Munkombwe and the 'extended family'
By Editor
Sat 28 Dec. 2013, 14:00 CAT
Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe says "God will punish us if we completely destroy the extended family system".
Munkombwe urges those who are well-to-do to look after their relatives instead of leaving that to well-wishers. And he says there is need for a legal framework which could compel Zambians to identify their family tree and be legally responsible for its members.
"Those who are able to organise some form of wealth should be able to take care of their relatives and the vulnerable people. What pride does it give me if I can have a relative who can only be taken care of by well-wishers? What is the value of my wealth?" wonders Munkombwe.
To some, Munkombwe may sound outdated, a dreamer. But there is sense in what he is saying. It is true our way of life as a people has changed over the years. But there is still value in our kinship, genealogical, clan, family and household ties.
It cannot be denied that the deep sense of kinship, with all it implies, has been one of the strongest forces in our traditional life. Kinship is reckoned through blood and betrothal (engagement and marriage). It is kinship which controls social relationships between people in a given community: it governs marital customs and regulations, it determines the behaviour of one individual towards another. Indeed, this sense of kinship binds together the entire life of the 'tribe', and is even extended to cover animals, plants and non-living objects through the 'totemic' system. Almost all the concepts connected with human relationship can be understood and interpreted through the kinship system. This is what largely governs the behaviour, thinking and whole life of the individual in the society of which he is a member.
The kinship system is like a vast network stretching laterally (horizontally) in every direction, to embrace everybody in any given local group. This means that each individual is a brother or sister, father or mother, grandmother or grandfather or cousin, or brother-in-law, uncle or aunt, or something else, to everybody else. That means that everybody is related to everybody else, and there are many kinship terms to express the precise kind of relationship pertaining between two individuals. When two strangers meet, one of the first duties is to sort out how they may be related to each other, and having discovered how the kinship system applies to them, they behave to each other according to the accepted behaviour set down by society. If they discover, for example, that they are 'brothers', then they will treat each other as equals, or as an older and younger brother; if they are 'uncle' and 'nephew', then the 'nephew' may be expected to give much respect to the 'uncle' where this type of relationship is required by society. It is possible also that from that moment on, the individuals concerned will refer to each other by the kinship term of, for instance, 'brother', 'nephew', 'uncle', 'mother', with or without using their proper names. Such being the case then, a person has literally hundreds of 'fathers', hundreds of 'mothers', hundreds of 'uncles', hundreds of 'wives', hundreds of 'sons and daughters'.
The kinship system also extends vertically to include the departed and those yet to be born. It is part of traditional education for children to learn the genealogies of their descent. The genealogy gives a sense of depth, historical belongingness, a feeling of deep-rootedness and a sense of sacred obligation to extend the genealogical line.
Genealogical ties also serve social purposes, particularly in establishing relationships between individuals. By citing one's genealogical line, it is possible to see how that person is linked to other individuals in a given group. It is also on genealogical basis that organisational divisions have evolved among different peoples, demarcating the larger society into 'clans', 'gates', families, households, and finally individuals.
The clan is the major subdivision of the 'tribe'. Clans are normally totemic, that is, each has an animal or part of it, a plant, a stone or mineral, which is regarded as its totem. The totem is the visible symbol of unity, of kinship, of belongingness, of togetherness and common affinity. Genealogies may be cited as far back as the original founder of the clan, if he has not been forgotten or if the genealogical line has not been broken through loss of memory.
An individual has to be born in a clan, and he cannot change his clan, though it is possible that in some societies, marriage may lead to a change or weakening of one's original clan membership.
Apart from localising the sense of kinship, clan systems provide closer human cooperation, especially in times of need. If a person finds himself in difficulties, it is not unusual for him to call for help from his clan members and other relatives. This is the point Munkombwe is trying to make and remind us of.
For African peoples, the family has a much wider circle of members than the word suggests in Europe or North America. In traditional society, the family includes children, parents, grandparents, uncles, aunts, brothers and sisters who may have their own children, and other immediate relatives. In many areas, they are what anthropologists call extended families, by which it is generally meant that two or more brothers (in the patrilocal societies) or sisters (in the matrilocal societies) established families in one compound or close to one another. The joint households together are like one large family. It is the practice in some societies, to send children to live for some months or years, with relatives, and these children are counted as members of the families where they happen to live.
The family also includes departed relatives, whom we have designated as the living-dead. These are, as their name implies, 'alive' in the memories of their surviving families, and are thought to be still interested in the affairs of the family to which they once belonged in their physical life. Surviving members must not forget the departed; otherwise misfortune is feared to strike them or their relatives. The older the person was before dying, the longer he is remembered and regarded as an integral part of the human family. The living-dead solidify and mystically bind together the whole family.
African concept of the family also includes the unborn members who are still in the loins of the living. They are the buds of hope and expectation, and each family makes sure that its own existence is not extinguished. The family provides for its continuation, and prepares for the coming of those not yet born.
The household is the smallest unit of the family, consisting of the children, parents and sometimes the grandparents. It is what one might call 'the family at night', for it is generally at night that the household is really itself. At night the parents are with their immediate children in the same house; they discuss private affairs of their household, and the parents educate the children in matters pertaining to domestic relationships. The household in Africa is what in European and American societies would be called 'family'.
We have so far spoken about the life and existence of the community. What then is the individual and where is his place in the community? In traditional life, the individual does not and cannot exist alone except corporately. He owes his existence to other people, including those of past generations and his contemporaries. He is simply part of the whole. The community must therefore make, create or produce the individual; for the individual depends on the corporate group. Physical birth is not enough: the child must go through rites of incorporation so that it becomes fully integrated into the entire society. These rites continue throughout the physical life of the person, during which the individual passes from one stage of corporate existence to another. The final stage is reached when he dies and even then, he is ritually incorporated into the wider family of both the dead and the living.
Just as God made the first man, as God's man, so now man himself makes the individual who becomes the corporate or social man. It is a deeply religious transaction. Only in terms of other people does the individual become conscious of his own being, his own duties, his privileges and responsibilities towards himself and towards other people. When he suffers, he does not suffer alone but with the corporate group; when he rejoices, he rejoices not alone but with his kinsmen, his neighbours and his relatives, whether dead or living. When he gets married, he is not alone, neither does the wife 'belong' to him alone. So also the children belong to the corporate body of kinsmen, even if they bear only their father's name.
Whatever happens to the individual happens to the whole group, and whatever happens to the whole group happens to the individual. The individual can only say: 'I am, because we are; and since we are, therefore I am.' This is a cardinal point in the understanding of the views and position taken by old Daniel.
There is really no need to dump our old people, our old relatives into old people's homes like they do in Europe and North America. There is no need to abandon our traditional systems because they can still work - we are still what we were: Africans. And there is no need for self-denial, for trying to be something else. Let's just be what we are and stick to our way of life.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, EXTENDED FAMILIES
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Younger generation can't do without us, says Munkombwe
By Stuart Lisulo
Wed 23 Oct. 2013, 14:01 CAT
DANIEL Munkombwe says the younger generation still needs the older generation more in order to foster national development. In an interview ahead of the country's 49th Independence anniversary, Munkombwe, who is Southern Province Minister, said young people willing to learn from the older generation's experiences must not be arrogant, if they are to learn something.
They cannot do without us; the younger generation needs us more than we need them. Those that are prepared to learn can learn a lot from Dr Kaunda's involvement in politics and to some extent from Daniel Munkombwe's involvement in politics. I think I am something worth copying, so I think that we need each other. Those that are willing to learn are learning more from us. But those that choose to be arrogant against us, if they continue to be arrogant, they'll learn nothing - arrogance is not a virtue, Munkombwe said.
And Munkombwe said there has been 'tremendous progress' made in several sectors of the nation's economy.
When we got independence, there was only one Munali Secondary, that is why some of us found our way to Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) at the time, now we have many secondary schools and universities and colleges. Now we have provincial hospitals at least, that is tremendous progress, he said.
Meanwhile, in assessing whether Zambia has missed many opportunities to fully realise the gains after independence, Munkombwe said shortfalls were inevitable in any democratic dispensation.
