Maravi

Reporting corruption

Reporting corruption
By Markamp
Thursday March 22, 2007 [02:00]

I am still not convinced with President Mwanawasa’s firing of former lands minister Gladys Nyirongo is due to corrupt practices. Zambians are entitled to own land; if it is not so, then I stand to be corrected. The President went on to ask ‘How can one family have so many plots?’ I believe that Nyirongo’s children lead different lives and will not stay under the same roof. Each child will own his or her own properties.

It is clear to me that the President fired Nyirongo for reporting Frightone Sichone to ACC.

I see no reason why any minister may not report corrupt practices to ACC until the matter reaches the President. If it has been like that, then the President has been overburdened with duties.



http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24153

Free education strategic plan
By Clergyman
Thursday March 22, 2007 [02:00]

I could not help put my hands together for our parliamentarians for recently proclaiming that education in Zambia should be made free to high school level.

With the prevailing economic conditions, I am sure most parents will be relieved to a certain extent in terms of budgeting for their sons, daughters, nieces and nephews.

However, I hope this proclamation comes with a clear vision and strategy for the future of education in Zambia. It’s a known fact that standards have gone down in our education system compared to the first few decades after independence. How does one explain students getting 23 per cent or 5 per cent in an exam at one school (according to reliable sources)? These are consequences of a lacking better system and consistency in education dynamics. This affects not only the pupil, but parents, teachers, government and the nation at large.

The donors also have contributed to this problem by funding the experimentation of our syllabus all the time. We need to create a syllabus that answers to the needs of a Zambian child or student without interference and stands the test of time.

Some factors that come to mind include the demotivation of our teachers because of poor conditions of service. Why should a teacher be poorly paid when he/she has a family to take care of, when he/she has a right to live a good, healthy, enjoyable and satisfying life from the hard labour of teaching? If we cannot motivate our teachers with better incentives the ripple effect will always be too hard to contemplate.

We seem to have this tendency that teachers or any other civil servants for that matter should be paid 'peanuts'. Why shouldn't a teacher drive a Pajero, Landcruiser or a reasonable Corolla? The fact is that the torchbearers of education are demoralised!

Another factor about our education system is that we orient students to think of white collar jobs only. There is nothing wrong with that. But our education system should prepare people to be innovative and expose the talents they have. For example, many people (for exampla Esther Phiri, Madalitso Muthiya) have made a career out of sport.

We need to strengthen sports activities in schools. Through these activities with good sponsorship, anyone can if they work hard live a good life. Nowhere in the world can a government employ every citizen. It’s unrealistic.

Therefore, there is need to seriously look at individual student needs in order to help identify a budding talent in sports, science inventions, music to mention but a few.

The future of our education system lies not only in free education but good incentives for teachers, innovative career searches for students, with a quality and all-encompassing syllabus.
We must declare a 'state of emergency' on our education system especially in the rural areas.

By the way, congratulations Esther Phiri. You've used your talent well. Now stay focused, enjoy the sport; make good money and invest wisely because life is too short. God bless! She is a good example of talent used well.



http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24155

Chief Chibesakunda succession
By Newton Ng’uni
Thursday March 22, 2007 [02:00]

In The Post issue of 16th March 2007, you carried an article entitled “Hunger a Major Problem in Rural Areas- Chibesakunda” in which you made reference to senior chief Chibesakunda of the Bisa people in Northern Province.

To start with there is only one senior chief of the Bisa in Luapula, Northern and Eastern provinces and that is senior chief Kopa who resides in Chinama area in Mpika district. Chief Chibesakunda who resides in Mutambe area of Chinsali district is not a senior chief of the Bisa.

It must be pointed out that while President Mwanawasa recognised a Bob Bwembya Luo as chief Chibesakunda on 27th September, 2006, the day before the elections, Luo cannot be chief Chibesakunda simply because as a “non-Mwina Ng’ona’ he does not qualify.

Luo’s succession to the Chibesakunda’s throne depicts how those with influence can get anything they want through manipulation of the government institutions.

Indeed circumstances surrounding the death of the previous chief and the names of contenders to the Chibesakunda throne notwithstanding, Bob Luo cannot ascend to any throne in any Bisa chiefdom simply because he is not a Mwina Ng’ona. Therefore his so-called succession to the Chibesakunda throne is invalid and must not be allowed to stand.

