Maravi

There’s a limit to oppression, says Mutesa

There’s a limit to oppression, says Mutesa
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Thu 21 Apr. 2011, 04:00 CAT

THE freedom of human beings cannot be suppressed forever, says Dr Fred Mutesa. Commenting on Vatican Ambassador to Zambia Archbishop Nicola Girasoli’s statement on Tuesday that the recent events in Africa had shown the world that the culture of repression had definitely failed and that people especially the youths were becoming more and more aware that democracy was based on participation and respect for diversity, Dr Mutesa who is Zambians for Empowerment and Development president said human beings were created to be free.

“In this case, freedom means to be free of many things like poverty and rid ourselves of corrupt governments because within each one of us, there is a longing for a further kinder and more just world,” he said.

He agreed with Archbishop Girasoli and said leaders on the continent needed to look again at how they were conducting themselves.

Dr Mutesa said leaders should not take people for granted because there was a limit to which people could be oppressed without reacting.

He said the recent events in Africa were a timely lesson for those who think they had it in their bags. Dr Mutesa said there were many unmet needs in the country and the government should not brag with propaganda that it was doing much.

“People are seeing how those in leadership are acquiring wealth which they cannot account for and abusing power such as changing laws to dictate the fight against corruption and wasting enormous public resources on a constitution-making exercise which they knew from the beginning had no hope for success,” he said.

He said the people of Zambia would one day call them to account for everything.

Dr Mutesa said Zambians were observing the recent events in Africa and learning that it was possible to free themselves of corrupt and inept governments.

And Dr Mutesa said the new wave of democracy posed a serious challenge to all aspiring leaders and leaders needed to understand what people were longing for and harness the capacities and potentials of the people to bring about progressive change.

“So it’s all about increased freedoms, better governance. In short, I would say people are looking for authentic and genuine leadership so you can’t conduct politics in the same old way of name-calling and attacking one another,” he said.

He said there was need to pay special attention to the needs of young people whose views of the world had greatly expanded as a result of the revolution in information, communication technologies such as social media.

Dr Mutesa said young people need employment, better training opportunities and an assured future.

Labels: FRED MUTESA, NICOLA GIRASOLI

posted by MrK @ 7:14 AM