It is difficult to realise everything, we will still have some shortfalls here and there, it is nature. If you go to the United States, sometimes their governments are paralysed government shutdown for some reason or the other, so there is no way you have 100 per cent system, but you can go up to 90-95 per cent to 98 per cent, but you certainly cannot have a 100 per cent system, Munkombwe said.
In the run-up to 1964, Munkombwe recalled how 'useful' he was during the struggle for independence, having once served as the vice-president in the African National Congress (ANC).
I surrendered to serve the people. So I was there in the forefront, I have always been a leader in the driving seat. Vernon Mwaanga was once a youth here in Choma and because he was a useful youth, he rose up to the United Nations and so on. When you are bad anywhere, you are bad everywhere; when you are useful anywhere, you are useful everywhere; and if you are useless anywhere, you useless everywhere, he said.
And Munkombwe called for more unity.
Let us move with everybody in unity; whether you are PF today, UPND today, let us move together in order to maintain unity for which Kaunda, Nkumbula, Kapwepwe, Arthur Wina moved in, said Munkombwe.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE
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PF confusion will end in days - Scott
By Moses Kuwema in Choma
Mon 14 Oct. 2013, 14:00 CAT
VICE-President Dr Guy Scott has assured PF members that the confusion that has characterised the party in Lusaka over the past weeks will end in the next few days.
And Vice-President Scott has told some chiefs from Southern Province not to be worried with the happenings in Lusaka, saying he and President Michael Sata were in control of the situation.
And Daniel Munkombwe has urged party officials not to behave like con men.
Addressing party officials at Leon Guesthouse on Saturday, Vice-President Scott said the wrangles in PF were being addressed.
He said the PF had opted to remain with limited resources because it did not want to be in the pockets of big companies.
"This party has very limited resources. We have kept it that way. We don't want to be in the pockets of the big companies, the mining companies and so forth. Look at how rotten and corrupt MMD became doing that? We don't want to be in the pockets of people who have great interests. That is a thing that kills. It looks like food but in the end it is poison," he said.
Vice-President Scott said it was possible for the party to get some level of resources locally.
"But to think that in Lusaka there is a big kama-tree full of money, there is no such thing. The money comes from well-wishers, who supported us during the campaign and they continue to support us. Those are the people that we depend upon," he said.
And Vice-President Scott said the only way to win an election and continue winning elections was to be able to show people the achievements that had been scored.
He said the government had embarked on a number of developmental projects in Southern Province, adding that the tone of the complaints from people had since changed.
"Instead of complaining that you have brought nothing, they say you have brought too little. The people have seen the works that we have done. It is mostly hard because to convince people who have a big tribal bloc that has its own tradition of having its own party is a difficult thing to simply persuade people. You have this tradition in this part of the country and we, for our part in Lusaka, we have to make sure that we don't alienate you. We don't say this PF is for people other than people in the south, so it is a balancing act; we have to do it. We have to avoid allegations of tribalism, allegations of regionalism. I think we are getting there," said Vice-President Scott.
And Munkombwe urged party officials not to behave like con men.
"Can we be cool all of us and we will not punish anybody except those who were saying 'Munkombwe was exhumed from the graveyard to come and lead; therefore I don't recognise him'. Don't behave like con men. Don't be gangsters hired to insult people. Let us organise the party and allow elections to come. If a Bemba wins, let us support that person," he said.
Munkombwe said he was not weak and that people who wanted to fight him would end up fighting themselves.
"Let us build the party. I offer myself to help. If I change the face of Southern Province in terms of politics, you are not the ones who are winning; it is me again the legendary. Don't make me retire early, help me to grow the party. I am not a rich person but comfortable. I can help, provided there is a programme drawn," he said.
Munkombwe said in politics, there was need for one to have influence, adding that he had influence in PF.
And speaking when he launched the Cooma chiefdom development strategic plan 2013-2017, Vice-President Scott hoped that all the members of parliament from Southern Province would make use of Munkombwe to develop the area."
He (Munkombwe) likes to be with the party in power and I will urge all members of parliament, including Cornelius Mweetwa, to work with us. There is nothing to campaign for now. Let us get the job done," said Vice-President Scott, with Choma Central UPND member of parliament Mweetwa as his interpreter.
Vice-President Scott said the strategic plan was a great idea.
And speaking when he paid a courtesy call on chief Singani at his palace, Vice-President Scott, in an apparent reference to the wrangles in the PF said: "Don't be worried with what you are hearing from Lusaka. Mr Sata and I are not going to leave it just like that. And Munkombwe said there was need to avoid being a passenger in politics."
He added: "I love Mweetwa. Mweetwa, I am not in competition with you. You can use me anytime as long as you don't bring your politics to me and I will not do the same. The PF is not an infection, so let us work together for the good of the people."
And Mweetwa said the increase in population in Choma had resulted in the hospital being overstretched.
Mweetwa also appealed to Vice-President Scott to intervene and ensure that farmers are paid for the maize they delivered to the Food Reserve Agency.
He said the farmers delivered maize to the FRA four months ago but had not been paid.
Mweetwa also said the Cooma chiefdom development strategic plan had made his work as member of parliament easy because all the developmental challenges that the constituency was faced with had been highlighted in the plan and that the only thing remaining was funding.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, GUY SCOTT, PF
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Those fighting Wynter weakening Sata, warns Munkombwe
By Moses Kuwema
Wed 02 Oct. 2013, 14:01 CAT
DANIEL Munkombwe says the people that have been organising others in order to remove Wynter Kabimba as secretary general want to weaken President Michael Sata.
And commenting on Vice-President Dr Guy Scott's statement that the people who had been calling for Kabimba to leave the post of secretary general were after President Sata, Munkombwe, who is Southern Province minister, said the calls were not aimed at weakening Kabimba but President Sata.
"If you are a leader of a political party and the party is split, where do you get your presidency? If it is split in whatever form, be it quarter or whatever, then you are a weak president. They are not weakening Kabimba, they are not weakening anybody; they are weakening the party, whose head is Michael Sata. Sata must have a right hand person and right hand central committee," he said.
Munkombwe said much as he was new to the PF, he was not a stranger to political parties as he had served under all the five presidents.
He said the experience of building political parties was his expertise.
"If you throw away whether you are throwing away Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, you are causing a crack. More so if you throw away a secretary general of a party, you are causing a bigger crack. I know myself from history and my knowledge that PF has had a high turnover of secretary generals. They must know who among them has served the party well. Let them compare. Why was PF not in government when these guys were secretary generals? Who has managed to lift PF into government?" he asked.
Munkombwe said each and every member of the PF was useful in one way or another and that he did not want the PF to be lame.
And Munkombwe, who is PF Southern Province chairman, said no one in the province had been mandated to speak for the province on matters to do with Kabimba.
"I am a provincial chairman. We have not met on the matter. We will wait for the President to give a direction on the matter," he said.
Last week, some PF supporters had a meeting where they announced that all 10 provinces wanted Kabimba removed as secretary general.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, GUY SCOTT, MICHAEL SATA, WYNTER KABIMBA
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Development projects are for all people
By Editor
Tue 30 July 2013, 14:00 CAT
DANIEL Munkombwe's appeal to the people of Sinazongwe to embrace government development projects even if they are not in favour of the party in power deserves favourable considerations.
Every political grouping must take pains to promote the common good of all, with little or no regard to who brings about that common good. But in a democracy, government is a means by which we can act together to protect what is important to us and to promote our collective wellbeing. The fundamental moral criterion for all economic and political decisions, policies and institutions is this: they must be at the service of all people, especially the poor.
Politics is about serving the needs of all people and bringing about development of all. It is about how society organises itself; how those entrusted with authority and leadership exercise their authority to meet the needs of the people. Authority is exercised legitimately if it is committed to the common good of society. So when it comes to issues of development, all need to cooperate. This is so because no single individual or institution can single-handedly bring about development.
And we shouldn't cheat ourselves that one individual, all by himself, can change this country. The best government in the world, the best president, the best parliament, the best political party, cannot achieve much on their own.
For all these development projects the government is embarking on to succeed, all have to take part and make a contribution. And it would also be wrong for us to expect a general remedy from those in government only. Development and democracy include participation and therefore responsibility from us all.
If we realise this, then we will not entertain destructive and frustrated elements who want government development programmes to succeed only and only if it is them running government. If we realise this, we will see a reversal of economic fortunes in this country.
