Agencies/Lusaka
Zambian opposition parties have accused President Michael Sata’s government of nepotism and abusing the courts in an open letter sent yesterday to foreign donors.
Zambian police officers arrest opposition demonstrators during a protest against the suspension of Zambian Supreme Court judge Phillip Musonda and High Court judges Charles Kajimanga and Nigel Mutuna in Lusaka. About 150 protesters clashed with hundreds of riot police officers resulting in multiple civilian casualties. President Michael Sata suspended Musonda and two other judges over alleged misconduct in a ruling on a loan from a government bank to the defunct Zambia Airways
“President Sata has engaged in a concerted effort to install members of family and friends in all key positions of the country’s economic management, assault the independence of the judiciary, and systematically eliminate democratic rights of the political opposition and freedom of expression,” said the letter.
The 10-page document was signed by five parties including the former ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD). The letter said Sata’s administration has contributed to a “rapid erosion of public trust across all of Zambia’s institutions of government.”
“Given the alarming circumstances related to the deterioration of governance in Zambia, we are calling on the donor community to closely monitor compliance of programmes by the state”.
Sata has appointed family members to key government jobs, including brother-in-law Fredson Yamba as secretary to the treasury, son-in-law Godfrey Bwalya Mwamba as defence minister and another son-in-law Robert Sichinga as minister of commerce.
Sata was elected in 2011 after defeating Rupiah Banda in a tight race. Since taking office he has vowed to rid the country of corruption and fight unemployment. Several high-ranking politicians - including Banda’s eldest son - have been arrested and charged with corruption, a move seen by the opposition as politically motivated.
The ruling Patriotic Front (PF) party yesterday slammed the opposition statement.
“It is shameful for the opposition political parties to rush to the donor community to petition the PF government over matters that could be handled internally,” said PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba.
Kabimba declined to answer the various specific charges raised in the letter, saying the concerns should be handled in meetings between the opposition and the government.
Sata, a former opposition leader, was elected last year to the presidency on a ticket of fighting corruption and unemployment.
He also gained support by invoking a populist streak, verbally attacking the influx of Chinese companies and workers to the southern African country, one of the world’s most important copper producers.
The PF says the opposition grouping is upset as the new government is uncovering corruption during the previous administration.
The MMD says it is being unfairly targeted by the new government for political reasons.
Like many former African colonies of European states, Zambia relies on foreign aid for budget support and to help develop the country. The government in recent years has been working to reduce its dependency on international assistance.
Sata recently lashed out at the European Union after the bloc’s diplomats held talks with non-governmental groups and opposition parties, saying such meetings were “unacceptable.”
