Brown envelopes
By Editor
Mon 07 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
It’s not proper for Rupiah Banda, as President of the Republic, to be going around dishing out brown envelopes, distributing cash to people.
This is not the way for a President to improve the lives of his people because this is nothing but an attempt to buy patronage. This is characteristic of the ‘big-man’ syndrome where people get excited when Rupiah is around because they know that payday has arrived, the day of eating has come.
People need to have money in their pockets without waiting for brown envelopes from the President. This dishing out of money by the President is a prima facie case of corruption on the part of Rupiah. Everyone knows what Rupiah’s salary is because it is gazetted. We also know what his earnings should be because there was a declaration last year of his assets and business interests. But all of a sudden, Rupiah’s ‘economy’ has picked up and he has got money to dish around here and there. Where is this money coming from?
Is it personal money or government funds? If it’s personal money, where is it coming from? And is this the right way to spend it? There are many worth causes in this country that need financial support than dishing out cash to youths to go and spend on beer and dagga. Rupiah is not dishing out these brown envelopes to help people in any meaningful way. He is simply trying to buy support, to become popular. Rupiah is doing nothing but the same thing he has been doing over the years: bribing people with cash. This is not the way to run a country. You don’t see Barak Obama, Gordon Brown, Nicholas Sarkozy, Hu Jintao and other many decent leaders with more money than Rupiah going around dishing out cash here and there to youth or cadres. Why? It’s simply because it’s not right. That’s not the way decent people behave.
Those are practices of lumpens, drug-traffickers and crooked characters who want to show that they are well-to-do and they are the bosses in the area. It’s definitely not for presidents or other leaders of standing. We never saw that type of practice from a decent leader, a man of integrity and honour like Dr Kenneth Kaunda. We only started to hear and see brown envelopes when Frederick Chiluba took over power, especially during his second term of office. But we know what happened to Chiluba later. He was found to be a thief. It was not his money he was dishing out but stolen public funds.
Zambian presidents don’t earn that much; they are not millionaires per se and don’t have that type of personal money to dish out in the style of Rupiah and Chiluba. It is not surprising that Chiluba had even to give himself a presidential discretionary fund, a slash fund to distribute to people he wanted to patronise. Part of that fund ended in the pockets of some pastors who are today defending his corruption. That’s what Chiluba has used public money for – to buy patronage. And that money was not enough because abuse and corruption have no limit. Chiluba went on to steal. But he was not a Robin Hood the robber. What he was giving to our poor souls was nothing but peanuts and the loot stayed in his pocket for himself.
What Rupiah is doing is nothing but to corrupt poor souls with cash handouts. And this is why some of them even fight each other over that money because it’s dirty money. There is no self-respecting person who should accept a brown envelope from Rupiah. Clean money is never given that way; money people have worked for is not dished out that way. It is only stolen money that is squandered in such a reckless way. And moreover, Rupiah was not a rich man a few months ago, he was actually very broke. Where has he found this money all of a sudden to be dishing out?
We know that gifts and bribes make even wise men blind to the truth, and prevent them from being honest in their dealings. There are people today who cannot criticise Rupiah even when they can see clearly that the man has lost it simply because they had received a brown envelope from him.
This is lawlessness Rupiah is encouraging. And every lawless act leaves an incurable wound, like one left by a double-edged sword. Well, foolish people are deceived by vain hopes. Nothing that comes from bribery or injustice will last, but the effects of loyalty will remain forever.
It is said that wealth that has been obtained dishonestly is like a stream that runs full during a thunderstorm, tumbling rocks along as it flows, but then suddenly goes dry.
No self-respecting president can do what Rupiah is doing, going round dishing out cash like a lumpen. There is need for Rupiah to value himself at his true worth. His acts are running him down because no one respects a person who has no respect for himself. It is said that poor people can be honoured for their good sense, and rich people can be honoured for their wealth.
If someone is honoured while he is poor, while he is not dishing out money the way Dr Kaunda did not dish out brown envelopes, think how much he will be honoured if he becomes rich! If someone is despised while he is rich, while he is dishing out brown envelopes, think how much more he will be despised if he becomes poor, if he stops dishing out cash! If a poor man is wise, he has good reason to be proud, and he will be thought of as a great man. Many are the kings who have ended their careers sitting on the ground, while their crowns were worn by men no one had heard of before. Many are the rulers who have suffered disgrace. Many are the famous men who have fallen into the power of others. It’s not wise to rely on money to make oneself popular.
Rupiah can dish out as many brown envelopes as he wants but when the hour comes, it won’t help him. Chiluba did that but it didn’t help him secure his third term bid and he is still today being denounced as a lazo, a thief probably even by people he had given brown envelopes. It doesn’t pay to try and rely on dishonest wealth; it will do you no good on that day of disaster.
It’s very clear that things are not going well for Rupiah and there is panic around him. But dishing out money, brown envelopes is not the cure. People are not opposed to Rupiah because he is not giving them brown envelopes. The great majority of our people are decent human beings who are not interested in such things even if they have nothing in their pockets. What Rupiah needs to do is to try and understand the true cause of this dissension. If not, if he will fail to find a viable solution to his problems and his difficulties will be compounded by the day.
The truth is if you stick something in your eye, tears will flow; and if you hurt a person deeply, you will discover his true feelings. The Zambian people are starting to show Rupiah their true feelings – there are fires everywhere waiting to be put out. But does Rupiah have the capacity to do so? It is said that if you throw rocks at birds, you will scare them away; and if you insult a friend, you will break the friendship. Fumes and smoke appear before the flames do. 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. The more easily you get your wealth, the less good it will do you.
If Rupiah thinks he can buy loyalty and lasting support with brown envelopes, he is in for a rude shock, a rude awakening. Everyone talks about how loyal and faithful he is, but just try to find someone who really is! Some people ruin themselves by their own stupid actions and then blame others. No one is respected unless he is humble; arrogant people are on the way to ruin and no amount of dishing out cash to buy patronage, support or loyalty will save them.
If Rupiah does not realise that what he is doing is wrong, that dishing out cash to people the way he is doing is corruption, then his ending will be disastrous.
Rupiah needs to learn from the great men of our region. Nelson Mandela never went around dishing out cash to ANC cadres, poor youth or chiefs of his country yet he had more money than Rupiah. Julius Nyerere was not a Father Christmas but died a very respected African statesman. Our own, our very own Comrade KK is highly respected in this country and all over the world but does not carry bags of brown envelopes anywhere to dish out. Even Levy Mwanawasa was not involved in this kind of business. Initially, cadres who were used to cash handouts from Chiluba didn’t like him but eventually they grew to understand his nobility on this score. But Rupiah has decided to emulate the criminal and corrupt behaviour of his friend Chiluba and so like him, popularity is bought and maintained with brown envelopes. Anyway, it is said that birds come to roost with their own kind.
Labels: CORRUPTION, RUPIAH BANDA
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Caritas criticises Banda’s brown envelopes
By Mwala Kalaluka
Mon 07 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
CARITAS Mongu has noted that President Rupiah Banda’s decision to ‘award’ a brown envelope to call boys that sang for him in Mongu is unacceptable in view of demands for a governance system that was devoid of corruption.
And an MMD member from Lusaka’s Munali Constituency yesterday said the ruling party youths are unable to walk the streets with their heads high because of President Banda’s failure to live up to his electoral promises.
Commenting on President Banda’s just-ended visit to Kalabo and Limulunga areas of the Western Province, Caritas Mongu director Nathaniel Mubukwanu also said in an interview that the unfriendly graffiti that dotted Mongu town ahead of President Banda’s selected visit to the province was one way of expressing the disappointment that people felt over the current administration.
Mubukwanu said there was absolutely no need for President Banda to dish out the brown envelope containing an undisclosed amount of money to the cadres.
“Tokens can be given and there must be a reason,” he said. “That was totally unacceptable when people have been complaining of corruption and when people have complained about lack of transparency and accountability.”
Mubukwanu said the manner in which President Banda dished out the brown envelope raised eyebrows. Mubukwanu further said President Banda’s recent visit to Western Province was a sheer waste of public resources.
“It is a pity that the visit was not properly publicised to the general public. We know that the President is entitled to travel on private issues and we know that a lot of resources were poured into this visit from the treasury when the President was coming on a private mission,” Mubukwanu said.
“We know that the President has a right to travel on private missions but when it extends to public finance, again it raises a lot of concern. We are a little bit disappointed ourselves, like speaking on my own behalf, because I am not aware of the time the President came on a visit to Western Province, apart from Kuomboka period.”
Mubukwanu said considering that there was a large fleet of vehicles and three planes during President Banda’s just-ended trip to Kalabo, one could only guess how much public resources had been spent on the trip.
Mubukwanu said there was graffiti informing President Banda that he was not welcome to Mongu around Mongu town prior to his visit to Kalabo.
“Even today as you move around the streets you can still see it graffiti,” Mubukwanu said. “It is one way that people are expressing their disappointment over the manner his government has been running the affairs. The whole thing is climaxed by the way they (MMD) handled their differences in the party between the provincial leadership that was dissolved and NEC.”
And Kakwaya, who claimed to be an MMD founding member, said in a walk-in interview that the MMD made a mistake when they voted for President Banda.
“We made a mistake to vote for Rupiah Banda as MMD and it is a pity we are still continuing making the same mistake trying to put him as our Presidential candidate in 2011,” Kakwaya said. “We as MMD members, especially the youths, can’t walk the streets with our heads up because we have nothing to talk about what we promised people over what Rupiah Banda is going to do.”
Kakwaya said the problem within MMD was that whoever spoke the truth was perceived as being against the party hierarchy.
“What is happening is that Rupiah Banda, instead of serving the people, he wants to be served,” Kakwaya said.
He also questioned the criteria that President Banda was using in appointing lowly qualified people into higher positions in the civil service.
“Somebody who has never even reached grade seven to be a PS? Under such a PS there are directors who are employed on merit,” Kakwaya said. “How can degree holders listen to a grade four, as a PS? No wonder Zambia shall never develop under Rupiah Banda.”
Asked if he had a position within the MMD, Kakwaya said he did not have any because the former UNIP members hijacked most positions.
