The outgoing American Ambassador, Michael Gonzales, hasn't exactly been packing his bags in silence. From a headline-grabbing appearance on That Zed Podcast (Episode 215) to a candid farewell speech at his residence, Gonzales has spent his final week in Zambia doing something our own officials seem loath to do: speaking plainly. The fallout has been revealing, not just for what was said, but for how our government has chosen—and failed—to respond.

The "Ghosting" of an Ally Gonzales’s parting shot was a heavy one. He reiterated that the U.S. government has repeatedly reached out to the Zambian administration regarding specific corruption investigations, only to be met with a wall of silence. The implication is clear: the government is hoping that by ignoring the messenger, the message will eventually disappear under the carpet. But corruption isn’t a dust mite; it’s a structural rot. By failing to respond in a "duly timely manner," the government isn't just snubbing an ambassador—they are signaling to the Zambian people that they are either unable or unwilling to confront the graft within their own ranks.

A Masterclass in Unapproachability When the government finally broke its silence, the response came from Mulambo Haimbe, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Unfortunately, the Minister’s statement was a masterclass in the very "unreachability" Gonzales criticized. Minister Haimbe dismissed the Ambassador's claims as "mischievous," "undiplomatic," and "deeply regrettable." But instead of a clear, point-by-point rebuttal of the corruption allegations, we were treated to a document that felt like a dry legal contract—unrelatable, unapproachable, and defensive. This is a recurring fever in Zambian politics. Our leaders hide behind "big words" and "unequivocal denials" rather than providing facts. What we needed was a line-item refutation. What we got was "legalese" obfuscation.

The Mystery of the ZAMMSA Report A central point of contention remains the "theatre" of commissioning reports to quiet a scandal. Gonzales specifically highlighted the lack of transparency surrounding the PwC Forensic Audit Report into ZAMMSA (Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency). While the audit—conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers—reportedly exposed massive procurement irregularities and contracts awarded to unregistered suppliers, the government has kept the official document under lock and key. As I reported previously, the public still hasn't seen the full findings. If the government is truly fighting corruption, why hide the very report they commissioned to investigate it?

The "Small Fry" vs. The "Big Cheese" The government’s favorite defense is to point to recent arrests. But let’s be objective: who is actually being handcuffed? While people are being picked up, they aren’t the "Big Cheese." The American government isn't asking for the arrest of low-level functionaries to satisfy a quota. They are looking for the architects of the system. To date, tangible outcomes remain tragically invisible.

Diplomacy vs. The Dollar: The MAGA Shift Perhaps the most interesting turn is the shifting landscape of U.S. diplomacy. Ambassador Gonzales, a career diplomat who began his tenure under a Democratic administration, has spent his final months navigating a much more transactional "America First" strategy. We are already seeing the U.S. attempt to "couple" a $2 billion health deal with a critical minerals agreement—essentially tying aid to our copper and cobalt. As Gonzales departs, it will be fascinating to see how the incoming appointee handles the situation. Will the new ambassador be even more "Trump," even more "MAGA"?

If Gonzales was seen as "undiplomatic" for calling out corruption, how will the government handle a successor who may prioritise American mineral access even more aggressively? Whether diplomatic ties strengthen or fracture moving forward depends on whether the Zambian government chooses to finally confront the "Big Cheese" or continues to hide behind the dictionary.