By kapya kaoma
On September 21, 2021, during the United Nations General Assembly, Joe Biden openly insulted Zambia as newly elected President Hakainde Hichilema looked on. Biden cited corruption as one of the reasons Zambian youths voted out corrupt Lungu, and endorsed Hichilema in large numbers. But Biden went further—he placed Zambia among some of Africa’s most corrupt nations such as Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Somalia. To my surprise, President Hichilema sat there smiling. As for his cadres, they supported Biden’s remarks on the premise that the Lungu regime was corrupt, and that Biden simply pointed out the obvious.
Then came the BBC interview in September 2021, where President Hichilema undressed Zambia before the world, claiming that the entire government was rotten with corruption—“they are stealing even as I am speaking to you.” I objected to his misrepresentation of Zambia. His supporters simply argued that he was stating facts. I laughed.
After nearly five years in power, the verdict is in. In 2026, the same United States publicly called out the self-cleansed Hichilema administration as one of the most corrupt in Zambia’s history. Amb. Michael Gonzales told the world that despite ample evidence showing misuse of foreign aid, not a single person has been arrested or prosecuted under the Hichilema regime. Thus, the once “clean” Hichilema is now cited for rampant corruption. To his loyalists, however, the goalposts have shifted. While it was acceptable for Biden to call out Lungu, it is unacceptable for Gonzales to criticize Hichilema. The gods must be crazy indeed.
There is little doubt, as I have repeatedly pointed out, that the Hichilema administration is corrupt. For nearly five years, HH has failed to disclose his business interests, partners, and the full extent of his wealth, despite promising transparency before assuming office in August 2021. Unless he has something to hide, the president’s secrecy has made his regime follow in his footsteps—stealing while calling the Lungu regime corrupt. Moreover, he is the first president to move anti-corruption institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Drug Enforcement Commission directly to his office—an action that has compromised the fight against corruption. How can these organs operate independently while being held hostage by State House? And how can they investigate their own bosses?
On this, the U.S. ambassador was right—not a single United Party for National Development official or member of this new dark regime has been arrested for corruption. Under the Hichilema regime, the Anti-Corruption Commission has only focused on prosecuting individuals associated with the Lungu administration. Working within the current system seems to grant a form of political “cleansing” from corruption charges.
I am opposed to the United States labeling African governments as corrupt; who can doubt the corruption of Donald Trump and other U.S. politicians? The U.S. political system is riddled with corruption—they simply call it lobbying. That aside, what makes this case striking is the inconsistency in the UPND response. The same voices that applauded when the U.S. criticized the PF administration are now condemning similar criticism directed at the HH regime. Why was it acceptable when it concerned Lungu, but unacceptable now that it concerns Hichilema?
Don’t misquote me. Corruption remains Zambia’s cancer, and what the U.S. ambassador highlighted has been in the public domain since Hichilema took office in August 2021. Of course, HH rose to power on a platform of fighting corruption, but time has a way of revealing uncomfortable truths. Corruption has continued on our roads, in civil service recruitment, including the infamous database recruitment of police officers, and at all levels of government. We only change names, but corruption remains entrenched in our national DNA. We don’t need the U.S. ambassador to tell us what we all know—we bathe in, and drink from, the waters of corruption. And we all participate in it–”it is the only way we get by!”
Ok , for credibility purposes and ethical conduct of “link to sources” as per existing internet tradition this article falls short. Identify yourself as author of this article then we can take its content more seriously.
Ask and ye shall recieve. Author is https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kapya_Kaoma which is clearly stated at the beginning of the article.
The “C” word, Corruption. This is a global phenomenon present in EVERY country, forms and scale vary significantly. You have to understand the global nature and forms of corruption including the language used with a certain grammar. Even in places of worship.
This is a global phenomenon present in EVERY country, forms and scale vary significantly. You have to understand the global nature and forms of corruption including the language used with a certain grammar. Even in places of worship.
Gonzales is a chola boy not a president. Meanwhile your article is anonymous, talking narcissistically about the mysterious “me” and what “I told you”. And what of facts, is it only 136 pf officials who have been arrested over drug thefts? Nkosavuta kukamba the saying goes
The presence that exists with perceptions measurements.
LT why hide the author of such a truthful, factual article?
Facts should be cemented with the mortar of honesty ,openness and accountability.The same qualities we demand of politicians should be the same for columnists/journalists and newspaper editors.
Indeed I would want to know the author of the article since it is largely in the first person singular. Otherwise don’t publish it. Unless you just want to rabblerouse
The problem is that HH remains a saint of corruption. He will steal and steal and steal and call others thieves.
Dosen’t matter who says what. Nothing will change in Zambia and it will business as usually until the people really want change and not the same type of leaders working for different parties.