Measure for Measure: Levi’s ‘Legacy’ on Trial

One of the hot political topics during the just ended period of national mourning was Levy's legacy. A number of statements have been made painting the late president as a champion of democracy and someone who upheld the rule of law.

Malama Katulwende, in a very controversial article, offers an alternative view. Here is the opening salvo...

The untimely death of the Third Zambian Republican President, Dr. Levi Patrick Mwanawasa has not only brought profound sadness, grief, guilt, shock and confusion to the first family and the people of this country but also inspired a deluge of hypocrisy and irrationalism over his supposed legacy and estimate.Gripped by the tragic loss of a man who presided over the affairs of our nation since 2002 some sections of the media, civil society, political leadership and citizenry have suddenly started lavishing the late president with preposterous titles and praises which were never pronounced by them in his life. They have, for example, given him such accolades as ‘a great leader,’, ‘a great hero,’ ‘a champion of democracy,’ ‘a visionary’, ‘our beloved president’, ‘a great son of Africa’, ‘an economic emancipator,’ ‘a fighter for the poor,’ ‘a just man,’ and a dozen other ‘tributes’ that sum up Mwanawasa’s achievements and successes. No one has alluded to Mwanawasa’s arrogance, unpopularity and lack of leadership qualities.The purpose of this column, however, is to demonstrate the hypocrisy, falsehoods and lack of sincerity of some Zambian press and people. In terms of history as an every day affair which people create and perform, the author therefore questions and puts the supposed ‘legacy’ of Levi Mwanawasa on trial. To what extent does the late president measure up to his ‘legacy’? Are the titles and estimates that the late president is currently receiving truly justified? What extraordinary things did this man do as president of Zambia? What constitutes ‘greatness’?In an editorial comment titled, “Our Lessons from Levy’s Life, Death” the Post newspaper of August 21st 2008 depicted Levi Mwanawasa as a standing sacrifice who fought corruption and lived an honest life. “Millions of people, touched by the humanity, honesty and kindness of Levy, will forever cherish him in their hearts…Levy was a true human being for our country. A challenge to be human. With him one cherished to be human…The greatest tribute we could pay to Levy is to live, as he did, with warmth and kindness, with great integrity, with courage, with a simple unaffected humility.”The Post believes Levi set the standards of incorruptibility, honesty, integrity and commitment. The paper advised Zambians to protect Levi’s legacy by endorsing Ngandu Magande, current finance minister preferred by Levi Mwanawasa to succeed him, as their next republican president.

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