13 Old Wine in New Bottle: The Issue of Corruption in Zambian Prose Fiction Sylvester Mutunda, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia Ngoza J. Banda, Zambia Institute of Special Education, Lusaka, Zambia Abstract The main objective of this paper is to investigate aspects of corruption traits as reflected in the novel A Casualty of Power by Mukuka Chipanta. The study deals with the problem of corrupt leaders in Zambian society, who embezzle public funds, oppress the masses, neglect duties and stop press freedom. Sociological criticism and moral or philosophical approaches are the theories that inform this study. Through the application of these theories, the study has revealed how those in power abuse their offices and the drastic effects this has on the ordinary citizens. The findings indicate that there is manipulation of power through bribery, nepotism, patronage, blackmail and extortion. The findings further reveal how political corruption suppresses, intimidates and terrorizes innocent citizens and the media. The study has demonstrated that the powerless resiliently keep struggling for a better tomorrow. The motive of the writer is to correct the social vices in the society. The aim of the study is to x-ray the problem of corrupt leadership so that the next generation of leaders will not emulate the bad leadership style of older leaders. Keywords: African society, corruption, leadership in Zambia, post-independence, power. Introduction Corruption has always existed in different forms and is not determined by politics or geography. It exists in rich and poor countries alike; it involves both individual States and international organizations and its costs are borne by the citizens. It affects the proper running of governments, distorts the correct functioning of economic and political institutions and hampers transparency, exploits the human person for selfish interests, renders respect for rules obsolete and is a manifestation of structural sin. In his 2014 article titled Corruption: The Bane of Africa, Lumumba quoted Kiraitu Murungi, Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs of Kenya as saying that corruption is worse than prostitution because the latter might endanger the morals of an individual, while the former invariably endangers the morals of an entire country (Lumumba 2014: 17). As stated above, corruption has always existed in rich as well as poor countries. In Africa, as Hope et al. (2000: 17) observe, corruption has reached cancerous proportions. In fact, so pervasive is this phenomenon in the region that it has been labelled the “AIDS of democracy” which is destroying the future of many societies in the region. The corruption problem in Africa reflects the more general, and now legendary, climate of unethical leadership and bad governance found throughout most of the continent. One of the major issues facing post-independence Africa is corruption. Indeed, ever since Africans attained political freedom, the continent has been struggling with issues of corruption. After independence, the peoples’ hopes and expectations were shattered. Neo-colonialism replaced colonialism. As Ekeh (1975) argued, in the struggle for independence the African elite or bourgeoisie took advantage of ordinary Africans to discredit the alien colonizer, the common man