Sat, 06 Jan 2018 11:09:04 +0000
By Charles Musonda
LET us change our country’s politics from mud-slinging to issues and addressing the efficacy of systems, says former Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda.
“Smear campaigns by those shown red cards and who are proven and ordained high priests of corruption and given lavish platforms by sections of the media – that have stood on the lowest moral ground – will not improve governance of our country.
“The arrest of moral erosion in our country, which is glaringly deep, can only be effectively done by revamping key ingredients in the governance structures of our country. Targeting those entrusted to govern our country may erode and dent credibility because in life, appearance and perception may invariably matter more than reality,” Mr. Chikwanda said.
He said this in his reflection on the compelling need to put Zambian politics and the economy into context, made available to the Daily Nation.
Mr. Chikwanda said the Patriotic Front (PF), as a leading party in Zambia, should be aware of public perception.
“Currently, the image of our party seems to be on a downward spiral because of the perception, right or wrong, that there is widespread corruption in the PF administration. Ministers are wrongly targeted but much of the rot is at the civil service level.
“Institutions that are supposed to guide and superintend operations of the public service have become procurement entities for the glory and benefit of a few individuals. The PF needs to indulge in serious soul searching and set distinct moral/ethical benchmarks,” Mr. Chikwanda said.
Mr. Chikwanda urged the Church to embrace deeper morality than inadvertently jumping on corruption bandwagons.
“To pray and give glory to God is sacrosanct duty and obligation but the churches must not wittingly or inadvertently allow fake profession to prayer as a means to escapism. As a country, we should seriously reflect on moral erosion which engulfs the entire society.
“The country is certainly becoming a moral intellectual vacuum as we all enhance, recycle and glamourise worn out slogans, clichés and myths,” said Mr Chikwanda.
