WHY IS VITCOR MUNDENDE STILL AT ZESCO AS MD?
The Candidates’ Comment
It is said that one’s words are less significant than one’s actions. President Hakainde Hichilema’s words that he wants to fight corruption in Zambia will only mean anything worth talking about if actions are seen in that regard.
It is not a secret that ZESCO is one of the most corrupt institutions in Zambia. That institution is very viable but continues to produce loses year-in, year out. Of course ZESCO is strategically placed in the African region and that presents an opportunity for this power utility institution to sell electricity to other countries in need and still be able to supply Zambia without interruption.
The only reason that ZESCO is today in a mess so much that it owes $797 million to its suppliers and record loses as K4.9 billion is because that institution is being managed by morally bankrupt characters.
In 2012, ZESCO was given a sum $255m by the previous administration – money from the Euro Bond. What has ZESCO, under the leadership of Victor Mundende, done with that money? Are there any success stories from all that money which this public institution obtained? The answer is categorical no.
We all know that over time, ZESCO has been used as a cash cow by the previous regime of the Patriotic Front (PF) where they drew monies to finance their party functions through all sorts of corrupt tenders. We know that ZESCO was also highly involved in supplying vehicles to PF to use for campaigns. We also know that there are many unqualified elements who are employed at ZESCO in various critical roles merely because they were girlfriends, relatives or associates of characters of the previous government. All this is happening at ZESCO because those at its helm allowed such nonsense to take place. Just look at the nonsense in the board of ZESCO! ZESCO board chairperson is Chibwe Mwlewa. This is someone who was actively involved in politics. While Chibwe is ZESCO board chairperson, he wanted to stand as Member of Parliament under the PF in the previous elections. Is it right for a boar chairperson of a public institution to take active role in politics?
If a board chairperson of ZESCO can exhibit such moral bankruptcy then what can stop those he supervises from equally behaving like him or her? The truth is that, majority – if not all – elements running ZESCO today are cadres of the previous administration. We retaliate; Hakainde has started on a very good note and seems to be approved by many people but that approval is not his birth right. It is conditional. It is premised on him doing things that find expression in the interest of the people in whole. If there is an institution that deserves the quickest attention above all other, it is ZESCO. This is so because that institution has been infested. It needs a very serious clean up if at all we are going to have a conversation about fighting corruption and moral ills in Zambia. It is very easy for Hakainde to lose the love that he enjoys from the people. Allowing morally bankrupt characters at ZESCO to continue running that institution undermines the fight against corruption.
We dare say – and we know we are not far from truth that -corruption is a two way undertaking. One cannot be corrupt if the other party on the other side is not corrupt. For PF elements to corruptly abuse ZESCO in ways that we have heard, means those running this institution are equally corrupt.
If Hakainde is very serious with fighting corruption, his administration must not only be seen to be targeting political characters. The fight against corruption must extend to institutions like ZESCO in haste. And that fight cannot be won where characters like Victor and the league in his management get-together, continue to preside over the power utility institution. If a person like Kingsley Chanda could be fired from Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) despite that the tax authority impressively exceeded its revenue targets while the former Director General led it, why should Victor be allowed to continue running ZESCO when that institution is nothing but an embarrassment? – The Candidates
