Nawakwi questions govt borrowing
By Henry Sinyangwe
Sat 28 Dec. 2013, 14:01 CAT
FDD leader Edith Nawakwi has questioned the intention by government to borrow more money to finance the budget. Meanwhile, Nawakwi says 2014 will present hunger and inadequate funding to government departments.
Government next year intends to borrow K9.64 billion to finance part of the budget for 2014, which is about 22.6 per cent of the national budget. Government last November raised the country's debt external debt ceiling from K20 billion to K35 billion.
Nawakwi said President Michael Sata should get rid of Chikwanda to save the country from another calamity of a debt trap.
"Time has come for the honourable Minister of Finance Alexander Chikwanda to shift from his current position into retirement. I know that a lot of us don't like doing the honourable thing, that is to resign from one's position. So the President of this Republic must save this country from the impending calamity of pushing Zambia into another debt trap," Nawakwi said.
She said the World Bank and the IMF had lost confidence in the economic management of the country.
"Today's reading that they are worried is just a tip of the iceberg. The truth is IMF is headed back to set up camp in Lusaka in January 2014 because they do not believe that Chikwanda is managing our economy competently. This is coupled with his inability to listen to those of us who he terms 'street people' when we talk about his lack of knowledge on management of our fiscal regime in this country. There are 13 million of us in this country and for sure, we must have one child somewhere in the corners of Zambia who can serve this country with diligence, competence and direction," said Nawakwi, who once served as finance minister in the Frederick Chiluba era.
She said some ministers were arrogant.
"Early this year, I raised the alarm that the budget had burst, that the Minister of Finance was not in the frame of mind to be able to control the runaway expenditure. There was hue and cry from the ministry. They tried to justify their actions to the point where even the likes of labour minister Fackson Shamenda had to criticise my persona. I then still raise the alarm that by January 2014, IMF is setting up camp again in Zambia due to their lack of confidence in the management of our economy by the current Minister of Finance," Nawakwi said.
She said the country no longer required Chikwanda's services.
"If the President does not listen to this very serious and timely advice, he has himself to blame for what Zambia is going to be in the next three or four years. 2014, we will be faced with hunger; 2014, we will be faced with inadequate funding to departments and ministries. We have doctors and nurses on strike, the Minister of Finance is mute; we have no medicines in the hospitals, we have no mealie-meal in several places and the buck stops at the Ministry of Finance," Nawakwi said.
She said she did not understand why President Sata thought Chikwanda was the only Minister of Finance the country could have.
"If the President is not able to relieve him, I think my brother should be honourable enough to say he needs to rest and allow younger people to be able to assist this country," Nawakwi said.
"This is a person who wants to export copper ore, this is a person who doesn't care whether nurses are on strike, this is the nominated member of parliament who doesn't care about the state of the University of Zambia. Unless we clear the stumbling block at the Ministry of Finance, whether it is PF, FDD, UPND, we may dance and cry, the buck stops at the Ministry of Finance."
She also expressed worry that Chikwanda signed the SI allowing exports of copper concentrates without any charge, which was later reversed by President Sata.
"If my minister doesn't understand that gold and other precious minerals are not found in independent mines, they are by-products of copper concentrates and he wants to give it as a Christmas gift to some companies, what can we discus? We are simply sitting on a time bomb," Nawakwi said.
She said a lot was sacrificed to get Zambia's debt written off, hence the country could not sit and watch mismanagement of the economy in the name of PF and some ministers in government.
"The reason we are having so much ineptitude is due to the fact that some of these brothers are nominated MPs. You go to Ministry of Education, there is no progress, you got to finance, he tells us 'shut up, you are advising me from the streets on windfall tax', you go to Ministry of Agriculture, the gentleman doesn't even know when we should plant our seeds. You go to Ministry of Health, there are problems. You go to Ministry of Justice, you want to get the constitution on time, who does he report to? He has no constituency apart from number one the President," Nawakwi said.
She said the country was facing major problems because critical ministries were manned by people who had no constituencies.
"These nominated MPs are living in ivory towers and as far as I am concerned, my only advice to President Sata for 2014 is to get rid of this lot. Let him nominate women and see what they can do. Let's get a different direction for 2014 and that can only happen if we come to 2014 without my brother Chikwanda at the helm of our treasury," Nawakwi said.
She said Chikwanda must not take the country to the days when a head of state must start telling the nation to tighten belts.
"This is the time when we need to loosen our belts. If you are going to injure us in this way, we are going to fight. This is injury, especially for those of us who spent long hours, days negotiating with the international community to write off our debt," said Nawakwi.
"People like ABC have not experienced what it takes to negotiate a debt write-off, to camp in a foreign capital, begging. He has not experienced what late Cardinal Mazombwe experienced and many Zambians who fought to get the debt written off; that's why he is so arrogant."
Labels: ALEXANDER CHIKWANDA, DEBT, EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, MICHAEL SATA
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'Zambia not likely to have people-driven constitution'
By Prince Chibawah in Mansa
Sun 01 Dec. 2013, 14:00 CAT
ZAMBIA will not have a people-driven constitution because politicians have tried to draft a constitution that protects their powers and guarantees abuse of office, says FDD spokesperson Antonio Mwanza.
And Mwanza has charged that the government's failure to provide leadership and social benefits to the people is due to the current 'weak Constitution'.
Speaking on Mansa's K FM radio on Wednesday, Mwanza said the country was not likely to have a people-driven constitution because majority citizens had left the constitution-making process in the hands of the politicians.
