By Kellys Kaunda
WHEN POLITICAL PERFORMANCE ECLIPSES ECONOMIC RECORD – THE CASE OF HICHILEMA
Barely 200 days before Zambia goes to the polls, a man that has emerged as a possible lead opponent to President Hakainde Hichilema has been hauled before both the Zambia Police and the Anti Corruption Commission in addition to the Office of the President. All in the space of 72hrs.
Hichilema was sworn in on the 24th of August 2021 as the 7th President of Zambia.
Since then, Brian Mundubile has been a Member of Parliament for the opposition, PF.
He has been an effective MP taking government to task on several national issues.
Throughout this period, the Office of the President, the Police and the Anti Corruption Commission have never charged him with any wrongdoing.
However, a few weeks ago, Mundubile was elected President of the Tonse Alliance. Since then, he has been building momentum.
Increasingly, it has become evident that he is set to be one of the major opponents against Hichilema.
If Zambians didn’t know better, the sudden interrogations, arrest, charges and ACC investigations would have come as a surprise.
But not really. Mundubile may not be stopped politically, so, the usual strategy – cook up charges – must be employed.
Here is what is particularly disturbing here. Hichilema’s greatest strength and selling point going into this election is his economic record.
It’s a record that has been noted here at home and beyond. This’s the same record that has earned him five Honorary doctorates in five years!
One of the greatest challenges most debt-ridden countries face is how to navigate their way around the complex contours of economic reforms and achieve macroeconomic stability.
It takes leadership of a specific kind to do this. This is what Hichilema has achieved. And this record must be protected and defended with every ounce of every supporter’s being.
Unfortunately, this stellar record has been eclipsed by politics. Hichilema’s repeat of the mistreatment of opposition leaders puts him in the same league as his predecessor and others before that.
The abuse of state institutions to disadvantage opponents is as alive today as it has always been.
On this score, other Presidents have lost power when that shouldn’t have been the case.
History, tragically and ominously, appears set to repeat itself.
Hichilema, but why? Are you so desperate to remain President even at the expense of drawing a curtain on your own economic record?
The Presidency is the highest pinnacle of anybody’s career. You are willing to risk it all by resorting to desperate measures to remain in power?
It’s not worth it.
Is it a lie that mundubile too a billion plus for contract that was never executed but funds collected
Definitely the timing is wrong. As for the allegations against Mr. Mundubile, they are neither new nor surprising. If I recall correctly, Mr. Mundubile was mentioned as a business partner of the notorious Faith Musonda, who was found with enormous amounts of cash in Kwacha and dollar denominations but got away with a slap on the wrist.
He might not be clean but certainly the timing of investigations against him is wrong. Do we have to wait until someone is perceived as a threat before moving in to bring them to justice? Is the law being applied selectively? How many looters are enjoying their ill-gotten wealth because they have kept a low profile?
What are message are we sending to the current looters? You are free as long as you keep a low profile?
Likewise, my leader. We have been aware of this issue since 2020, even prior to the election of UPND. Why is this happening now? Why did they wait until election time? Mundubila is a significant thief, yet why is he being arrested now, coinciding with the election period? This is concerning. If I were the president, I would place the entire ACC Investigators on unpaid leave. Why now? What message does this convey? Is it because he is running for president that he should be arrested? Where have they been all this time? ACC, your timing is inappropriate; this undermines your credibility. It would be better to address these issues after the elections.
No I don’t agree, there’s no right time for thieves to be arrested. If that’s what you think, then you got it wrong.
Even ECL was eventually ending with similar issues as the net was dragging close. These were all thieves.
Zambians that’s where we get it wrong. Supporting even stupid things.
Let those who have made us suffer pay for it, it doesn’t matter elections or no elections.
We do not support him, my leader. We acknowledge that Mundubila is a thief, but let us maintain our conscience. When a thief’s conscience is active, he is superior to those who profess to be peaceful and righteous. You have waited for four years, boss. Does this imply that if he were not aspiring to the presidency, the matter would have simply faded away?
Masters Voice is correct. wether its poliitical or not, a thief has no priviledge of time. Mundubile is not the only strong politician on the scene. His charge is for public good and examporary. After all, he is not that big of a threat as he is made to appear.
Let it be known to all thieves that the long arm of the law will reach you even at unexpected times. Stay clean at all times