The USA Embassy in Zambia highlights Zambia’s lack of political will to curb corruption, contrasting it with the Financial Intelligence Centre’s relentless efforts against unchecked illicit financial flows.
By Mpandashalo Mwewa.
Lusaka, Oct. 26 – In the tale of Zambian governance, the USA – embodied by its observant eagle, Ambassador Gonzales – has flown in, casting a piercing gaze upon Zambia’s shimmering river of wealth. But there, glistening among the reflections, is a darker current – an illicit stream valued at nearly $3 billion. Yet this isn’t a hidden tributary; it’s a torrent in plain sight, with many wondering why President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration seems content to let it flow unchecked.
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The USA Embassy in Zambia, ever a storyteller of fiscal truths, released a parable on its social media scrolls, its Facebook page, extolling the underdog hero of this tale: the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC). Ambassador Gonzales recently met with the FIC crew, headed by its Director General Kapalu, to better understand the FIC’s lonely battle against the shadowy flood of illicit funds. In that meeting, the Ambassador learned, to his astonishment, of the $3 billion river already charted by FIC’s modest crew, a sum substantial enough to change the fortunes of Zambia’s treasury.
The Embassy’s chronicle spoke admiringly of the FIC’s tireless efforts despite its lean resources: “That the FIC makes such impact despite having a minimal staff, 25 vacant positions, and the lowest budget of any counterpart institution in the region is truly impressive,” the missive reads. The Embassy then poses a tantalizing question: imagine the gains if the FIC were fully funded, a true lion equipped with the claws it deserves.
Yet, lurking in this allegory is a sense of diplomatic disillusionment. Ambassador Gonzales, though carefully worded, hints at the cracks in the new dawn administration’s resolve, questioning whether there is indeed the political will to address these pressing issues. The eagle refrains from a direct rebuke, but the symbolism is clear: the guardians of Zambia’s wealth appear to slumber, allowing opportunity to drift downstream.
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In a closing twist, the Embassy’s tale reminds us of its own recent stand against corruption within its own ranks, having cast out ten of its own local staff for misconduct. The message is clear – accountability is more than just an ideal; it’s an expectation. And as the story winds down, the Embassy’s moral shines brightly: without true resolve to battle corruption, Zambia’s potential remains only a distant dream, obscured by the shadows of neglected duty.
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