"Since 1973, we have had a lot of constitution-making processes. We had the Chona Constitution Commission, the Mvunga Constitution Commission, the Mwanakatwe Constitution Commission, the Mung'omba Constitution Commission and now the technical committee constitution reform. All these five constitution commissions have not resulted in a people-driven constitution, for the simple issue of politics having taken precedence of our common sense. Politicians have tried to draft a constitution that protects their powers and guarantees the abuse of office, guarantee excessive powers. They do not want to draft a constitution that gives the ordinary citizen ultimate power to provide checks and balances to the elected officials," he said.
He noted that successive constitution-making processes had been politically driven and that the content had also not been protected.
"…and the history of this country from 1964 is that we have been dealing with the issue of a constitution. It's paramount to state that the Constitution we are using in this country is a constitution which was handed over to us in the United Kingdom in 1963. Hence it was formulated, drafted, signed, sealed and handed over to the people of Zambia by the British government. It still represents the one party mentality, the one party laws, the one party regulatory system," he said.
"A constitution can only be as good as the people want it to be, meaning that what people want is what makes a good constitution. If 80 per cent or majority of what the people are asking for is present, then that is a good constitution. But if the majority things that people are aspiring to see in the constitution are not there, then that is a bad constitution."
He added that the submissions of the Zambian people towards the constitution-making process had always been consistent and they had now grown tired of submitting same things.
"They (citizens) have always asked for a majoritarian president. They have asked to have a 50 per cent +1 clause. They asked to have Cabinet outside Parliament. They consistently asked to have a running mate, they asked to enhance the role of Parliament as a watchdog institution. They have also asked for the independence of the Judiciary and the Electoral Commission of Zambia. The independence of the Attorney General's office, the independence of the Auditor General's office, the institutions of governance," Mwanza said.
"The people of Zambia understand that power should be entrusted in institutions and not individuals. Because if institutions of governance are more powerful, then we know we are safe and secure. It's very dangerous to entrust powers in a man born of a woman. That's why people have been submitting that they need governance institutions to have supreme powers over man."
Mwanza said there was need to respect the constitution-making process by only including the wishes of the majority citizens in the final copy of the constitution.
"A constitution is a very important document in any society where people live. And we know that a constitution is a document of the land that spells out the values, aspirations of the people of a particular land that they have.
This is why if we want a government that is properly balanced, the Executive that has no excessive powers, powers which they can easily abuse; if we want to have a Legistrature that is proactive and representing the people's wishes, making laws that are relevant to bring development to its people at the grassroots; if we want a Judiciary that can be a panacea of justice, Judiciary that can ensure fairness, a Judiciary that everyone can be looked upon without a face that the law can be actually blind, then you need to have a constitution that epitomises the aspirations of the people," he said.
Meanwhile, Mwanza said the current Constitution was feeble, resulting in the government's failure to provide sustainable development to the people.
"The government's failure to provide leadership and ensure we secure these minerals that the Chinese and other foreign countries are looting from our mines is because of a weak Constitution we have. The failures by us as a people to hold our leaders accountable is because of bad laws we have. We have people that have been stealing from this country, looting government coffers, and they have walked to freedom because the laws we have are so weak that we cannot prosecute them. Today, we have court cases that are academic because the laws we have cannot guarantee the conviction of a former head of state," he said.
Mwanza asserted that the government had continued to abuse powers and national resources due to feeble laws.
"Today, we have a government that has continued to abuse people's rights, a government which continues not to adhere to the people's rights. People are jailed without the due process of the law. We have a government which is now picking up people from their homes and put them in jail without possible trials and later on the DPP (Director of Public Prosecutions), in his famous ruling, goes for nolle prosequi as he has always been doing, because we have weak laws in the country. The people's development cannot be guaranteed," said Mwanza.
Labels: ANTONIO MWANZA, CONSTITUTION, FDD
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Zambia needs youth mentorship programme, says Nawakwi
By Ernest Chanda
Mon 20 May 2013, 14:01 CAT
EDITH Nawakwi says Zambia needs a serious mentorship programme where the youth can be empowered with knowledge and survival skills. And Nawakwi on Friday announced the death of her mother.
Nawakwi, the opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) leader, has been on a countrywide mentorship programme for the youth. Her party has come up with a programme called Neighbour's Friend, through which she is training the youth in entrepreneurship.
And on Tuesday last week, Nawakwi mentored five Copperbelt University forestry graduates.
"Given an opportunity to be in office, our idea is to create income at household level. It's through starting a project like this that the youth can create income for the future because tree planting is one of the few lucrative agriculture jobs. So, mentorship is part of the FDD's empowerment programmes," she said in an interview.
"So what we have managed to do through the party is to organise for them to go for actual practical work. They'll go with their own seedlings and they'll be assisted on doing that because they'll find someone who is a practitioner. So, in about six months' time, they will be delivering the seed to the customer. We are importing the seedlings from Vietnam. These are graduates in one field, forestry; it's not a single job for them anywhere."
She appealed for government support to the programme so that more youths could be empowered.
"At least I know that this programme can grow. And when you as government say 'let us work together with political parties', this is one programme where the government can come to this secretariat and say 'we have money for youth enterprise, how much does the FDD want? How many people are benefiting?' We are not saying they should bring money to the secretariat, no, but to the association," said Nawakwi.
"They have now gotten to a position where they have an order for 50,000 plants through us here worth K120 million (KR120,000). The curriculum at the university as usual is white collar; they have nowhere to get practical experience. We've done the talking, we need someone to incubate them and then release them."
