UPND DISMISSES CORPORATE CAPTURE ALLEGATIONS

LUSAKA – The ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) has robustly refuted allegations of corporate capture leveled against it and President Hakainde Hichilema by the international non-governmental organisation Global Witness. In a strongly worded statement, UPND Secretary General Batuke Imenda dismissed the claims as not only false and irresponsible but also politically motivated, suggesting they are designed to undermine the party's standing ahead of crucial elections next month. Mr. Imenda underscored that the UPND government operates on a foundation of strong principles, democratic governance, and the rule of law, values which President Hichilema and the party are committed to upholding. The allegations from Global Witness reportedly suggest that the party and the presidency are unduly influenced by corporate interests, specifically citing First Quantum Minerals as a financier. However, Imenda categorically rejected these assertions, portraying them as a deliberate smear campaign aimed at damaging President Hichilema’s reputation and electoral prospects. The concept of 'corporate capture' refers to the mechanism by which large companies or private industry actors exert strong and undue influence on public institutions, regulatory frameworks, and public opinion. Such influence can manifest through lobbying, recruitment of former policymakers, or even through manipulating public discourse. Global Witness, an international NGO founded in 1993, is known for investigating environmental and human rights abuses, particularly in the oil, gas, and mining sectors, and tracking illicit money and influence within global financial and political systems. Their work often focuses on exposing corruption and challenging systems that enable it. This is not the first time that allegations of corporate influence or corruption have surfaced in Zambia's political landscape. Historically, the nation has grappled with issues of political corruption, sometimes referred to