If we accept things as such, we will understand that it's up to us all, and up to us only, to develop our country and thus improve our lives.
We cannot blame everything that is not going well on those in government, not only because it would be untrue, but also because it could blunt the duty that each of us faces today, namely, the obligation to act independently, freely, reasonably, and quickly.
It will not make sense for some people to stay away from government development programmes in their areas until a political party they desire gets into government. What if it never gets into government?
It shouldn't matter which political party is in power when it comes to issues of development because it is not something a political party can own. UNIP doesn't own any of the development projects they undertook. Whatever they did today belongs to Zambia and is being administered by the government of the day. Some of the projects the current government is undertaking were not initiated by itself; they are projects which were left by the previous government.
It really doesn't make sense for one to think they can only support the country's development projects if their party is in power and they are the ones running things. One who thinks this way is not fit to govern and should never be trusted with power. For a patriot, it shouldn't matter who is in power when it comes to development projects. With or without them, the country must make progress, the living standards of our people must improve. Patriots never seek to win elections on the back of national failure.
We have politicians who take great pleasure in the failure of our government to meet certain development targets. If inflation is on the rise, they rejoice. If the kwacha is depreciating, they celebrate. If copper prices are falling, it pleases them. There are some who don't even want the national soccer team to win a match because it will give their political opponents in government some credibility, some success to hold on to. So they rejoice when the national soccer team loses. How can such people be entrusted with national leadership? Everything should start and end with them, including national development. If they are not in power, the country should economically collapse.
Good leaders encourage the active participation of all citizens in building one another and society at large. Every citizen has a responsibility to cooperate with government to bring about positive change in their communities - "try to do what everyone considers to be good" (Romans 12:17).
Clearly, the common good is the reason that political authority exists. It is necessary that all participate, each according to his position and role, in promoting the common good. Everyone has the right to participate in the economic life, and the duty to contribute to the progress, of his or her own country.
There are politicians who are worried that if the development projects the Patriotic Front government has embarked on succeed, it will not be possible for them to win the next elections. So everything possible is being done to frustrate such projects and ensure that they do not succeed. And the only reason these projects should be frustrated is to enable them to win elections. For them to win elections, it doesn't matter what happens to the country and to the wellbeing of our people.
Being in power is everything to them. They are ready to do anything to win the next elections no matter how much it hurts the people.
Therefore, judging by what's going on, the two most decisive factors affecting our country and our people's future will be economic development and political leadership. Economic development makes democracy possible; political leadership makes it real.
And the political leadership we are talking about is not only that in government or the ruling party, but also that of the opposition. A destructive, negative, unpatriotic and greedy opposition political leadership can be a serious fetter on national economic development. If you have an opposition that is ready to campaign for economic sanctions to be imposed on the country then you have a problem.
We certainly don't want what we saw in Zimbabwe, where the opposition joined forces with imperialist nations to impose sanctions on their country, to happen here. We have challenges, and they are many, but we can resolve them in a more patriotic way without having to cripple our country economically the way Zimbabwe had been crippled for over a decade.
It shouldn't be forgotten that when the national economy suffers, it's not one group or one person who suffers. It's like rain; when it pours it's not only one man's house that gets wet.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE
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Mulongoti asks Munkombwe to name misguided politicians
By Henry Sinyangwe
Tue 30 July 2013, 14:01 CAT
MIKE Mulongoti says Daniel Munkombwe should specify the individuals who practice misguided politics.
Commenting on the Southern Province minister's statement that misguided politics can intoxicate communities, Mulongoti, who is the People's Party president, said he would be happy if the message were specific.
"I have listened to him during the burial of chief Mapanza, and he delivered the same message and he has been very consistent. I would be happy if he was more specific by mentioning the individuals practicing those misguided politics. But it seems he is addressing people in Southern Province and has not cast the net wide," he said.
Mulongoti said people would like to find out what Munkombwe meant in his statement.
"We shall learn along the road, what he means because there has been all sorts of statements from him concerning leadership and he is continuing with that," said Mulongoti.
When he officiated at the Lwiindi Maliko traditional ceremony of the Tonga-speaking people of Sinazongwe last Saturday, Munkombwe said the tragedy of politics was that, during elections, people forgot about any achievement made in a particular area.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, MIKE MULONGOTI, MMD
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Party in govt must develop all regions, says Musunte
By Prince Chibawah in Mansa
Sat 27 Apr. 2013, 14:00 CAT
UNIP senior member Mwansa Musunte has advised the Patriotic Front that Zambians do not tolerate a one-party system. In an interview, Musunte said the government was using wrong justification for its failure to develop certain areas of the country.
"Let me advise my colleagues in the PF that Zambians don't tolerate one party system. Maybe some of them don't know that what made my party to be dethroned from the government was the same one-party state system which the PF is trying to create," he said.
Musunte said he was disappointed that the PF was applying wrong techniques like blackmailing people with threats of not taking development to their areas if they do not vote for the PF.
"The PF is now threatening people of not developing some areas where the party is not gaining momentum. This is violating human rights by not giving an opportunity to people to belong or vote for the political party of their choice," he said.
"It is the mandate of any government in power to develop the whole country but what we are seeing now is that if you don't support the PF, your area will not be developed. That is why most of the recent by-elections countrywide have been scooped by the PF because people were scared that if they didn't vote for PF candidates their areas were not going to record any meaningful development."
Musunte, who has been with UNIP since 1995, said the PF wanted to have many members of parliament to enable it to make and implement wrong policies without anyone opposing.
"We are aware that the PF government wants to turn Zambia into one-party state so that they can continue making and implementing their wrong policies. The PF government is inconsistent with their decisions. That's why they want to pull down the opposition so that whatever they decide will be done at any time they feel so. PF doesn't speak one voice or follow their set programmes or policies. You would find today one PF government official makes directives tomorrow a different PF official will suspend the directives," he said.
He said the PF government had failed to honour the Zambian people by fulfilling the promises the party made during campaigns.
"The PF promised the Zambian people 'heaven on earth', which was a total fabrication. They promised that once voted into power, they will give Zambians a people-driven constitution within ninety days of assuming power. They (PF) have almost clocked two years, what have they achieved in connection with the development and other things they promised the people? Nothing at all! Instead they have ended up working with wrong people who, in fact, were referring them to be incapable of running the country. The same people who used to victimise them when PF was in opposition now they are PF advisors and programme implementers," he added.
Musunte said Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe was a wrong politician who practiced politics of the belly.
"Munkombwe has made it clear that he joined the PF government for his personal gain. Of course, we all want to eat but what about the issue of the integrity? Politics of belly will not bring development to this country both politically and economically. Munkombwe was serving in the same position during the MMD administration and if at all he gave the people of Southern Province the development they needed, then so be it because in the end, it will be the people of Southern Province to judge him based on what he did for them," Musunte explained.
He also said the PF government had made few scores in its fight against corruption.
"As far as the fight against corruption is concerned, the PF government has a lot more to do. Determination and sacrifice are cardinal elements to be considered if the fight against corruption is to be achieved," noted Musunte.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, MWANSA MUSUNTE, PF, UNIP
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We all go into govt to eat - Munkombwe
By Moses Kuwema
Thu 04 Apr. 2013, 14:00 CAT
NEWLY-appointed Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe says he will continue serving in government even at the age of 90 as long as God gives him life and wisdom to explain and interpret things. And Munkombwe says he has continued to serve in all governments because he is rated as an old useful man.
Meanwhile, Munkombwe says everybody is now adopting his philosophy of politics of benefits. In an interview, Munkombwe said if he could convince people at 90 years, he would continue to offer his services.
"Since we cannot say who is dying when, because it is only God who determines when to take, it is not an individual. Those individuals who wish us ill may go earlier than us. It is wrong to wish or expect an old man to die earlier because those who wish others to die early may die early instead," said 81-year-old Munkombwe when asked how long he intends to serve in government.
Asked if politics of benefits were at play following his appointment in government, Munkombwe responded: "There is nobody who is not using my philosophy of politics of benefits. There is nobody who goes into Parliament naked, we go to Parliament because of allowances. There is no more patriotism. Patriotism was only there when we were fighting colonialists, so everybody is adopting my philosophy of politics of benefits. I know people will say Munkombwe has gone into government because he wants to eat but who does not want to eat?"