Meanwhile, on Friday, Nawakwi wrote on her facebook page: "Friends, it is with a heavy heart and deep sorrow that I announce the passing away of my dear mother. Kindly remember us in your prayers during this tragic time."
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, YOUTHS
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Nawakwi pledges to address youths' needs once elected
By Allan Mulenga
Tue 02 Apr. 2013, 14:01 CAT
EDITH Nawakwi says FDD has pledged to engage young people in addressing their problems when elected into office. And Nawakwi has observed that the focus on girl child education has left the boy child completely neglected.
In an interview, Nawakwi, who is Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president, said youths had brilliant ideas, but lacked the platform where they could present them.
"We need to engage them and they are willing to be engaged. So, when I am president, that is a strategy I will use and say, 'look, what do you want to do?' I will not go to them and say, 'I want to take you to Namushakende so that you can go to the university because I want to put you in farming'. Not every young person can be a farmer," she said.
Asked whether the party's mentorship programme targeted at youths was a political strategy ahead of 2016 elections, Nawakwi responded: "If you tell me that it is a political strategy, I don't know what the young people will think amongst all of us politicians. FDD, and Edith Nawakwi in particular provide the best solution to their problems. It is them to judge. We are not basically going to them to ask them to vote for us, this is FDD. We genuinely call them and those young people are extremely brilliant."
She observed that not all leaders were willing to talk to young people about their problems.
"Yes, I am in the opposition, but I have to spend my time not only looking for votes for 2016, but trying to get people to realise that we cannot share poverty and we can share knowledge which we can apply and eradicate poverty," she said.
"You will be amazed what is coming out of this. It is not only graduates we have young people who have distinction, six or seven points and they are not able to go to university because they have no money."
And Nawakwi observed that the boy child had been completely neglected.
"All of us are talking about the girl child. The boy child has completely been neglected. There is a boy child who is in the pub drinking tujilijili and we have forgotten about them. All of us mothers are now talking about the girl child and girl education. Let's talk about our children. I want my daughter to excel. This should be the basis of government. What it is it that the boy child can do? These are the huge problems which can not only be left to people in formalised office. All of us need to get involved," said Nawakwi.
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, YOUTHS
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Nawakwi regrets FDD's past alliances
By Allan Mulenga
Tue 16 Oct. 2012, 11:40 CAT
EDITH Nawakwi has blamed FDD's misfortunes on its association with selfish politicians.
Featuring on ZNBC's The Interview programme on Sunday evening, Nawakwi (right) said the major mistake that the party made was to align itself with political parties that did not share its agenda.
"I would be the first to admit I think that in 2001 we rode on the momentum of really trying to uphold our Constitution. In 2006 after my ascendancy to this privileged position of being a leader of a political party, I think the momentum for our party was really very high," she said.
"I am quick to admit that one major mistake that we made was to think that we could align ourselves with other political parties, especially political parties that did not carry our agenda. I think that had taken a toll, but I want you to know that people really believe and for that we are truly grateful."
Nawakwi said the latest incident where UPND and MMD failed to agree on the candidates to field at ward level in Mufumbwe was a clear indication that alliances would not work in the country.
"You must have political alliances of politicians who have a common agenda. Alliances that are founded on faults and that are not congruent in terms of which direction you are going are always doomed to failure. I think you realise that in this country we haven't had any one successful alliance," she said.
"I think the simple example is what is happening in Mufumbwe. They agreed that at a local level, where you need to mobilise the political power that is at ward level but there is no agreement…if you cannot agree at branch level as to how you are going to align yourselves, you cannot agree in the offices in Lusaka."
Nawakwi, however, said political alliances could only work if the 50 per cent plus one clause were adopted in the Constitution.
"There is no incentive to have an alliance because our Constitution is a simple majority constitution. Once we have a majority constitution that will require that there is 50 per cent plus one, automatically people will begin to align themselves for purposes of probably achieving the objectives of what a smaller party may not be able to," she said.
Nawakwi urged politicians to guard against politics of vindictiveness.
"We need to be able to accommodate each other's views; we need to sit and discuss. I look forward to the time when politicians can behave like our colleagues in Zimbabwe, where the head of State can actually go and have tea with the leader of the opposition."
In 2006 FDD was in a pact with the UPND and UNIP. In the 2008 presidential by-election, Nawakwi as leader supported the MMD's Rupiah Banda.
FDD had 14 members of parliament from the 2001 general elections, four in 2006 and currently has one MP.
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, UPND
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Nawakwi agrees with Sata on working as a team
By Allan Mulenga
Thu 04 Oct. 2012, 14:10 CAT
EDITH Nawakwi says no individual has a monopoly of wisdom in the governance system.
Nawakwi, who is opposition FDD president, said there was need for the opposition to work with the government for the common goal of national development.
"We have only one country. It is extremely important that as a people we recognise on-season and off-season for campaigns... we can mobilise the support for our political parties," Nawakwi said.
"His (President Sata's) speech in Parliament is in the context that there is not one individual who has the monopoly of wisdom especially on matters of economic development. We can tap on each other's strengths to strengthen our weaknesses and move the country forward."
She said economic growth, if properly targeted and managed, could reduce poverty levels in the country.
"Everyone knows that economic development, if properly managed, can reduce poverty. This growth must be centered on developing districts and the rural areas," Nawakwi said.
Nawakwi was commenting on President Sata's call for the government and opposition members of parliament to work as a team.
During his address to Parliament, President Sata expressed disappointment with incidents of political violence, saying dialogue was the best way to engage each other in a democracy.
He said he had for long time ignored attacks from some opposition leaders because he wanted to listen more.
