LETTERS - Procurement, Musosha, Education
AccountabilityBy Concerned citizen
Wednesday October 17, 2007 [04:00]
Among numerous problems plaguing our Zambian governing system is the lack of proper checks and balances between the legislature and the executive. This problem is well highlighted by the provision in the law allowing the Minister of Finance and National Planning to acquire large debts without getting checked by parliament.
Supposedly, these ‘technocrats’ in the executive are competent enough to make decisions meant to benefit the citizens of Zambia. However, the citizenry must be given the opportunity to evaluate the neccessity and understand the magnitude of the loans the government acquires.
If the people have the opportunity to approve expenditure through the national budget presented to parliament, then we also deserve to be aware of the origin of the money being borrowed. After all, parliament exists to represent the paramount authority of our democracy, the citizens.
The perception that input from the citizens through parliament would hamper the process of acquiring debt is justifiable.
However, the inconvinience of delaying the acquisition of loans due to the people’s input pales in comparison with the possible future burden of Zambia being, yet again, at the mercy of foreign profiteers and opportunists.
Regarding large sums of money, the Zambian citizens, who ultimately will be responsible for the debt, have a right to examine the terms, conditions, and intended use of the loans the government acquires.
This can only be effectively done through our representatives in parliament. Hence the need for proper checks between the executive and the citizen-elected parliamentarians.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=32832
Politics of bootlicking
By Jenkins Chisoni Glasgow
Thursday October 18, 2007 [04:00]
It is not my intention to seem to defend Brigadier General Miyanda in my submission as he is a very capable self-defender, but I certainly cannot keep quiet about ‘muzungu wanga anikonde’ politics of the likes of George Mpombo.
Surely, who can speak better for himself than the President himself on matters he tells the nation? Does he need the services of ministers like George Mpombo to clarify his feelings and expresions?
Mpombo does not need to explain to us in the whole nation what the President meant in his speech. We all got the message and Miyanda simply reacted just like all of us are doing including KK’s reaction on Monday.
George Mpombo has no right to call any of us malicious. He should keep ‘muzungu wanga’ politics and his kneeling before Levy to himself and leave us, the rest of citizens, alone to talk to our President in our own ways. It is our right to talk to our President without uninvited third parties like Mpombo.
The President does not need any defending by his ministers on matters he has directly told the whole nation. We want to know how we shall be committing treason if we say or react on the new NCC law simply because it has become law. How malicious is that, Mpombo?
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=32895
Exaggerated respect
By Keith Matwi
Friday October 19, 2007 [04:00]
I have decided to write this letter because this is the second time I have seen defence minister George Mpombo on his knees while talking to the President.
To show respect does not mean we must crawl or kneel or even prostrate ourselves before our President. We can kneel before a chief as required by our traditions and customs but certainly not before the Head of State who is not a monarch.
Mpombo should realise that he is the de facto number two in the country by virtue of the sensitivity, strategic and importance of the portfolio he holds.
He must learn to stand or sit shoulder to shoulder with the Head of State and discuss matters of national security on a man-to-man basis. Crawling, kneeling, prostrating and showing humility will not buy the President’s trust.
Telling him the truth without hiding anything is what will help Levy run this country effectively and this should be done respectfully because he is our Head of State and is older than a good number of us.
In short, I am advising our Vice-President, ministers, members of parliament and defence chiefs not to exaggerate their respect for the President by kneeling before him, which he might not even be interested in.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=32894
Higher education
By George Makubalo, South Africa
Friday October 19, 2007 [04:00]
My comments are prompted by what I perceive to be a continuous marginalisation of higher education on the list of the country's priorities. While others may argue to the contrary, evidence shows that higher education continues to be seen as a luxury, or something that can be taken away with no repercussions on society.
Studies have shown a close correlation between high level skills, productivity and growth in national economies. Whilst other countries are doubling their efforts in growing the skills base, Zambia is seemingly stashing away talent by under-funding higher education and continually disrupting learning cycles: The continuing closure of the Copperbelt University being a very immediate case.
These closures of universities cannot go on unabated. In the past three years I have worked for three universities in South Africa where student protests and labour disputes also take place.
However, closing institutions because of a strike is not seen as a way out. I think this is because people rightly believe that the closure of an institution does not make the problem disappear.
However, in Zambia there is a different logic in times of crisis: closure of universities is what comes first to the minds of government functionaries and university administrators.
In my view this hastiness to close universities is chiefly motivated by one factor: money.
Closing a university, I suspect, means millions will be diverted to inconsequential political events such as hosting the SADC heads of state summits, or indeed theatrical ventures such as the now infamous NCC.
Without seeming to be an alarmist, I believe national survival depends on getting national priorities right. If nothing drastic is done, what will happen in the future, and signs are already there, is that foreigners will be running the country because there are no skilled people.
Newspapers in South Africa and Australia are replete with adverts for jobs in Zambia to work on the mines and other crucial sectors of the economy because there are supposedly no qualified people in Zambia to occupy those positions.
The nation needs to engage some serious soul-searching as to the place of higher education in society. There is a serious need to re-read the commitments that were made by the country's founding fathers (and mothers) when the Uinversity of Zambia was being established in the 1960s.
There is a serious need to put higher education high up the national agenda or else the promise of development and prosperity in this age will remain illusory.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=32813
Musosha's utterances
By Hilary Mulenga Jr, Lusaka
Wednesday October 17, 2007 [04:00]
I want to urge PF’s Given Lubinda not to give up in fighting for what is right despite unfortunate attacks from people like Musosha.
Indeed, the nation sees where Lubinda stands as a beacon of hope and an icon of patriotism. Lubinda has always transcended politics of personal gain and it is no wonder that selfish politicians like Musosha will do everything to shut him up.
Musosha’s utterances are misplaced because they are coming from a senior member of government who should have thought first before he made his pronouncements.
One wonders what is wrong with our leaders because they seem to think after they speak. Besides, the threats border on personal grudges that are irrelevant to the corruption allegations.
The issue at hand is that Musosha, like any other person, is not immune to investigations especially abuse of authority of office . His government is always at pains trying to make us understand that it is not selective when it comes to fighting corruption.
In fact, he should be happy that Lubinda is suggesting to him a golden opportunity to wash his hands clean and save his government from shame.
Musosha should not hold any hatred against Lubinda. Let him take a leaf from Lubinda‘s political smartness so far. Let him reserve those punches for a lesson from Lubinda. I am sure many people will agree with me that Musosha has a lot to learn from Lubinda on how he should conduct himself in politics.
Lubinda, unlike Musosha, has always been selfless. He has stood by his principles through and through. I am sure any sensible person would surely learn from such a man, instead of showering unnecessary insults on him.
As for Lubinda, the nation is there to see how he has ‘Given’ himself to the people. I trust that he will not be deterred by cheap politicians whose interests are their own. Let Lubinda ‘bark’ if that is what it takes to protect Zambia from selfish leaders.
Labels: CHRISPINE MUSOSHA, LETTERS, PROCUREMENT SYSTEMS
posted by MrK @ 9:06 AM
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