Another new assessment of Mwanawasa's legacy, this time from a suprising, but not totally unexpected quarter. A couple of striking quotes:
"...thus, his [Mwanawasa] presidency began to say with its back to the engine, aimlessly prosecuting the crimes and mistakes of the past with little, if any, concern about the rot of the present and the pressing demands of the future. Hence his ruling style became more authoritarian by the day, by incorporating within himself the hybrid of a prime minister and a colonial governor, with overtones of a traditional Chief and diviner. This demanded that he covered his back, which he did by surrounding himself with relatives and personal friends, often placing them in delicate key-posts, thus indulging in tribalism, nepotism, favoritism and opportunism.”
"....Now, which achievements can one credit to Mwanawasa’ first term? HIPC? Who enjoyed its fruits? Not the poor, the workers, the youth…and certainly not the education and health! Were there more jobs, better conditions of service, better salaries or better perspectives for our children? On the contrary, what about the redundancies, the losses of jobs, the total absence of chances for the youth, which translates into more prostitution and AIDS and consequently in greater misery for everyone?"
"....What can teachers, doctors, nurses and workers in general celebrate about the last MMD governance? Not to speak of the casual miners employed by so called new-deal investors, with enslaving working conditions. What have the trade unions done for the teachers and health personnel in the Mwanawasa’ government, except perhaps getting bribes? Can they mention one single deal negotiation whereby the real needs of the civil servants and workers of the private sector have been truly addressed?...”
First and formost I must say that I respect these fathers very much. Although I know father Miha as to be culturally involved, father Umberto always has had strong political opinions. Therefore he was muted by the church and sent to some boarding school in the Chiluba days.
ReplyDeleteBut these men shouldnt forget that Levi did weed out some of the rampant corruption of the Chiluba administration.
I do share the view that the MMD has become an obstacle to Zambian development.
The legacy of Levi will be determined by the next president. If corruption gains ground, Levi's quest wouldve been in vain. Alternatively he will be viewed as our first honest leader.