Under Bisa traditions, only Umwina Ng’ona (a member of the Ng’ona Clan) can ascend to the throne of chieftaincy in any of the areas where Bisa have settled.

To become chief, one must trace his lineage to a woman who is Umwina Ng’ona. For this reason (and taking the late chief Chibesakunda as the reference point), only three lines can produce a chief under Bisa traditions and these are:

(i) Brothers of the late chief. These are male children born to the chief’s mother or born to the chief’s mother’s sisters. (ii) nephews of the late chief. These are children of the chief’s sisters. The chief’s sisters must be daughters born to the chief’s own biological mother and/or daughters born to the chief’s mother’s sisters and (iii) Grandchildren of the chief.

These are children of the chief’s nieces. The children of the chief’s nephews do not qualify. Under Bisa traditions, a chief cannot bear another chief. Chief’s are determined through women. The chief,s nieces are children of the chief’s own biological sisters and female children of the chief’s smother’s sisters.

Since everyone who succeeds to the throne in any Bisa chiefdom must trace his lineage to a mother who is Umwina Ng’ona Luo cannot qualify and his attempt and eventual so-called succession is invalid ambition.
Who is Bob Bwembya Luo in the context of succession to the Bisa throne in Mutambe Areas?

Bwembya’s great grandparents on his mother’s side (which is cardinal in succession matters) came from chief Makasa’s area in Kasama district.

President Mwanawasa must investigate how he came to recognise a person who does not even qualify to be chief. President Mwanawasa must know that what has happened in Mutambe is an insult to all Bisas and must not be allowed to stand.



http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24157

Levy’s letter to Nyirongo
By Isaackashini, USA
Thursday March 22, 2007 [02:00]

Isn’t it interesting that President Mwanawasa was so quick to react to The Post editorial that criticised him for firing Reverend Gladys Nyirongo as lands minister? He went to great lengths to justify his decision to drop the minister, and even allowed The Post to reproduce the dismissal letter in full. What I find most interesting is that it has taken His Excellency just one critical editorial to react, but how many editorial comments have been written over Sokoni’s letter, and yet President Mwanawasa has remained mute?

If the release of Rev Nyirongo’s letter is meant to help us appreciate the President’s fight against corruption, then let us see his sincerity and seriousness in this fight by going ahead to also release Sokoni’s letter.

The Post editorial (February 21, 2007) made it very clear, we need to see Sokoni’s letter! If the nolle prosequi which was given to Dr Bulaya was done in good faith and due regard to the law, then we are not asking too much by demanding for Sokoni’s letter.

But for as long as our dear President stays indifferent to people’s demand on this account, there is nothing he can do which will stop people from concluding that this fight against corruption is only skin deep and selective insofar as it is convenient to him. Should it take a hundred editorials from The Post before the President releases Sokoni's letter? Ma






http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=24158

Zambians’ saving culture
By Michael Charles Daka
Thursday March 22, 2007 [02:00]

In a country where 78 per cent of adults don’t have a bank account, and women save more than men despite their being the majority in formal employment. (“FinScope, (2005),.

Financial access in Zambia.”) one would easily agree with Chilipamushi’s remark in the Business Post of March 19 that Zambians lack a saving culture.

However, I disagree with the above assertion on the following grounds.
To date it has not been scientifically proved that culture affects saving. (Christopher D. etal (1994), Are There Cultural Effects on Saving? Some Cross-Sectional Evidence.)

2. The tax system in Zambia heavily discriminates against saving as it is biased towards taxing income and not consumption. For instance people’s interest earned on bank deposits are subjected to a tax called medical levy.

3. The relatively high bank charges discourage people from saving. How many people can met the high entry requirements required to open an account, reference letters from account holders of a given bank and the high minimum balances?

4. Current interest rates on bank deposits do not encourage saving, as they are in real terms negative. And if people see negative growth on their savings, they stop saving. It’s the logical thing to do. Furthermore, given the oligopoly in the banking sector, I do not see the return on bank deposits improving without government intervention.

5. Authorities have not done enough to rebuild people’s confidence in banks, after the bank failures of the 1990s.

Therefore I suggest that the government address all these issues before heaping all the blame of low savings on culture.

Labels: BANKING, CORRUPTION, GLADYS NYIRONGO, LETTERS

posted by MrK @ 3:39 AM