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Rupiah’s frequent travels costly - Habasonda

Rupiah’s frequent travels costly - Habasonda
By George Chellah
Tue 03 Aug. 2010, 04:01 CAT

SOUTHERN Africa Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) executive director Lee Habasonda has said it is costly for President Rupiah Banda to be on the move nearly every month.

Commenting on President Banda’s frequent trips, Habasonda urged the government to re-examine its foreign policy as it relates to presidential travels and engagements.

“This is because by nature of the institution of the presidency, it requires special arrangements every time he travels. This in turn entails large delegations and more expenditure. Let’s admit it, it is costly for our President to be on the move nearly every month, and those complaining may not just be playing politics but may have a legitimate concern. Hence our leadership must reflect on this carefully with detachment from political scores and face reality,” he said.

He said President Banda’s frequent foreign trips may be symptomatic of a weak or badly designed and implemented foreign policy.

“Although Zambia has two ministers, namely the foreign affairs and presidential affairs minister to back up the President as the chief diplomat, it appears he is still pressured to personally execute foreign travels almost all the time. The question is: why? Are there no capable representatives to help him? Or does he just want to travel? This is raising concerns as to the value of these trips and the need for having two ministers to help the President,” Habasonda said.

“We observe that the President has been criticised and also supported for his frequent travels to other countries. However, both his critics and supporters have not gone beyond an offensive or defensive posture to examine the push factors for the President to travel so often. We believe there is a gap in the implementation of our foreign policy.”

He said the cause of President Banda’s frequent foreign trips was a foreign policy that did not clarify when the President should represent himself or when it requires his delegated representatives to attend international engagements.

“For example, when should the Vice-President travel abroad or overseas to visit on behalf of the head of state? What is the role of the presidential affairs minister? Or when does the foreign minister really take centre stage in our international issues? Secondly, the country’s foreign policy has not been popularised and appreciated by the general populace of Zambia,” Habasonda said.

“Hence apart from those privileged to engage with the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs and national security, little is really known of how the President should be made accountable for his international engagements. For example, how does one explain the benefits of the President travelling to a country like Uganda to a grassroots man or woman? Is it just symbolism because the issues are important to Zambia or is it meetings that accrue direct benefits to Zambia?”

He said Zambia had no written foreign policy until the mid 1990s.

“This practice from the first Republic was largely for security purposes to ensure that Zambia’s behaviour at the time was not predictable in the face of hostile racial regimes. However, since it was written, this foreign policy has never been publicly announced as the effective one to date. In fact, it is unknown whether it is the one being implemented or the one which UNIP left which was unwritten,” Habasonda said.

“Because of the above, it is difficult to argue from an informed standpoint the virtues, values and challenges in the foreign policy area. Our view is that the President should necessarily attend to those matters that are of grave symbolic value and sensitive such as negotiating Zambia’s security assistance and architecture and information, which needs to be discussed at strictly head of state level.”

He said attending to every foreign meeting by the President did, in a significant way, obliterate the job of his foreign and presidential ministers.

“Clearly, lesser officials can handle matters relating to the wellbeing of the Zambians at home and abroad as well as negotiating investment portfolios, trade and explaining domestic decisions to the outside world,” he said.

He said more awareness should be created on the role of the President in international issues.

“Unfortunately, it is not even Ministry of Foreign Affairs who react to criticism about the presidential travels but other related ministries and citizens. We, therefore, wish to appeal to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that debates about foreign presidential trips are responded to in a manner that does not create perceptions that the President is a tourist,” said Habasonda said.

“We find that the issues of presidential travels have not been handled and explained satisfactorily. It seems that more needs to be done to ensure that this does not continue to demonise legitimate presidential travel. Indeed, the President has the right to travel anywhere where he wants but in a democracy like ours, his trips must be explained as he is accountable to the electorate.”

Labels: LEE HABASONDE, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 3:54 AM