On November 13, 2005, Munkombwe who was then Southern Province MMD chairman told the late Levy Mwanawasa in Mamba that politics of patriotism were over because what was at play then were politics of benefits.
And asked what the youths could learn from his success of having served in all governments, Munkombwe said discipline was cardinal.
"If you are an indisciplined person, you don't go anywhere. If you are hopeless, you are indisciplined in your home, in society, nothing can really be good to you. I have gone through all these stages and I have had no major problems," he said.
Munkombwe said well-meaning Zambians appreciated his contributions in society and thanked God for that.
He said the appointing authority had seen stability, consistency and the vision of interpreting their various manifestoes.
"If you are going to be appointed to any position in a political government, it means that you are genuinely… like for now, I am genuinely trying as humanly possible to interpret the PF manifesto. PF is a strong party even without me," he said.
Munkombwe also attributed his appointments to his continued responsibility whenever he was appointed.
"I was responsible in the African National Congress so when I left to join UNIP, because I was responsible where I came from, I continued to be responsible. I continued doing so even when UNIP seemed to be exhausted. I went to MMD and still continued to be strong and influential in MMD and now it is PF," he said.
Munkombwe said he hoped to follow the PF system diligently and deliver development to the people of Southern Province.
Asked about the public perception that it was too much of old people getting involved in governance issues at the expense of the youths, Munkombwe responded:
"Is it too much of Michael Sata who is five years younger than me? You know progress, contribution and influence is not limited to old men. It also can be limited to young people. You know there are useless old men in the country and they are there in any society, but there are useful old men in a country. There are also absolutely useless young people in our society and yet there are extremely useful young people in a society. In any grouping, you find very extremely useful people."
Munkombwe said he was rated as one of the useful old men adding that what was important was how to use any position given to achieve development on behalf of the people.
"What is important is your role in society. What is your contribution as a youth? What is your contribution as an old man of 81 years in society? If a society still needs men of 81 years, I think that the society should be free to use that old man, just as society will still be free to use very young youths in our society. What matters is how you handle yourself in society. There are useful people in every stage of our society. We have people like Brian Hapunda who is very useful and the sky will be the limit for him. He is not the only one, there are many people who I am finding in the PF to be useful. We must carry them on our back, teach them how to understand how they can serve five other presidents who will come as I have done," said Munkombwe.
Labels: CORRUPTION, DANIEL MUNKOMBWE
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Sata has patience for the poor - Munkombwe
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone and Agness Changala in Lusaka
Tue 02 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata is a person full of humility, says newly-appointed Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe. And Sylvia Masebo says President Sata is in his best health and works harder than all ministers.
In an interview, Munkombwe said President Sata had always cared for those who were suffering, even before he was elected president.
"…that is what makes him peculiar, unlike others who have big lust to get into State House," Munkombwe said.
Munkombwe, a former deputy minister in the office of the vice-president under the MMD administration who has been nominated as member of parliament and due to be sworn in as Southern Province minister, said President Sata could best be described as a "patient person for the poor".
"I'll say much about President Sata after I assume office (a Southern Province minister) but suffice to say that he has always been full of humility; that is his pattern of leadership," Munkombwe said.
He said President Sata would love to see Zambians prosper and not pre-occupy himself with personal material enrichment.
"He can also best be described as a non-proud person who has patience for the poor because he is simply ordinary and anybody on the streets is equal to him; that is the way he carries himself," he said.
Munkombwe has worked in all administrations so far and is expected to be sworn in today.
And Masebo in an interview on Saturday said some people were so desperate that they were portraying an image both locally and internationally that President Sata was not fit to lead the country, claiming that he was sick.
She said the enemies had become so desperate that they wished someone dead and were concocting stories about several individuals' health.
"For those of us that work with President Sata, I can confirm that his health is at his best and works harder than all of us…Those that know President Sata, if he is at his best health, it is today and during the campaign days. But that is how desperate they have become," she said. "Some people are also working to ensure that they destroy people working hard and think that President Sata would not make it in 2016."
Masebo said there was a deliberate ploy to get the international community and local community to begin to think that they had a president who was sick and for them to start looking for an alternative president to take over, instead of people focusing on development.
"They are systematically throwing falsehood to confuse the people. We are not responding to that because we don't want to give credit to people who are even hiding their identities. We are looking at that as being garbage. But there are people who are believing what they are reading; even if they are few, it's still not good for the country. Let people say the truth. When we say the President is at his best health, we don't mean he cannot get sick. Even me, I was sick this week," she said.
"This talk is so unZambia, it's so evil. Can you imagine they can be that evil when they don't have power, what more if they had the power? Some of us are getting worried even for life of the President; it appears there are people who want to kill him so that they turn around and say 'we told you'. Unless you have an agenda, you can't persistently peddle a lie."
President Sata on Friday during Mass in Lusaka asked The Post to tell his enemies that he is enjoying good health.
And Masebo, who is also tourism and arts minister, said days were numbered for all those people who were insulting others because nothing bad lasted.
"They think that since they are doing it secretly, they will not be known but time is coming when they will face the music one day," she said
Masebo said the fights and attacks against her had become unprecedented to the extent that she feared for her life.
She said her enemies had even dragged her family and friends in the attacks directed at her.
Masebo said following her appointment as tourism minister and PF chairperson for elections, she was being portrayed as if she was powerful, untouchable and above the law.
She added that there had been a systematic, unprecedented vicious campaign against her personality and integrity to the extent that even her family and friends were affected.
Masebo said people were scared of her and did not know if they thought that she wanted to be president of Zambia one day.
She said attacks on her worsened after she cancelled the hunting concessions and put a ban on hunting in Zambia.
"But I am not surprised because if you recall even when I took that action, I did say that now I will be very unpopular and there will be a sustained campaign against me. They will try hard to find ways and means to get me fired so that they can have it their way and I know that they have been trying very hard and I am fully aware and I even know what has been happening and who is involved in some of the schemes," Masebo said.
She said her enemies were even trying to use the courts of law to try and find a way to get her so that they could continue plundering natural resources.
Masebo said in Livingstone, there were all sorts of false accusations, lies, fabrications and insults that were being thrown on the Internet against her, all with the aim of putting her in bad light with the public so that when she went out to campaign, people would look at her as a bad and arrogant woman who thought she was above the law.
She said she was not the only minister in government or member of the PF central committee that she should become the subject of her enemies.
"But suddenly it is as if I am the only minister and the people are not sleeping; day and night they are working on how they can destroy my name. Today I am even being called a foreigner, I was born in Zimbabwe because they think that when they say so, I do not qualify to be a member of parliament or minister," she said.
Masebo said those plotting evil against her were not even interested in her tireless commitment for the good of the poor.
She said the abuse of Internet was very unfair and becoming destructive to people's families and innocent children who were being dragged in it.
She complained that several stories had been fabricated against her to tarnish her image.
Masebo said the electorate would judge the PF by what they see and not what they hear.
And Masebo says she is a law-abiding citizen who always respects authority.
Last week, the Electoral Commission of Zambia condemned Masebo for disregarding the law during the filing of nominations for the Kapiri Mposhi parliamentary by-election.
"I respect the Electoral Commission of Zambia, the chairperson and the commissioners. In fact, I intend to meet the chairperson during the course of the week to explain to her what exactly transpired on that day as this would give her the other side of the story," she said.
Masebo said that at no time did she ever act as though she were above the law as was being portrayed by her enemies.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, MICHAEL SATA
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Only senseless people can oppose Sata - Munkombwe
By Cynthia Phiri in Choma
Thu 24 Jan. 2013, 14:00 CAT
VETERAN politician Daniel Munkombwe says President Michael Sata is an original man and he Munkombwe cannot afford not to work with him. Munkombwe, who on Tuesday defected from the MMD to PF in Choma, said that he had been attracted to join the PF by the quality of leadership the ruling party had displayed.
He said he would avoid platform politics but assured the PF that he was ready to work with them and render his services whenever called upon.