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, MICHAEL SATA, PF
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Regulating media coverage, an infringement on press freedom-Nawakwi
TIME PUBLISHED - Saturday, April 14, 2012, 1:29 pm
Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi has said regulating the media in coverage of State House functions is an infringement on press freedom.
Speaking in an interview, Ms. Nawakwi said the media is the fourth estate of government and that it must be allowed to carry out its mandate of informing the general populous efficiently.
She has since called for the enactment of the Freedom of Information Bill stating that this will allow for an effective media in the country.
And Former Information and Broadcasting Minister Mike Mulongoti said the move is untenable as it will not work in the best interest of Zambians.
Their comments come in a wake of an attempt by Permanent Secretary in-charge of administration at Cabinet office Annie Sinyangwe to restrict the coverage of state house functions to the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS), a move that has received wide condemnation.
According to Ms. Sinyangwe, State House has become too small to accommodate all the journalists.
QFM
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, MIKE MULONGOTI
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Nawakwi backs opposition to MMD-UPND pact
By Kombe Chimpinde
Wed 26 Oct. 2011, 15:50 CAT
FDD leader Edith Nawakwi says the
members of MMD are right in opposing a pact between MMD and UPND because Hakainde Hichilema is not consistent and is obsessed with power.In an interview, the FDD leader who in 2006 entered into an alliance with the UPND leader ahead of elections wondered why the MMD had suddenly become an angel when the UPND vowed that working with the former ruling party was like placing monkeys in a banana plantation.
"Hakainde tried to be in a pact with us, it didn't work. He also went into a pact with the PF it also failed, he walked out empty handed. Levy Mwanawasa (late President) courted Hakainde and pleaded with him to be the vice-president, he said working with MMD is like putting monkeys in a banana field. When I worked with him, he said I couldn't lead the pact because I still had an MMD identity. So what is new about this beaten and fallen MMD. What is so attractive?" Nawakwi asked.
Nawakwi described as desperate Hakainde's scheme to play the role of ‘estate administrator' for the MMD, a party that had just exited, in bid to ascend to power.
"According to UPND, MMD represented everything wrong. What commonality is there between MMD and UPND now? That is why he (Hakainde) serves people who are standing still and waiting. Does Hakainde think he can just easily be the administrator for the party which has just exited?" she said.
"If it is written somewhere that one day, Hakainde will be President, then he will, he does not have to fight hard, he does not have to deceive anyone. He should just take the example of Sir Michael (President Sata) who instead was consistent, steadfast and there… God had given him (Presidency)," Nawakwi said.
"Hakainde is no different from these people who are jumping from one party to another except that he is a leader. Yes, he did better than me because he took advantage of the fact that in 2006 we supported him, he then went out of his way to make sure our members were recruited. That has more or less put FDD in a position where we have found ourselves."
Nawakwi said the MMD members were right to reject Hakainde's push to take over their party's leadership.
"In fact UPND must start reflecting on what their future is. Are they going to be led into jumping from one bucket to the other by their leader?" she asked.
And on the continued criticism of President Sata's decisions, Nawakwi cautioned Hichilema against politics of confrontation.
"If we embrace a confrontational attitude on national affairs, where people start saying that decisions are being made in favour of one region, we won't make progress as a country. It will not serve us if those in the opposition bunch up just to argue for the sake of arguing even where they do not have a point. We don't need unnecessary outbursts, ‘because I don't like Sata. I don't like Sata, let's bunch up together'. We want to make progress in this country," Nawakwi said.
She was speaking in reference to Hichilema's allegations that President Sata decided to divide Northern Province into two provinces so that he could increase distribution of national resources to favour the Northerners, where he hails.
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MMD, UPND
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Accept junior status, Nawakwi urges UPND
By Patson Chilemba
Sat 02 Oct. 2010, 04:00 CAT
FDD president Edith Nawakwi yesterday advised the UPND to calmly accept their status as a junior partner in the PF/UPND pact. Commenting on the popularity arguments involving the PF and UPND, Nawakwi said UPND did the same to FDD in 2006 when they asked them to accept that UPND was bigger than all the parties which were in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
“I hope that the UPND will accept that they are the junior partner. I hope that my colleagues in UPND calmly take the statement that they have fewer seats, they are younger because that is how we felt. I hope that they are not feeling as bad as we felt when we were being told we had 12 seats in the House and that we didn’t have enough money,” Nawakwi said.
“They should take their status calmly and accept it just as they expected us to accept it because we were being told that we couldn’t provide helicopters and we only had 12 seats. It is the same language which is being played on them that they played on us.”
Nawakwi said the UPND had now felt how the FDD felt at that time.
“Knowing that we had a lot to contribute, all the experience that we had having worked in government, knowing that really our CVs are unbeatable and then we were being told, ‘no, you don’t have helicopters’,” she said.
Nawakwi said an alliance could not work where there was deceit, dishonesty and selfishness. She said there could only be one leader at any given time.
“You see in UDA, while we had the late Anderson Mazoka we had our own problems but there was a lot of respect towards each other at the time, until the demise of late Anderson Mazoka. That is when the ugly head of selfishness and self-conceitedness came into the politics of UDA,” Nawakwi said.
“It is not possible that some leaders feel that they are the best for this country. I think leadership is something that is given by the people. You can’t impose your leadership on a nation, people, family, community.”
Nawakwi said those who felt they were leaders should first look within themselves if they were humble because leadership was about humility.
“UDA failed because some people within UDA thought they were richer than others. I had colleagues from UPND asking me, ‘do you have a helicopter? Do you have billions because some of your colleagues can even put K10 billion on the table for the campaigns? If someone else is elected we will have everything’?” Nawakwi said.
