It’s difficult to define democracy these days, says Mulongoti

It’s difficult to define democracy these days, says Mulongoti
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe
Wednesday, April 29, 2009 7:04:40 AM

WORKS and supply minister Mike Mulongoti has said it is difficult to have a specific definition of democracy these days because non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and strange journalists are now governing together with the government.
During the South African national day on Monday, Mulongoti said democracy was going wild.

He said in schools, people were taught that democracy was a government of the people, for the people and by the people but it was no longer like that these days.

"Now it includes NGOs and very strange journalists now governing together," he said.

Mulongoti said 15 years ago, he stood on Lusaka's Great East Road to have a glimpse of former South African president Nelson Mandela when he visited Zambia after his release from prison.

He said the streets were packed and his memory was still fresh and it seemed like yesterday because Mandela represented what the majority of people believed in.

Mulongoti said in 1993 when an agreement was signed in Johannesburg, there were a lot of kings and he thought that democracy would be difficult.

However, he said after the agreement, the kings vanished and allowed the politicians to carry on the job of politicking.

Mulongoti said peaceful elections bring a lot of joy to everyone.

He commended the South Africans for the peaceful manner in which they conducted their just ended democratic elections in which the African National Congress (ANC) emerged victorious.

Mulongoti said the level of maturity exhibited during the elections confirmed the growth of the democratic dispensation prevailing in South Africa.

"In this regard, the results have indeed reflected the will and free choice of the electorate. Our brothers and sisters have achieved another milestone which confirms the desire not only of our region but also that of the rest of Africa to realise sustainable development through the adherence to democratic governance," he said.

He said both Zambia and South Africa were committed to attaining economic and social development by cooperating through bilateral and regional initiatives.

Mulongoti said as a result, the Zambian government had put in place a number of incentives such as the quick processing of applications by foreign investors who want to set up businesses in places outside Lusaka and the introduction of measures such as the one stop customs border system at ports of entry.

He said Zambia also intends to continue providing a conducive environment for private sector driven development.

Mulongoti said the private sector from South Africa and other countries were welcome to invest in sectors such as tourism, education and health so that new hotels, schools and hospitals may be set up in Zambia.

He said it was a fact that the number of Zambians travelling to South Africa and other countries for education and medical care had been on the increase in the recent past.

"These facilities and services would be more accessible to many more Zambians if private sector operators established themselves locally. The Zambian government is eager to listen to any investor in these sectors and will facilitate their quick establishment, especially in areas outside Lusaka," said Mulongoti.

And South African High Commissioner to Zambia Moses Chikane said South Africa had emulated the good example that Zambia had set in as far as peaceful elections had prevailed.

High Commissioner Chikane said people went to the polls and everyone managed to see the end of the day without any bloodshed.

He said in the past, many innocent people would lose lives.

High Commissioner Chikane said Zambia played a big role in African politics and would remain important for the future.

He said the world was becoming a better place and all countries were looking at ways of achieving peace.

High Commissioner Chikane also said following the elections, there had not been any negative movements in the currency.

He said the rand had gained strength in the last few days and had not weakened at all.

High Commissioner Chikane said Jacob Zuma was a very good man and had a wide appeal and relates to many people.

High Commissioner Chikane said the sooner that people stopped torturing each other and begin to look at programmes that could advance the course of the African continent, the better for everyone.