Wednesday, June 27, 2007

LETTERS

Levy, Sata picture
By B. M. Chisanga
Wednesday June 27, 2007 [04:00]

The Sunday Post of June 24th, 2007 carried a very clear picture of the year in all aspects of the Republican President Levy Mwanawasa and PF president Michael Sata. This picture was the most impressive, comforting and reassuring chapter in our country's political leadership for a long time.

Mwanawasa and Sata’s picture on your front page sharing a light moment, gives a healing process to our nation despite the two having strong political differences in approach to national issues.

The beaming faces of both did affect those who were with them. Even some of us who saw that picture rejoiced.

Therefore, to our leaders please do not betray this God-given mission of promoting a just society and use your authority to uplift the least in our country. It takes two to tango. To The Post, a pat on your back. Please continue. The picture spoke louder than words.




http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=28304

Funding political parties
By Lawrence Nyambe
Wednesday June 27, 2007 [04:00]

Victor Kunda Mwaba of Birmingham, AL, USA says in his letter in The Post of June 19, 2007 that he was disappointed over what Saki (Sakwiba Sikota) was quoted as having said regarding the consensus of opposition parties being funded by the government.

Well I am shocked and more than disappointed over the unprogressive views held and expressed by my brother Mwaba on the very important subject of funding political parties in Zambia, considering that he is – I assume - a man of high academic and professional credentials.

The majority of countries that have thriving economies and whose people enjoy high standards of living are those that have flourishing democracies. In these countries, in the majority of cases, governments fund political parties.

The point is opposition parties are a vital ingredient in our political dispensation and funding them will ensure that they play their role effectively. Democracy is not a cheap commodity; it costs money and we must be prepared to pay.

It is high time we realised and accepted that just as the government budgets and pays for education, this, that, and the other, it must also budget and pay for democracy. Mind you where democracy is brutalised, conflict, chaos and tension set in and even education, health and other key areas suffer.

It is therefore clear that development and progress can be better achieved when democracy exists and flourishes, so let us fund our opposition parties. We can agree on the criteria to determine the numbers, methodology and other details. In fact, funding political parties is in line with recommendations contained in the Mung’omba draft constitution and that is the will of the people.
So what Saki said brother Mwaba was progressive and needs our support as Zambians.


http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=28248

Police bulletproof vests
By Dr Andrew Phiri,
Tuesday June 26, 2007 [04:00]

News of police officer Bwalya shot in the abdomen over the weekend in the course of duty in Chipata overspill left my heart troubled.

As I watched him on TV restless, in pain and battling for his life in hospital, I remembered Lt Gen Shikapwasha’s promise to provide bulletproof vests to the police service as a matter of urgency when another officer sufferred a similar fate last year. Has such protection in fact been provided?

Why does our government let our officers serve under the most archaic and dangerous environment without motivation and appreciation?
This officer and many others make a big difference and definitely deserve better.



http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=28249

Keep Zambia Clean campaign
By Gady Mwamba Museka,
Tuesday June 26, 2007 [04:00]

Change, either positive or negative, is always received with mixed reactions by the people concerned. The campaign has een launched to keep our country clean and should therefore be appreciated by all. As the editorial comment on the above subject mentioned, there is a need for educating not only people who will be affected but also the implementers of this campaign.

In cases where it involves destruction of makeshift stores, let the people concerned be informed and find them alternative trading places rather than a situation where one wakes up only to find the place were they were surviving from destroyed.

I am not encouraging vending but let us also do a mini-survey of how many people are trading in our streets and if all these were taken or fused into existing legal markets, will they fit or not? The population of traders keep on increasing every day. Reports indicate that in Zambia just 30 per cent of the working age group if not less are in formal employment.

That poses a question about the other 70 per cent. Therefore, whatever activities are done, let us have the interest of all the people. After all, we are cleaning Zambia for the benefit of the people who live in Zambia.

This is just a caution letter to the people tasked to carry out the task to keep Zambia clean. It requires working with people so that everyone benefits. Sensitisation is needed and it is a challenge to the local government, in particular the councils throughout the country to ensure that the rubbish bins are planted at least every 100 square metres. It would be unfair to charge someone for an offence of littering and yet there are no rubbish bins.

There is need also to build more public toilets in town centres.
Let us all as Zambians and others who live in Zambia help the government to keep our environment clean. This is not a matter of politics. So regardless of one’s political affiliation, we are needed to support this campaign and ensure that it succeeds.

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