“My dear when things were done, that statement only came to pass. I never saw the choppers nor the billions of kwacha for the campaigns. So we need to be truthful. I think that this country has come a long way in 45 years.”
Nawakwi said the independence liberation struggles such as Cha Cha Cha were not fought with helicopters but with bare hands.
“So those who have money must realise that money will not buy them the road to State House. If you follow the leadership of seniority and experience and the most capable leader, and the fact that we were going to have Anderson Mazoka as leader and myself as vice, it followed then that in the absence of the elder brother I should have followed to be the next candidate,” Nawakwi said.
“And if you heard the New Africa magazine 2006, July they actually were looking at the possibility that ‘if Nawakwi is chosen as a candidate of the alliance, Mwanawasa is going to have a run for his money’.
But here at home I was being told ‘you are only a woman, you worked with Chiluba, you don’t have a helicopter and indeed you don’t come from a tribe which is larger in the house’. So since my late brother was from my province in Southern Province, I was told it follows that the successor to be president needed to come from the province.”
Nawakwi said she expected that either herself or Sakwiba Sikota would be the presidential candidate after Mazoka died. She said people would not have minded if either herself of Sikota were picked as candidate.
“They people took great exception to having a new person and I think that was the demise. I think that is critically the reason why the alliance did not succeed,” Nawakwi said.
She said having worked with the UPND, she was not surprised at the turn of events in the PF-UPND pact. Nawakwi said people should have taken time to ask about her experience in UDA.
“For me what I thought was that 2006 was an era passed and was really praying and looking forward that people have matured, they have changed, they have learnt from their mistakes. That is what I was praying for that for once I trusted and hoped that Zambia will be given something different than what we had in 2006,” Nawakwi said.
“I think we are still at an era before 2006. Habits experienced with UDA are still manifest today. We agreed that each of the parties in the alliance was going to get 50 seats. We experienced a situation where our colleagues decided that even for seats such as Chasefu and Sinda, they wanted to take them away from us. I think you recall that FDD only ended up with two seats. It is the same selfishness I am talking about.”
Nawakwi said the same selfishness was experienced in Munali, where she was a sitting member of parliament.
“Before we woke up, we found that people were printing certificates away from the secretariat of UDA to give to their members to file. You cannot sit on the table, transact one thing, go off the table transact another thing. It can’t work. Alliances must be based on understanding, respect and following a very, very high degree of honesty. Your objective must be the future,” she said.
Nawakwi said even after the 2006 elections, she was still being told that she was a woman by people who were not experienced.
“I look at these people, they will tell you they are experienced but they have no experience. They have never rescheduled a single debt, never met a single head of state outside the borders of this country. They have never negotiated any strike with the labour union in this country and they tell you ‘you are a woman’,” Nawakwi said.
“One day the Zambian people will realise that women are better leaders than men. I think that Zambians are now looking for alternatives and the alternative is the leadership of women, credible, alternative leadership.”
Nawakwi said she was abused together with her members in 2006. She said FDD members were asked to get materials for campaigns from her when they went to the UDA secretariat, saying the abuse was from top to bottom.
“The country is in limbo because I think that a lot of hope was pinned on this pact but as far as I am concerned I knew from day one that it will end the way it has ended, insincerity and self-conceited behaviour. ‘I am the best’. When they are choosing a captain in the class, do you install it upon yourself?” Nawakwi asked.
“Mazoka never said to me, ‘Edith you can’t be a leader’. Late Mazoka was so gracious. There were moments and days when late Mazoka would come to my house and ‘my sister can we make a decision on this matter’? He had the courtesy and the respect. Insincerity only crept into the UDA after he died.”
Nawakwi said UPND members told her that they had to take the leadership to themselves after the demise of Mazoka.
“They had to even bring outsiders who are less experienced than me. If you talk to my brother Sakwiba Sikota, he will probably have the same views. I mean they had to leave because they couldn’t stand the entrance of new people who had no experience. I put the interest of the country first,” said Nawakwi.
“I said well if I have to leave the UDA, Zambians will say ‘look at Edith she wants to be president at all cost. Let me give this thing a chance’. I had to step aside and I am waiting. I think Zambians will say, ‘one day it is my turn’. I think it is in 2011.”
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, PF, PF-UPND, UPND
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Nawakwi is a desperate politician, says Kawana
Monday, March 29, 2010, 7:40
THE African Institute for Democracy and Good Governance (AIDGG) has described Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi as a desperate politician who has allegedly failed to run her party leading to calls for her removal by members.
AIDGG spokesperson Thabo Kawana also charged that Ms Nawakwi expected an appointment for supporting President Rupiah Banda’s candidature during the 2008 Presidential by-election.
Mr Kawana yesterday said it had now become evident through statements the FDD president was issuing against President Banda and Government that Ms Nawakwi supported the MMD in 2008 in anticipation of an appointment.
Mr Kawana said in an interview that Ms Nawakwi should instead concentrate on building what he called her diminished political party than resorting to attacking President Banda.
He said currently, Ms Nawakwi was running the party with dissatisfied membership which had seen no value in her, leading to the call for the party vice-president Chifumu Banda to take over.
“What Ms Nawakwi is doing is just sour grapes because she expected an appointment after supporting President Banda in 2008.
“What she needs to do is to concentrate on building her political party which is now almost defunct.
“She should remember that she has a dissatisfied membership which has seen no value in her, hence the calls for the party’s vice-president to take over,” Mr Kawana said..