“I do not even know how I can listen to William Banda as provincial chairman for Lusaka Province where I belong because those are the people who cheated Kaunda and Kaunda lost and they are the ones surrounding Rupiah Banda, as his advisors.”
Kakwaya said those accusing science and technology minister Gabriel Namulambe of practicing tribalism were off-key because Namulambe was an elected leader who could speak on behalf of the people that gave him the mandate.
“When Namulambe is speaking he is not speaking from without,” said Kakwaya.
Labels: CARITAS, CORRUPTION, RUPIAH BANDA
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Ministry of Health withdraws nerve-damaging AIDS drug
By Joseph Mwenda
Mon 07 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
THE Ministry of Health has withdrawn a major AIDS drug, Stavudine, from the ARV therapy after discovering long-term irreversible side effects in HIV patients.
Announcing the new ARV therapy after two years of investigations and consultations, Ministry of Health spokesperson Dr Reuben Mbewe said a new drug called Tenofovir (TDF) had been immediately introduced to replace the 40 milligrams Stavudine.
“We started our investigations in 2007 and after consultations, we were the first developing country to immediately start phasing out the 40 milligram Stavudine and replacing it with Tenofovir because of its side effects which include wasting and nerve disorder,” he said.
“This is despite the extra cost needed to acquire the new drug because we realised that its benefits are of vital importance to the Zambian people.”
According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) report released last week, Stavudine causes nerve disorder leading to numbness and burning pain in the hands and feet, and loss of body fat, conditions that are disabling and disfiguring.
Dr Mbewe told The Post that Stavudine was the most commonly used drug among HIV patients in Zambia and that one out of four patients suffered side effects from it.
“From our investigations, it was found that one in four patients had these side effects from the use of 40 milligram Stavudine, but three quarters of them did not react to the 30 milligramme Stavudine,” said Dr Mbewe. “We are advising patients not to stop the therapy on their own, if they notice any strange side effects, let them go to the nearest health centres and get advice from medical experts. Patients who will notice side effects after taking the 30 milligrammes Stavudine should also seek medical advice.”
WHO recommended that countries progressively phase out the use of Stavudine as a preferred first-line therapy option and move to less toxic alternatives such as Tenofovir (TDF) or Zidovudine (AZT) which are equally effective alternatives.
In sweeping changes to its guidelines, WHO also recommended that people with HIV, including pregnant women, should start taking AIDS drugs earlier to live a longer and healthier life.
For the first time the organisation advised HIV-positive women and their babies to take the drugs while breast-feeding to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the virus that causes AIDS.
Labels: ARVs, HEALTHCARE, HIV/AIDS
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Levy’s legacy on mining taxation needs to be restored – Chitala
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Mon 07 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
LEVY Mwanawasa’s progressive legacy on mining taxation needs to be restored, Lusaka political and economic consultant Dr Mbita Chitala has said.
Meanwhile, Chamber of Mines of Zambia (CMZ) has said Zambia is expected not to attract further investment in the mining sector despite the recent recovery in commodity prices as the country lacks investor confidence.
Copper prices last week on the London Metal Exchange reached over US $7, 100 per tonne, near the previous session's peak of $7,170, the firmest since late September 2008, promoting calls from key stakeholders for the government to restore the windfall tax to help the country tap into the ‘abnormal prices.’
However, the government has remained adamant with commerce minister Felix Mutati last week saying Zambia will not introduce new taxes for the mining sector to encourage further investments into the industry.
Dr Chitala last week said late president Mwanawasa’s decision to come up with the popular mining fiscal regime of 2008 was well thought out and should be restored.
He said the absence of the revenue estimates from the mining sector in the 2010 national budget was an indication that the country was not going to reap anything from its lifeblood.
“We need to revisit this. This legacy that Mwanawasa left us was progressive and it should be re-addressed and I am glad that we are discussing it as of today,” Chitala said.
“…when I was in government at the time when we were negotiating with the mining companies over these matters…in fact, I was the deputy minister in the office of the President to Mwanawasa, we went to great lengths to agonise ‘how do we make Zambia benefit as well from this God-given resource in terms of copper and cobalt?’”
Dr Chitala said what late president Mwanawasa did by abrogating and abolishing the Development Agreements (DAs) was an act of bravery.
“…I remember Mwanawasa said to me, ‘Mr Chitala, what we are about to do, in other countries like Chile, Allende Salvador Isabelino Gossens was overthrown on account of this,’” said Dr Chitala.
“So, what Mwanawasa did was a very brave thing that with insight…he abrogated the DAs and brought us a tax regime which was going to give us US $415 million.”
Meanwhile, CMZ general manager Frederick Bantubonse said Zambia was not expected to attract more investments into the mining sector as the current mining fiscal regime did not provide consensus between mining companies and the government.
Bantubonse said the current mining fiscal regime clearly spelt out that the government would not enter into new development agreements, a move he said made it difficult for the country to attract future investment despite the rising global commodity prices.
He said that was why Zambia only had junior mining companies and was struggling to attract global international mining firms such as Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton.
“We need to agree. But as of now, the government hasn’t said this is the situation. We need a consensus. The country is divided,” Bantubonse said.
“If we are to restore investor confidence, there has to be need to look at the laws and that we have not done that yet. 2009, there is no agreement…2008 cancelled the development agreements and there have not been any agreement.”
Bantubonse also said the government’s decision not to hike mine taxes next year was not enough as investor confidence went beyond taxation.
He also said Zambia’s mining sector still suffered from political risk.
“You still have people saying that when I come into power, I will chuck that one out…investors are very sensitive to that,” said Bantubonse.
Labels: CMZ, FREDERICK BANTUBONSE, MBITA CHITALA, MWANAWASA, WINDFALL TAX
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Zuma visits Zambia today
By Chibaula Silwamba
Mon 07 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
SOUTH African President Jacob Zuma (right) and eight of his ministers are expected in Zambia today for a four-day bilateral visit where they will sign several Memoranda of Understanding (MoU).
In an interview on Saturday, South African High Commissioner to Zambia Moses Chikane said through President Zumaís visit, South Africa wants to enhance its relationship with Zambia.
“Next week, our President is coming on the 7th of December (today) and he will be in Zambia until the 10th of December to consolidate our relationship with Zambia. It has always been healthy but we think that it needs to be taken to new heights where we can begin to develop a concise programme of win-win situation,” High Commissioner Chikane said.
“He Zuma is bringing with him eight ministers and all those ministers are also going to be signing memorandum of understanding.”
High Commissioner Chikane said President Zuma and his delegation would give him and his staff at the mission a blueprint programme on enhancing bilateral cooperation with Zambia.
“For us, it’s going to be a programme from day one as soon as they go back home. It means that they have given us a business plan; something to work on in order to create a win-win situation in the southern tip of the African continent,î said High Commissioner Chikane. ìWe know that Zambia is not landlocked; Zambia is land linked with eight neighbouring countries. You develop relationship with Zambia; you develop relationship with SADC. You develop the relationship with SADC; you develop a relationship with the African continent.
“As you can see today we are here on the Zimbabwean side of the Chirundu one-stop-border-post, so there is work in progress in the southern African region. Wheels of progress are grinding faster and faster every day. We think our children will find Zambia and this continent better than we found out.”
Labels: JACOB ZUMA, MOSES CHIKANE
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Mugabe urges for more one-stop-border-posts
By Chibaula Silwamba in Chirundu
Mon 07 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
ZIMBABWEAN President Robert Mugabe has appealed to North-South Corridor member states to prioritise the establishment of more one-stop-border-posts (OSBPs) to smoothen trade.
And President Rupiah Banda said the opening of the one-stop-border-post at Chirundu will reduce the cost of doing business, improve the flow of foreign direct investment and increase growth and prosperity in the southern and eastern region. Presidents Banda and Mugabe on Saturday commissioned the first ever OSBP in Africa at Chirundu.
Addressing the gathering, President Mugabe called for more OSBPs to be set up in southern and eastern Africa in order to improve trade and economic development.
“The Chirundu one-stop-border-post is a trade facilitation project in the North-South Corridor,î said President Mugabe.
“The concept is designed to reduce congestion, transit and turnaround time, for both human and motor traffic at the border post, and overall transaction costs. The envisaged efficiencies will reduce costs by integrating functions in a way that enables clients to access a bundle of services simultaneously.”
And President Banda said he was convinced that the OSBP would reduce the cost of doing business by reducing the time people spent at the borders.
He said this would also reduce corruption and HIV and AIDS transmission.
This one-stop-border-post is the first one to be commissioned on the North-South Corridor and is expected to serve as a model for other OSBPs in the region and other parts of Africa. I am happy that this is a clear demonstration of a sense of oneness in our region,î said President Banda.
At the Chirundu OSBP, travellers and transporters from either country would be required to complete immigration and customs formalities on one side of the border only before proceeding with their journey.
Under this arrangement, the country of entry hosts officers carrying out exit procedures so that the entire exit and entry process occurs under one roof.
Labels: BORDER POSTS, MUGABE, RUPIAH BANDA
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Zambia’s financial sector needs secondary market to take off – BoZ
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Mon 07 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
ZAMBIA’S financial sector still faces a number of pressing issues, including developing a secondary market to act as a primer for other fixed income securities market, the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) said Saturday.
During a workshop to formulate a framework for developing the secondary market for government securities, BoZ deputy governor for operations Denny Kalyalya said the financial markets development agenda could not be complete without a vibrant secondary market.
Dr Kalyalya said the country risked losing the benefits achieved in the financial sector if it did not develop an energetic secondary market.
“Notwithstanding the major investments that have taken place in our economy, Zambia still faces a number of pressing issues in the financial sector and one of those is the issue of developing a secondary market,” Dr Kalyalya said.
“…the development of a well-functioning secondary market in government securities will act as a primer for other fixed-income securities markets…a government securities yield curve provides a benchmark for the pricing of other fixed income securities such as corporate bonds. Despite these benefits, the promotion of a vibrant secondary market for government securities has proven to be a major challenge for many developing economies.”
Dr Kalyalya said whereas the country had recorded growth in the development of the primary market, the state of the secondary market still lagged behind.
