The move by Mwanawasa attracted widespread praise from the international community but his critics perceived the crusade as a political manoeuvre aimed at investigating late second president Fredrick Chiluba and officers that served in his 10-year administration.

Zambia’s newly elected leader, Michael Sata said the zero-tolerance stance against corruption adopted by his administration was irreversible.

President Sata reaffirmed his administration’s firm stand on curbing corruption in both the public and private sector.

“During the campaigns we made an undertaking that we shall robustly fight corruption and we shall do just that. The policy of this government is that any person who has aggrieved the Zambian people economically and otherwise, in the past or present, must face the law,” he said.

“Make no mistake about it, because we are resolute on combating corruption and all its offshoots even if it means losing friends. We are ready to make that sacrifice for the sake of the Zambian people whom we promised and as a result they gave us the mandate to preside over this country’s affairs.”

President Sata said the law enforcement agencies would investigate any past and present acts of corruption and ensure that the culprits were prosecuted within the due process of the law.

“I’m confident that professionalism and exemplary ethical conduct shall be the bedrock of this process,” President Sata said.

He emphasized that the crusade against corruption would be done without malice or witch-hunt and would be non-selective because he did not believe in selective justice.

“This government has not made a decision at any level regarding the removal of anybody’s immunity. And nobody has even talked about it either from the party or government’s side. It is therefore, preposterous that some political stakeholders and leaders among us are attempting to frustrate this crusade by throwing innuendoes and half-truths on this noble cause,” he said.

“I must repeat that, we are unwavering on this score and nothing other than justice shall prevail. As for those who have expediently decided to side with corruption and the corrupt, we leave it to the Zambian people to see and know them for who they are and what they stand for. A moment ago, we all campaigned on the platform of fighting corruption, so what has changed?”