with a lot of contempt. This is one man who told this media organisation in one interview when queried over Lungu’s daughter, Tasila’s misconduct, that people like Col Panji Kaunda, who were raising issues against her were jealousy, saying “what is K2 million that Panji Kaunda should be reporting Tasila to the ACC for?”
Lusambo further said that Col Panji and his brothers missed an opportunity to better their lives when their father, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, was president for 27 years, saying “when you are an idiot, it doesn’t mean that even the next person has to be an idiot also.”
That is Lusambo in his pomp and splendor, and we are sure he and the many others in the Patriotic Front who are crying persecution today would behave the same if they were to be given back the power.
However, much as there is generally some consensus on Lusambo’s indiscretions, we also feel the investigative wings might be falling into the temptation of overdoing and overhyping things against him. Yes, there are questions with regards how Lusambo amassed so much property within a very short space of time, and that must be investigate. But we hope these investigations are just that; investigations. And that there is no invisible hand directing the affairs behind the curtains. We feel that there has been a certain level of concentration especially in dealing with Lusambo, and it is mostly coinciding with his outspoken nature. Within these few months, Bowman has been a victim of Nelly Mutti’s highhanded actions at Parliament, has faced arrest from the ACC, and has had several properties seized from him, not on one, but several occasions.
We wish emphasise that we also have questions on the rapid rise in Lusambo’s wealth stock, and that must be investigated. But we are also of the firm belief that not everything Bowman has acquired was acquired improperly. For goodness sake, Bowman was a minister for five years and in all honest could not have failed to acquire good property and to build up his wealth stock during the same period to some considerable levels. If mid-level civil servants can acquire property rightfully here and there, surely a provincial minister can not fail to build a house or two, and have this and that property or money within that space of five years. Besides, Lusambo is also the serving member of parliament for Kabushi Constituency in Ndola. You sure can’t seize everything you see him owning, as if he is not someone who has been earning good income during these years.
We appeal to the ACC, that if they are going to be successful in prosecuting corruption in this country, let them do so humanely and honestly. We appeal to them to avoid any temptation of playing to the gallery. They should not be wanting to be seen to be working for those in power, commissioning themselves and joining the political fray by targeting the the most outspoken government critics to beat them down and show them as an example to the others who may want to behave in similar fashion, or those who are already behaving in similar manner, of course in some cases using a few skeletons they have in their cupboards, that they are also candidates for public lynching.
The UPND being new in government have a huge task on their hands to truly reform these investigative and other state institutions, which were decimated during the PF reign, especially during the seven years of Edgar Lungu. The best they can do is to get to working on righting these institutions to make them truly professional and independent. There should be more to the President’s sentiments of ‘we have allowed them to operate independently and given them the political will.’
There are various factors to explain why they might be behaving in the manner they are doing. It could be true that they have become more proactive now because they have been unshackled from the limitations placed on them by the PF and that they are now putting their mandate to practice. The other argument could be that these institutions are trying to make an impression on the new government in order to secure their jobs or promotions with the coming of a new government into office. Thirdly, these institutions, in trying to make an impression could be overhyping, overstepping their limits by playing to the gallery of those in power. The fourth argument could be that these institutions are laundering themselves to be used by those in power in order to carry out what they are doing, to punish the political opponents of those in power especially the loud mouthed ones.
President Hichilema, please address the standing of these institutions, not by word but through action, because the manner of their operations may expose you and those you are serving with in UPND in future. In the state they are in, the manner of their operations, any future administration could use them to go after you, no matter how just and right you may run your affairs during your tenure of office.
These are institutions who live for the day. They change colors depending on which leader is in office. Because you, Hakainde, is speaking against corruption they will also want to show that they are working to your wishes. Not too long ago, they were perceived to be institutions which worked to launder and cleanse criminals because the leader that time was not seen to be someone who actively discouraged corruption in his pronouncements. The same institutions were also all of a sudden forceful against corruption during Levy Mwanawasa’s tenure, before they changed like chameleons and became cold again during the reign of Rupiah Banda.
Their posture seems to be not tailored against fighting corruption per see. In most cases, they handle themselves as ‘non-commissioned attack-dogs’ to go after the former leaders in the hopes of appearing relevant and useful with the powers that be at any given time. Most of this is on account that they are not truly independent, in fact they are not independent at all. They move with the political whims of the day. We are sure the former PF leaders are today regretting that they failed to address this problem during the 10 years they were in office. Therefore, you the current leaders now don’t allow this chance to pass when you have the power to right the things for posterity’s sake.
So as the country is seeking to establish accountability with the Lusambo’s of this world, and in most cases justifiably so, please let Lusambo and the others be investigated, while at the same time addressing the other bigger task on hand. Reforming the investigators themselves.
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