Maravi

Make 'One Zambia One Nation' motto a reality, Saki urges govt

Make 'One Zambia One Nation' motto a reality, Saki urges govt
By Mwala Kalaluka
Monday January 21, 2008 [03:00]

Livingstone ULP member of parliament Sakwiba Sikota has urged the government to make the ‘One Zambia One Nation’ motto a reality by bridging the widening gap between the haves and have-nots. And Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa has cautioned ministers and deputy ministers against prematurely disclosing figures allocated for projects before the Budget is presented to the House.

Debating President Levy Mwanawasa’s address during the opening of the second session of the tenth National Assembly, Sikota on Friday said Zambia was a country of two ‘nations’ because the national motto had not been concretised.

Sikota noted that the current social-economic disparities in the country were a paradox which he likened to what Charles Dickens wrote in his book entitled The Tale of Two Nations.

“We have Charles Dickens’ paradox, where we have everything before us but nothing before us,” he said. “It is clear that the President recognises this paradox of the best of times and worst of times; time of having everything and having nothing.”

He said Zambia had two classes of people; those that live in the first world of the third world and those in the third world of the third world category.

Sikota bemoaned the widening gap between the rich and the poor and that this was why it was important that presidents re-emphasise the national motto whenever they address institutions like Parliament.

“We need to bridge the gap between the haves and have-nots,” Sikota said as some UPND members of parliament urged him on.

“So long as we fail to do that, as a country, we have no right to say we are leaders.”

Sikota said instead of continuously praising themselves, the executive must work at looking at the interests of Zambians indiscriminately.

And Speaker Mwanamwambwa advised the executive against divulging budgetary allocations prematurely. This was after works and supply deputy minister Mundia Ndalamei said K4.5 billion had been allocated in this year’s budget towards periodic maintenance on the road from Woodlands Stadium to Chalala.

Some members of parliament complained thathemoney was not enough to do a good job.

Ndalamei said the government had no immediate plans to upgrade the road in question due to lack of funds, adding that the K4.5 billion was for maintenance only.

Labels: SAKWIBA SIKOTA, ULP

posted by MrK @ 7:25 AM