Maravi

LETTERS - VJ Mwaanga

Mwaanga's contradictory statements
By Waziona Nkhwekwe
Wednesday April 11, 2007 [04:00]

May I begin by paying tribute to you comrades at The Post for your investigative and accurate reporting. You have once again exposed the lies of the people employed to tell the truth! It is said that the only way of treating a ripened boil is by squeezing and exposing it for what it truly is thereby giving relief to the pain and suffering-riddled patient.

From the onset, I followed Mwaanga’s contradictions on what he said in the Democratic Republic of Congo very closely. As I pieced the information I gathered from different sources together, his version of events became increasingly difficult to believe.

The revelations in The Post of April 9, 2007 proved beyond any reasonable doubt that Vernon Johnson Mwaanga lied to the Zambian people and the National Assembly, thereby collectively insulting our intelligence as a nation.

It is sad that after practicing politics’ for almost half a century Mwaanga has not learned that lies have no legs. History is with many men and women whose lies were exposed with time. It is tragic that Mwaanga’s political career should come to an end, as a result of uncontrolled and shameless lies from his own mouth! Mwaanga’s behaviour raises questions that demand honest and urgent answers.

The first question is: What kind of people do we have in leadership in Zambia ? The second question is: Do they have sufficient honour, integrity and courage to run the affairs of our country in a transparent and honest manner?

If the Minister of Information’s conduct is anything to go by, I can safely say that this country is in grave danger. And swift steps must be taken to ensure that errors of the past are not repeated.

Time has come to enact the Freedom of Information Bill. The Freedom of Information Bill demands all requests for information should be processed quickly and fairly by individuals within public bodies responsible for handling requests and complying with the law.

In case of denial, the Freedom of Information Bill provides a procedure for appeal to an independent, public information commission and from there to the High Court by way of judicial review.

Why is freedom of information important to the people of Zambia, one might ask. It is important for the maintenance of democracy
It enables citizens to ensure that their government is transparent. Information enhances citizen’s capacity to participate in the democratic process by allowing him/her to make informed decisions about matters pertinent to government.

Gives citizens power to make informed decisions about the type of government they want. It helps fight corruption.

Disclosing information is important to prevent danger to people’s lives e.g. if there is an outbreak of cholera in Kitwe people can easily be informed through Chengelo Community Radio station in Kitwe.

In each and every country, its important for citizens to know what is happening in their society and country at large.

Information is not only important to for people, but it is an essential part of any good government.

If the above law is implemented and implemented it should be, the people of Zambia will finally be able to effectively monitor those who run their national affairs on their behalf. I have no doubt that once enacted the freedom of information act will finally and permanently heal the boil that has caused untold discomfort to us the Zambian people for the last 43 years!






http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=25025

VJ's conduct
By MM
Wednesday April 11, 2007 [04:00]

Congratulations The Post for fulfulling the biblical scripture which says that "only the truth shall set you free". And blessed are those who tell the truth and cursed are those who tell lies. Watching the video footage of information minister Vernon Mwaanga's interview in the DRC on Muvi TV main news on Monday evening, I could not believe what I was seeing and hearing.

Mwaanga literally destroyed the credibility of The Post and the journalism profession in Zambia, claiming that the media in Zambia particularly The Post fabricated and exaggerated news and urged the media in Congo not to listen to what the media in Zambia was reporting.

Mwaanga even went to the extent of boasting that he was a former editor-in-chief of the Times of Zambia, hence he understood what went on in the media. Let me remind Mwaanga that when he was editor-in-chief of the Times of Zambia, there was no press freedom under the one party state.

Besides, what record has Mwaanga got to show that he was a distinguished journalist who cannot be matched with any of the journalists of today.

Mwaanga's statement implies that Moses Katumbi has been cleared of the allegations laid against him by the Task Force, especially that this statement was made in the presence of Katumbi himself who also features in the video footage in question.

Can Mwaanga also tell us who Katumbi supplied the maize to, was it to the government through the Food Reserve Agency or to some individuals in the Chiluba governement? Now it is clear why Mwaanga has abandoned Chiluba so that he could distance himself from the plunder activities which he was part of.

With this development, it would be wrong, unwise and unacceptable for Mwanawasa to keep this man in his government. If anything, he should be arrested and charged since he has knowledge of Katumbi's dealings






http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=25026

Zambian politicians
By Hilary Mulenga Jr
Wednesday April 11, 2007 [04:00]


It is common sense that our country’s politics have been hijacked by some people whose sole purpose is to protect their own interests regardless of what truth demands of them.

The story of one of Zambia’s ‘most experienced’ politicians makes sad reading.

Going by what the beloved and most reliable The Post has been reporting, there is no doubt that VJ has got to swallow his pride and admit that he lied before the august House, Parliament. Philosophically, truth is defined as the conformity of the mind to reality.

Looking at VJ’s story, one wouldn’t fail to see that he failed to conform his mind to the reality that he said in the DRC, hence the two contradicting statements he made.

For me, VJ’s precarious situation says a lot not only about him but generally about our politicians. Going by the many lies these men and women feed us with, how many have repented and said they were wrong?

Even when they admit that they were wrong, such pronouncements have been made to protect their selfish interests or to woo support.


If there is a lesson our politicians need to embrace, it is being sincere and admit that they are not gods or goddesses who can’t make mistakes. Trying to bury one’s mistakes is a sign of immaturity as we learn from mistakes and no one can say he or she has never committed or made a mistake in life.

The Post’s revelations are most welcome and shouldn’t be seen as an effort to destroy VJ’s political career. In my opinion, he had plenty of time to turn back the clock and say the truth. The same truth should have set him free from the trap he has brought himself into.

Our politicians, especially those in leadership and those aspiring for leadership, must learn to abide by truth and be sincere in their dealings. VJ’s lesson should also be a big lesson for them. Bravo, The Post! You’re truly the paper that digs deeper.





http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=25027

Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company
By Disappointed customer
Wednesday April 11, 2007 [04:00]

I am writing to register my displeasure at the way Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company is taking its customers for granted. I have lived in Kabulonga, on Kabulonga Road for six years. From the time I came here, we do not have water during the day. We get water in the evening around 18:00 hours and by 08:00 hours the following day, it’s gone. I have complained to the company and all I am told is that the pressure is low during the day.

Can the company do something to increase the pressure during the day? We are sick and tired of a life that is dependant on buckets and containers. What good is water that comes when we are preparing to go to bed?

On Sunday, 8th April, we expected not to have both water and electricity. To our surprise, we had electricity throughout the day.

Thanks to Zesco. True, we switched off our appliances as per their appeal but that’s how it should be. As for water, we were in for a rude shock. We had stored enough water for Sunday, hoping to have water by evening. We did not see even a drop of water.

This spilled into Monday, both day and night. How does the company expect an average Zambian family of 8 to store enough water to use in two or more days? What kind of containers do they think we have? Where do they expect us to draw water from?

And that Simon Mwale while talking to Chanza Sikazwe on TV said it was only Mtendere, Kalingalinga and PHI which had no water but even Kabulonga had no water since Sunday.

Can Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company please restore water? From the look of things, Lusaka is too big for them to supply water to every home. If they can’t manage, let them leave and let other people take over the company. What do they think we pay for?

Labels: LCC, LETTERS, VERNON MWAANGA

posted by MrK @ 4:58 AM