Maravi

LETTERS - Leadership, The Budget

Fundanga, Milupi profiles inspirational
By David Chisenga, Lusaka
Tuesday January 29, 2008 [03:00]

Your recent profiles of Luena independent MP Charles Milupi and BoZ Governor Caleb Fundanga are truly inspirational. Reading through their respective backgrounds, one gets a sense that these men are truly gifted, genuine, selfless, caring and committed sons of our land. Their intellect and rationale is also way above average. I wish we had more great minds like these in our political and governance setup.

The only sad thing is that our political system as it stands today makes it very difficult for honest, rational and hardworking men/women to reach top leadership. Instead, rhetoric, corruption, nepotism and tribal prejudice seem to be a sure way to make it to the top.

Fellow Zambians, let's all come together and demand greater accountability from our leaders and change the 'cadre thug' mentality that characterises our politics today.

We collectively have the power to change and with a common will, nothing will stand in our way. Neither Milupi nor Fundanga is my tribesman (and that's immaterial) but they definitely have the credentials to play a leading role in the future of our country.

I like it when Milupi illustrates the fact that you don't have to be the president to make a meaningful contribution to the nation. These men will surely be invaluable assets to us in whatever capacity they serve in the near future.

I wish the two gentlemen good health; and to Amos Malupenga at The Post, please keep up the good work of profiling Zambia's high-calibre men/women. We really appreciate the great insight and inspiration we derive from reading their stories.

In future, I'd be interested to read profiles on other accomplished individuals like Willa Mung’omba, George Sokota, Lombe Chibesakunda (assuming you haven't already done so).




http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=36855

Magande's budget
By Mwewa Yamba
Tuesday January 29, 2008 [03:00]

There is a lot of anxiety whenever the national budget is presented by the Minister of Finance, and over time the public is never convincingly told how the previous budget was implemented.

We are good at announcing figures but very poor at implementing the budget except for programmes that are meant to suit and benefit politicians.

When one looks at the social sector; education and health sectors, one sees serious neglect on the part of the government. How many schools and health centres does the government build or renovate to match the population increase each year?

What about human resource development? Of course politicians and the government leaders will tell lies over such as they do not care to know what actually prevails on the ground. Is the government not ashamed that the roads are damaged due to neglect?

Why do we even want to appear on television giving unrealistic statements as though we care? Indeed, a budget whose implementation is defective is not worth the publicity it is given during presentation.




http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=36856

HH's timely warning
By Chali Chewe
Tuesday January 29, 2008 [03:00]

The letter by Jensen from Germany (The Post 27/01/ 08) condeming HH's timely warning about the Kanyama roads rehabilitation cannot go unchallenged. Perhaps our dear Jensen has been away too long in Germany or has been consumed by the European standards of living.

I am neither HH's spokesman nor a UPND sympathiser, but HH's warning and likening the conduct of the MMD government's rampant attempts at corrupting voters during by-elections to the Kenyan scenario cannot be ignored and I believe this is what a responsible opposition leader ought to be saying to the government and alerting people about.

We must learn from the mistakes around us. The Kenya situation is a sad one and I do not think HH, by saying what he said, was longing for what is happening there to happen in Zambia.

On the contrary, I found the statement to be a reminder to all of us that we should not be taking things for granted. If Kenyan politicians had taken the trouble to learn from the situation in Sierra Leone, Liberia or Ivory Coast, they would have avoided this senseless bloodbath currently afflicting their nation. Herein lies HH's message.

I do not believe HH, with his investments and roots in Zambia and the wealth that mother Zambia has endowed him with, would wish for all that to be wiped away.

He could have easily taken residence in a foreign country like Jensen but he has stuck in here with us and we are the ones seeing the deception and experiencing the crookedness of the ruling party, especially during by-elections like the one about to take place in Kanyama.

It is so annoying, Jensen, for those in power to think of citizens as fools and people who cannot reason and hence can easily be bought.

I am sure the Kenyans did not wish to be where they are now, but perhaps nobody took the trouble to remind them of the consequences of tolerating vote buying and rigging. By the way, Kanyama is not the only place with bad roads and flooding.

In terms of flooding, the southern region is worse than Lusaka and most roads in compounds are in a terrible state. Why the concentration in an area where there will soon be a by-election? Much as it also requires attention, one need not be a political scientist to deduce the sudden interest to quickly fix the shared problems of Kanyama.

Only a person who is not living in this country and is detached from the realities on the ground can describe HH’s statement as careless and saddening as Jensen judged it. I am just a simple Zambian voter with no affiliation to any party, but I would say hats off to HH. Indeed we do not want to end up like Kenya.




http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=36854

Chief Zombe's interest in Maureen's presidency
By Jenkins Chisoni, Glasgow
Tuesday January 29, 2008 [03:00]

The debate whether first lady Maureen Mwanawasa should contest the MMD presidency and eventually the Republican presidency in 2011 has become very interesting, more so when we start witnessing royal establishments taking sides on the subject.

In all fairness to the first lady, I wish to acknowledge the position of Paramount Chief Chitimukulu and MMD deputy secretary Kande that the debate should not arise at all in the absence of the first lady's personal declaration of interest to run for presidency.

I am a supporter of the idea of a female president (especially after having had the experience of a male president like Chiluba) but not just for the sake of having a woman at plot one.

I can understand the excitement of MMD party cadre Chibombamilimo in suggesting Maureen for MMD presidency, but I cannot fathom the interest of His Royal Highness Chief Zombe and the royal establishments of the Mambwe and Lungu's interest in Maureen only, given the fact that Zambia has so many eligible female leaders, some of whom have vast experience in understanding local and international issues.

My apologies to the Royal Highnesses if they are already MMD sympathisers as they have the right to talk about leaders for their party only. But if they are not MMD, then I suggest they should remain neutral and be able to look at other female leaders in all the political parties in the country.

Let us wait for Maureen's say on the matter and those of other women who may be interested in leading our country before the debate can really start.

Labels: 2008 BUDGET, CALEB FUNDANGA, CHARLES MILUPI

posted by MrK @ 10:04 AM