Maravi

LETTERS - Floods, MMD Presidency

Govt must mitigate floods impact
By Lazarous Mbulo
Sunday January 20, 2008 [03:00]

Floods like any other disasters do occur regularly or once in a while. the government has to put in measures to mitigate or prevent such disasters. As citizens, we pay taxes and put out trust in people governing us to put such mechanisms in place to mitigate the impact of nature. Here we are again faced with a flood situation a phenomenon that we know is almost always going to occur in the rainy season.

What do you expect if people have settled themselves in the river basins? Of course for survival it makes sense but we know the cycle even the Kuomboka is a reflection of the understanding of that seasonal cycle yet year-in and year-out we have flood disasters. We have to put in place measures that will allow for smooth transitions between the dry seasons and the rainy season.

Apart from that, we have seen the government generously flushing the hard-earned tax money to a bunch of few people to discuss a constitution that will not even solve the immediate problems such as the floods. Instead, what we will be seeing shortly is the same government extending its hands with a bowl asking alms from foreign countries to deal with floods.

The same government that can dish out millions of kwacha for a bye election will be dashing off to donors for support to deal with floods!!!
It is about time we developed a system that will up lift this country to a level where we are self-sustaining with a government that can be trusted to take care of us in disastrous times.

We need a government that will not put football as a priority ? a government that will not put meetings and seminars as priorities.

We need a government that will go right to the basics for the very survival of the country. Come on people we need a type of leadership that knows that copper will some day run out or the prices will fall and begin to plan ways to mitigate such market or supply failures rather than dealing with them as aftermaths, normally running off to beg for donations or credits





Managing disasters
By D. Kaminsa
Sunday January 20, 2008 [03:00]

I can’t agree more on the need for a proactive approach with regard to management of disasters in Zambia. Generally, there has been a reactive approach of waiting until a disaster happens before the DMMU can act.

The current disaster policy doesn’t seem to amply address disasters with regard to risk reduction. Current strategies must change as they have not worked so far. It is more expensive to send relief to those affected by disaster than to avoid the impact from the outset. Early warning systems alerted the country in good time for measures to be put in place to reduce the impact in flood-prone areas, such as moving them to higher ground.

Talking of fires in the country, what has been done about reducing risks and ensuring that the fire is quenched early enough before much damage is caused to buildings and property?

The government has at its disposal human resource from its 2 universities; CBU and UNZA, but they are under-utilised. The government must at planning level take advantage of the physical planners who may be of great help in planning ahead for disaster.

This discipline takes into consideration not only aspects of city planning but also the environment. As a long-term measure, there is need to invest in training these professionals, so as to greatly reduce the risks and in turn the impacts that could be caused by any form of disaster.

Egendering risk reduction in all forms of planning in this country could be the starting point. Furthermore, whatever plans are formulated must be followed and reviewed from time to time in order to improve whatever strategies are in place.




Climate change
By Killian Dennis Siamasaka/Kasempa
Sunday January 20, 2008 [03:00]

Climate change is the defining human development issue of our time.
All development is ultimately about expanding human potential and enlarging human freedom. It is people-developing capabilities that empower them to make choices and to lead lives that value. Climate change threatens to erode people’s freedoms and limits their choices.

The early warning signs are already visible in our country, particularly in the Southern Province. Today we are witnessing at first hand what could be the onset of major development reversals to many Zambians.

Thousands of people in Southern Province, particularly the poor, are already being forced to cope with the impact of climate change. Increased exposure to droughts, floods and environmental stress are holding back efforts of most poor Zambians to build a better life for themselves and their children.

Quick response to climate changes is key to every country. The Zambian government should put climate change issues at the centre stage if it is to meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015. We expect the 2008 Zambian budget to address the issues of adaptation, sensitisation and response to climate change.




Levy's successor
By Voter.
Sunday January 20, 2008 [03:00]

Who should take over from Levy? My view on this question is as follows:

In 1964 we needed a fighter to liberate us from the colonialists and the man for the job was Kenneth Kaunda. In 1991, we needed a man for the people, to bring in the much talked about democracy and FJ T Chiluba, the unionist, was the man for the job. In 2001 we needed a man of the law, to enforce the law and to change policies that govern this nation and Levy Mwanawasa was the man for the job.

In 2011, we need someone who will bring change in a way that every Zambian will see it and partake of it, and that change will come in through Pro Clive Chirwa; a man who is being wanted by European countries to change systems in their countries, a man that will bring the most needed development through industrial boom in Zambia.

To move from a consuming nation to a producing nation, if we want to compete with other nations and get out of poverty and debt, like Botswana and South Africa who are debt-free, we need a professor, a man that will bring in industries and more through his exposure and knowledge.

We need to move our country from where it is now and make it look like countries such as South Africa and Dubai.

Professor we are behind you, if they think they can stop you, they will be shocked. Meaningful change is needed.



Good constitution
By Mwewa Yamba
Sunday January 20, 2008 [03:00]

Zambia as a country is desperately in need of a progressive, accountable and people-driven constitution and not necessarily the noise about who should be president, especially after seeing that whenever one becomes a Republican president, his focus is to be hero-worshiped and not to guide the country to prosperity. My only hope is the constitution which is being worked on by the NCC.

Please let all those who are entrusted with the task of working on our new constitution do the noble task of coming up with a responsive document that will help to answer most problems that the country is facing.

The presidential candidates normally floated by respective political parties are not necessarily the answer to the problems Zambia is facing.

I hope that as countrymen and women, this time we shall be very selective and not think on party lines which has led us into the dilemma we are in. The debates over the potential presidential candidates should not be our preoccupation at any time.

The people we float for elections live in ivory towers and so rarely realise the difficulties we go through as ordinary Zambians.

Labels: FLOODS, PRESIDENCY

posted by MrK @ 7:13 PM