Maravi

LETTERS - Constitution, GBM

Political correctness has become our culture
By Saka Sokontwe
Wednesday July 18, 2007 [04:00]

In view of the events that happened on Tuesday 26th June at Mulungushi International Conference Centre over the constitution-making process, one is left to wonder if we the people indeed matter in all areas of governance. The kind of governance we are subjected to by politicians, reveals that our wishes are not the politicians concern. As Ben Carson puts it in his book The Big Picture "political correctness has become one of our culture’s highest virtues and loftiest ideals".

In Zambia, it seems when you are a politician then you are civilised and always right. Politicians always want to behave as if they are an exclusive class of human beings. Is it not curious that suddenly some opposition politicians are key players in the constitution-making process, just because it is the Zambia Centre for InterParty Dialogue involved?
Should we conclude that their fight for a better constitution was in its infancy? I must say, I have serious problems with these politicians’ cowardly and hypocritical way of showing that they are servants of the people.

Sadly, all these politicians have succeeded in doing in their devious attitude is to keep switching sides over the adoption of the constitution all because it is serving their interests.

It must be made clear that the submissions to the Mung’omba CRC formed the basic framework from which any action regarding the constitution-making process must emanate (to include adopting the constitution through the constituency assembly).
What everyone must know is that the constitution is close and dear to our hearts.
We want a people-based forum to write the constitution.

This implies that the government, politicians, Parliament, Cabinet must not take a leading role and have the final say in this process. The people are the ultimate deciders.
I end with a quote which says, "Freedom under law is hardwork. If rulers cannot be trusted with arbitrary power, it is up to citizens to raise their voices at injustice".





http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=29096

Wake up Zambians!
By Mawala Hamwenzu
Tuesday July 17, 2007 [04:00]

I am really suprised at (us) the people of Zambia. Do we really want good governance? Do we really want rapid economic development? Do we want a bright future for our children?

If the answer is yes, then why do we stay docile when the politicians have ganged up to hijack the constitution-making process to the exclusion of others who will ensure that the provisions of the draft constitution are protected.

This constitution conference business is a tool that these politicians are using to hijack the process.
Wake up Zambia! Wake up people of Zambia!

Civil society please raise your voices and stand up for mother Zambia. We also want to have a country we can be proud of.





http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=29097

GBM’'s language
By Aisha
Tuesday July 17, 2007 [04:00]

Thank you for exposing the activities of GBM and Southern Province minister, Joseph Mulyata. I am wondering why the two men are so emotional about your report if they are innocent.

Their reaction is a pointer to something fishy and GBM should not think that he is fighting The Post. He is fighting us the people of Zambia because The Post is one of our critical institutions for maintaining good governance. People like GBM and Mulyata are undermining the anti-graft crusade and are a great embarrassment to the MMD and Zambia.

I am, therefore, requesting Mulyata to resign in order to pave way for investigations and that is the only way he can be cleared of this issue.
As for GBM, his money will not silence all of us and it will never buy him happiness unless he learns to respect our institutions of good governance. Isn’t this the man who wants to be president of Zambia?




http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=29125

Hypocritical leaders
By Clergyman
Wednesday July 18, 2007 [04:00]

I would like to comment on the GBM 'saga'.
First, job well done again The Post; you really dig deeper and this time you have exposed again the hypocrisy of our so-called leaders.

Leaders must inspire us by their conduct and especially by their self respect.
If you do not respect yourself as a leader, neither will the citizenry ever respect you.
GBM is now threatening, intimidating and therefore deserves no respect, till he apologises to The Post and the people of Zambia.
The two should never think that they are above the law to intimidate the law enforcement officers and journalists.

They are not above the law no matter what position or how much money they possess.
How does one explain GBM calling Mulyata to 'assist' him, for a very clear violation of the law - overloading? Let’s stop this rot!




http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=29126

GBM's behaviour
By Kau
Wednesday July 18, 2007 [04:00] Print Article Email Article
If this is the behaviour of leaders, I am afraid we shall continue to move backwards. They are preaching the rule of law but they are the first ones to evade it.

At one time it was Samukonga (once a deputy minister) who literally failed to pay K100,000.00 for his fuel bill. What was going to happen to this poor petrol attendant if he ran short of the money?

It is now GBM and Mulyata on the scene. GBM is threatening to beat up Post managing editor, - for what? It is said ‘the truth hurts” and this is exactly what is happening here. The hidden dealings of GBM have been exposed and he is bitter about it, and yet this is the man who is aspiring to be our leader. What would happen if he got to the highest office? I imagine the powers dripping down to his conductors and call-boys working on his buses.

The whole thing is not about politics as he put it to The Post managing editor (was it a crime for GBM to be in MMD?). It is all about respecting the law and exercising equality.

Why should GBM’s bus be released without paying when others have paid and some are still impounded?

Is it because GBM has access to ministers and he can be given favourable payment terms? Why did GBM not deal with the right office from RDA in this case, if he needed assistance? Whatever is applicable to me should be applicable to GBM.
It is not too late and it doesn’t hurt to say ‘sorry’, GBM should just come out and apologise especially to the officers at the weighbridge.

However, I wish to urge the RDA to pursue the payment. How I wish the payment could be published to clear this story.




http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=29129

Hands up GBM!
By Humphrey Mwelwa Ndola
Wednesday July 18, 2007 [04:00]

You can run but you can't hide. It is not by power nor might but grace is the best way to describe GBM.

Really, the utterances of the rich man in the name of GBM, the wealthy man who can “move the queen from Buckingham Palace to Lusaka” were unpalatable, childish and violence -packed.

It is saddening, especially that many young people are looking up to him as their role model. Little did they know that GBM is a wolf in wolf's skin.
In the Holy Bible, we are reminded that there is time for everything.
Hands up GBM, it is too late.








http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=29128

Plight of retirees
By Mthoniswa Banda
Wednesday July 18, 2007 [04:00]

The sad reports of retirees and pensioners demonstrating to be paid their retirement packages at their former workplaces or indeed at government departments should be a source of concern for any person currently working and contributing to a pension scheme.

These reports should also raise questions as to how the pension monies being deducted every pay day from workers’ salaries are being used.

The plight of pensioners does not show any respect for the people who broke their backs trying to work for the betterment of their company and worked hard for the general well-being of the Zambian economy. It also does not show respect for our law-abiding retired senior citizens.

Abusing pensioners' contributions is also tantamount to stealing and the government needs to start arresting the managers of our pension funds who fail to pay retirees their dues.

Take for example the cases of UNZA retirees, civil servants and former Barclays Bank employees who are currently demonstrating over their hard earned pensions.
What happened to their deductions of the over 20 years they toiled for these organisations?

What happened to the money that was every month being deducted from their meagre salaries?

Who has used it and why are they not paying the 'bearer on demand' of their dues?
This issue of pensions should make those of us that labour every day to start paying a close eye on the deductions we receive every month and start asking what they are doing with these funds and where they are taking them.

Otherwise when the time comes to retire, there won't be any money to pay us and we will join our grand fathers in their long queues at the Supreme Court or Ministry of Finance who sleep in the cold every night waiting for Cabinet to approve the payments of the monies they worked for during their youthful days.

That is why I feel the retirement age should be reduced to 45 so that the retiree have enough energy to start chasing for their retirements benefits when their time comes.

Labels: CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY, CONSTITUTION, CONSTITUTIONAL CONFERENCE, JOSEPH MULYATA, LETTERS

posted by MrK @ 6:39 AM