TRUTH MATTERS

FOR once Mr Chishimba Kambwili, the National Democratic Congress leader has demonstrated that he can rise above partisan politics in defence of the truth.

This is even at the expense of being branded a sell- out by other opposition leaders for whom truth is anathema if it portrays the government in a positive light.

This is the positive side that the nation wants to see in Mr Kambwili, and indeed other leaders from the opposition ranks.

In a statement that must have surprised most people not only in the ruling Patriotic Front government but beyond, Mr Kambwili has dispelled assertions that Government is dispensing expired medicines to various health centres.

According to a statement issued by NDC deputy media director Kaoma Musonda, Mr Kambwili was prompted to make an impromptu visit to both Medical Stores in Lusaka and the Zambia Medicines Regulatory Authority (ZMRA) to verify if a company, HoneyBee had supplied expired drugs, and found that it was not true.

This followed allegations that HoneyBee Pharmacy had supplied toxic drugs after being illegally awarded a US$17 million supply tender by the Ministry of Health.

Away from the public media frenzy that such a visit would create, Mr Kambwili visited Medical Stores and ZAMRA to find out the truth.

What he learnt after the visit was that the story was far from the truth.

He said after interacting with authorities at Medical Stores and ZAMRA, he was assured that Government was not dispensing expired medicines to health centres, said the NDC spokesperson.

Mr Kambwili, who condemned public health care misinformation, said what he saw was contrary to what was peddled in the media.

“ZAMRA explained that they had a duty of making sure that the public was protected from harm. Before any medicines are brought into the country, there are processes which take place in terms of evaluating products from the information point of view,” Mr Kambwili said.

Mr Kambwili urged stakeholders in the public domain to be cautious when it comes to disseminating information bordering on health because wrong information could make people in rural areas to shun health care services.

This has really shown another side of Mr Kambwili, that portrays that being in the opposition does not make one an enemy of the truth.

We have always espoused that opposition leaders also have a role to play in the governance of the country.

Although their primary role is to provide checks and balances to the party in power, they ought to be aware that their conduct must also build the nation.

A national leader is not just the one in the government, but even those in the opposition.

What Mr Kambwili has demonstrated is that politics of mudslinging do not build the nation. Opposition figures who thrive on peddling lies must be shown the exit door for they do not want to build but destroy the nation.

What the country needs is unity in diversity. Politicians in the government and outside must learn to defend the truth for that will also ensure peaceful co-existence among their followers.

Mr Kambwili has been a harsh critic of the PF government who has still found it fit to defend the truth.

That is what the nation demands of their political

leaders – not compromising the truth.