Maravi

Rupiah and insults

Rupiah and insults
By The Post
Wed 04 May 2011, 04:00 CAT

IT is said that “when the king is concerned with justice, the nation will be strong, but when he is only concerned with money, he will rule in his country” (Proverbs 29:4). It is also said that “bloodthirsty people hate anyone who is honest, but righteous people will protect the life of such a person” (Proverbs 29:10).

We are advised that “If you have been foolish enough to be arrogant and plan evil, stop and think! If you churn milk, you will get butter. If you hit someone’s nose, it bleeds. If you stir up anger, you get into trouble” (Proverbs 30:32 – 33).

This is exactly what we are seeing over George Mpombo’s treatment.
Mpombo raised very serious allegations of abuse of office and corruption against Rupiah Banda, the President of our country.

But the reaction of Rupiah to Mpombo’s allegations falls far short of what one would expect from a president of a country that claims to be fighting corruption.

Instead of addressing the charges Mpombo has raised against him, Rupiah simply called him “a madman”. Insulting Mpombo will not clear away what appears to be legitimate and serious charges he has raised against Rupiah.

Anyway, sometimes what people do when they are cornered is turn truant and insult their accusers, those who are exposing their misdeeds. But does this work? The answer is a categorical NO. It doesn’t work because insults don’t take away the truth.

What clears away allegations of this nature is evidence, is the truth, showing clearly how Mpombo is lying and his motivations for doing so. Mpombo has provided witnesses to back his claim and as such his charges cannot be wished away in that reckless and insolent manner.

Again, we are reminded that “people who set traps for others get caught themselves. People who start landslides get crushed” (Proverbs 26:27).

Cursing Mpombo for telling what appears to be true will not hurt him; “curses cannot hurt you unless you deserve them. They are like birds that fly by and never light” (Proverbs 26:2).

Instead of addressing the issues Mpombo is raising, Rupiah is mobilising his cadres to threaten violence against Mpombo. How will this benefit Rupiah? These thugs are allowed to go on state-owned television and issue threats of violence against Mpombo and nothing happens to them – the police are quiet, as if no law has been broken, as if there is no threat to life and peace!

What will happen tomorrow if we wake up to hear that Mpombo is dead, he has been killed by MMD cadres or some unknown people? Where is this going to leave Rupiah? What if the Zambian people refuse to accept that death and there is turmoil in the country?

Where will that leave Rupiah? Let’s not forget that the turmoil that engulfed Tunisia and has today spread to almost the entire North Africa and the Middle East was caused by the death of one person - a vegetable dealer.

The belief that Zambians are a docile people who can’t rise up against anything should be abandoned because it’s bound to backfire. These humble people, these seemingly peaceful people will one day refuse to accept such abuses and injustices.

It is not wise to allow the threats of violence against Mpombo go unpunished. Imagine how quickly or swiftly the police would have moved if those threatening Mpombo with violence were opposition cadres threatening an MMD or government official like Ronnie Shikapwasha!

The lives of those who don’t support them have no value. One becomes a human being, with human dignity and human rights only when he supports them, only when he speaks for them. This is dangerous. This is a recipe for anarchy.

And sensible people see trouble coming and avoid it, but unthinking people will walk right into it and regret later. If you plant seeds of injustice, disaster will spring up, and your abuse of others will end. Wicked people bring on themselves the suffering they try to cause good people.

Wicked people are always hungry for evil; they have no mercy on anyone. The wicked are doomed by their own violence; they refuse to do what is right. If Mpombo has wronged Rupiah, the solution is not for MMD cadres to beat him up, to maim or kill him.

Where there is rule of law, the solution is to report Mpombo to the police or sue him for defamation. But probably they know that taking Mpombo to court for defamation will only end up opening a Pandora’s box for Rupiah; they know that Mpombo knows what he is talking about.

So the only solution for them, it would seem, is to beat him into silence.
Some people ruin themselves by their own stupid actions and then blame others. People should realise that in the end, they will have to live with the consequences of their actions.

Anyone who thinks and speaks evil can expect to find nothing good – only disaster. Evil people look for ways to harm others; even their words burn with evil.

Good leaders cannot tolerate evil, because justice is what makes a government strong.

Wicked people bring about their own downfall by their evil deeds, but good people are protected by their integrity.

When storms come, the wicked are blown away, but honest people are always safe. It is foolish to enjoy doing wrong. When fools speak, trouble is not far off.

Rupiah is always and everywhere insulting others, calling them ba mambala, madmen and all sorts of things. But when they hit back, he loudly cries foul!

Why? Does Rupiah think he is more human than others? Does Rupiah think being President of our country makes him a superior or special human being who can insult others, abuse others without them having the right to hit back, to do the same to him? Doesn’t Rupiah know that what is good for the goose is good for the gander?

Every lawless act leaves an incurable wound, like one left by a double-edged sword. If a person is insolent and arrogant, he may lose everything he has. It is said that “fumes and smoke appear before the flames do; insults come before violence” (Sirach 22:24).

As Mpombo correctly advised, the MMD should urge Rupiah to tame his tongue and stop insulting others because when they insult back, there would be problems. Rupiah, as a leader, needs to be exemplary in his language and in the way he treats other citizens.

Labels: INSULTS, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 2:42 PM