"When people say I'm not a factor, yes, I'm not a factor to useless people, Sata is reviving the Zambia Railways and these have been the things we have always dreamed of. He is bringing back what KK did, so why should people oppose him? Only senseless people are saying no; he is bringing back the roads that we the MMD destroyed, so let those who do not understand the theory of politics say I'm useless. With the little that I have, I will support Sata," he said.
Munkombwe was Southern Province minister and deputy minister in the Office of the Vice-President under MMD. He also once defected from MMD to UPND of Anderson Mazoka before going back to MMD under Levy Mwanawasa.
During Mwanawasa's time at a rally in Maamba, Munkombwe said he was interested in politics of benefits, where cadres were given jobs.
Munkombwe recently said he would gladly accept a job from President Sata if offered.
And receiving defectors at the PF office in Choma, commerce minister Robert Sichinga said the ruling party welcomes all people who want to work with the party for the development of Zambia.
Sichinga said even UPND members of parliament recognised that they could not bring development without working with the government of the day.
Speaking on behalf of the UPND defectors, Caesar Muchindu said UPND was on a path of self-destruction.
The UPND defectors who included 42 youths said they were sick and tired of clinging on to the opposition, which they said had failed to provide quality leadership.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, MICHAEL SATA, ROBERT SICHINGA
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Opposition should stop mourning electoral defeat - Munkombwe
By Ernest Chanda
Mon 07 Jan. 2013, 14:00 CAT
VETEREN politician Daniel Munkombwe says opposition political parties should stop mourning their election loss and continue working towards forming the next government.
Munkombwe who is also former deputy minister in the Office of the Vice-President under the Rupiah Banda administration said political parties should respect the people's choice during elections.
"If people choose a particular party and make it win an election, the best the opposition can do is cooperate with that ruling party. And as they do that they must also bear in mind that one day they will be in power.
Their relevance as a political party does not end at losing an election, so they should forget about the loss and plan for the next election without bitterness. If they stick their minds to opposition politics then they will be there for good," Munkombwe said in an interview yesterday.
"I have been in politics for 60 years, and when I first lost an election in Choma I had to wait for {the}final results and shake hands with the person who had defeated me. Political parties must be attractive enough so that more people can join and stay there. Politics is about numbers, and if you continue frustrating members they will run away to an attractive party.
Some are saying that the PF is trying to bring in a one-party state, no; it's the opposition parties which are no longer attractive to the people."
Munkombwe cited Kalomo UPND member of parliament as a powerful bargainer for development even though he is in the opposition.
"Politicians must avoid pettiness. You must be attractive because you are a national leader. Muntanga is a very good politician; I don't like his political party but I like his personality. He is a powerful bargainer for development whom I worked well with when I was Southern Province minister in the MMD government," said Munkombwe. "That is good opposition politics Muntanga displays; not bitterness.
Let us swallow our pride and bargain for development. I was once minister of state for agriculture and people would tell me that nga tabalekufwaya ku Choma ukese kuno tukakuvotele (if you are not wanted in Choma come here and we shall vote for you) because I was attractive, I am still relevant to politics but I have left it to the young ones. So, I encourage my colleagues in the opposition to leave the election loss behind and work towards forming the next government."
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, MMD, RUPIAH BANDA, UPND
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UPND is using wrong formula to ascend to power - Munkombwe
By Moses Kuwema
Wed 26 Dec. 2012, 14:20 CAT
IT is daydreaming for the UPND to think that they can form government in 2016, says veteran politician Daniel Munkombwe.
Commenting on the UPND leadership's recent action to suspend their Sinazongwe member of parliament Richwell Siamunene for allegedly working with the government, Munkombwe said the UPND were using a wrong formula to ascend to power.
"When you say we are going to deal with this government because 2016 we are going to be in government…that is alright that is day dreaming. In my view, any formula that distances its members of parliament from government, I can regard it a wrong formula even if you are strong enough as some party leaders are saying that anybody can leave us," he said.
Munkombwe said people form political parties with the hope of being in government but observed that "even stupid ambitions are considered ambitions".
"I have seen some people who were boasting in 1996 when we had elections, they promised people that they would win, they did not win…2006, they said they would win, they did not win, 2008 it was the same, 2011 also.
I know that some people can say 'how long did it take Michael Sata to be president?' It took him 10 years, but even when he lost in 2008, he was number two, the signals were there. And when he won now finally, he got the second highest votes to those of Frederick Chiluba in 1991. If you are politically intelligent, you can know which leader has a future. People have the right to dream and those people who want to continue living in fantasies should continue because they have the right," he said.
And Munkombwe said any member of parliament who could not be influential enough to lobby the government for development was empty and shallow.
He said an effective member of parliament is one who was able to influence the government to make decisions in favour of his constituency.
"I was once a backbencher under Dr Kenneth Kaunda, I was influential and I was able to bring a number of developmental projects in my constituency in Choma. In Tonga we say imanzi atobela kalonga (water follows where the sloppy stream is). Now if you sit in parliament and every time your language is vulgar, who looks after you? Who can you influence? You need to talk to the head of government and say 'Your Excellency I want you to instruct your minister to bring development in my constituency' and show the minister the need for a particular project in that area. But if you get punished for that then I don't know," he said.
Munkombwe said working with the government does not mean that one was a sellout.
"When the government asks you to work with them, you are still yourself, a member of parliament for that particular area. But to say because one member of parliament is travelling in a constituency with a minister then he must be punished, how many people will they punish? I support chief Sinazongwe when he says if they are not careful, they will continue losing members. I sympathise with them; perhaps that is their way of operating," said Munkombwe.
The UPND has charged Siamunene with misconduct for working with the government.
Some residents of Sinazongwe have also gone further to collect signatures to petition the UPND leadership to expel Siamunene.
But chief Sinazongwe cautioned the opposition political party to carefully handle the matter regarding Siamunene's allegations.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, RICHWELL SIAMUNENE, UPND
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Munkombwe wants 2nd term for Sata
By Edwin Mbulo in Livingstone and Christopher Miti in Chipata
Tue 30 Oct. 2012, 14:00 CAT
THOSE who think that President Michael Sata will just do one term amid the massive support he receives and the votes he amassed are politically crazy, says MMD member Daniel Munkombwe.
And Lameck Mangani says it is the people that will decide in 2015 and 2016 whether President Michael Sata will continue as President or not.
In an interview Munkombwe, who is former deputy minister in the office of the Vice-President said the PF should protect President Sata and not subject him to only one term.
"It is a political party that determines the presidential candidate and it is wrong for anyone to start campaigning to be a candidate when there is a sitting President. Wynter Kabimba PF secretary general is 100 per cent right when he says no one should destabilise the party.
"It is political craziness by anyone to think that President Sata will just do one term after all the massive votes he received during the 2011 elections and the other past elections in which he was coming second-highest to the MMD," he said.
Munkombwe said the Constitution provided for two terms for anyone to hold office and that it was only God who had the power to take that way.
He said in determining who becomes president, Dr Kenneth Kaunda was kept for too long by UNIP and was indomitable but that the current situation only provided a maximum of 10 years and the PF would serve the Zambian people by letting President Sata contest the 2016 elections.
"The PF should allow President Sata go for a second term. He has spearheaded the PF for a long time until victory was attained and he still has life to continue, and mind you, it's only God who determines life. I'm older than President Sata; I'm 80 and half years old. I know that he has the energy to steer this country out of its unemployment misery and poverty.
"I want to avoid platform politics as much as possible as I'm leading a very comfortable life with my family, but when I see something in the governing party, I'm forced to react mildly as I do now. I have done my contribution to the nation and will continue in any small way," said Munkombwe.
And in an interview on Saturday after officiating at the Chipata Central Constituency cultural dances festival, Mangani, who is former home affairs minister and losing Chipata Central PF parliamentary candidate, said President Sata was given a five-year mandate by the people of Zambia and it's the people that will decide.
"As far as I am concerned there is no division in the PF and the way the people have projected what are perceived to be differences between the defence minister and secretary general, they (people) are projecting as if there is serious division. I think this is an in-house thing which very soon the President will be able to address," Mangani said.
"Although PF is a democratic party, we have times for campaigns. We have just finished the elections; we are only one year old in government, so I don't think it is opportune time for us to start the campaigns for 2016."
