ECONOMIC Front president Wynter Kabimba has argued that former president Edgar Lungu lacked the stamina and resolve to fight corruption, insisting that President Hakainde Hichilema operates on a completely different level of discipline and leadership.
Kabimba said that while Lungu occasionally spoke against corruption, his actions were inconsistent and lacked the courage needed to confront entrenched wrongdoings.
Appearing on Prime TV on Sunday, Kabimba acknowledged that Lungu had taken some steps, pointing to the dismissal of former deputy ministers Ronald Chitotela and Rodgers Mwewa over corruption allegations.
But he said these moves were isolated and more symbolic than transformative.
“I don’t think Lungu had the stamina to fire people for corruption because we would have ended up with no cabinet if he had done that, especially that majority of them were corrupt,” he said.
“Lungu didn’t have the endurance to do what was necessary. Firing a few individuals does not equate to cleaning up a system.”
Kabimba also drew a sharp contrast with President Hichilema, praising his sobriety, focus and seriousness as key traits that enable him to tackle national challenges effectively.
“If you are going to make comparisons between ECL and HH, there is actually nothing like that because the gap is too much. Hichilema is sober like me, he doesn’t drink and he is serious minded when you engage him.”
“He [Hichilema] might not have the experience but sobriety and a sense of discipline that he must give to you. All these were absent in Lungu,” he stated.
He also dismissed claims that Zambia was better off under Lungu, suggesting that such opinions are often shaped by personal gains rather than national interest.
“These reminiscent comments that come from all works of life including the church, that things are worse now than they were under Lungu shock me, unless someone says they used to eat with ECL and now they are not eating then they can convince me. They confuse the loss of privileges with national suffering,” stated Kabimba.
Addressing the cultural expectation to speak kindly of the dead, Kabimba said Zambia must confront past mistakes honestly without fear.
“I live in a culture which says talk good about the dead but if the dead left bad behind, we have to talk about it. Shakespeare cautions us very well that the evil men do lives after them and the good is interred with their bones. I’m sorry that ECL has not been interred yet,” he added.
By Sharon Zulu
Kalemba December 16, 2025