Maravi

Advice from the young and wise

Advice from the young and wise
By Editor
Thu 26 Nov. 2009, 04:02 CAT

Many things may become baggage, may become encumbrances, if we cling to them blindly and uncritically. Let us take some illustrations. Having made mistakes, you may feel that, come what may, you are saddled with them and so become dispirited; if you have not made mistakes, you may feel that you are free from error and so become conceited. Lack of achievement in work may breed pessimism and depression, while achievement may breed pride and arrogance.

A person with a short record of struggle may shake responsibility on this account, while a veteran may become opinionated because of his long record of struggle. A worker, because of pride in his class origin, may look down upon intellectuals, while intellectuals, because they have a certain amount of knowledge, may look down upon workers. Any specialised skill may be capitalised on and so may lead to arrogance and contempt of others.

Even one’s age may become ground for conceit. The young, because they are bright and capable, may look down upon the old; and the old, because they are rich in experience, may look down upon the young. All such things become encumbrances or baggage if there is no critical awareness.

Some politicians in the leadership of our country have become arrogant and high-handed in their behaviour towards others, the people, always blaming others but never themselves, always seeing their own achievements but never their own shortcomings, and always welcoming flattery but never criticism. We must endeavour to eradicate these faults.

Irresponsibility and corruption manifest themselves in various ways.
To let things slide for the sake of peace and friendship when a person has clearly gone wrong, and refrain from principled argument because he is an old acquaintance, a fellow villageman or townsman, a schoolmate, a close friend or relative, a loved one, an old colleague or old subordinate. Or to touch on the matter slightly instead of going into it thoroughly, so as to keep on good terms. The result is that both the individual, the political party and the nation are harmed. This is one type of irresponsibility and corruption.

To indulge in irresponsible criticism in private instead of actively putting forward one’s suggestions to the party and the nation at large. To say nothing to people to their faces but to gossip behind their backs, or to say nothing at a meeting but to gossip afterwards. To show no regard at all for the principles of collective life but to follow one’s own inclination. This is a second type.

To let things drift if they do not affect one personally; to say as little as possible while knowing perfectly well what is wrong, to be worldly wise and play safe and seek only to avoid blame. This is a third type.

To indulge in personal attacks, pick quarrels, vent personal spite or seek revenge instead of entering into an argument and struggling against incorrect views for the sake of unity or progress or getting the work done properly. This is a fourth type.
To hear incorrect views without rebutting them but instead take them calmly as if nothing has happened. This is a fifth type.

To see someone harming the interests of the masses and yet not feel indignant, or dissuade or stop him or reason with him, but allow him to continue. This is a sixth type.

To work half-heartedly without a definite plan or direction; to work perfunctorily and muddle along – so long as one remains in his job, retains his benefits, one goes on tolling the bell. This is a seventh type.

To be aware of one’s own mistakes and yet make no attempt to correct them, taking a liberal attitude towards oneself. This is an eighth type.

It is clear to us that irresponsibility and corruption are a corrosive which eats away unity, undermines cohesion, causes apathy and creates dissension. At the level of a political party, it robs the party ranks of compact organisation and strict discipline, prevents policies from being carried through and alienates the party organisations from the masses. It is an extremely bad tendency.

People’s politicians, people’s leaders protect the people. Only when the people have such politicians, have such leaders can they educate and re-mould themselves by democratic methods on a countrywide scale, with everyone taking part, rid themselves of the bad habits and ideas, not allow themselves to be led astray, and continue to advance – to advance towards a more just, fair and humane society.

It is not hard for one to do a bit of good. What is hard is to do good all one’s life and never do anything bad, to act consistently in the interests of the broad masses, and to engage in arduous struggle for decades on end. That is the hardest thing of all!

We are saying all this in the light of what is going on in the ruling MMD as a political party and in the government of Rupiah Banda. These observations have also been provoked by the observations made by Duncan Nyirongo, the president of the University of Zambia Students Union. Nyirongo brilliantly and courageously makes the following observations: “Most of the electorate have little interest in the problems that have rocked the MMD as a party, but it is rather issues like the sinister acquittal of the former Republican president F.J.T. Chiluba.

Appointments to public office of people whose morality have been highly questioned by the general public, the victimisation of people at various levels, students’ leadership inclusive, for simply pointing out the shortcomings in the national governance. The shooting of students in universities by state police with impunity. Failure to perform by several government officials without any satisfactory reaction from the appointing authority as it can be manifested in the energy sector. Poor funding to critical institutions like the University of Zambia, Chainama College, Copperbelt University.

