Group of Zambians want to erect statues of Sata

Group of Zambians want to erect statues of Sata
By Ernest Chanda
Fri 08 Feb. 2013, 13:20 CAT

A GROUP of Zambians are seeking permission to erect 5-metre high statues around the country in honour of President Michael Sata. The group calling itself Consortium of Good Governance Supporters said President Sata had achieved a lot of things for the nation, hence the need to honour him when he is alive.

"Following his Excellency President Michael Sata's impressive performance, we herein humbly seek your permission to put up five-metre high statues in his great honour. We strongly believe this shall be something of value to our country, whilst acknowledging the few isolated challenges. Even in football it is the goals scored that count for a win, not the missed chances," group corporate affairs director Frederick Chinsala stated in a January 28, 2013 letter to justice minister Wynter Kabimba. Chinsala stated that the statues would be erected in Kalabo, Kasama, Lusaka, Chipata and along Great North Road.

"We have learnt from the past when the out pouring of people's favourable comments on the demised leader Levy Mwanawasa forced his widow Maureen to gravely lament that he demised without knowing his own people appreciated him. God forbid, by saying so we are not in any faintest way suggesting our incumbent may pass on, no please."

Chinsala stated that President Sata had adhered to pronouncements he made during his inauguration on September 23, 2011. He highlighted several achievements that President Sata scored in various sectors of life.

"The perfect action of handing back Finance Bank Zambia Limited (FBZ) to the rightful owner, Dr Rajan Mahtan after the previous regime sold such a profitable bank for a song of K27 billion, brings with it investor confidence that what is yours, shall remain yours," he stated.

"Similar to this FBZ success, is the repossession of the Zambia
Telecommunications Company Limited (Zamtel) which was fraudulently 'given' over to the Libyans. By this action, the people of Zambia have been assured that their properties are in good hands, all because of the superior leadership qualities of His Excellency the President. The situation is the same with Zambia Railways where Professor Clive Chirwa has been entrusted to turn things around."

Chinsala advanced other reasons as the rebasing of the kwacha,
which he stated had, among other benefits, simplified and quickened
transactions; thereby giving the people more production time as less time is spent counting the money.

"The improvement in the minimum wages and tax-free packages for the lowly paid has made former economic outcasts to at least feel part of this country. The quick intervention to avoid food riots by His Excellency the President in ensuring that mealie-meal prices did not continue choking the majority is a true mark of a caring government. The Link Zambia 8000 road project is a marvel milestone in infrastructural development to improve the economy," he stated.

On the judiciary, Chinsala stated that judicial reforms were underway.
He also stated that President Sata's administration was in the process of setting up district and provincial prosecutions departments, instead of every case going to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

"Qualitatively, the unprecedented guidance by the Minister of Justice that the judicial reforms shall go by way of the Commission deserves support from all right thinking Zambians, unless one is naturally anachronistic and lamentably filled with incurables of jealousy, hate, frustration, malice, tribalism and permanently backward…," Chinsala stated.

"Anyone who loves Zambia will treasure this guidance and consequently
highly appreciate the able Minister of Justice and the PF government in general. Everyone, including corrupt judges, needs a properly functioning judiciary as it will not be justice if a corrupt judge is punished corruptly."

On the anti graft fight, Chinsala stated that President Sata's
administration added steam by restoring the Abuse of Office offence from
the Anti Corruption Act, which was removed by his predecessor.
He stated that the action implied that the PF administration had no
interest in abusing public office.

Chinsala stated that the budgetary allocation to the office of the First
Lady was a mark of transparency in the governance system.

"The unprecedented superior quality and genuine leadership through
transparency in the expenditures of the First Lady's office is a huge mark
of true leadership as it had been fashionable by the previous governments
to hide the sources of funds used by their then first ladies. Every sane
Zambian should rally behind this transparency and lobby for more funds for
the First Lady's noble office," Chinsala stated.

"The appointment of highly competent professionals to run corporations
deserves special acknowledgment. For instance, Dr Michael Gondwe at Bank
of Zambia, Mr Chibamba Kanyama at Zambia National Broadcasting
Corporation, Prof Clive Chirwa to run the Zambia Railways, to mention only
a few; as it used to be common in previous regimes for party cadres to be
appointed even when they lacked qualifications and experience for the
positions."

On prison conditions, Chinsala stated that the government had exposed such
through regular high level visits by the Vice-President, thereby raising
awareness for improvement.

On the media, Chinsala stated that the government had promoted freedom
although some were abusing it already.

He stated that plans to take the Freedom of Information bill to parliament
was another milestone.

On national security, Chinsala stated that government's decision to
register SIM cards would bring decency and security in communication.
He stated that the revocation of Lundazi Catholic priest Fr Viatour
Banyangandora's deportation showed government's willingness to listen.
Chinsala stated that above all, despite provocation from some groups of
people, the government maintained peace in the nation.

On sport, Chinsala stated that President Sata's leadership pedigree had
resulted in the national soccer team winning the African Cup of Nations
last year.

"The winning of the Africa Cup brought a sense of self belief and great
unity and happiness among Zambians. There are so many other achievements
that this government has done which have not been included here. Hence,
for these few foregoing highlights and many others not included here, we
strongly believe honouring our beloved competent President would be a step
in the right direction; for we should not be sitting idle and wait for
people abroad to call our leaders for awards," stated Chinsala.

"We can also give them what we can; after all, we are the direct
recipients of their good governance which guarantees us peace. Some
countries have never known peace."