“Financial markets development agenda cannot be complete without a vibrant secondary market. It is therefore instructive that if we continue to allow our secondary market to remain at its current stage, we run the risk of failure to sustain the many achievements we have made thus far,” he said.
“A liquid and efficient secondary market offers tremendous benefits to the economy…a secondary market provides a platform for risk sharing among investors without jeopardising the capabilities of issuers to continue raising finance in an orderly manner.”
Dr Kalyalya further said a liquid market ensured that issuers raised long-term finance at lower cost without worrying about investor appetite while investors were assured that they could liquidate such long-term assets in an orderly manner.
Labels: BOZ, MARKETS
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Namibia's ruling SWAPO in landslide poll victory
By WINDHOEK (Reuters)
Sat 05 Dec. 2009, 14:50 CAT
A woman casts her vote in Namibia's general election in Katatura township near Windhoek, November 15, 2004. [Namibia's founding President Sam Nujoma is to stand down in March after this week's elections, but will remain a lynchpin of his country's politics as president of the ruling SWAPO party.]
Namibia's ruling SWAPO party won a resounding victory in parliamentary polls, giving it the chance to change the constitution at will, final results showed on Friday.
Results of 107 contested constituencies showed SWAPO won 75.27 percent of the vote - a clear two-third-majority - and returned President Hifikepunye Pohamba for the second term in office in the mineral-rich southern African country.
SWAPO's nearest rival, the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) which broke away from the ruling party in 2007, won 11.31 percent of the vote.
Earlier on Friday, the RDP and seven other opposition parties said they will not accept the results because the vote contravened the country's laws.
Analysts said their protests against the dominant SWAPO party a former guerrilla movement that led the arid state to independence from South Africa in 1990 were unlikely to have much impact.
Three African observer missions have declared the November 27-28 elections transparent, peaceful and fair, although some recommendations were made to improve the counting process, media balance, voting and accuracy of the voters' roll.
Local observers and the opposition parties have widely criticised delays in vote counting and releasing results, also alleging voting and counting irregularities.
The electoral commission said the final count from 811,143 votes showed SWAPO won 54 seats of the 72 in the National Assembly, a seat less than in its previous victory in 2005. RDP took eight seats.
Namibia has enjoyed political stability and economic growth, but is struggling in the face of rising poverty, unemployment and widening cracks in its once highly regarded health care and school systems, further exacerbated by the global recession.
Labels: ELECTIONS, NAMIBIA, SWAPO
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"The Curse of Copper". We explore all questions surrounding Zambia's mining industry, development agreements, and setting "an optimal mining policy" for Zambia.
As well as the challenges of diversification, and linking that to automatic infrastructure delivery.
Interview with Chola Mukanga of
The Zambian Economist blog.
Labels: CHOLA MUKANGA, COPPER, POLLUTION, PRIVATISATION
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Open letter to President Mutharika: Fuel crisis is not a joke
By Nyasa Times
Published: December 4, 2009
On the World AIDS Day, December 1, it is alleged that His Excellency the State President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, attempted to crack a joke at the ongoing fuel crisis when addressing a gathering at Mponela, Dowa. “”Ndamva kuti kuli vuto la mafuta,” he is said to have remarked, “koma mwabwerabe mu unyinji wanu. Ndikuganiza kuti tsopano yafika nthawi yoti tonse tiyambe kukwera malichero.”
(I have heard that there is a fuel crisis but that did not prevent you from turning up in large numbers. I think the time has come for us to start riding flying saucers).Sorry to say, but I do not find anything funny with the fuel crisis. In fact, I was scandalized by the whole idea to so much as joke about it. To begin with, the President did not say “I know there is a fuel shortage.” He said, “I have heard . . .”
It beats me that at the peak of this crisis, the President does not know, he only hears about it. Does he share our suffering? Is he concerned about it? Does he know that somewhere, an emergency medical case could not be rushed to hospital because there was no fuel in the car? Does he know that in some hospitals, diesel-driven generators could not start because there was no fuel? In the wake of intermittent power supply from the Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi (ESCOM), haven’t lives been lost in such hospitals – especially when the power failed during an operation in the theatres?
Haven’t people failed to carry the dead from one corner of the country for burial in their home villages in other corners of the country?No, we will not laugh with you Mr President, because we do not find the joke funny at all. Never in living memory have we seen queues this long here. Maybe the President does not know that we have been forfeiting sleep to be at the filling stations all night long. After waiting for seven hours, the fuel has had to run out when it is just about our turn. In frustration, we have waited some more. Tired. Sleepy. And we did not find that funny.In some instances, it has been getting nasty.
The police – those that arrested Harry Mkandawire for saying the truth – were also called in to quell discontent at some filling stations. People are getting frustrated, Mr President.What we expect from the man of your stature are not jokes at present. We expect explanations. We expect assurances that this is a temporary problem that will soon be over. We want to know why the problem started. We want to know whether there are efforts to prevent a similar thing from happening in future. But jokes? Not now. Later, maybe.
In case you are not aware, Mr President, folks still refer to your political party – the mighty DPP – only that to them, the meaning has changed. It no longer means the Democratic Progressive Party. It means Diesel, Petrol Palibe. The scarcity of diesel and petrol has displaced the democracy and the progressiveness in the acronym of the party you founded. Isn’t it a monumental shame and a colossal disgrace?On the World AIDS Day, December 1, it is alleged that His Excellency the State President of the Republic of Malawi, Dr Bingu wa Mutharika, attempted to crack a joke at the ongoing fuel crisis when addressing a gathering at Mponela, Dowa.
“Ndamva kuti kuli vuto la mafuta,” he is said to have remarked, “koma mwabwerabe mu unyinji wanu. Ndikuganiza kuti tsopano yafika nthawi yoti tonse tiyambe kukwera malicherok.” (I have heard that there is a fuel crisis but that did not prevent you from turning up in large numbers. I think the time has come for us to start riding flying saucers).
Sorry to say, but I do not find anything funny with the fuel crisis. In fact, I was scandalized by the whole idea to so much as joke about it. To begin with, the President did not say “I know there is a fuel shortage.” He said, “I have heard . . .”
It beats me that at the peak of this crisis, the President does not know, he only hears about it. Does he share our suffering? Is he concerned about it? Does he know that somewhere, an emergency medical case could not be rushed to hospital because there was no fuel in the car? Does he know that in some hospitals, diesel-driven generators could not start because there was no fuel?
In the wake of intermittent power supply from the Electricity Supply Commission of Malawi (ESCOM), haven’t lives been lost in such hospitals – especially when the power failed during an operation in the theatres? Haven’t people failed to carry the dead from one corner of the country for burial in their home villages in other corners of the country?
No, we will not laugh with you Mr President, because we do not find the joke funny at all. Never in living memory have we seen queues this long here. Maybe the President does not know that we have been forfeiting sleep to be at the filling stations all night long. After waiting for seven hours, the fuel has had to run out when it is just about our turn. In frustration, we have waited some more. Tired. Sleepy. And we did not find that funny.
In some instances, it has been getting nasty. The police – those that arrested Harry Mkandawire for saying the truth – were also called in to quell discontent at some filling stations. People are getting frustrated, Mr President.
What we expect from the man of your stature are not jokes at present. We expect explanations. We expect assurances that this is a temporary problem that will soon be over. We want to know why the problem started. We want to know whether there are efforts to prevent a similar thing from happening in future. But jokes? Not now. Later, maybe.
In case you are not aware, Mr President, folks still refer to your political party – the mighty DPP – only that to them, the meaning has changed. It no longer means the Democratic Progressive Party. It means Diesel, Petrol Palibe (DPP).
The scarcity of diesel and petrol has displaced the democracy and the progressiveness in the acronym of the party you founded. Isn’t it a monumental shame and a colossal disgrace?
Labels: FUEL, FUEL CRISIS, MALAWI
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Decentralisation to help identify needs
WITH GILLIAN MUKULA - MWABA
It is generally believed that the best way to empower citizens by any government is through decentralised governance.
The subject of decentralisation has occupied the government of Zambia and indeed many minds since post-independence era. Successive governments have made attempts to empower the people through democratic governance and decentralisation implementation.
This week, Coreen Chooye-Madondo writes on decentralisation as an element of democratic governance.
The author is assistant director, communication and sensitisation at the decentralisation secretariat in the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.
In recent years, the concept of local self-government as an element of democratic governance has been used to argue the case for decentralisation.
From a local authority perspective, the need to deliver adequate services within the districts and communities entails that there is a level of delegation and self-sufficiency regarding allocation of resources.
Thus, decentralisation is embedded in the process of developing an effective mechanism for local development to support Millennium Development Goals (MDG) achievements.
Effective decentralisation is today regarded as an expression of democratic practice, effective and efficient public administration.
It is also recognised that elected local authorities, alongside national and regional authorities, are key actors in democratic governance and administration.
However, the national and regional authorities have their own autonomous spheres of public action.
Local democracy thus constitutes an essential element of democracy itself whatever the form of the state.
The National Decentralisation Policy (NDP) approved in 2002 and launched in 2004 is the means set out by Government for achieving a ‘fully decentralised and democratically elected system of governance.
The policy aims at achieving a fully decentralised and democratically elected system of governance characterised by open, predictable and transparent policy-making and implementation processes.
The broader goal of implementing the NDP is based on government’s democratic agenda and wishes to consolidate it through the decentralisation process.
To promote democratic governance, the Government embarked on a programme to reverse the low performance of councils with the objective of enabling them to play a key role in the democratisation process by offering platforms for effective citizen participation.
Councils would be rejuvenated to instruments capable of delivering quality services for the people.
Since Government launched the NDP, tremendous progress has been made to step up efforts to implement the policy. Progress in implementing the policy has been recorded in many fronts and this includes the establishment of a fully fledged secretariat which is based at the Ministry of Local Government and Housing to spearhead the process.
The decentralised system will also entail effective local community participation in decision-making while maintaining sufficient linkages between central and local Government.’
This is the final goal of the successful implementation of this policy.
However, one must acknowledge a number of obstacles to the development of a fully decentralised system.
Most notably, it has been argued that there is the issue of real or perceived lack of capacity at district and local level.
Therefore, the process of decentralisation will require concerted efforts in capacity building and institutional reform in order to strengthen the capabilities of local authorities as well as other sub-district structures.
