Dipak Patel’s Rumblings Against Rupiah

Readers,

It's been getting tough in Zambia. Since our president passed away on August 19, all individuals with what it seen as the best qualities have been vying for the top job. The greatest pain lately has been what one would say are attacks from former Trade & Commerce Minister Dipak Patel against the acting president Rupiah Banda. Did Rupiah get Dipak Patel sacked? What is Dipak bitter with or about? Has Rupiah Banda become incompetent simply because Mwanawasa has died? Of course not.

Dipak Patel has been critical of Rupiah Banda as is he (Dipak) was at Mwanawasa's death bed! Add insult to injury, the former first lady Maureen Mwanawasa says the president always wished the finance minister Ng'andu Magande replace or succeed him. There is nothing wrong with that.

One argument in favour of Magande's candidature is that he was active in mobilizing funds for the fight against corruption. But then, so what?? It was his job; he had to tow the boss's line, which at the time was the fight against corruption.

At the end of the day, it can be said that regardless of what Mwanawasa said before he died, what matters is level-headed leadership that is devoid of tribalism and nepotism. The leadership should be centered around the concept of service to the people. Honestly, what is government if it is not that?

Dipak should let the process take its course and let the people make their decisions through the ballot. The idea of thinking that Rupiah was not Mwanawasa's choice for successor looks insensible when the master is dead. What matters is that Mwanawasa died with most of his policies.

Let's keep our fingers crossed and hope for a peaceful election

Enjoy,

Mutimba