And Forum for Leadership Search executive director Edwin Lifwekelo said Ms Nawakwi lacked the vision and direction in terms of adding value to the Zambian political scene.
“What Ms Nawakwi is doing is just sour grapes because she expected an appointment after supporting President Banda in 2008.Mr Lifwekelo said it was shameful that Ms Nawakwi could choose to misdirect her energies towards insulting President Banda at the expense of re-organising her political party.
“FDD is currently suffering and if it was not for Chifumu Banda and Newton Ng’uni, the party would have crumbled a long time ago. Ms Nawakwi has become a liability even in FDD itself. Infact, the members should kick her out and allow Mr Banda to take over as party president.
“In short, she lacks vision, direction and even the capacity in terms of adding value in politics,” he said.
He said the FDD leader had not provided any solutions apart from showing her negative character by issuing statements that were exposing the kind of leadership.
He urged Ms Nawakwi to exercise humility like in her days as a marketeer way back.
Mr Lifwekelo said the inconsistency Ms Nawakwi, who could be reached for a comment, had shown from the time she supported President Banda to date, was evident enough that she was not a capable leader.
[Times of Zambia]
Labels: AIDGG, EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, THABO KAWANA
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A university degree shouldn’t be a prerequisite for presidency – Nawakwi
By Patson Chilemba
Wed 27 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
FDD president Edith Nawakwi has observed that possessing a university degree should not be a prerequisite for one to be Republican president.
In an interview, Nawakwi said including a degree clause in the Republican Constitution for one to be president was tantamount to attempting to make the Presidency an exclusive club for a privileged few.
“King Solomon in the Bible was not educated, but he had wisdom and compassion. He was the wisest man. You can't say every 90 per cent achiever in college qualifies to be president. Education is very important, but it is not the prerequisite to be a leader. Look at what Rupiah Banda is saying on the MMD cadres, does it show that he has humility? You can go to school and come out schooled, but not educated. Rupiah Banda is just schooled, he is not educated,” Nawakwi said on Monday.
“In most cases higher achievers in school are the least achievers in life. Qualification to be president, yes someone needs minimum standards to transact, but it's not a prerequisite.”
Nawakwi said currently only a few citizens could afford university education, saying those who were advocating the degree should also provide more universities in the nation.
“The situation now is that you have to have six points to get to UNZA, so only a privileged few, maybe from Mpelembe who are well-sponsored, will go to the university. But those from Namushakende, are they ever going to have that opportunity? You are excluding the larger section of the population because now you can have eight points, they will not accept you, because there are very few university places,” Nawakwi said. “You want to make the presidency an exclusive club for a privileged few.”
And Kafulafuta MMD member of parliament George Mpombo charged that it was misleading and self-deception to think that only holders of university degrees could succeed as Republican presidents.
Mpombo, who is former defence minister, said holding a degree was not a funfare to success.
“You see even South Africa, President Jacob Zuma has done very little formal education, but he is leading the biggest and strongest economy in Africa, and I think it is misleading and self-deception to think that a person, if one has got a degree, then he will perform, he will be successful,” Mpombo said. “There are what we call educated derelinks, they cannot do anything. Leadership is not about possessing a chain of degrees. So people have got it all wrong that holding a degree is a pathway to leadership.”
Mpombo advised people against enacting laws targeted at individuals if the nation was serious about enacting a Constitution that would stand the test of time.
He said critical ingredients to leadership like wisdom, love, common sense and character were not acquired through books.
“What we are saying is that it is wallowing in ignorance to expect that since one has a degree then they will make a good president,” Mpombo said.
On MMD acting spokesperson Mike Mulongoti's statement before the national executive committee (NEC) meeting last weekend that it would not be good for the party to hold a convention to waste money when there is the 2011 general election to fight for, Mpombo said the statement by Mulongoti was tantamount to political madness because this was the same person who recently announced that the party was re-organising to go for a convention.
He said the convention was a constitutional requirement and had nothing to do with President Banda's status as the incumbent President.
Mpombo said President Banda was just an acting president of the party.
Featuring on The People That Matter programme on Joy FM Radio last week on Monday evening, Mulongoti said it would be unwise to do away with the sitting President and look for another candidate when there was the benefit of incumbency.
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, PRESIDENCY
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Rupiah is attracting bad omen on himself, says Nawakwi
Written by Patson Chilemba
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 3:19:13 PM
EDITH Nawakwi has said President Banda is attracting bad omen on himself and MMD for refusing to listen to advice, saying those who campaigned for him are being blamed for bringing trouble to the nation.
In an interview on Tuesday, Nawakwi , who is opposition FDD president and campaigned heavily for the President during the 2008 presidential elections, said it was disappointing that an elderly man like President Rupiah Banda had literally failed to listen to advice on every national issue. She cited government's move to purchase mobile hospitals and sell 75 percent shares in Zamtel as some of the issues President Banda had exhibited deafness.
Nawakwi said President Banda should call on the Church fathers and go for a retreat in order to reflect seriously on how he was governing the nation, saying he had set himself on a path of self destruction which would also have devastating consequences on the nation.
"He is talking about mobile hospitals being an offer. If someone offers you a chalise of poison, do you drink it? We don't need mobile hospitals, we want fixed buildings. If the President can go incognito on the streets, we his friends are being abused that your friend doesn't listen. So why does the President want to drink this poison from this friendly government, which government we don't know, because the Chinese have refused? What is it that the President needs to be advised to go on the right path?" Nawakwi asked.
