Maravi

Zambia needs a president who can sacrifice for the poor - Fr Tembo

Zambia needs a president who can sacrifice for the poor - Fr Tembo
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Sun 17 Oct. 2010, 04:20 CAT

CHINGOLA’s Twelve Apostles Nchanga parish priest Father Charles Tembo has said Zambia needs a president who can sacrifice for the people and not an adamant one. Commenting on President Rupiah Banda’s numerous trips, Fr Tembo yesterday said the head of state appeared to be more concerned about foreign affairs than the plight of the poor in the country.

He said many poor Zambians had been left hopeless by President Banda and senior government officials who were busy with presidential trips at the expense of the suffering citizens.

He said the colossal amounts of money President Banda was spending on trips abroad could go a long way in alleviating poverty and enhancing social development in the country.

“What is more distressing is that our President doesn’t listen to what the people are saying. Whenever he is going out of the country, he goes with the entourage and they are paid allowances.

Government officials burn fuel to the airport every time he is going out to simply go and shake his hand before he boards the presidential Challenger as he leaves students at UNZA struggling to pay school fees. This is immoral,” Fr Tembo said.

He said Zambians need a president who would listen to their calls and was ready to sacrifice for the poor.

Fr Tembo said it was difficult to understand why President Banda could not delegate others to attend some foreign assignments on his behalf, adding that Zambians need him more than his foreign counterparts he has been visiting.

He said the people of the Copperbelt particularly in Chingola were enduring the agony of having dilapidated roads and other infrastructure but nothing tangible was being done to address such problems by those in government.

“If you come to Nchanga area, the township looks as if a war has just ended and we have a president who is busy gallivanting the world instead of paying particular attention to the problems people are going through. This is unacceptable and the President needs to be told that people are not happy with him,” said Fr Tembo.

Labels: CHARLES TEMBO, POVERTY

posted by MrK @ 3:37 AM