PUBLIC POLICY ANALYST MARTIN MASUMBA WRITES;
Congratulations President Trump!
We join the world leaders to congratulate President-elect Mr. Donald Trump on his emphatic re-election as President of the United States of America. Mr. Trump lost his re-election bid four (4) years ago to President Joe Bidden. From the first day he handed over power, Mr. Trump has been clear that he would seek re-election in order to continue with his “Making America Great Again” crusade, which according to him was the best programme for the United States.
This victory is a historic one and makes Mr. Trump the 47th President of the United States. This is a demonstration of trust that the American people have in his leadership and his campaign message of making the world a better place through the promotion of peace, unity, and prosperity for all.
When it became clear that Mr. Trump had won this election, a good friend of mine sent me a message asking me what this meant for Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu (ECL), the former president of the Republic of Zambia, who also had announced his return to politics. This is Mr. Lungu, who led Zambia from January 2015 to August 2021, when he was voted out amid accusations that his government was corrupt and increasingly authoritarian.
To put this into context, Mr. Lungu has returned to politics, and many things have been said about his return. Many citizens actually feel that Mr. Lungu does not even qualify to seek re-election. His case is before the constitutional seeking interpretation to this effect. On the other hand, it was not in contest whether Mr. Trump had served his two terms of office or not.
Clearly, Mr. Lungu’s return to politics has received mixed reactions. His supporters are mostly the senior PF leadership and their accomplices, who see him as a messiah to liberate them from being held accountable for their several financial atrocities committed whilst serving in government.
Mr. Lungu’s potential bid to return to power in the 2026 general elections would be detrimental to Zambia’s progress and democratic growth. Having already served two terms as President from January 2015 to August 2021, Lungu’s return would undermine the country’s efforts to combat corruption and promote good governance.
Corruption Allegations
Lungu’s presidency was marred by corruption allegations, including accusations of accumulating wealth through corrupt activities. The Zambian Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) investigated Lungu’s alleged involvement in corrupt dealings, including receiving bribes in the form of land and monetary gifts from businessman Mr.Michelo Shakantu. A key allegation was that one of Mr. Shakantu’s companies, Inyatsi Road Construction, had obtained a number of road construction contracts and in turn offered bribes in the form of land and monetary gifts to high-profile individuals. Mr. Lungu was mentioned to be allegedly one of the beneficiaries of these gifts, the FIC noted, writing that in 2018, Mr. Shakantu bought a plot of land for Mr. Lungu at a luxury golf estate in Eswatini. President Lungu’s family and many of his close accomplices have been at the centre of grand corruption involving suspicious accumulation of properties suspected to be proceeds of crime. They have all been implicated in various allegations involving abuse of public resources, corruption, and abuse of authority of office. Therefore, Mr. Lungu’s legacy of entrenching corruption eroded public trust.
Undermining Democratic Institutions
Mr. Lungu’s attempt to seek a third term would also undermine Zambia’s democratic institutions. His previous bid for a third term was defeated, and his Patriotic Front party suffered a resounding loss to Hakainde Hichilema’s United Party for National Development. Allowing Mr. Lungu to return to power would send a worrying signal about the strength of Zambia’s democratic systems.
Economic Consequences
Furthermore, Mr. Lungu’s economic policies during his presidency led to Zambia becoming Africa’s most indebted nation. His return would likely perpetuate the same economic mismanagement, further entrenching poverty and inequality.
Rule of Law
The rule of law is another critical concern. Mr. Lungu’s presidency was marked by authoritarian tendencies, including the suppression of opposition and restrictions on media freedom. He is also notoriously remembered for his promotion of tribal hegemony. His tribally skewed composition of cabinet, the public service, and the foreign service was a clear message that he did not believe in the national motto of “one Zambia and one nation”. His resentment for the people who hailed from the regions traditionally perceived as strongholds of the United Party for National Unity was not a secret as he led an unpopular tribal cleansing retiring in national interest of such people from the government. His return would likely continue these trends, undermining the progress made by the current administration in promoting democratic values.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Mr. Lungu’s bid to return to power in 2026 would be a step backward for Zambia. His corruption-tainted legacy, undermining of democratic institutions, economic mismanagement, and disregard for the rule of law make him an unsuitable candidate for the presidency. Zambia deserves a leader who will build on the progress made by the current administration, not reverse it. His Excellency Dr. Hakainde Hichilema remains the best option for Zambia in 2026. The best successor to President Hichilema in 2026 is President Hichilema himself. In any case, a great Zambia does not need Mr. Lungu near and around state power.
Dr. Martin Mushumba
Public Policy Analyst