Mangani said the government's major preoccupation should be to ensure that it delivered development to the people.
Mangani said the government should reorganise and market itself.
"What you have seen today (cultural dances festival) is part of the reorganisation, we have to make sure that we market our party.
We have to make sure everybody is involved and we have to create structures on the ground and show presence. So early campaigns may not be helpful to anybody, not even to the party not even to the people that are perceived to be candidates," Mangani said.
He warned party cadres to be careful with their opponent's ploy of creating an impression of confusion in the ruling party.
And Chipata district PF chairperson Peter Msimuko urged party members to remain united, adding that there was strength in unity.
The cultural dances festival was attended by over 2,000 women from Chipata Central Constituency.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, LAMECK MANGANI, MICHAEL SATA, MMD
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Robert Makasa University
By The Post
Wed 10 Oct. 2012, 14:40 CAT
The renaming of the university the government is building in Chinsali is highly welcome and befitting honour to a very deserving freedom fighter and nation-builder.
Michael Sata's decision to name the university in Chinsali Robert Makasa University, in honour of freedom fighter Robert Kapasa Makasa is a clear demonstration that our people have a sense of gratitude to those who serve them.
For the past two decades, the men and women who fought a noble battle and lived their lives in pursuit of a better life for all of us were marginalised, humiliated and ridiculed.
And a good number of them died of depression, poverty and general negligence. Even their retirement benefits, benefits that were genuinely their due, benefits they had worked for were denied them and in some cases taken away from them. For two decades, we had a political leadership that wanted to rewrite history and project itself as liberators, playing down the role of these true heroes of our homeland.
And while they denied them the opportunity to retire from public life in a meaningful way and with their benefits, the corrupt clique that directed the affairs of our country over the last two decades paid itself huge gratuities and gave themselves other benefits that were far beyond their contributions to the common good of our nation.
They even sold themselves huge government houses for close to nothing, leaving those who built them in squalor or semi-finished structures. The new rulers became rich very quickly, became the largest property and land owners in the country. The names of our true heroes were seldom heard.
We were made to forget them and not to realise that the Zambia we are enjoying today is the sweet fruit of their lives of struggle and sacrifice. Even in death, they were buried quietly and most of them in unmarked graves - not even a small stone to say 'here lies so and so who did this and that for our homeland'.
Since coming to power, Michael has demonstrated a high level of respect for these heroes and heroines, these unsung heroes and heroines. Today, almost all our key airports are named in their honour - and befittingly so. And the universities are starting to follow the same pattern.
But there is also a bigger message in all this. It is a demonstration of the magnitude of importance Michael attaches to the independence of our homeland and to those who helped make it a reality. It is also an indication of the direction Michael wants to take in the politics and development of our country. It is clear to us that Michael wants to continue the revolution started by these freedom fighters.
It is also a clear indication that no revolution comes to an end and that all revolutionaries have the duty to keep its ideas, principles and goals alive. The successive MMD governments tried to close off prospects for future progress along that revolutionary path which was started by these freedom fighters, but they have been unable to permanently stop it. Nobody controls the future.
We think that these revolutionaries did some great work in our country; they effected great changes and engaged in important social projects that two decades of hostile and extremely reactionary regimes have failed to wipe out.
Clearly, we have no alternative to meeting the future, we have no hope but the changes, advances and improvements that the future may bring. And above all, there are the Zambian people - patriotic, courageous, revolutionary people who refused to be deceived forever and voted out the MMD, to begin a revolutionary process and to keep struggling and to recover from setbacks.
And with Michael at the helm, we will continue to see more and more honourable things being done in honour of the men and women who gave us our Republic, our homeland. These were decent and selfless men and women. If they were selfish people who thought more and more about themselves, after independence they would have named every street, every public institution after themselves.
It is good to recall certain deeds, certain deeds as evidenced by the fact that they waged the struggle for independence, they led it, they won it, and there were no honours accorded to themselves. Our country has no statues of these heroes and heroines. They took nothing for themselves.
They liberated the land but did not share it among themselves as others did in other places like Kenya. They acted this way from a profound revolutionary conviction. Great responsibilities fell on their shoulders.
The masses of our country placed great powers in their hands, but they never abused that to enrich themselves, to give themselves benefits that were not their due.
A society that does not value its liberators, its freedom fighters denies its roots and endangers its future.
Michael's honouring of these freedom fighters is a very spirited one, something that comes from a deep conviction. And it is also something that one sees in Michael's emotional engagement with these freedom fighters when he meets them. Michael has no problem belittling himself, humbling himself, subordinating himself to these heroes when he is in their company.
Michael still jokingly refers to Comrade Grey Zulu as his boss. He jokingly says it, but in truth he means it. Look at the respect he has towards these freedom fighters.
We have no doubt that under his leadership Michael will as far as possible honour these men and women who sacrificed themselves to give us a dignified homeland.
There are many types of revolutionaries. And one who liberates his homeland from domination, oppression and any other form of subjugation is a revolutionary deserving all the honour and respect.
Under Michael's leadership, we have no doubt we will see more and more of these revolutionaries, these freedom fighters being honoured in all sorts of ways. The new roads he is today constructing will, in the main, be named after them. What they could not do for themselves, the honours they could not give to themselves, Michael will give to them.
A man who acts in this way deserves respect, deserves support. A man who honours and respects our homeland's revolutionaries, liberators, freedom fighters, nation-builders in this way is a revolutionary also, is a liberator also, is a freedom fighter also, is a nation-builder also who equally deserves our respect and honour.
The Robert Makasa that Michael is today honouring was one of the outstanding earliest, veteran freedom fighters who possessed a rare and admirable commitment to the causes of the masses of our people, courage and determination. Robert was a graduate of Lubwa Mission School, where his relationship with Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Simon Kapwepwe started as schoolmates.
Robert mobilised the masses against the exploitation and racial discrimination of colonial rule and led the struggle for self-government from Chinsali, where he initially served as a head teacher at Chinsali Boma Lower Primer School in the colonial system before he drifted into politics and eventually into the struggle for the independence of Zambia.
Robert was the founding chairperson of the Northern Rhodesia African National Congress in Chinsali in the mid-1950s, mobilising the party and forming more branches.
He was instrumental in the formation of the Trade Association of Lubwa Church, the Chinsali African Welfare Association in 1947 together with Comrade KK, Reverend P.B. Mushindo, John Singoyi, Daniel Besa, Reuben Mulanga and Moses Mumba. Robert ingeniously used the structures of colonial rule, Congress and later of UNIP to mobilise the masses against the injustices and exploitation of colonial rule.
He led a civil disobedience campaign against the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland in Northern Province together with Peter Mukanga and Jonam Nsofu and was imprisoned in 1955 for 18 months with hard labour while his colleagues received a one-year sentence. One of his favourite political songs, the one that he sung to UNIP after his arrest, was:
In the continent of Africa, slavery still goes on let us look to the future when all the chains of slavery will give way to freedom fight for freedom and national independence the day is coming as sure as death.
Prison did not change his committment to freedom in any way; if anything, it increased his resolve and appetite for national self-rule. Robert continued his political campaigns for self-government while in prison, where he found and worked with other nationalists jailed for their demand for political freedom such as T.B. Mukupo, Mandalena Kalonde, R.C. Puta and Dixon Konkola.
When he came out of the Livingstone Central Prison, he continued with his anti-colonial activities. After independence, he worked hard to unite the people under the 'One Zambia, One Nation' motto.
In short, this is the man Michael has honoured; this is the man in whose honour Chinsali's Robert Makasa University is named after.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, INDEPENDENCE, UNIVERSITIES
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Munkombwe welcomes renaming of Mulakupikwa University
By Moses Kuwema
Wed 10 Oct. 2012, 14:10 CAT
VETERAN politician and freedom fighter, Daniel Munkombwe, says the renaming of Mulakupikwa University to Robert Makasa is most welcome.
President Michael Sata during the official opening of Parliament last month renamed Mulakupikwa University after freedom fighter Robert Makasa.
In an interview, Munkombwe said whatever weaknesses President Sata might have, he had scored very fast on the renaming of public places after some freedom fighters.
"If there is anybody who is opposed, then he is a stranger to the history of this country, and strangers should be discouraged. Anybody who does not think about his origin and his background is a failed person.
