MWAZI ONA ALUNGU MWAYENDA LELO

By Daily Revelation Editor

Edgar is now counting days when he will officially leave State House having been disgracefully defeated by his opposition opponent and now President-elect Hakainde Hichilema by one (01) million votes. From preparing for what would have been a controversial third term in office as President, Chagwa has now been reduced to counting only a matter of days before he vacates office, and officially living up to his name, Chagwa. The real bosses have cut short his time in office, and he only has himself to blame.

Of course many in his political party are blaming “dull” secretary general Davies Mwila for the loss, with some even suggesting that he engaged in corrupt activities of selling parliamentary, mayoral and other seats to the highest bidder, something he has refused. But one may pause and ask, who appointed the same “dull” Davies to that position? Of course, it is Edgar Lungu. Now one may ask again, in all these seven years Lungu has been at the helm of PF, has he never taken an introspection on Davies and his capability to deliver? We are sure he has, and are of the view that he viewed Mwila’s “dullness” as an asset. Lungu is someone who loved surrounding himself with weak people, or according to him unambitious people who could not challenge his hold on power. No wonder he had outgoing Vice-President Inonge Wina as his number 2 and Professor Nkandu Luo as his running mate. Yes, Davies might have contributed to the loss, but the finger should be pointed at the one who fathered the ultimate defeat.

Lungu is responsible for the loss because of the corrupt, undemocratic and inept manner he ran both his party and the country. Right from his election with the showing of hands and pangas at the PF General Conference in Kabwe, Lungu went ahead to surround himself with a coalition of yes men, corrupt politicians and politicians who had no interest in  the country. He was the right leader for such a coalition, but he forgot to form bonds with the real coalition, the people.

How does Lungu and those in PF explain the fact that while they were fattening their bank accounts, owning this and that property within a short space of time like child’s play, the people they were supposed to be governing were getting poorer and poorer? How do they explain this phenomenon where a mere cadre in the ruling party, with no discernible income was owning world class property, cars, cadres swimming in carpets of cash and so many niceties, while those in formal employment were seeing their incomes shrink as they were being decimated with the rising cost of living and inflation?

How does one explain the cost of the Lusaka-Ndola dual carriage going for $1.2 billion; a fire tender costing $1 million; an ambulance costing $288,000; the unexplained ownership of 48 houses; supplying expired drugs and condoms? Where did the President’s daughter, Tasila get the authority to fence a gazetted National Forest, whose fence was only pulled down following media and public pressure? Why were powerful people engaging in Mukula trade while banning others from doing the same? In Edgar Lungu’s government, K2 million was merely shopping money as ably said by Bowman Lusambo. We saw the emergence of cadres becoming more powerful by the day, they could do anything including beating the police and nothing happens to them. They ran a-mock taking over markets, bus stations and the streets at will. State institutions like DEC, ACC and other institutions became ‘washing powder’ to cleanse corrupt officials so that they could carry on with their loot.

This impunity was happening because Edgar Lungu allowed it to, he provided an enabling environment for it. In most countries of the world, Zambia included, the people and its institutions usually follow the tone set by the leader. Just consider how state institutions established integrity committees against corruption during late Levy Mwanawasa’s reign because of his anti-corruption drive?

In Lungu’s government it became a free for all as long as you were a member of the ruling party. Laws were disregarded with impunity. Just consider the aspect of Zambia’s ambassadors to other countries participating in election campaigns with reckless abandon. Yes it is fairly understood that our ambassadors and several diplomats are appointed by the President, but there should be a modicum of dignity in the manner they conduct themselves, especially when they are drawing tax payers money. Even if some of these diplomats are the muzungu anikonde type, the ababilima type; there is no way a President worth his salt would allow such nonsense to happen. It is not as if he had a shortage of campaigners anyway.

This defeat is squarely on Chagwa’s head and he must take the blame for it. He forgot something cardinal that real power actually rests with the people. We just hope he and those he worked with won’t start crying foul when Zambians start demanding answers from them on how they conducted or misconducted themselves in office.

And a word to the incoming President, Hakainde Hichilema, you have seen the mistakes Lungu committed please avoid them. These state institutions which seem to have found renewed energy following your election, please allow them to operate independently and empower them with more teeth to prosecute abuse not only in the outgoing government, but in your incoming administration too.