To think that the current change in the way Zambians elect their leadership can take a twist within 5 minutes is irrational. The best a sensible government can do is to get back to the drawing board and address the issues that have upset most of us. For example, one wouldn’t expect students to be happy with this government when they have been shot by state police without any positive response from the government. This is the only time that Zambians have given Rupiah Banda. We have given him the authority to be the commander-in-chief of the armed forces expecting that he will not allow any of these men in uniform to take away lives of innocent citizens, or indeed attempt to take away such lives with impunity. A person that the state had taken to court, before the court could pass judgment. Few hours after the acquittal of Chiluba, the President congratulated Zambians for accepting the acquittal.

About two days later the Attorney General and Director of Public Prosecutions said they could not comment on the acquittal as they were still studying the judgment. The question is what time did a common Zambian have access to the judgment, studied it, appreciated and accepted it so that the President could then congratulate them? The next thing we saw was government officials going to celebrate the acquittal in Luapula Province, leaving government work pending on their tables. Such is unheard of and should never be allowed in a country like Zambia whose people are living on less than a dollar per day.”

This is coming from a student, a young man. Look at how responsible and sensible he is. We surely would be better off under the presidency of this young man than under Rupiah. We say this because this young man can see the dangers in what Rupiah is doing, in his reckless protection of Chiluba and the many other wrong things he is doing. This young man can see that money can be used to buy some poor or weak souls but not every soul. Chiluba used money to buy many souls and nearly turned our country into a casino but still more at the end, he failed to buy everyone. And even those he had bought turned against him. This young man realised that it is not money that really matters, it is principles that matter the most, that are more important and more powerful. Rupiah doesn’t see all this. Everywhere, Rupiah only sees the power of money, blackmail, manipulation, deceit and corruption in all its forms.

There is no meaningful reconciliation that Rupiah and the MMD will achieve unless they come to realise that if peace is to be established both in their party and the nation, the primary requisite is to eradicate the cause of dissension between people. Reconciliation cannot remain just mere words; it has to be visible in concrete actions where those in government have to show the way. And in any reconciliation, there has to be a confession and acceptance of wrongs. And that’s why true reconciliation is to seek and accept forgiveness.

Peace is the fruit of honesty, truth and solidarity; it is the tranquility of order. And to guarantee peace, all are called to maturity, tolerance and responsibility. And Christians believe that peace is a gift of God which God will give to those who ask for it and who work for it. You cannot seek peace while at the same time you are working to perpetrate injustices, corruption, deceit, manipulation, vengeance, blackmail and all those other evil things that divide people and cause dissension. Peace is for us both a gift and a project, that is, it is something that comes to us freely from the hands of God and something that we also must work to obtain.

It is therefore important that Rupiah, the MMD and their government come to recognise and accept their mistakes and honestly seek to correct them. Nyirongo has correctly pointed out the causes of dissension in this country and even within the MMD itself. And others in the MMD and Rupiah’s own government have also spoken on these issues. George Mpombo has spoken. Gabriel Namulambe, a member of Rupiah’s Cabinet, has also clearly spelt out that which is not acceptable, that which is causing dissension.

Simasiku Namakando has also spoken in a very forthright manner about these issues. And young people like Patrick Mwanawasa and today Nyirongo have added their voices on these issues. Many religious and traditional leaders have also given guidance on these matters. But all seems to be falling on deaf ears. But we know it is said that arrogance should be punished, so that people who don’t know any better can learn a lesson. If you are wise, you will learn when you are corrected.

We are also told that what you get by dishonesty, you may enjoy like the finest food, but sooner or later it will be like a mouthful of sand. Get good advice and you will succeed; don’t go charging into battle without a plan.

They are busy acquiring wealth and they seem to be really in a rush to do so. And because of this, they have abandoned everything else, including their daily duties and principles. But it is said that the more easily you get your wealth, the less good it will do you.

It is said that a wise king will find out who is going wrong, and will punish him without pity. But here, we have a president who instead of feeling pity for the poor masses of our people who Chiluba and his friends have stolen from, his sympathies lie with the thieves. Rupiah has promised Chiluba infinite and unqualified protection as long as he remains president. As long as Rupiah is President, Chiluba will never be made to account for his misdeeds, he will never be made to return that which he stole from the Zambian people. Probably the most Chiluba will do is to contribute part of the loot to Rupiah’s campaign for 2011.

But the day of reckoning will come for Rupiah and that day is drawing nearer and nearer. Sometimes it takes a painful experience to make us change our ways. Wicked people are controlled by their conceit and arrogance. The riches you get by dishonesty soon disappear, but not before they lead you into the jaws of death. Wicked people are always hungry for evil; they have no mercy on anyone.

But it is said that if you refuse to listen to the cry of the poor, your own cry for help will not be heard. When justice is done, good people are happy, but evil people are brought to despair. The wicked bring on themselves the suffering they try to cause good people. Sensible people will see trouble coming and avoid it, but unthinking people will walk right into it and regret later. If you plant seeds of injustice, disaster will spring up, and your oppression of others will end. Truth, wisdom, learning, and good sense – these are worth paying for, but too valuable for you to sell.

Labels: RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 12:02 PM