The preamble to the decentralisation policy states that ‘Government realises that currently the capacity to attain such decentralisation system of Government does not exist and has therefore, de-concentrated some of its functions, powers and resources to provincial and district administration levels while the necessary capacities are being developed in the councils.’
In order to support the building of capacity within local authorities, it may be necessary to look at alternative and innovative practices to improve service delivery in the short-term until adequate financial and human resources are provided.
A number of countries globally have increasingly relied on the involvement of the community in identifying development needs/priorities to help with allocating limited resources and to provide pioneering methods of addressing or meeting these needs.
For instance, in Tanzania, the ‘Opportunities and Obstacles to Development’ methodology implemented with support from JICA, sees village committees and ward development committees playing a central role in the community planning process. The three year community plan, which is reviewed annually by the village committee.
In the UK the ‘Leading the way by working together’ was an approach which involved communities working with councils to find solutions to common problems, relating to the environment and involvement of youths in community initiatives.
Given that Zambia is a predominantly rural country, the importance of the district councils cannot be underestimated.
The variation between the needs of the various districts and communities also suggests that a community based and influenced development plan and strategy would be most relevant.
A number of districts have developed area development committees (ADC) which aim to fulfill this role, but currently these vary in terms of level of input and organisation.
While these structures are being reviewed, where they exist, and being developed where they are absent, it was felt that holding public discussion forums could provide both input into ADC formulation and also begin the process of promoting community involvement in council planning to improve service delivery and work towards achieving development goals.
Sharing these experiences with councils or providing guidance to local authorities on community priorities will result in better allocation of scarce resources, improved community development planning and implementation and this will possibly result in councils playing a more effective role in service delivery.
Additionally, if communities understand the administrative and resource constraints that councils operate within, they may come to appreciate their limited capacity to address community concerns and the need to prioritise needs.
The Decentralisation Secretariat under the Ministry of Local Government and Housing has been conducting public discussions in Chama, Lundazi, Luangwa, Kalomo, Gwembe, Monze, Namwala and Sinazongwe district councils to among other things increase public participation in local planning processes as well as encourage councils to include communities in the formulation of development plans.
The deliberations have also been conducted to encourage consultative approaches to local development planning, increase understanding of councils on community priorities and needs.
The discussions have increased community understanding of constraints impacting on councils’ capacity to deliver quality services, share experiences and develop innovative approaches to improve service delivery; and provide input into the ADC formulation process.
The end aim of decentralisation implementation is to complement the Public Service Reform Programme (PSRP) objective of creating a public service that serves to generate and apply the political and economic benefits of democratic governance to all citizens.
It is appreciated in democratic societies the world over that local government provides the best platform for citizens to participate in the governance of their countries.
By its nature, local government offers opportunities to a large number of citizens to participate in various aspects of public life.
This process occurring at the local level is crucial as it provides the much needed engagement between government and citizens. It also prepares a large pool of citizens to take up increasingly challenging assignments at higher levels in public service.
Labels: DECENTRALIZATION
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MPs unhappy with poor road network
By Times Reporter
MEMBERS of Parliament(MPs) have complained of the poor state of roads in all the provinces and urged the Government to consider improving the road infrastructure in the country.
Contributing to the debate on the 2010 national budgetary allocations to all the nine provinces of the country, the MPs on Wednesday complained that the state of the road infrastructure in most provinces was in a deplorable condition.
Matero MP Faustina Sinyangwe (PF) said the road infrastructure in her constituency and specifically in Balastone Park was in a deplorable condition.
Ms Sinyangwe, however, said there was need for parliamentarians, irrespective of their political affiliation, to work with the Government in service delivery.
Nchanga MP Wilbur Simuusa (PF) said roads in his area were in a deplorable state and he had been asking the Government to do something about the situation.
Lukulu West MP Eileen Imbwae (ULP) said that it was disheartening to note that the Mongu-Kalabo Road had not been worked on for many years.
As such, she said, the people of Western Province were unhappy with the Government’s performance.
Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Moses Muteteka said the Government had made strides in improving the road infrastructure throughout the country.
He said it was clear that the members, particularly from the opposition were not interested in seeing the good things that the Government was doing in terms of improving the road network.
In Central province for example, Mr Muteteka said the Government had worked hard to improve the road infrastructure.
He said that this was in line with the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) and therefore wondered how and why the opposition MPs could incessantly be attacking the Government.
Labels: INFRASTRUCTURE, MPs, ROADS
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Hands off Zim: Mutambara
Herald Reporter
Zimbabwe will not benefit from the "patronising" and "ignorant" meddling of foreigners who know nothing about the real situation in the country, Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara has said.
Speaking in South Africa on Thursday, DPM Mutambara said Zimbabwe was better guided by Sadc and the African Union, and that Zimba-bweans have the last say on the way forward politically.
Internet news sites also quoted him as saying although the inclusive Government had a two-year lifespan — from September 2008 to September 2010 — there was room to keep the arrangement in place if conditions on the ground so required.
"There are two major reasons why there is scepticism (about the inclusive Government by Western countries), one of them is sheer ignorance and arrogance on the part of the West.
"I went to Oxford — I taught at MIT, I’m a Rhodes scholar. I think it’s fair to say that I know better than (US President Barack) Obama what is good for Zimbabwe, that I know better than Mrs Hillary Clinton what is good for Zimbabwe.
"So it is very arrogant and patronising for Hillary or Obama to prescribe what is best for Zimbabwe without talking to me first.
"In my opinion, the starting point is to remove ignorance and to remove arrogance on the part of the West vis-à-vis what’s good for Africa," he said.
"So we, for example in this inclusive Govern-ment, we are guided by Sadc member countries, they said ‘do it in your country’s national interest’.
"Once they advise us to do that, we cannot succeed if we go up against them.
"So the greatest influence over the future of Zimbabwean politics lies not with the intervention of Western governments, but rather lies with Africa and the will of the African people," he said.
DPM Mutambara said Zimbabweans were best placed to know their needs, adding that the inclusive Government was the best alternative at the moment for the governance of the country.
He also said the problems Zimbabwe was facing were not insurmountable.
"Our people are experiencing a new reality. Yes, there are problems, yes there are challenges, but they are not insurmountable."
On elections, he said while the GPA said they should be held within two years of the signing of the agreement, what was more important was the creation of conditions so that the poll outcome would not be disputed.
Labels: ARTHUR MUTAMBARA, BARACK OBAMA, HILLARY CLINTON, NEOCOLONIALISM
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President plants Tree of the Year
Midlands Bureau
President Mugabe yesterday officially launched the National Tree Planting programme at the Midlands State University in the Vungu District just outside Gweru.
The event, attended by Forestry Commission officials, Government ministers, including Environment and Natural Resources Management MInister Francis Nhema, as well as high-ranking Government officials, was held under the theme: "Combating Climate Change; Plant and Conserve Trees".
President Mugabe officially launched the annual tree planting event by planting a mutohwe tree (uxakuxaku in Ndebele and snot apple in English).
The mutohwe tree, whose botanical name is Azanzu garkeana, is the tree of the year, which would be planted throughout the country.
The President lamented the wanton destruction of trees like the mutohwe, whose fruit is sweet and nutritious.
"What is happening to the fruit (mutohwe)? Taisienda muzvuru tichinodya matohwe apo taitamba," he said.
President Mugabe expressed hope that the mutohwe and other trees being planted nationally would help cultivate a new culture of conserving trees and vegetation, as they were our heritage.
Hundreds of people converged at Kaguvi Vocational Training Centre to mark the tree planting event.
The institution had prepared 50 holes for the mutohwe tree and 100 for the Jatropha tree.
Kaguvi was initially supposed to host the official launch today before it was rescheduled to yesterday.
Minister Nhema urged people to plant the mutohwe tree, which had been chosen as the tree of the year.
Later in an interview, Forestry Commission chief executive officer Mr Darlington Duwa said their target was to plant tqo million trees nationwide within 12 months.
"We chose the mutohwe tree because of its adaptability to various sites and because of its other uses such as browse for animals and medicinal properties.
"We would want the tree to be planted in as many sites as possible," he said.
Mr Duwa said the call to plant trees this year had been well taken as the Forestry Commission received overwhelming inquiries from people from all walks of life.
"The trees need to be protected from veld fires, grazing animals and human beings.
"Most trees and vegetation have been ravaged by veld fires over the past years. We are creating a lot of awareness on the protection of trees in communities," he said.
He urged people to put in place fireguards and avoid starting fires between July and October, as these were high risk months for fire.
Mr Duwa said the planting of trees would help fight challenges posed by climate change as trees reduced global warming.
"Climate Change is not a myth but a fact.
"Our leaders will be meeting in Copenhagen in Denmark to try and agree on a post-Kyoto Protocol climate change regime.
"It is a recognised fact that while Africa contributes the least to global warming, it is going to suffer the most.
"Our theme is in line with what is happening in the world," he said.
Labels: MUGABE, NATIONAL TREE PLANTING PROGRAMME, TREES
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(LUSAKATIMES) Long awaited Chirundu one-stop Border post opens
Long awaited Chirundu one-stop Border post opens
President Rupiah Banda and his Zimbabwean counterpart going to launch the Chirundu one stop border post in Chirundu.
Business was brought to a standstill at Chirundu Border post as the much awaited commissioning of the Chirundu one stop Border post, which is reportedly one of the busiest border post in the sub region.
Movement of traffic, human and goods alike, was at stand still as early as 08:00 hours in readiness for the opening of the border post separating Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The one stop border post will definitely ease the movement of the goods and human traffic between the two countries, a development that has been hailed by the two governments.
President Rupiah Banda opened the border on the Zimbabwean side while Zimbabwean counterpart Robert Mugabe did the same on the Zambian side.
Afterwards the duo re – affirmed their countries’ regional intergation with Mr. Banda saying the development has come at a critical phase in his country’s economic relationship with other countries for the benefit of the regional trade.
Mr Banda said the opening of a one stop boarder post OSBP, is a milestone in facilitating effective trade in the COMESA region and beyond.
The president further said the region cannot continue to do business without the complete overhaul of infrastructure and harmonization of the trade polices adding that the North – South corridor would be able to meet the challenges of inter regional trade.