Michael Sata, by renaming that university Mulakupikwa to Robert Makasa University is a good thing. It is only those who were born after independence who may not know the contribution Robert Makasa may have done to Zambia's freedom struggle," he said.
Munkombwe said it was good that President Sata was thinking about the past and the people who contributed greatly to the country's independence.
"He is reclaiming what the freedom fighters and Dr Kenneth Kaunda built. That is a good job and he is scoring and scoring very fast. Let him continue researching and whoever is in the history books, not pretenders, should be considered," he said.
Munkombwe pledged his services if President Sata was short of advisers to advise him on some of the other freedom fighters that played a key role during the liberation struggle.
"I am available to remind him because I have a photostatic memory, I think Dr Kaunda recognised me as such. Photostatic memory.
I can tell what happened in 1951. I can tell you who started the African Welfare Society which was a forerunner to the ANC and was started by a man from the valley, Francis Chembe," Munkombwe said.
He said the country had some overzealous politicians who tend to forget about the past.
"I encourage them to read history. If you are intoxicated with political power or intoxicated with some political fantasy, you may not know what took place.
Any history book that will exclude names such as Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula, Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe, Kenneth Kaunda and many other people who I think he has in mind to name, that is living a false life," he said.
Munkombwe observed that there were many people who were now masquerading as freedom fighters.
"But when you look into the history books, the records, under whose district leadership did they operate in the African National Congress Party? Under whose provincial leadership did they operate with, in the ANC?
I know that Daniel Munkombwe was district secretary of the ANC and my chairman was late David Kapaya. So when I say I am a freedom fighter, I am not pretending, I am not trying to appease anybody, that is what is there," said Munkombwe.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, INDEPENDENCE, UNIVERSITIES
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Sarcasm won't take HH anywhere - Munkombwe
By Moses Kuwema
Wed 19 Sep. 2012, 10:30 CAT
VETERAN politician Daniel Munkombwe has advised the people of Southern Province to realise that politics is a moving phenomenon and that they should move with time. And Munkombwe said the sarcasm that was being exhibited by some politicians towards senior citizens would not take them anywhere.
Commenting on
President Michael Sata's revelations that UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has been discouraging Tongas from working with him, Munkombwe said it was wrong for those that were allowing themselves to be intimidated.
"Politics is a moving phenomenon and once you choose to remain, you remain for good. The people who allow themselves to be intimidated are missing the point," Munkombwe said.
He said Southern Province could have been far much developed if the people in the area had not chosen to remain in the opposition.
"If somebody is intimidated for taking up appointments, it means we may have a situation where nobody will take up an appointment for life. Politics is a moving scenario. We were all in African National Congress party, including Dr Kenneth Kaunda, nobody can doubt. When it became obvious to some of us that ANC would take us nowhere, we moved and we joined UNIP. When the chiefs are advising the President and somebody in politics comes to discourage the chiefs' subjects from accepting the appointments, that is not right," Munkombwe said.
And in an apparent reference to Hichilema, Munkombwe said the sarcasm that the UPND leader was exhibiting towards elderly politicians would not take him anywhere.
"If you widen your sarcasm to include everybody; Kaunda, Munkombwe, Sata, the originals of this country…whether you don't like them or not, they took part in the liberation and development of this country and if among your insults you include Kaunda then you are insulting all of us, those that were there," Munkombwe said.
Asked who he was referring to exactly on sarcasm, Munkombwe responded:
"I am referring to people that have a tendency of being sarcastic against the senior citizens of the country. Those who have been insulting know themselves."
And Munkombwe said President Sata should be encouraged to regularly meet with chiefs.
"I want to encourage the President to constantly meet our chiefs individually and in groups," he said.
Speaking when he met 15 chiefs from Southern Province on Monday at State House, President Sata told the chiefs that since he became President, he had learnt that Hichilema discourages Tongas from working with him and advised the chiefs to speak to the UPND leader.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, TRIBALISM, UPND
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PF has gained more in L/stone - Munkombwe
By Mwala Kalaluka
Tue 17 July 2012, 14:30 CAT
THE MMD has lost its strength in Livingstone by aligning itself with UPND, says Daniel Munkombwe.
Munkombwe, a veteran politician and former minister in the MMD government, said the PF had gained more from the recent parliamentary and local government by-elections than the opposition UPND and MMD.
He was analysing the outcome of the parliamentary by-elections in Livingstone, Muchinga and Chama North, including several local government polls.
"Definitely whether you like it or not, it is a gain for PF," Munkombwe said. "When you look at Livingstone, it was a stronghold for MMD. MMD decided to create an alliance with the UPND and they decided to put up a candidate. They worked as a team."
He said when one looked at the UPND's winning margin, it was apparent that the PF had made gains in Livingstone Central.
UPND's Rev Howard Sikwela polled 11,979 votes in a by-election marred by apathy, while the PF's Joseph Akafumba polled 8,318.
"The PF was not fighting UPND or MMD alone, it was fighting a pact, an alliance," Munkombwe said. "Imagine there was no pact or no alliance, it is common knowledge that PF was going to win in an MMD/UPND stronghold."
He said the PF won Chama North but that the MMD's victory in Muchinga was a sympathetic vote to late former Republican vice-president George Kunda's son, Howard.
"George Kunda's son got a sympathetic vote. There is no way George Kunda worked extremely well in that constituency. Now, there was no way his son could lose," Munkombwe said. "But the fact is that…the party that has gained more in terms of votes in Livingstone, in terms of winning Chama, in terms of winning local government elections, I think PF has gained whether you like it or not."
PF secretary general Wynter Kabimba on Friday said the party was slowly becoming localised in its non-traditional areas.
He said all the three parliamentary seats that were under contest had been for the MMD.
Kabimba said Livingstone which the PF lost to the UPND was part of the Southern Province Bantustan framework.
"That is their UPND description, not mine. So we have gone up one seat, MMD has gone down by two seats. We have grown, MMD is shrinking.
These results show growth for PF and they show shrinkage by MMD and shrinkage by UPND at local government level," said Kabimba.
But MMD president Nevers Mumba disagreed with Kabimba's analysis that the electoral results reflect major gains for the ruling party and shrinkage for UPND and MMD.
He said the PF should just accept that Zambians were thinking twice over its capacity to deliver instead of behaving like a smart mouse.
"I wouldn't agree with that. That is not what they expected. I think they expected to win all the seats because they are now a ruling party," said Mumba. "They were under the illusion that they were more popular."
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, PF, WYNTER KABIMBA
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It's finished for MMD - Munkombwe
By Kombe Chimpinde
Wed 23 May 2012, 10:00 CAT
IT'S finished for MMD and the party can never bounce back to power, says veteran politician Daniel Munkombwe.
Munkombwe, a former minister in the MMD, said it is wishful thinking to assert that the MMD would bounce back to power, saying it will be mere luck for the former ruling party to win another election following its loss to the Patriotic Front in last September's general elections.
He was commenting on claims by some MMD members that the party would come back to power in 2016.
"I wish the MMD and the individual that will emerge party president on Friday after the provincial conventions luck in their endeavor to re-seek the leadership mandate of the country in 2016 from the Zambians," said Munkombwe who has since announced his retirement from active politics.
"…If they think they can bounce back, better for them. History can be defied but perhaps very rarely."
He said the PF had gained massive influence and approval to be in government as reflected by the manner Zambians voted in the September 20 elections.
"A difference of 188, 000 people is a large margin. It is second to what happened in the 1991 when we (UNIP) were voted out of power by MMD," he said. "This is a second rebellion against a political party."
During campaigns for the MMD presidency, those vying for the top leadership of the party have expressed confidence that they would win the coming presidential and general elections in 2016.
And Munkombwe said he felt he should not play a significant role in politics, being just a few years younger than Dr Kenneth.
"I want to work for a few years that I have to live. I am 80 years old. Some other people must come in and help build the country. It is been unreasonable of an individual to continue politicking at 80," said Munkombwe. "Dr Kaunda is seven years older than me. He has given it up."
