Maravi

Letters - Rupiah Banda, Town Planning

We need patriotic leaders
Written by Gady Mwamba Museka, Mazabuka
Sunday, December 28, 2008 1:00:03 PM

There is a need to have patriotic leaders in Parliament and government who will have the interests of the masses at heart and defend the rights of Zambian people.

It is with this in mind that I would like to support the expulsion of those members of parliament who have proved that they are in Parliament for selfish interests.

There was an issue of salary increments which many MPs voted for and the same people have been getting huge allowances as they sit on NCC.

What we must not forget is that we have a tough year ahead and already, many miners and other people are losing employment.

I know that if we focus on improving agriculture, education and other sectors, we will pull through, but if the priorities of those in leadership remain misplaced, then there is a big challenge ahead of us in the next year. 33

There is an urgent need to pool our diverse talents, resources and energy, and work together as Zambians. Then we will be a stronger, more effective and efficient country.

Those in leadership must not forsake the advice given to them by opposition political parties, the media and other citizens.

We must ensure that issues that affect the lives of the people are taken seriously.

God bless Zambia and happy 2009!


http://www.postzambia.com/content/view/3111/64/

Rupiah’s holiday
Written by C Banda
Sunday, December 28, 2008 12:58:47 PM

I write this letter with deep regret on the behaviour of our current President. I’m one of the few Zambians who voted for Rupiah for the sake of continuity and I feel deeply cheated. Less than three months of Rupiah being in office, that is if he even sits in his office, he goes on a 10 day break when the country is going through a critical situation.

Thousands of Zambians have lost their jobs, mines are cutting down on labour and others are closing.

This is the time for a serious-minded president to cancel all his holiday trips and look at the welfare of Zambians who cannot afford the holidays he is taking his family on.

The best thing was probably to be around people who are losing jobs and engage in consultations with all stakeholders.

Making one trip to Luanshya with no solutions to peolpe’s problems does not help anyone.

Presidents world over cancel their trips, official business trips for that matter, when there is a crisis. For him this is the time to parade his bunch of relatives and go on holiday when the majority of Zambians don’t even know where their next meal, school fees for their children are going to come from.

This is where I bring in these questions:

Where is the quality of our first lady? Is she really qualified to be the mother of the Nation?

Women play their important role in molding their husbands. A mother to the nation would advise the husband to put off this holiday trip and attend to the many problems the country is facing.

Does Rupiah know the last time miners, who lost their jobs, had holidays or when they could afford one? For how long has Rupiah been in office for him to deserve this holiday?

I curse my instincts for trusting Rupiah with my vote. I doubt if Hakainde, Sata, Miyanda, Kaunda or late president Mwanawasa would go on holiday. President Mwanawasa (may his soul rest in peace) worked so much to create employment for these miners and he would never have slept a bit to see them lose their jobs.

To our mother of the nation, question yourself when the father of the nation makes these trips.

Rupiah is saying he can now afford to go on holiday because the prices of mealie-meal have gone down. How are Zambians going to afford this mealie-meal when they have no jobs?

Oh Rupiah! I overated your thinking; you cannot even figure out the basics. No jobs, no money.

I cry for mother Zambia. This nation is on its knees from the time Rupiah came into power.



http://www.postzambia.com/content/view/3146/64/

Banda clan, taxpayers
Written by By well
Sunday, December 28, 2008 12:59:25 PM

It is a known fact that you only go on leave when you accrue leave days. I am yet to know if His Excellency Rupiah Banda was not paid his leave value he accrued as Vice-President in full, if he was, then I am yet to know how many days he is entitled to per month (that is if at all they will total more than 10 days).

My fellow Zambians, we are now in a critical situation where the policy makers cannot afford to rest. We do not care whether the journalist President Banda referred to is really going to rest or not- that is not important. What is important is President Banda sitting down with his ministers, advisors (that is if at all he has credible ones) and other stakeholders to find solutions to the current financial crisis. He has already confessed that he does not know how to go about the job losses in the mines and now he wants to go to Mfuwe and fold his arms for 10 whole days.

