Tue, 27 Jun 2017 14:07:39 +0000
By CHITE MTONGA
ALLEGATIONS of mass corruption under President Frederick Chiluba’s regime are a fabrication of the cartel because it failed to wrestle power from him and peddle its influence, says former special assistant for economic affairs under President Chiluba, Donald Chanda.
Mr. Chanda said that allegations of corruption under President Chiluba’s regime were a fabrication of the cartel which had since been laid bare by court acquittals.
He said that the final verdict in President Chiluba’s case was enough proof that allegations of corruption in his regime were merely fabricated by those who wanted power and leadership by all means.
“What was the final verdict? He was acquitted. Let us respect the law, the judicial system, rather than making accusations and political hatred. To me, the accusations were unjustified. I think that presidents Chiluba and Mwanawasa had differences which unfortunately went into an uncontrollable political spiral in which down the line many of us became victims,” he said.
Mr. Chanda said that the legacy of President Chiluba was that he was a man who brought democracy to Zambia after the one-party State and liberalised the economy, creating conditions in which ordinary Zambians had an opportunity for self-improvement and prosperity.
He said that President Chiluba brought about economic transformation from a State-controlled economy to an open and liberalised private sector-led economy which awakened many Zambians to property ownership and become successful businessmen and women.
Mr. Chanda said that the MMD under President Chiluba brought about a national movement that embraced all Zambians without divisions on the basis of tribe or ethnicity of an individual.
“You see that’s why people could stand anywhere and win elections; a person from Eastern Province could stand in Northern Province and still win an election,” he said.
Mr. Chanda said that this had, however, changed as voting and election was now based on regionalism and ethnicity to the detriment of Zambia.
He said there was need to go back to politics of substance rather than ethnicity and regionalism if sustainable development was to be realised.