He noted that the one stop Boarder facility was born out of the COMESA council of ministers in 2005 in Kigali , Rwanda were it was recognized that the flow of trade in the north-south corridor could be enhanced by establishing a one stop Border post in the Eastern and Southern African region.
The president stressed that making Chirundu a one stop boarder post will ease congestion and will reduce transit times for traders and transporters adding that this will promote efficient flow of goods resulting in increased trade.
Mr Banda noted that Chirundu’s strategic location of trade between Southern and Eastern Africa and its gate way between two busy regions is ideal as a pilot site for the One Stop Boarder Post OSBP control programme.
He however noted that the boarder will is expected to serve as a model for other one stop boarder posts in the region.
And President Mugabe says the one stop boarder post will lead to the accelerated harmonization of COMESA, SADC and EAC integration programmes.
Mr Mugabe noted that the establishment of a one stop boarder post will stimulate economic activity with improvement of infrastructure and smoothen traffic on both sides .
He appealed for development and cooperation partners to join Zambia and Zimbabwe in the development of Beitbridge into a one stop boarder post to compliment efficiencies at chirundu and trunk North-South routes.
He also appealed to member state in the North – South Corridor to also priorities the establishment of the one stop boarder post to smoothen trade in the region.
And speaking earlier Japanese Ambassador to Zambia Hideto Mitamura said a one stop boarder post is important as it will promote economic development in Africa.
The ambassador noted that this will generate growth and reduce poverty in the region adding that this will accelerate economic development and promote the growth of African countries.
He said the Japanese government is grateful to see the completion of Chirundu one stop boarder adding that it is important for economic development in the region.
The ambassador noted that once a one stop boarder post becomes operational, delays will fall adding that this will reduce costs for businesses and increases their competitiveness by ensuring that products reach faster.
Meanwhile COMESA, Director of infrastructure Development Amos Marawe said the creation of a one border post will limit the duplication of border agency interventions in the region.
Mr Marawe added that the one border post at chirundu is leading forward for creating other single border stops , not only for this regions but for the Africa as a whole .
He noted that the one stop boarder post is making a positive and important contribution to the realization of Africa’s integration ambitions.
Mr Marawe noted the need for the central corridor and the eastern community to to take the lead as the COMESA region has taken the lead to ease aid to trade between countries in the region.
ZANIS
Labels: BORDER POSTS, CHIRUNDU, MUGABE, RUPIAH BANDA
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Rupiah is laying ground to pay Chiluba $8m – Sata
By George Chellah
Sun 06 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) leader Michael Sata yesterday said President Rupiah Banda’s directive to pay Lusaka lawyer Dr Roger Chongwe US $5.9 million is an indication that even former president Frederick Chiluba will be paid the controversial US $8 million.
Commenting on President Banda’s instruction that Dr Chongwe be paid approximately US $5.9 million about K27.4 billion as compensation for the 1997 Kabwe shooting where the latter and former Republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda were injured, Sata said he has been vindicated.
“I told the Zambians last year that Chongwe has endorsed Rupiah’s candidature for the presidential by-election because he knew that Rupiah will come and
give him the US $2.5 million. I am extremely happy that whatever I have been telling the Zambians is now coming to pass…I am now an encylopedia,” Sata said.
He said by awarding Dr Chongwe such a hefty amount, President Banda was telling the Zambian people that he would soon be moving on to Chiluba, as well.
“Rupiah Banda is just laying ground for Chiluba’s payment of US $8 million as well, that is if he hasn’t yet paid him. He is paying his friends now…so that payment to his friend Chongwe is just a foundation that he will also use state funds to give Chiluba the US $8 million,” Sata said. “You remember that he tried to do the same after Chiluba’s acquittal.
Rupiah Banda went on to say ‘I want to thank the Zambian people for accepting the acquittal’ when nobody accepted Chiluba’s acquittal. So just like he was laying ground for people to accept the acquittal, he is doing the same on Chiluba by first beginning with Chongwe. So that if he has not yet paid Chiluba the US $8 million, when he pays him he expects people to accept it since he paid Chongwe too.”
Sata said President Banda has come to re-organise UNIP.
“It was a UNIP president’s meeting which was disturbed in Kabwe and Chongwe who was half UNIP at that time has been compensated. So Rupiah, being a UNIPIST as he calls himself, has now come to reorganise UNIP by compensating his friends lavishly,” said Sata.
President Banda has directed that Dr Chongwe be paid approximately K27.4 billion as compensation for the 1997 Kabwe shooting where the latter and former Republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda were injured, well-placed sources at the Ministry of Finance have disclosed.
Labels: CHILUBA, CORRUPTION, KENNETH KAUNDA, RUPIAH BANDA, SATA
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KK bemoans lack of vocational skills among youths
By Sydney Mungala
Sun 06 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
Dr Kenneth Kaunda has said lack of vocational skills among the youth posses a security risk to the nation. Speaking during the 3rd Cavendish University Graduation ceremony in Lusaka on Friday, Dr Kaunda said it was unfortunate that the youth could not access education and health services.
“We have thousands of orphans who roam the streets of our major cities without a modicum of hope. They have no access to health or education facilities, they grow up without vocational skills. This is a most unfortunate situation. It poses various social and security implications to the nation,” said Dr Kaunda who is the Chancellor of the university.
Dr Kaunda advised youths to embrace prevention as the surest way of avoiding HIV/AIDS infection.
“I would like to advise our youth to be mindful in their lives about HIV/AIDS. I would like to remind our youth that prevention of infection is the only way they will stay AIDS free,” Dr Kaunda said.
And President Rupiah Banda challenged local universities not to be just ivory towers divorced from reality.
“Let locally generated research provide solutions to the main vexing problems that our country is facing. Our institutions of learning should not just remain ivory towers divorced from the realities of life in society,” President Banda said.
He urged universities to champion locally generated research.
“The challenge I have for all our universities is to take research as a priority on their agenda. Let locally created generated research be promoted,” President Banda said.
He advised universities to adhere to high standards to ensure that students get value for their money.
“It must be noted that all education providers must adhere to regulations to ensure that we do not allow haphazard establishment of institutions, especially universities with poor standards. It must also be noted that students should have value for their money,” said President Banda.
Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, VOCATIONAL TRAINING, YOUTHS
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Healthcare
By Editor
Sun 06 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
Health is an essential right of all men and women, boys and girls, including those who are still in the wombs of their mothers, and a responsibility of society as a whole.
The data that is available show the severity of the tragic health conditions that adversely affect the vast masses of our people. And we all see this for ourselves every day.
Everything that Garry Nkombo has said about the state of health services in our country is true and cannot be denied by any honest person. It should be clear to all that the solution for this and other serious problems affecting our people lies in us constructing an honest, efficient, effective and orderly political leadership in our country that can help eliminate under-development, but a lot can be done right now.
We need to struggle urgently to tackle the present critical situation of health in our country through massive mobilisation of national and international financial and human resources required. It is absolutely necessary to promote environmental protection, the control of communicable diseases, promote mother and child care programme, distribution of foodstuffs for children, water supply and the like. In addition, there is a crying need to extend health services, train the required technical personnel and guarantee them essential basic medicines which such conditions demand.
It is an imperative need of our times to be aware of these realities, because of what a situation affecting the great majority of our people entails in terms of human suffering and the squandering of life and intelligence. The cold eloquence of the reality being portrayed by Nkombo is in itself terrifying enough. But beyond what Nkombo is saying lies the tragic situation of hunger, abject poverty and neglect that is individualised thousands of times over. This is the expression of the enormous abyss separating the well-to-do and the poor of our country, of the evident inequalities existing in our country.
Whatever efforts are made today to protect them, to prevent their death and illness, to provide them with food, housing, medicine, clothing and education will shape the basic human qualities of that decisive percentage of the future population of our country. And yet, in view of the present trends, what sort of country we will hand over to them, to our children? What sort of life lies ahead for them?
Squalor, disease and lack of healthcare are the basic aspects – together with hunger – characterising the dramatic situation in our country. And as long as health fails to be considered as a fundamental right of every one of our citizens and a duty of the community; as long as the responsibilities of the government and of society in regard to healthcare fails to be recognised; as long as inequalities in the distribution of health resources fail to disappear; as long as poverty, hunger, ignorance and squalor fail to be directly fought against, little will be achieved in improving human health in our country.
The trends which serve as the basis for the sombre immediate outlook for our country are the most obvious expressions of the unbearable situation of injustice and inequality still prevailing among us today. But they are not necessarily inexorable. We can, if we really want, act to change this increasingly unjust future for one that is bright and equitable.
Modern man can’t live without healthcare. The law of natural selection ensured that only the fittest primitive people survived. Modern man must get the most from the organisation of life, for life can no longer be dependent on nature and the environment.
One cannot claim to uphold the sanctity of life if there is no provision for minimal healthcare for all. Life is sacred, a gift from God to be valued from the moment of conception until death. And there is no future development without healthy and educated citizens.
Every person, whether rich or poor, educated or not, political ally, friend or relative of those in power or not, has an equal right to receive healthcare. It is not a privilege for those who are close to those in power to be sent to South Africa for treatment or to be given special or preferential treatment at the University Teaching Hospital. Every citizen should have equal right to receive healthcare.
And in its wide interpretation, the right to life means that the government is required to take such positive measures as to reduce infant mortality, to increase life expectancy and to eliminate malnutrition and epidemics. The enjoyment of the right to life is applicable from the moment of conception.
There is need for us as a nation to affirm in the strongest possible terms the unique value of every human life because human life is a precious gift from God, a source of all life. In the book of Genesis, we read about creation: “God saw all the creation and indeed it was very good” (Gen 1:31).
The last and the highest form of life that God created was human life. “Let us make human beings in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves” (Gen 1:26). The psalmist is even more explicit: “It was You (God) who created my inmost self and put me together in my mother’s womb” (Ps 139:13). Consequently, every human life is sacred and demands the greatest respect and protection at every stage of development. Choose life and not death! God calls us to protect and preserve human life both before and after birth.
The Lord Jesus spent His public life going about doing good, healing, forgiving, comforting and showing compassion and concern for all forms of human suffering. At the same time, He openly confronted the evils that oppressed people.
Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and wellbeing of oneself and one’s family, including food, clothing, housing, medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond one’s control.
The right to live a dignified life can never be attained unless all basic necessities of life – healthcare, education, culture, food, housing, work – are adequately and equitably available to everyone.
And the right to health implies that everyone has the right to medical care when sick. This obliges the government to create conditions in which every person has access to medical services and attention in the event of sickness. This right obliges the government to provide enough funds for preventative healthcare and basic healthcare assistance. The right extends to preventative aspects of healthcare.
This includes improved nutrition, sanitation, immunisation, education on health, improvement of all aspects of environmental and industrial hygiene. This right also obliges the govenment to pay a special attention to epidemic, endemic and occupational diseases. AIDS is an example of such an epidemic. There should be policies oriented at prevention, control and treatment of such epidemics. This right obliges the government to pay a special attention to the improvement of health conditions of the children.
There is need for the government to use the maximum of its available resources to realise this right. We say this because to an adequate standard of living implies a standard of wellbeing that is compatible with one’s dignity as a human being. The situation in our country today is such that a few enjoy the right to an adequate standard of living while the majority are deprived of such an enjoyment.
In the interest of the adequate standard of living as a human right, such a status quo needs to be addressed. We are aware of a growing gap between the rich and the poor in our country with regard to expectations, living standards and development. Many people in our country still live in circumstances which are hardly compatible with their dignity as sons and daughters of God. Their life is a struggle for survival.
And at the same time, a minority enjoys the fruits of development and can be sent for treatment abroad for all sorts of minor illnesses while the poor are left to die without even access to the most basic painkiller, Panadol. We appeal for a more just and equal distribution of our nation’s wealth.
“People are the greatest resource of every country!” How often we hear that statement. And how true it is for us here in Zambia! Our people are indeed our greatest resource, our richest treasure, our best hope for the future. Yet today in Zambia, we hear of frightening exhaustion of that resource, of its diminishment, deterioration, exploitation and so on and so forth. We sadly note that this resource is being reduced amidst great suffering, a suffering which by and large seems to go unnoticed by those in power and is often inadequately responded to by government programmes.
We are aware of, and we do commend, some efforts here and there by the government to deal with this tragic situation. But we feel that much more needs to be said and to be done if we are to meet effectively the massive problems of human suffering in Zambia today.
And we shouldn’t be silent in the face of this suffering of our people. More voices need to be heard on this score. And the Word of God challenges us: “If you refuse to hear the cry of the poor, your own cry for help will not be heard” (Proverbs 21:13). We must all speak out and call upon all people of goodwill to deal more forthrightly with this increasing suffering in our midst. We all know our people’s suffering.
Listening to the cry of the poor, then, what are we asking for? We call upon the government to take action to manifest three qualities that presently we find sadly lacking: compassion – whether an accurate perception or not, the public is losing faith in the President and his ministers’ statements of concern for their problems and suffering.
Aside from publicity visits to some compounds or some rural areas by the President and his ministers, very little concrete expression of real concern is heard or seen from government officials; commitment – there seems to be very little effective action taking place in responding to the suffering of the poor. Ordinary citizens hear more about assistance than actual receipt and this raises questions about the government’s desire and ability to deliver what it promises; competence – what is actually happening to so much money coming from international donors?
These issues need to be addressed because this country will not be good for those in power to live in if it’s not good for all of us, for all our people.
Labels: GARRY NKOMBO, HEALTHCARE
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Little is being done to improve health, education – Nkombo
By Ernest Chanda
Sun 06 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
GOVERNMENT is doing very little to improve service delivery in the health and education sectors, Mazabuka Central UPND member of parliament Garry Nkombo has observed.
In an interview, Nkombo said nothing much was being done by government to improve the two areas of health and education and give hope to Zambians.
He said it was a pity that standards in the two sectors had been compromised by poor government policies.
“In the health sector, I think the situation speaks volumes for itself. If you go into a public hospital today, the first thing that greets you is a stench. This is because important components that can help promote hygiene in hospitals have been neglected. The incinerators where hospital waste is supposed to be properly disposed of are non-functional,” Nkombo said.
“And it all comes down to a demotivated workforce among the frontline medical staff. Our government has also failed to account for donor money, which a few months ago resulted in donors withholding support to the Ministry of Health. This is an indication of failure on the part of government. I hear that some donors have resumed funding, but still, discipline is important in the management of resources.”
Nkombo said it was also a known fact that there were no essential medical facilities in rural areas, resulting in the collapse of the health sector.
And on education, Nkombo observed that the standards in the sector have been compromised by the removal of the cut off point system at Grade 9 level.
“While the removal of the cut off point at Grade 9 level makes sense, the result of that action has totally compromised the education sector. People have to understand that there is a difference between educating and schooling. When you talk about educating you are talking about building a person’s mental faculty,” Nkombo said.
“Right now we have a ratio of one teacher to 85 pupils, a situation that will only allow a teacher to have less than half a minute of personal contact with each pupil in one lesson. This reduces the teacher-pupil contact time and results in poor delivery on the part of the teacher. We have pupils who qualify to tertiary institutions and only end up increasing the drop-out level there. All this is because their secondary certificates are raw. I therefore challenge anyone to deny that our educational and health standards have been compromised.”
Labels: EDUCATION, GARRY NKOMBO, HEALTHCARE
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UPND takes 16 heads of cattle to Solwezi for victory celebrations
By Zumani Katasefa
Sun 06 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
THE UPND has taken 16 heads of cattle to Solwezi for victory celebrations starting today to Tuesday.
UPND vice-president Richard Kapita said in an interview yesterday that the cattle were meant to feed the constituents as a way of thanking them for voting for the UPND-PF pact candida
“We are just offloading the cattle, they are 16 of them,” said Kapita.
Kapita said they left a cow in Chingola, which was promised to PF members when they won the by-election.
Kapita said 10 of the cattle would be slaughtered in Solwezi for the residents while the remainder would be taken to Kangwena Ward, Mwinilunga, Kabompo, Nyakulenga Ward in Zambezi and one for Mufumbwe.
“Mufumbwe, that was the only ward by-election we lost but we still have to fete the people for their effort,” said Kapita.
Several Kitwe residents honked and waved the pact symbol as the truck carrying the animals passed through town.
Lumba beat MMD's Albert Chifita by over a thousand votes to claim the seat left vacant following the death of MMD's Ben Tetamashimba.
Labels: CATTLE, UPND
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Sata accuses Shikapwasha of admitting tender manipulation for LITASCO
By Chibaula Silwamba
Sun 06 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
PF president Michael Sata has said chief government spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha has admitted that the government was trying to manipulate the tender process in favour of Russia’s LITASCO to supply and deliver crude oil to Zambia.
Reacting to Lt Gen Shikapwasha’s denunciation of his remarks on LITASCO, Sata said Lt Gen Shikapwasha ignorantly admitted the government’s manoeuvres to manipulate the tender process.
“Shikapwasha did not deny that the government was tampering with the tender process to favour LITASCO. What Shikapwasha was trying to do was to justify that the whole Europe gets oil from Russia. That is admission. What he was doing was admission,” Sata said. “Shikapwasha suffers from an incurable complex because he was justifying that Europeans get fuel from Russia, so why can’t we also get fuel from Russia?
That is why Shikapwasha has even abandoned late president Levy Mwanawasa’s legacy. No wonder tomorrow you will find that he has changed his name to Tembo Shikapwasha or Banda Shikapwasha.”
He said Lt Gen Shikapwasha behaved the way works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti behaved when he commented on the controversial acquittal of former president Frederick Chiluba.
“Like the other time you remember Mulongoti confessed that the government acquitted Chiluba. Shikapwasha, while he was trying to be honest by saying ‘yes the government’, he was trying to justify [LITASCO),” Sata said.
He said Lt Gen Shikapwasha, in his media statement, failed to answer the questions that were being raised about the irregularities in the government’s plans to give a contract to LITASCO.
“When he condemned me, he said the whole Europe gets fuel from Russia. Now, the reason why Europe gets fuel from Russia is that Russia is nearer to where they are than the Middle East. But we in Africa we are much more nearer to the Middle East than Russia,” Sata said. “I am now glad that we are being proved right that corruption won’t take them anywhere.
This government must realise that it’s not only me and Hakainde who is talking about corruption; even the donor community is not very comfortable. The Irish Ambassador was advising Rupiah Banda yesterday Thursday and everybody continues reminding Rupiah Banda about corruption.
“Even the chiefs are coming out in the open to say how they are suffering. They want somebody to liberate them. Mr Rupiah Banda and people like Shikapwasha and Mulongoti should think twice.”
Sata urged Zambians to continue holding the government accountable on the crude oil import.
“We have to continue hitting them because if we don’t hit them we are the people who are going to suffer because we are the people who are going to pay more for the fuel which will be coming from wherever, taking into consideration transportation costs,” said Sata. “Because of his ignorance, unknowingly, Shikapwasha has come to confirm what I was saying about the LITASCO issue.”
On Wednesday, Lt Gen Shikapwasha defended LITASCO, saying it was not a conman company but a reputable one. This was after Sata said the government intends to corruptly award the tender to LITASCO, which is just a “conman company”.
However, Lt Gen Shikapwasha did not state whether or not it was true that the government was trying to use Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) to rubber stamp the selection of LITASCO, which energy minister Kenneth Konga has allegedly negotiated with, as a preferred bidder to supply and delivery of 1.4 million metric tonnes of crude oil.
Well-placed government sources disclosed that the Ministry of Energy submitted before ZPPA a tender document inviting bidders but there were efforts to doctor the same document in an effort to eliminate competition and allow LITASCO to be awarded a contract because the company staff had met President Banda at State House in June where it was assured that it would be given the tender.
But due to public pressure, the Ministry of Energy has postponed the deadline for the tender process in the supply and delivery of crude oil for the 2010-2011 period, following The Post's expose’.
The source said the rescheduling was meant to give the government time to review the tender documents in an effort to address the issues that had been raised so far.
