LETTERS - Rupiah Banda
RB exposedBy P E Banda Kitwe
Saturday September 20, 2008 [04:00]
The Post has exposed Rupiah Banda’s character.
Even before he is elected as Republican president, he has a bunch of liars trying to tell the nation that he was never compaigning in Katete at Vulamukoko.
Hopefully, the ECZ has taken serious note of the evidence on the ground.
The Post has been vindicated even before elections are held.
Countrymen and women, vote wisely in the forthcoming presidential by-election.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=46278
Politicians' promises
By Vernon C Mwaba,Kitwe
Friday September 19, 2008 [04:00]
I wish to say something about politicians as the presidential by-election is around the corner.
It's become very common these days to find politicians saying, at every opportunity, that their government would ensure that, "....we are going to create employment, provide free medical services, free education, reduce fuel prices, free etc ....." I keep asking my self: “But how?” How are these politicians going to do what they are telling people they would do once they are in power?
During the 2006 tripartite elections, we voted for some parliamentarians who failed to perform in their constituencies.
Can the politicians please articulate their manifestos so that we know they are genuine? They shouldn't only be 'wishes' on their to-do wish lists of politicians. Rather, they should be promises that are attainable with proper laid down plans.
The voters must ask these politicians how they are going to change their lives for the better. I don't think the current government or those in the past just want to punish the citizens by not providing them with better services. They simply don't know how to. So it's the 'how' that should be explained to the people by this year's presidential aspirants.
Running a country is totally different from running a business entity, be it a casino, kantemba or a political party.
In developed countries, policies and plans of political aspirants are normally turned into realities and followed through. In Zambia, unfortunately, the problems are immense so much that we have all kinds of economic, political, social problems.
This time, we are going to need a complete and better assembled team to move us forward. As a minister of the word, I believe that it is wrong for politicians to start shouting that they would be saviours who have come to redeem us from all the economic and other woes without telling us how.
We need a leader who is focussed, action-oriented, not a public speaker. One can be successful in boardrooms (business) or even at running their own political parties but what team are they bringing to the national boardroom? What is their policy on health, education, agriculture, HIV/AIDS, democratic principles, children at risk (street children ), the economy and how are they going to turn those policies into reality?
We need to ask ourselves whether these politicians vying for the top job have the leadership qualities to lead our nation.
As we go to vote on October 30, let us look at their lives, their credentials and their achievements.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=46279
UPND, PF should unite
By Ganizani Zulu N.
Friday September 19, 2008 [04:00]
I would like to concur with those appealling for an electoral pact between PF and UPND that will allow only one of the presidential candidates to run for the October 30 elections.
Indeed, it is very disheartening to see how selfish our opposition leaders seem to be, especially that even when they see for themselves that they would never win these elections as long as they are divided.
It is simple logic that since 2001, the MMD has never won with a majority vote. The opposition has always had a larger percentage of the people’s votes but alas these votes have been fragmented amongst various opposition parties.
If our opposition leaders have the interest of the nation at heart, then let them show us that they are mature enough to sit together and unite so as to remove their common opponent - MMD.
It is discouraging for a voter to go and vote for someone whom they outrightly know won’t win the election due to the fact that the votes will be split.
As it is now, unless the oppsition unite, the MMD will win the election with ease, even with a small margin.
My appeal to the opposition leaders, HH and Sata, is that they should unite and let only one of then stand for this election. We are tired of having our votes fragmented amongst numerous opposition parties.
The writing on the wall is clear for all to see. As long as the oppsition is divided, they should forget about unsitting the MMD.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=46288
Corrupt campaign style
By Mwine Chabu Jo'burg
Saturday September 20, 2008 [04:00]
I refer to the people’s voice - The Post, Thursday September 18, 2008. The exposed RB campaign style is simply the continued phenomenon of the MMD and should not be received with shock.
The only problem we have in Zambia is the toothless, and passive Electoral Commission of Zambia on such reports as it is in the pocket of RB. The other problem is the coming back of VJ to the MMD
campaign team. With recent Zimbabwean election experience, we are likely to witness once again things like delay of election results as was the case in 2006.
That delay was for the purpose of changing the people’s choice. Who doesn’t know that MMD has been a minority government?
Please, Zambians, learn from American democracy or we are also heading for a government of national unity. Surely, corruption cannot be eradicated by a leader who comes into power through it.
I urge The Post to continue exposing such tricks without fear or favour. Zambians in foreign states are willing to come back and vote on 30th October 2008. May God bless The Post and mother Zambia.
http://www.postzambia.com/post-read_article.php?articleId=46286
CEEC, disbursement mode
By Caroline Mwanza
Saturday September 20, 2008 [04:00]
Having attended the stakeholders’ consultative workshop the CEEC hosted at Mulungushi International Conference Centre on Wednesday 17th September 2008, I would like to advise the Director General and the Commissioners of the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission as follows:
K150 billion (about US$35 million) is not a lot of money for empowerment, but it is a good start. It can have significant development impact depending on how it is used.
From what I have gathered, the Commission has taken the lazy, tired, tried and failed approach of working through commercial banks to deliver a development programme. Working through commercial banks, particularly to deliver citizens economic empowerment, will not work in Zambia.
This channel has failed to deliver even in South Africa where other routes are proving more effective. Who in Zambia has not witnessed the dismal performance of other development funds entrusted to banks?
What CEEC is involved in is SME development plain and simple. It needs to work with development organisations that are specialised in supporting SMEs.
The banks should simply open bank accounts for the SMEs and for non-banking financial service providers that are better-placed to design and follow up packages for SMEs. Same old song: no impact strategy, work through banks, ZNFU, etc.
Please, keep it simple and work with a few organisations that know what they are doing. Listen and have the courage to stay away from past causes of failure.
Let us learn to compare ourselves with where other countries in the region are instead of continuously being content with nothing.
Is CEEC headed in the right direction?
Labels: CORRUPTION, ELECTIONS, RUPIAH BANDA
posted by MrK @ 5:12 AM
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