"What language should people speak for him to listen? He's on a very destructive path, and not only to himself but to the general group. It's disappointing that we have one of the elder statesmen who can't listen. He is not behaving like someone who is elderly. What we know is that people acquire wisdom through the years. He is behaving like a young man on a motor racing tract. For those who are younger than him, like he refused to listen to my brother Hakainde Hichilema, we are lost on how to advise him."
Nawakwi said President Banda should not claim that the mobile hospitals were an offer from a foreign country because even then, there was nothing which was free in the world. He said donor help always came with conditions
"Whether it is from Chinese government, when they give you something, you see a horde of Chinese on the streets. That's not free. He can't say they [mobile hospitals] are free. This costs money and this will be paid at a future date, maybe not in his lifetime," Nawakwi said.
"You members of the press, I hope you will use a different language because we in politics have failed to advise him. He's bringing a lot of bad omen to his side, whether as MMD or himself. Tabomfwa [He doesn't listen]."
Nawakwi said President Banda had a fixed position on almost all the issues which he thought was right. She said she was completely at a loss regarding what President Banda wanted to achieve for the nation. Nawakwi said President Banda had gathered so much emotion against him in the last eight months for refusing to listen and it was clear that he was not enjoying peace. She said President Banda would not find peace for as long as people were complaining.
Nawakwi said President Banda should listen to advice because God usually speaks through his people.
"Munshebwa aile nefiko kubuko [He who doesn't listen went with dirt to their in-laws]. Ask Mr. Sata, he knows that saying. Even staunch supporters of MMD are saying "imwe mwalituletelela ubwafya [you have brought trouble in this nation]". He should slow down, pick up a phone and call the fathers to go for a retreat, not with his family. That way he will find peace and direction. At the moment there is no direction," Nawakwi said.
"Why is he bent on self destruction? It is like he is in love with mobile hospitals to the extent that he will be destroyed this lack of peace will bring about destruction."
And Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata said President Banda wants to make quick money over the purchase of mobile hospitals and the sale of 75 percent shares in Zamtel. He charged that President Banda wanted to become like his friend Frederick Chiluba who amassed many shoes and suits such that it became difficult to choose what to wear.
On Monday, Sata charged that President Banda President Banda was lying over the mobile hospitals and deserved a medal for being the best liar the country has ever had for President.
Last Friday, President Banda said mobile hospitals were an offer from a foreign country.
But Chinese government special representative on African affairs Ambassador Liu Guijin in May said the Chinese government did not play a role in this [US$53 million mobile hospital] deal, and it might be a business dealing between the Zambian government and a private Chinese company.
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, RUPIAH BANDA
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Accommodate windfall taxes in mine Act, FDD MP urges govt
Written by Kabanda Chulu
Thursday, June 18, 2009 3:23:53 PM
FDD Sinda member of parliament Levy Ngoma yesterday challenged the government to reconsider amending the mines Act to accommodate windfall taxes since copper prices have started rising on the international markets.
Commenting on the international copper prices that have risen to over US $5,000 per metric tonne, Ngoma said
the unreasonableness of the MMD government concerning the mining industry was now clear that it favoured foreign investors. He said even in the face of diversification, copper still remained the mainstay of the Zambian economy, hence the need to safeguard it.
“KK [first president Kenneth Kaunda] protected this industry and even the late president [Levy] Mwanawasa also did the same and this is why he pushed us (Parliament) to enact laws relating to mining windfall taxes. But this Rupiah Banda-led government listened to foreigners that they cannot pay hence removing the windfall taxes,” Ngoma said.
“But now copper prices are rising so what is this government going to do about it because we told them not to remove it from the statutory books but they could not listen?”
He advised that the government should bring amendments to the mining Act to accommodate the windfall taxes.
“They should bring amendments to address windfall taxes under the mining Act because if I bring it up, they will say I am playing politics since I come from the opposition but we want that money since foreign investors are not serious hence failing to follow our laws (paying taxes),” said Ngoma.
In the 2008 budget, the government under president Mwanawasa introduced windfall taxes aimed at capturing excessive profits from the mines since copper prices reached an all-time high of above US $8, 000 per metric tonne. But still, mining companies in Zambia refused to pay and gave various reasons.
And those who paid, about two out of 13 registered companies, attached conditions to the taxes hence in the 2009 budget, the government removed the windfall taxes to accommodate the views of the foreign investors.
Labels: FDD, LEVY NGOMA, WINDFALL TAX
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Concept of mobile hospitals is an exercise in futility, says Nawakwi
Written by George Chellah
Sunday, May 31, 2009 11:43:17 PM
FORUM for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi has said the concept of mobile hospitals is an exercise in futility, which is bound to have disastrous consequences. And Nawakwi said the mobile hospital concept would paint a negative picture on President Rupiah Banda's legacy. In an interview, Nawakwi said the concept of mobile hospitals was not feasible.
"I think that it's an exercise in futility which is bound to have disastrous consequences, and will probably paint a negative picture on President Banda’s legacy," she said.
Nawakwi said the amount of money to be spent on mobile hospitals could be used on the construction of rural clinics.
"The same amount of money if people could listen to the outcry... the same amount of money could give us over 1,000 rural clinics. I believe the Zambian woman would be much more comfortable delivering in a three bedroomed satellite clinic either in Kabwandu, Namushakende or Mugurameno. These are obscure names but they are in Zambia where there are no roads," Nawakwi said.
"If we as Zambians could give our rural folk satellite clinics and a health workers dwelling I believe this amount of money, which is under discussion is more than adequate. We could have permanent structures with solar lighting, basic minimum facilities for emergencies in rural areas."