“Even then, we do not feel what the dates they are proposing will be sufficient,” the source said. “The rescheduling of the tender process is a welcome move although we are yet to see if they are going to attend to all the issues that you have exposed. And thanks to The Post otherwise President Banda could have quickly pushed for LITASCO if you did not expose this matter. But just continue on alert because these people, especially State House, are determined to give this tender to LITASCO.”
Ministry of Energy and Water Development permanent secretary Teddy Kasonso on Friday declined to comment on the crude oil importation.
“I don’t work for The Post. Let me work first. I am in a meeting. Call me later,” said Kasonso before cutting the phone line.
Labels: CORRUPTION, LITASCO, RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA, SATA, TENDER OFFERS
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Masebo warns govt over teachers from NISTCOL
By Mwala Kalaluka
Sun 06 Dec. 2009, 04:01 CAT
LIVINGSTONE ULP member of parliament Sakwiba Sikota on Friday has promised to go back to his constituency to quell the many ‘rumours’ that have been spawned in Livingstone in his absence.
And Chongwe MMD member of parliament Sylvia Masebo yesterday said the government will be de-campaigned by the teachers from the National In-Service Teacher training College (NISTCOL) in Chalimbana that it wants to transfer away from the institution.
Contributing to debate on the motion to suspend Standing Orders 20 and 21 (1) and Standing Order 101 to enable the House to adjourn sine die, Sikota said a lot of rumours had been peddled on the parliamentarians during their absence from their respective constituencies.
“It is important that we go back to our constituencies,” Sikota said. “In our absence, a lot of rumours have been spawned and some of these rumours if we do not go back to address them will start to grow legs and mileage.”
Sikota said the parliamentarians had done very well during the fading session, especially in terms of having dealt with the budget despite it coming at a time when they did not expect it due to the change in the budget cycle.
“We are all in this House to put value for money and we can all be proud of ourselves in the manner we dealt with all the issues,” Sikota said. “We also need to go and start getting feedback from our constituencies on the various Bills that have reached various stages and are spending before this House.”
Sikota said he had in mind the Freedom of Information bill and he urged the government to conclude its consultations on the matter.
Pemba UPND member of parliament David Matongo said as the House adjourns, it would be prudent for the government to ensure that come January 2010, the budget that had been approved by the House was implemented.
“We have worked for 45 days. A lot has gone into the budget and I think our colleagues on the right before they have their Christmas and New Year must be given time to ensure that the money we have approved through their technocrats are being shared and shared in good time,” Matongo said. “Implementation of the budget come January 2010 is hitting the ground and running.”
Matongo said the disbursement of fertiliser and seed around the country was not proceeding in the manner that had been envisaged.
He said should the problem persist beyond the next seven days, the farmers would have missed the planting season.
Matongo said the food insecurity situation that would arise would be embarrassing to the country.
Nkana PF member of parliament Mwenya Musenge, whose debate was curtailed for debating contrary to Speaker Amusaa Mwanamwambwa’s initial guidance, described the fading sitting as a hectic and emotional one.
“I saw the banging of the table in the House,” Musenge said. “I also witnessed how dejected our colleagues on the right (government) were when they lost the Solwezi by-election.”
Mazabuka UPND member of parliament Garry Nkombo urged finance minister Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane and Bank of Zambia (BoZ) governor Dr Caleb Fundanga to address the problem of high interest rates in the banking sector, next year.
He gave an example of a Mazabuka commercial farmer, who shot himself on grounds that his business had sunk in dividends.
Nkombo said the issue of lending rates had to be ironed out because it was eating into the fabrics of the people who made the economy tick.
And Masebo said it was important for parliamentarians to get back to their constituencies so that they address the outstanding problems there.
Masebo said the situation at Chalimbana College was tense following the Ministry of Education’s decision to revert the college to its original status and a follow-up decision to transfer teachers from the institution to other training institutions around the country.
“At the moment we have over 1,000 teachers at NISTCOL who have been shifted to various places in the country. The situation at the training institute is very tense right now. I would like the government to look at this issue,” Masebo said. “NISTCOL has massive infrastructure which will go to waste. As area member of parliament I would like to bring this matter to the attention of government. If they do not do that Mr. Speaker, I want to say this again, government is going to regret.”
Masebo said the teachers at the training institution, which now had only about 76 students despite having laboratory facilities that could surpass that at the University of Zambia, were asking why the government was treating them in this way.
“A number of teachers are just lazing around, there is no work. I want to earnestly urge the Ministry of Education to look in this matter and revise that decision. This matter is very tricky and this matter has created tension at the college and as I speak, now there is low morale,” said Masebo. “These teachers who are being transferred all over the country will begin to de-campaign us.”
The members of parliament unanimously passed the motion to enable the House adjourn sine die.
Labels: NISTCOL, SYLVIA MASEBO
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KCM dismisses 11 workers
By Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Sun 06 Dec. 2009, 04:00 CAT
ELEVEN miners at Konkola Copper Mine (KCM) have allegedly been dismissed after seeking medical treatment during working hours. The miners who did not want to be named said management had violated their rights and demanded to be reinstated.
"It was on 7th November 2009 at Konkola number four shaft. The shaft had a blast at the shaft bottom due to poor ventilation. After that had happened, the employees went out through the blasted fumes and 11 of us went to Konkola Mine Hospital where we underwent a 24-hour treatment,” said one of the affected miners.
“However, management was not happy with us and we were dismissed from work after being charged with deliberately supplying of false information that there was a blast underground."
The miners complained that it was their right to seek medical attention when they felt unwell especially in mining areas.
They said KCM management had no right to take severe action against them adding that this had been the third time of gassing at the same shaft.
"So far the Mine workers Union of Zambia (MUZ) as well as the government know about this case and they do not want to do anything about,” they said.
When contacted for comment, KCM spokesperson Rahul Kharkar said he did not have any information regarding the blast and the 11 miners that were consequently dismissed.
When told that it happened on November 7, Kharkar asked the reporter why she had not contacted him and waited until now to get a reaction.
"Why did you not tell me when it happened? I have not heard anything like this. Let me have your number and I will call you," said Kharkar.
Meanwhile, MUZ general secretary Oswell Munyenyembe confirmed that 11 workers were gassed and management charged them with supplying of false information.
"I can confirm that 11 of our members at Konkola Copper Mine were gassed and at their first hearing management charged them with supplying of false information and dismissed them," said Munyenyembe. "This information is coming from the branch and we have advised the miners to appeal and we are going to be there at the meeting."
Labels: KCM, MINERS
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GPA: Outstanding issues are mere trivia
By Bishop Trevor Manhanga
Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:25:00 +0000
MUCH has been spoken and written of late about what is commonly referred to as the, "outstanding issues" of the GPA. It is my conviction however that while much time has been spent, and effort expended in pursuit of solving these "outstanding issues," all this time and effort may not bring the kind of outcome we long for.
The sad fact about all this is that the real "outstanding issues" are being sacrificed at the altar of expediency, while a flurry of meetings are held in pursuit of issues that have no real bearing on the peace, security and prosperity of the nation.
The real issues, which unfortunately are not getting the priority they deserve, are the national healing and reconciliation process, economic empowerment and developmental issues that will enable Zimbabweans to have a decent roof over their heads, bread on their tables, affordable education for their children, affordable and dependable medical treatment and service delivery issues that give them access to clean water, a constant supply of energy, (for both domestic consumption and transport) and a living environment that affords them a dignified existence.
These are the real "outstanding issues" and it will be to our eternal shame that we spent so much time, and effort haggling on what really are peripheral matters, while the real issues remained on the back burner.
One has to wonder if our political leaders are aware of the centrality of national healing and reconciliation to all that they are trying to accomplish.
The relegation therefore of national healing and reconciliation down the ladder of priorities, is a fatal error, in that anything that the Inclusive Government does outside of a genuine National Healing and Reconciliation process is doomed to failure.
Why do I say this? Because the levels of mistrust, acrimony, and in some instances hatred between various political players, ethnic or racial groups, cannot be overcome by the removal of certain individuals from national institutions. On the contrary, any attempt to enforce this kind of thinking adds to the division rather than serves to bring unity. The schizophrenic manner in which the parties to the GPA have presented themselves to various audiences since the signing of the GPA bears testimony to this.
This inability to present a cohesive, united front is in large part due to the fact that there has not been genuine reconciliation between those who were previously antagonists. Until there is a genuine acceptance of, and not merely tolerance, of each other, all we are currently engaged in is building castles on the seashore.
It should be clearly and categorically stated that the removal of Dr. Gideon Gono from the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and Mr. Johannes Tomana from the office of Attorney General will not be the antidote for the antagonism that we have previously witnessed between our political parties, nor will it lead to the harmonious co-existence of these political parties. In what way we must ask therefore, will the removal of Dr. Gono from the RBZ lead to political activists refraining from acts of political violence? In the same manner that the mere possession of a marriage certificate does not immunise a marriage from violence between the two parties that signed the marriage certificate, so too the signing of the GPA and even the resolution of these so called "outstanding issues," (which continue to multiply faster than amoeba with each passing week,) will not lead to these political parties peaceful co-existence.
What makes a marriage work, and what will make a political agreement work, is not the paper it is written on, or the vows and commitments agreed to, but rather the sincerity of the hearts, unity of purpose and embracing of shared values, of those who signed the agreement. This is something that no Sadc Troika or any other group for that matter can enforce – it is something that must be born in our hearts as Zimbabweans, because we believe in it and want it.
