The recent arrest and later charging of the son of former Zambia president, Rupiah Banda, Andrew in connection with corruption is likely to send shockwaves all over Africa. Chances are things are likely to change tremendously shall Africa vote in transparent, responsible and patriotic politicians like President Michael “Cobra” Satta.

Banda was arrested after a long cat-rat chase with the arms of justice. He owned some bank accounts with thousands of dollars thought to have been raked illegally. According to Zambian police, Banda had over Kwacha 360,000,000 ($ 67,000). Banda was accused of soliciting $ 30,000 which was his 2% cut from an Italian construction company.

Banda becomes the first child of former president to be arraigned before court in connection with wealth obtained through illegally using the office of his father. For, being the son, wife, daughter or a good courtier of president in Africa gives one a carte blanche to mint and rake money without toiling.

Banda is an embodiment of nepotism, nihilism and stinking corruption which, in essence, is the major cause of Africa’s economic backwardness and stinking poverty centered on egoism, myopia and blatant greed. If anything, these vices are among diseases eating up our sitting-duck potentates all over Africa. Should we blame all this on this carbuncular crop of rulers or even the whole colonial and imperial system that brought them in power? Why, for example, should a whole country have an individual above the constitution? Why should we allow shameless and heartless creatures to enslave us in the name of political leadership? Though Zairean dictator, Joseph Desire Mobutu was renowned for his naval behaviour, greed, folly and myopia, neither his kids nor his wives and concubines featured high in his rule.

The better-than-thou gang of so-called first family thieving with their courtiers and conspirators have kept Africa in the abject poverty. They enjoy the protection of the constitution, military and international conspiracy. For, if anyone tries to take on them, he’s not supported otherwise when they become a danger to the interests of big brothers of the world as it happened to Muammar Gaddafi. We used to read about Imelda Marcos the former first lady of Philippines who was renowned for her love of elegance, lavish spending and extravagance while the tax payers were dying of treatable and preventable diseases little knowing that Africa will produce many Imeldas nourished by our modern Marcoses!

Is it time for Africa to bring the high and mighty as it happened in Zambia whose precedent needs to be emulated all over the continent? Will Zambian authorities see to it that Banda gets the justice he deserves either by meeting his waterloo or otherwise as the law stipulates? Will future Africa refer to this noble precedent that Zambia has set?

By Nkwazi Mhango

The author is a Canada-based Tanzanian and author of Saa Ya Ukombozi.