Issues of integrity

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 12:31:15 +0000

Leadership and morality are indivisible.

That is why retired South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu has refused to share a platform with British Prime Minister Tony Blair who orchestrated the war against Iraq on account of non existent weapons of mass destruction.

The good Archbishop says that Mr. Blair’s support for the Iraq war was “morally indefensible” and it would be “inappropriate” for him to appear alongside him.

The moral of the story is that leaders must be morally uptight without any kind of blemish or hint of one.

The Prelate was of the view that Mr. Blair’s decision to support the United States’ military invasion of Iraq, on the basis of unproven allegations of the existence in Iraq of weapons of mass destruction, was morally indefensible.

The parallels with our own situation are uncanny.  People with proven cases of criminality and unacceptable social conduct are in the forefront of running state affairs.

The Bible in Luke 16 vs 10 says “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”

Matters of state are grave and must be treated with the seriousness they deserve.  That’s why we share the views expressed by Fr. Luonde concerning the corruption fight.  The crusade must be superintended by individuals who are above board and therefore in a position to command the necessary respect to enable them operate effectively.  They must stand out as hones and dedicated men and women.

The same can be said about those who occupy high office in government.  Their conduct must be beyond scrutiny.

Titus 1:7-8 reads “For an overseer, as God’s steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.”

Therefore those who aspire for leadership must measure themselves against the biblical tenets to ensure that they rise to the demand and merit of leadership.

The State is a major undertaking which if badly managed can lead to untold misery to millions of innocent men women and children.

The state must be run using the wisdom of Solomon.  Otherwise strife, distress and misunderstanding will continue to haunt the people.

Who sent Police to UPND Headquarters

The denial by the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Ngosa Simbyakula is most intriguing.  Government is one and collective responsibility is the norm.  Therefore the source of instructions to send police with a warrant to search for seditious materials could only have emanated from within the Executive.

UNDP as a party and HH as an individual have been under considerable siege in the last few months.  It is thus inconceivable that such a well publicized search could have simply emananted from the “professional conduct” of the police.  Surely the police who are under the Minister of Home Affairs should have obtained instructions, counsel, wisdom all at worst a go-ahead from within the government.

This can be evidenced from the volume of sentiments that have come from the Minister of Defence Geoffrey Mwamba and the Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito.

It would not be too far fetched to suggest a convergence of intent.