The arrival of the GPA in 2008 was met by the broad population of the nation with much relief, thanksgiving, and hope that finally we were as a nation at the threshold of a new era. The hope was that the signing of the GPA heralded the beginning of a new day where we could all as Zimbabweans put aside our differences of whatever nature, coalesce our collective strengths, ingenuity and resources to build the kind of nation we all know we have the potential of becoming. With just over a year into the new dispensation, all the goodwill, hope and expectation that ushered in the GPA seems to be dissipating with each passing day. There can be no doubt that there have been noticeable positive changes that have been made during the brief tenure of the GPA. We have witnessed positive movement in the education, and health sectors for example, in addition to the vast array of goods now available in the shops, the availability of fuel coupled with the not so frequent power outages most definitely have been welcome steps in the right direction for the majority of the population. That does not mean to say all is rosy, many challenges remain. The introduction of the multiple currency system with the attendant withdrawal of the Zimbabwean Dollar has caused, and continues to cause untold suffering to the majority of the population. It is a slight against the Inclusive Government that more time has been spent talking about "outstanding issues" when the matter regarding the reintroduction of the Zimbabwe dollar is just brushed aside with the now familiar refrain "we are not yet ready to see the introduction of the Zimbabwe dollar," without proffering a timetable or plan as to when we could expect to see our economy performing in a manner that would allow the reintroduction of the Zimbabwe dollar. This lackadaisical attitude to a matter of such national importance, is one which suits those who are paid by NGO’s or have access to sums of US dollars that the ordinary populace do not have access to, but it is cold comfort to those who are barely eking out a living and failing to source the elusive greenbacks. Those who parrot this refrain should ask themselves why for the first time since independence in 1980 well over 60 percent of eligible students failed to find the money to pay for their exam fees this year? And so sadly we continue to stumble along from one mediation meeting to another, seemingly oblivious of the desperate plight of the people whose needs we purport to be concerned about.
It is in this vein that the headlines that met Zimbabweans in yesterday’s edition of The Herald: "GPA Fresh issues emerge" were most distressing. This is tantamount to a game of football where the rules keep changing as the game is played.
The emergence of these fresh issues must be seen against the backdrop of the statement by British Prime Minister Gordon Brown prior to the Commonwealth meeting in Trinidad last week. If ever we thought that the GPA was a matter for Zimbabweans, then Brown’s statement brought our thoughts down to earth with a thud. It has been clear in the period leading up to the signing of the GPA and the period thereafter that certain western countries were not happy with the unfolding events in Zimbabwe.
One does not need to be the proverbial rocket scientist, to see that signing of the GPA was met with a very tepid response from certain western countries, that promptly stated that certain "benchmarks" needed to be met before there could be the lifting of the economic sanctions they imposed.
These "bench marks" were not arrived at in consultation with Zimbabweans, the very people whose interests the western countries are purportedly trying to protect. No, Zimbabweans have been relegated to be mere bystanders as events unfold before them.
These "benchmarks" had nothing to do with the wellbeing of Zimbabweans, but rather are a testament to the condescending attitude of the western nations, that unless the Sadc mediated process met with their "bench marks," the current economic embargo on the nation and travel restrictions on certain people would remain. So Brown’s statement last week that there must be: "progress on reforms in security, justice and the economy – including restructuring the Reserve Bank to improve management of public finances – and embracing a vibrant free press," let the proverbial cat out of the bag.
It must now be clear to the discerning eye that once the "Reserve Bank has been restructured," read that as Dr. Gono being removed from his position as Governor of the RBZ, or failing that, made impotent by the enactment of legislation that makes him a mere figure head. Then we hear from Mr. Brown that there must be progress on reforms in "justice." Read that as the removal of the Attorney General from office, the next logical step in accordance with Prime Minister Brown’s statement is "progress on reforms in security." Let us be crystal clear that as part of the grand strategy being pursued by Brown and his colleagues there must be the total removal of all current Service Chiefs who fought in the liberation war and are seen as pillars of President Mugabe’s continued stay in office. Now the implications of this external interference in our national affairs must not be taken lightly. Those who believe that the removal of our security service chiefs and other personnel perceived to be stumbling blocks to what the western world wants imposed in Zimbabwe must understand the very serious repercussions for the well being of our nation that such thinking will usher in.
It becomes clearer with each passing day that as long as the preconceived plan of Brown and his allies is not met, we will be faced with ever shifting goal posts. This is where we expect Sadc to put its foot down and very firmly. It is Zimbabweans who must decide whether they want a government led by Zanu-PF or one led by the MDC-T, MDC or any other party. The future of Zimbabwe must not be decided in the corridors of Whitehall but in the polling stations in Glen View, Muzarabani and Sakubva, nothing more, nothing less.
The idea being presented currently, (or rather before the introduction this week of additional "outstanding issues), that the future well being of the nation is predicated upon the removal from office of the Reserve Bank Governor and Attorney General must be seen therefore for what it is, a diversion from the real issues.
Will the removal of these two gentlemen lead to political harmony and the removal of acrimony between the political parties? Does this mean that once these two offices have been filled with different people there will be no political violence in future and we will have enough fuel and electricity, the shops will be awash with goods and unemployment will be reduced to single digits? For as long as we continue to focus our efforts and attention on minor issues while leaving the major issues untouched, we are condemning ourselves to continued strife and upheaval. The fact of the matter is that there remains unresolved anger, residual hurts that have nothing to do with Dr. Gono or Mr. Tomana or any of the new list of "outstanding issues." For as long as national healing and reconciliation remains a peripheral issue – as it currently is, we will not deal with the real issues that have divided us over the years. While the GPA acknowledged the need for national healing – and they must receive the credit for at least acknowledging that national integration, peace and prosperity would be a pipe dream in the absence of a process that dealt with the unresolved issues that have plagued us for years, they have erred in not making the process the number one priority issue following the signing of the GPA in September 2008.
Today almost 30 years after that glorious night on April 18, 1980 when the Zimbabwe flag was hoisted for the first time, signifying the birth of the independent sovereign nation of Zimbabwe, we are still a very much divided nation. Let’s look at the white community for example from which political power was being transferred then, who it is clear President R. G. Mugabe (who was Prime Minister at that time) was reaching out to, in that epochal and bridge building speech, when he announced the policy of national reconciliation. For all intents and purposes the white community did not reciprocate, but spurned the hand that was extended to them and the magnanimity showed to them responding with acts of sabotage and when that failed adopted a business as usual approach, with the feeling that you have political power but we will continue to exercise economic power. There was no apology for past wrongs committed. For the most part when the land reform program was embarked upon it was not seen as an attempt to correct the injustices of the past and therefore rebuffed by the majority of the whites still present in the country. That is why today you still have white members of the community starting their own schools, congregating in churches where they are the majority (even if it means changing their lifelong held religious convictions,) meeting in their own social clubs and circles, because right from the onset in 1980 no genuine reconciliation had taken place. While I have heard many calls for there to be a reconciliatory process started to atone for the tragedy that unfolded in the post 1980 period in Matabeleland and Midlands provinces respectively, these calls while noble and deserving of attention, should of necessity start with the pre-independence period as well. If we are going to truly see national healing and reconciliation then we cannot be selective in deciding what period to cover, it must be all inclusive, both pre and post 1980. Then, and only then, can we hope to genuinely put to rest the demons that have imprisoned us all these many years. As part of the national healing and reconciliation process there must be finality put to the land reform program. Once again this does not start with the land reform program post 2000. We cannot call for the compensation of white landowners who had their farms taken as part of the land reform program while forgetting the indigenous people of Zimbabwe who had their land taken from them when the white settlers came. The seriousness of this matter is evident in what we see unfolding with the MDC national treasurer Roy Bennett. It is clear that Bennett is at variance with what his party signed on to in the GPA in that he still believes he has a right to, and will have his farm returned to him. Obviously in his mind the land reform program is not final, and if indeed he holds on to this viewpoint does it follow that his party holds this view as well? Now that it appears the land issue is back on the agenda as part of the "outstanding issues" does it follow that as part of the issues to be resolved is the return of farms to their former white owners? This in effect would nullify the entire land reform program with catastrophic consequences for the well being of this nation. These are the issues that pose the gravest threat to national cohesion and stability, and yet they are being conveniently left on the sidelines while we hear tons and tons of words spoken about what in essence are peripheral matters.
The inconvenient truth that those who have been trying to have Dr. Gono removed from his position, do not want to acknowledge is that he has a proven, successful track record, that saw CBZ emerge from the ashes of the bankrupt Bank of Credit and Commerce, to become the largest commercial bank in Zimbabwe. No mean feat and one that should earn him commendations, not brickbats. To have called Dr. Gono an "economic terrorist" is nothing short of scandalous and if we were serious about national healing and reconciliation, the starting point would be for those who uttered such false, derogatory and inflammatory words to publicly repudiate them.
This would send a signal that indeed we are genuine about national healing and reconciliation. We should celebrate people of Dr. Gono’s ilk, but we don’t, and we have several like him, who have risen to the challenge that faced them, seized the opportunity, showed tremendous vision, tenacity, business acumen, outstanding leadership skills, and built business empires that can stand up to the best in the world. Strive Masiyiwa, Mutumwa Mawere, Shingai Mutasa, Philip Chiyangwa, and Oliver Chidawu, are just a few who come to mind. It is most unfortunate therefore that, rather than celebrate the heroes and heroines that we have in our midst, from a wide spectrum of fields, (the business sector being just one of the many,) we have on the contrary, continued to exhibit this fatal attraction of attacking those we don’t understand or accept, and seeking every opportunity to not only pull down them down, but do all we can to see them destroyed. For as long as we continue on this self-destructive path, we will never realise the vast potential that lies within Zimbabwe and build the kind of nation we so desperately need.
Hate speech of whatever nature, uttered by whomever does, must not only be condemned, it must be stopped. We should ask of our public officials to heed the words of Gautama Buddha, who said, "If you propose to speak, always ask yourself – is it true, is it necessary, is it kind?" In light of the destructive potential of their words, those who have engaged in uttering inappropriate speech need not wait for the organ on National Healing and Reconciliation to come knocking at their doors to initiate a process of healing and reconciliation. On the contrary, they should proactively come out, acknowledge that what they have said is wrong, apologise for what they have said and seek reconciliation. That is the right thing to do, even if it may not be the most politically correct thing to do.
The fact of the matter is that while President Mugabe magnanimously announced a policy of reconciliation in 1980, this did not and has not become a reality in our nation. We owe it to ourselves therefore, and future generations to not allow this moment to pass us by, to acknowledge the wrong doings of the past, make amends for injustices and hurts caused, but be magnanimous in forgiveness and unite to build a better future. In so doing let us be led by our own convictions, and shut our ears to outside interference by those who wish to serve their own interests, not ours. National healing and reconciliation cannot be put off a day longer, let us give it the priority it deserves.
l Bishop Trevor E. C. Manhanga is the Presiding Bishop of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Zimbabwe
Labels: GLOBAL POLITICAL AGREEMENT
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