President Banda said he had now shamed his critics who thought he was not going to reduce the price of mealie-meal in the country. He also said he has done it twice by reducing the cost of fuel as well. He further says he wants to reduce the cost of fuel step by step- this is a big joke. May the President tell me how many millers have reduced the mealie- meal prices. Let him also tell me what the percentage reduction for fuel on the international market has been. How do you compare more than 50 per cent reduction on the international market to 24 to 25 per cent on the local market. You have not done it yet sir, you still have a long way to go.

Halellujah! Is the whole Banda clan going to Mfuwe on taxpayers’ expense? Who is paying for James, Nenani, their wives and their children’s expenses?


http://www.postzambia.com/content/view/3150/64/

Enjoying in Mfuwe
Written by Concerned citizen, Kaoma
Sunday, December 28, 2008 1:00:54 PM

Rupiah's ten-day holiday in Mfuwe at such a time as this when not all is well in this nation is indeed shameful and an embarrassment not only to Zambians but (I think) to the world at large.

I am made to understand that a President needs to be a source of hope and inspiration to the people by meeting and responding to their aspirations. Telling people who are criticising his (Rupiah) respite in Mfuwe to go to the field and do some work, when he is actually doing exactly the opposite, is an insult to the suffering masses.

A meaningful holiday is supposed to be enjoyed by someone who has recorded a great deal of successes by making the life of the citizens a lot better; then one would look back and say "wow, now I can afford to be on holiday". But in the case of our President (with some knowledge on economics, we hear so), what strides has he got to show?

I wish Rupiah had the slightest idea on how this economic crisis has negatively impacted on the lives of an average Zambian. Reductions of fuel and mealie-meal, though a welcome move, may be a mere pronouncement compared to the damage that has already been caused by this govenment's procrastination in responding to the cries of the people.

And from a critical analysis, it may even take a little longer before people can begin to benefit from these long overdue reductions.

And going on holiday with such a big number of family members at the expense of taxpayers’ money, surely leaves much to be desired.

While Rupiah will be enjoying himself in Mfuwe this festive season, I implore Zambians to devote themselves to much prayer so as to avoid more serious economic crises in 2009. It appears we are in a ship without a captain. God bless Zambia.


http://www.postzambia.com/content/view/3149/64/

Land shortage in Lusaka
Written by Edify Hamukale
Sunday, December 28, 2008 1:01:43 PM

Lusaka in its current municipal perimeter was designed for 700 000 human inhabitants. To respond to the congestion and shortage of business space, the city council under Director of Engineering should encourage construction of multi-storey buildings so that we utilise the limitless aerial or vertical space as long as quality workmanship is maintained to avoid accidents due to collapse of tall buildings with poorly calculated bills of quantities and forces.

Clearly, a good number of people are not willing to leave the capital city. One way is to sensibly expand Chongwe or Kafue or both to a level where every institution or company present in Lusaka is also represented in the two towns. This way, there will be no incentive for anyone to admire living in our big garden town. If headman Lusaaka had lived to see how we have distorted the beauty of the Lusaka landscape, he could have withdrawn his offer for land to build our town.

Lusaka needs to remain a business capital whilst either Chongwe or Kafue should be an administrative capital. Johannesburg is the biggest town in South Africa but the capital city is minute Pretoria which is conveniently located for carrying out executive duties in a quiet atmosphere.

The same goes for Barcelona and Madrid in Spain, Rotterdam and Amsterdam in The Netherlands which are business and administrative capitals respectively.

With an average human population growth of about 3 per cent per annum in Zambia, we are headed for a total urban habitation disaster in five years in Lusaka.

There will be too much pressurising demand on water, recreation, parking space, schools, hospitals, garbage disposal and grave sites if we don't sensibly respond to this imminent challenge now.

What do town and country planning offices at councils do in Zambia? Why are we having disorganised settlements and poorly designed residential area plans if they are working? What do councillors do in the council chambers whose results my Zambian eyes can't see?

To re-beautify Lusaka and any other town in Zambia, it only calls for zealous individuals in the councils who are notoriously action-minded and not the endless series of the so called full council sittings gobbling millions of kwacha in fruitless executive debates.

Labels: LUSAKA, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 12:57 PM