Maravi

(ZAMBIAWATCHDOG) Mwanawasa’ son joins opposition of developmental projects

Mwanawasa’ son joins opposition of developmental projects
Tuesday, June 7, 2011, 8:11News36 comments
Patrick Mwanawasa

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda’s government is brainwashing Zambians into believing that it is bringing about the much-needed development, says Patrick Mwanawasa.

And Patrick (left), the eldest son of the late president Levy Mwana-wasa, has accused government leaders of ordering security personnel to kill Zambians during the recent disturbances in Mongu and Mazabuka.

In an interview witht the Post, Patrick said he was fed up with flamboyant speeches which were clearly not a true reflection of what was obtaining on the ground.

“It has been interesting to watch events unfold in the political arena this year. But I am appalled by the lack of conscience exhibited by our political leaders and those holding public office,” Patrick said. “Time and again, we hear how our government is working in our best interest.

We are brainwashed into believing that they are carrying out their duties to bring about the much-needed development, emancipation of youths and commitment to the achievement of a vision, a vision whose cornerstone has been shattered by a failure to entrench a national instrument for governance, an instrument which protects the rights of its citizenry, a people’s generic identity, a people’s constitution.”

He said Zambia had a middle class, albeit the intelligentsia of society, that was oblivious to the plight of the youth and workers in the name of protecting their jobs and comfortable homes.

However, Patrick said he did not blame the middle class for hiding behind the political mess because whenever one criticised those who ran a government on a democratic deficit, they risked jeopardising their lives and their families.

“But this is the reality, and any criticism, external or internal under such a deficit, could have adverse effects on the legitimacy of that government at any given time. Needless to say that this is a crucial time, a time when all parameters of governance are critically scrutinised,” Patrick said.

“Against this backdrop, we the people have been blanketed with a strong marketing machinery which has captured our attention, a machinery which has got us interested: ‘your money and your government at work!’ We have been beckoned to make a decision.”

Patrick said youths were denied the chance to be entrepreneurs in their own land and were reduced to licking the boots of foreign investors and even get shot to death if they asked for a meaningful income.

“We cry this beloved country that our leaders provide laws and enforce them; laws that empower their citizens and not those that oppress them; laws that protect their citizens and not those that leave them vulnerable,” Patrick said.

He said much as Zambians appreciated the quantitative changes in the nation’s output, Zambia’s economic development must benefit them.

Patrick said Zambia needed an economic strategy that weaned it off reliance on credit policies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

“Many economists will claim to have a solution to this quagmire of economic malaise, but that is not enough, because what we need is a relentless political will to achieve that which we truly desire, economic sovereignty,” Patrick said. “No longer must we be naïve and accept the cynical view often adopted by our leaders that we don’t understand how government operates.

To add insult to injury, we have charlatans representing the West and Bretton Woods institutions IMF and World Bank praising government for our country’s economic growth but they are remarkably cavalier without any idea of the gulf in real gross domestic product (GDP) between those we call our leaders and the youth selling talk time at Manda Hill.”

Patrick said pro-government charlatans lamentably fail to highlight the need to substitute elitism with a class of constructive non-state actors that advocate policy for the afflicted, the unemployed, the youth and the poor.

“This behaviour, it must be noted, is for lack of a better term ridiculous. I say this because we are being hoodwinked that the world is a global community but in my observation, the current socio-political conditions suggest that globalisation is nothing but a pretext for neo-colonialism,” Patrick said.

“This is a call to reclaim our national identity, our African pride. Our forefathers entrenched the philosophy of African humanism. However, the wave of democracy brought with it the tide of capitalism which eroded this social ideal.

Patrick said as though that were not enough, those that Zambians helped liberate from the shackles of white supremacy, had rebuilt their nations on a foundation that emphasised the enforcement of social development. However, he said Zambia had nothing to show for its efforts.

“Recently we commemorated Africa Freedom Day. It was a sad day; a day in a year where we have witnessed conflict upon conflict, from Abidjan in Ivory Coast to Abyei in the Sudan. Amidst this predicament, our leaders from Cape to Cairo celebrated the occasion in euphoric fashion under the auspices of defence forces covered in regal attire,” Patrick said.

“Back home, the same defence forces who under tough conditions of service, guard jealously that which we hold sacred, our peace. And what do our leaders do? They order them to slay the youth, women and children! Mongu killings, Mazabuka riots and the list goes on and before the end of the year, they will be ordered to slay their own families.”

Patrick said one could call it neither naivety nor ignorance to think that Zambia had fallen to subversion.

On the labour movement front, Patrick regretted that the labour leaders that were supposed to represent the plight of the workers were in bed with their oppressors.

Patrick said people whom Zambians had entrusted with the affairs of the country undermined the citizens’ confidence in their capabilities while systematically insulting the people’s plight with patronising speech and oppressive behaviour.

Labels: MMD, NEOCOLONIALISM, NEOLIBERALISM, PATRICK MWANAWASA, YOUTHS

posted by MrK @ 8:57 AM