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Zambians expectant of change in governance - Bishop Banda

Zambians expectant of change in governance - Bishop Banda
By Abigail Chaponda in Ndola and By Bright Mukwasa in Lusaka
Wed 28 Sep. 2011, 09:20 CAT

CATHOLIC Diocese of Ndola Bishop Dr Alick Banda says Zambians are expecting to see total change in governance and the upholding of democratic tenets by the PF government.

Meanwhile, Healing Word ministries pastor Moses Chiluba has advised President Michael Sata to speedily reinstate the abuse of office clause which was thrown out by MMD regime. In an interview, Bishop Banda said many people were happy that President Sata had won the elections and the change they wanted had come.

"But we appreciate that the former president Rupiah Banda tried his best. We have seen his efforts in the last three years that he was in office, but again when we look at the change which people wanted, it is a change to depart from old ways of governance, the old ways of doing things. We want to depart completely from old ways," he said.

"I am talking about the stifling of freedoms of individuals and if what we have seen in the recent past is what now is going to be associated with the PF government, then it simply shows that what we have done is only to change the name and not the system. We would love to see a change in totality in the way things are done, in the way we are going to live with one another."

Bishop Banda echoed President Sata's words during his inauguration that people may differ on ideas but that they should learn to live with one another.

He hoped that the same message would be inculcated in the PF cadres and that Zambians should love one another.

Asked if it was right for PF members to take revenge on MMD members, Bishop Banda said it would be wrong for people to take on vengeance as a way of life.

"In the scenario, in which we are, we may not be too sure whether it is the PF cadres that are beating up MMD cadres or it's just hooligans who are portraying that they are PF cadres, this is the reason the police and security forces should come in as soon as possible to stop this kind of situation. This is not what we wanted; we want to live in harmony and to love each other," he said. "But at the same time we need to have more freedom, freedom of information, freedom of speech and association, it's part and parcel of democracy."

Bishop Banda appreciated opposition political parties for the role of offering checks and balances.

"Without the opposition, we are going to have one party state system and this is not what we want. With the ruling government, we expect more because we have lived in a one party state. We would like to see democracy in action, not in word, we would like to see more of democracy being expressed, not necessarily in word, we want to see it in action," he said.

Bishop Banda said the PF government had a big task ahead of it because a lot of people, especially youths, were expectant.

"When you look at our country it is full of youths, youths who are expectant, youths who don't have employment, youths who don't have school and college places, so it means the new government has a lot to do to abet the situation," he said.

He advised the new government to secure employment for young people and provide education facilities.

"It is sad to see that school and university leavers are on the streets and when you see how many people went to vote, the majority were young people, which in itself is saying volumes," he said.

Bishop Banda said the Catholic Church was not calling for change of government but for good governance to take care of the minority, the marginalised and the poor in society.

"When you go round especially here in Kabushi where we are, you will find that the sanitation is not good, no proper accommodation and water. I know that the PF government will not be able to solve all these problems at once, but we have been promised that in 90 days things will be okay, the clock is ticking, it's now 88 days remaining, we are counting down," he said.

And Pastor Chiluba said President Sata was a representation of an exceptional leader propelled by endurance and patience.

He said the abuse of office clause was well-meant and was an effective mechanism to protect abuse of national resources.

Pastor Chiluba said he knew President Sata as a visionary leader from the days he interacted with him.

He said he knew President Sata as a strong believer in Biblical terms and as person who always looked to God in his life.

He said without belittling any past presidents, he knew President Sata as a leader with vision.

"In 1996 Sata called me and told me ‘pray for me Pastor I want to be president of Zambia someday,' and he said that he will be president of this country someday," recounted pastor Chiluba.

He said some people had tried to frustrate his vision but eventually it had come true at God's best time.

Labels: ACC, ALICK BANDA, GOVERNANCE, PF

posted by MrK @ 3:56 PM