Hichilema’s failure to address rampant corruption, from the CDF ambulance scandal to Mopani Mine’s unconstitutional sale, signals complicity rather than leadership. As his inaction emboldens institutional looting and undermines governance, he risks facing legal accountability post-2026, leaving a legacy stained by the very corruption he vowed to eradicate.
By Mpandashalo Mwewa.
Lusaka, Dec. 2 – The corruption scandal surrounding the CDF ambulance procurement has been laid bare. Sujit Shanani, a foreign national now on the run, has been revealed as the real owner of Ace Pharmaceuticals, a company based in Garden Compound with shady links to former Health Minister Sylvia Masebo, contradicting Thabo Kawana’s frantic defense that the controversial $13 million contract was awarded because the company was Zambian-owned.
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Once a staunch advocate for accountability, President Hakainde Hichilema now finds himself on the opposite end of the moral spectrum. In 2020, he passionately urged then-President Edgar Lungu to suspend Dr. Chitalu Chilufya over a politically motivated corruption hoax, yet today he does nothing as verified allegations of corruption engulf his own administration. The hypocrisy is glaring, and the inaction deafening. Where is the Hichilema who once declared that the fight against corruption must start at the top?
Mutinta Hichilema, as a trusted confidante, holds the unique power to rescue her husband from history’s harsh judgment. Instead of crafting narratives to seek public sympathy in the future, she might remind him that leadership demands courage, not convenience. She would do well to advise him to suspend Sylvia Masebo, Thabo Kawana, Elijah Muchima, Gary Nkombo, Paul Kabuswe, and the Permanent Secretaries of Health and Local Government Ministries, among several others. Anything less is a betrayal of his anti-corruption crusade and a grim endorsement of the rot he once vowed to eradicate.
Hichilema’s silence is not limited to the CDF ambulance scandal. The recent transfer of ZCCM-IH’s 51% stake in Mopani Copper Mines to Delta Mining without parliamentary approval is a glaring constitutional breach that undermines the principles of transparency and governance. Despite the gravity of this issue, which could warrant impeachment proceedings, the President has remained silent, signaling a worrying tolerance for corruption and constitutional violations within his administration.
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The erosion of institutional independence under Hichilema’s watch has also come to the fore with allegations of interference in criminal investigations. The Patriotic Front recently raised alarm over the Speaker’s unprecedented intervention in Anti-Corruption Commission probes involving National Assembly officers. Such meddling, coupled with the President’s silence, implies an alarming endorsement of impunity, further entrenching corruption within Zambia’s governance systems.
Adding to these scandals is the revelation by Dr. O’Brien Kaaba, a University of Zambia lecturer, about systemic looting of the treasury facilitated by the Anti-Corruption Commission and State Chambers. These disclosures expose the very institutions meant to safeguard public resources as active participants in corruption. Hichilema’s lack of decisive action in addressing these betrayals suggests that his administration’s anti-corruption stance has devolved into mere lip service, enabling a culture of unchecked theft.
Also Read: Dr. O’Brien Kaaba Exposes Ongoing Deep-Rooted Treasury Corruption Involving State Chambers! As ACC Shamakamba resigns from his office as Director General of the Anti Corruption Commision.
President Hakainde Hichilema’s unwillingness to act on rampant corruption, from the $13 million ambulance procurement scandal to unconstitutional dealings in Mopani Copper Mines, cements his legacy of complicity. His silence on systemic looting, institutional meddling, and high-profile graft betrays the anti-corruption ideals he once championed, setting the stage for inevitable legal reckoning once he leaves office in 2026.
About The Author: Mpandashalo Mwewa, currently the Chief Editor at Woodpecker’s Digest, formerly held the same role at Zambia Reports. Known for championing Pan-African education reforms with a focus on critical thinking, he employs journalism to instigate social transformation.
About Our Advocacy: Woodpecker’s Digest provides in-depth analyses and commentary on issues of national importance, alongside articles on personal development and health. We believe journalism can be a force for socio-economic change.
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