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, MMD
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There's no sensible alternative to dialogue
By The Post
Thu 15 Mar. 2012, 13:00 CAT
FOR whatever his limitations and deficiencies, Daniel Munkombwe is an intelligent politician who one ignores at his own peril.Those in government and all the other political forces operating in Southern Province should heed his advice and approach matters in a manner that makes meaningful dialogue possible.
Those who are opposed to the government's realignment of some districts in that province should know how to engage the government and argue their case peaceably and with civility. As Munkombwe has correctly observed, trying to blackmail those in government won't do.
There is no need for arrogance. What is needed is humility, ability and willingness to listen to others. There is need to dialogue, sharing our own beliefs with others. And this is not a choice for us since we have opted to live in a democratic and plural society. Dialogue is a must for us and is an essential path for the promotion of peace and unity in our country.
And above all, dialogue is rooted in the nature and dignity of human beings. In dialogue, one can compare different points of view and examine disagreements, without thinking that they are the owners of the absolute truth.
In dialogue, compromises have to be reached. And the nature of compromise is that you can compromise on fundamental issues. Insignificant things, peripheral issues, don't need any dialogue or compromise. If you are not prepared to compromise, then you must not enter into or think about the process of dialogue at all.
Concessions are inherent in dialogue. In dialogue, you have to accept the integrity of the other person. When you dialogue, you must be prepared to compromise. In dialogue, one can compare different points of view and examine disagreements. And as we have repeatedly pointed out, negotiated solutions can be found even to differences that have come to seem intractable and that such solutions emerge when those who have differences reach out to find the common ground.
Today we live in a highly inter-dependent world which is bound together to a common destiny. And as such, it is no longer possible to ignore the feelings of others. A democratic society needs the commitment of citizens who accept the inevitability of conflict as well as the necessity for tolerance.
We need to learn how to manage our differences because differences will always be there in a democracy. Gone are the days when all of us are expected to see things the same way and believe in the same things.
It is regrettable to not that the political arena is full of greed, vanity, dishonesty, lies, cheating, hypocrisy and double standards. All political issues must be governed by truth, honesty, morality, patriotism and sacrifice.
There is no perfect form of human government.
Abuses can take place in every system, but the fundamental value of democracy is to allow the participation of citizens in the government of their country. In this regard, democracy as system of government is consonant with human rights and the respect of human dignity and freedom. Again we say, gone are the days when everyone was supposed to think the same way, belong to the same party, and support the same policies and programmes.
True believers in multi-party democracy, in a plural society, welcome dialogue and debate over views contrary to their own because they realise that they themselves may not always be right. They recognise that there is a specific role to be played by each different organisation in a spirit of unity amidst diversity.
This value of respect of diversity and dialogue mean a realisation that those in government play a very important role but that they are not the only actors in a democracy.
To govern is to communicate. Given the chance, people are generally capable of governing themselves in a manner that is fair and free. And those in government must always bear in mind that any society comprises a great diversity of interests and individuals who deserve to have their voices heard and their views respected. And the voice of democracy is not only that of the president, his ministers and the leaders of his ruling party.
The voices of democracy include those of the government, its political supporters and opposition, of course. But they are joined by the voices of trade unions, organised interest groups, chiefs and their indunas, community associations, the news media, scholars and critics, religious leaders and so on and so forth. All these need to be heard, need to be respectfully listened to and engaged by the government.
All these groups are free to raise their voices and participate in the democratic political process. In this way, their participation acts as a filter through which the vocal demands of a diverse populace pass on the way to becoming public policy. Gone are the days when the only voice that mattered, the only view that mattered was that of the president. This country can no longer be governed by presidential decrees.
People want to be consulted; people want to meet and talk to their leaders, including the president. And it doesn't matter how right those in government are in what they want to do; they still have to consult, engage the people. Consensus or accommodation, on anything, has to be reached through debate and compromise. This helps build the trust necessary to resolve future problems. It helps build coalitions.
And coalition building is the essence of democratic action. It teaches interest groups to negotiate with others, to compromise and to work within the constitutional system. By working to establish coalitions, groups with differences learn how to argue peaceably, how to pursue their goals in a democratic manner and ultimately how to live in a world of diversity.
Gone are the days when the president could wake up and announce that he has directed this and that to be done and expect everyone to keep quiet, expect everyone to accept his orders without questioning. Giving orders, taking unilateral decisions, is the easiest thing for anyone in power to do. But there are consequences.
In a democracy, people are not open to this kind of thing. They want to participate, they want to be consulted - they want to be part of the daily decisions that are made by their leaders.
It is therefore important that this government mulls over things and considers the feelings of the people over the various things it is doing, including the re-alignment of districts and reorganisation of provinces.
There are many good programmes or initiatives that this government is coming up with that are failing to win popular support. Why? Our simple explanation is that there seems to be a problem with communication. The government is not engaging people well and encouraging them.
Democracy is communication: people talking to one another about their common problems and forging a common destiny. Of course, consulting people, dialoging with people is time consuming and can be costly. Certainly, no one has ever accused democracies of being particularly efficient in their deliberations: democratic decision making can be a messy, gruelling and time-consuming process.
But in the end, a government resting upon the consent of the governed can speak and act with a confidence and authority lacking in a regime whose power is perched uneasily on the narrow ledge of force.
It's time Michael Sata gets back to his old self and starts to deploy his great mobilising skills and engage the people so that they can buy into his policies and programmes. Issuing orders, directives or threats won't do.
It may do for the few people he has appointed to government or state jobs who cannot take him on for fear of losing their jobs or positions. But it won't do with the general population that don't depend on his appointments for their daily survival. He can take unilateral decisions inside his government, but he won't get away with it when his decisions get out to the people.
Something is not working well. Something has horribly gone wrong. How else can one explain the government's failure to win public acceptance for its very correct, good policies and programmes?
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, SOUTHERN PROVINCE
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Greed will divide SP - Munkombwe
By Moses Kuwema
Wed 14 Mar. 2012, 12:00 CAT
VETERAN politician Daniel Munkombwe says Southern Province risks being torn apart because of greed. And Munkombwe complained that he would have been a multi-millionaire by now had it not been for politics.
Commenting on revelations by some Southern Province chiefs that the
UPND was behind the tension between the government and chiefs in the province over realignment, Munkombwe said
the greed that was being exhibited by some people would divide the whole Southern Province.
"I get concerned when people say we are going to give pressure to the government. I have always been for dialogue. I nearly lost my life during the struggle when the Kariba war between the Tonga of the Gwembe Valley and the colonialist, when they were fighting in 1960 and I don't think I will be prepared to go into any war now for whatever reason," he said.
" I think the government is willing to talk to the people, but no government can be pressurised to really work under duress, that does not augur well. If there are any people who are planning anything, it should be put on the table. And greed will divide the whole Southern Province, it will be torn apart because of greed."
Munkombwe advised that whoever had issues with the government should explain their position and they should also take time to ask the people of Southern Province for their views.
"But if they are going to apply pressure particularly political pressure, no government can succumb to political pressure, I know that. Presidents or governments very rarely succumb to pressure," said Munkombwe.
And Munkombwe said he would have been a multi-millionaire by now and leading a quality life had he not been in politics.
He said he was poor because of politics.
"I am leading a very quiet life now and I want to see if I can stand the last few days or years of my life by working for myself because I have totally been impoverished by politics. I should have been a multi-millionaire.
There was a time when I used to drive 16 tractors on my farm, during the early 1970s and late 1960s. I used to have over 2,000 herds of cattle. I am now poor. My Kalundu Motel was turned into welfare, where everybody was just sleeping and eating freely. My Choma Hotel, my garage was used to repair all political party vehicles," lamented Mukombwe.
Munkombwe said his only benefit now was the peace that was prevailing in the country and that he still carried his reputation with him.
"That is where I gain pride but otherwise, I have been impoverished by my participation in politics for far too long. I am poor. Some politicians have even been referring to me as a very poor old man so I am grateful that I have come out poor in the political life. Some people have come out fat and rich but I have come out poor and that I am going to retire very happily. I am now 80 and I have spent three quarters of my life in politics," he said.
Munkombwe said having been in politics for over 60 years, he wanted to give chance to other people to equally make contributions in the country's social, economic and political areas.
Labels: DANIEL MUNKOMBWE, PROVINCES, SOUTHERN PROVINCE, UPND
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