She insisted that permanent structures like satellite clinics were better.
"We have seen many ambulances, I recall that in 1992 I did deliver an ambulance to Nakonde. It is history but the mortuary, which we constructed, the maternity clinic, which we constructed at Mwenzo and Nakonde is still there," Nawakwi said.
Nawakwi said the most depressing part about the mobile hospital transaction was that the money was not coming from the softer window of the Chinese government.
"It is coming from a commercial window called Exim Bank of China. That's the sad part about this transaction. This brings into focus the issue of how debt is contracted in this country. And that's the point that Zambians are making that we should privilege Parliament on details of debt contraction," Nawakwi said.
"The international community has written off the debt, which we owed, you cannot again hardly a year later go back and say now you are credible in the market therefore lend us on a commercial window and commercial interest rate when the country is wallowing in poverty."
Nawakwi advised the government to invest in sustainable ventures.
"It is extremely difficult to explain to the international community that your people in rural areas need support when you are going to commercial windows to contract debt for non-sustainable ventures. Basically these ambulances will be vessels for carrying charcoal, fish, beans, rice, and chibwantu. The bottom-line is that it is a non-sustainable venture," said Nawakwi.
"Let's invest in sustainable projects. It cannot be the preoccupation of the government to say that each village needs an ambulance. What we need is sustainable infrastructure and that infrastructure is permanent clinics and if we don't have enough money let's put up satellite clinics."
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, MINISTRY OF HEALTH
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FDD challenges civil society over mobile NRC registration
Written by Patson Chilemba
Tuesday, May 19, 2009 5:19:38 PM
LUDWIG Sondashi yesterday said Zambians will not allow President Rupiah Banda's government to only conduct a thorough mobile registration of National Registration Cards (NRCs) in perceived MMD strongholds.
And FDD vice-president Chifumu Banda said it was incumbent upon the civil society, political parties and the general citizenry to constantly remind the government to ensure that the mobile exercise is conducted thoroughly and successfully in all the nine provinces of the country.
Commenting on the disclosure by home affairs minister Dr Kalombo Mwansa that the government would next month commence the mobile registration of NRCs in North Western, Western and Eastern provinces at a total cost of K5 billion, Sondashi, who is former works and supply minister, said NRCs should be issued to all the parts of the country.
"What I can say is that even if having that motive [to only do a thorough registration in perceived MMD strongholds], that motive will not work. No one will allow them not to allow other provinces to have the programme of National Registration Cards issued," he said.
However, Sondashi said he believed that President Banda did not have any stronghold.
He said he would win in all the strongholds of President Banda in 2011.
He said he was working on forming a political party.
"There is no stronghold for Rupiah Banda. I am going to sweep North Western Province myself. So, people must not think that North Western is MMD," said Sondashi. "I am inviting well-meaning people from all the nine provinces of Zambia to work with and move with me."
And Chifumu Banda said money for the mobile exercise of NRC issuance in all the nine provinces had been passed by Parliament and that the programme should be spread to all the parts of the country.
He said citizens had a responsibility to advise the government to do what was right.
"My comment is that the continuous issuance of NRCs is a national programme and as such is beyond politics. I believe that government will inevitably cover all provinces," said Banda. "NGOs, political parties and the general citizenry must constantly remind government that once they are finished where they started, they should spread to other parts because I believe this is a national programme. The problem is that we are negative in our thinking. This negative thinking is retrogressive."
On Sunday, Dr Mwansa said he had received a letter from Patriotic Front (PF) president Michael Sata where he complained that the government had started the exercise in President Banda's strongholds but appealed for people to be patient.
Dr Mwansa said the exercise would commence on June 1, 2009.
Earlier, Sata had written to Dr Mwansa over the mobile registration exercise.
He stated that the NRC issuance exercise should be undertaken fairly.
"Our past experience has shown that after undertaking the NRC exercise in a manner which promotes the MMD interest your ministry in conjunction with the office of the Registrar General have come up with various excuses for not completing the exercise in the other provinces or have just slackened completely," stated Sata.
"It is, therefore, our demand as PF that the NRC exercise be undertaken and completed in the fairest, non-partisan and most transparent way in order to accord every citizen their right to vote in 2011."
Labels: FDD, nrc
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Kaingu doubts NCC’s ability to deliver
Written by Katwishi Bwalya, Ernest Chanda and George Chellah
Friday, May 15, 2009 2:29:12 PM
DELEGATES to the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) have complained of the tendency by some members to sign for allowances without attending the sessions. And community development minister Michael Kaingu on Tuesday said he was worried that the NCC might not come up with a constitution that would stand the test of time.
Meanwhile, Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi has withdrawn her participation from the NCC.
On Wednesday, some NCC delegates expressed concern over some of their colleagues who signed for money but did not attend the sessions.
Independent Churches of Zambia (ICOZ) president Reverend David Masupa wondered why some delegates signed for money and left immediately without attending the sessions.
"Chairperson, we have members here who know the honourable members of the NCC who are just coming to sign. They go and then they come back to sign and they go. Could we come up with a mechanism of controlling this because we are all here to contribute?" asked Reverend Masupa.
Deputy minister in the office of the Vice-President Guston Sichilima also raised a point of order on the tendency by some members of the NCC who were only collecting money without attending the session.
"Some members of parliament have been seeing coming to sign for money but they go away without deliberating. I need a serious ruling Mr chair," Sichilima said.
NCC chairperson Chifumu Banda said some officers have been put on high alert to monitor people who had a tendency of collecting money and go without attending the deliberations.
"We have some people who have been planted somewhere who are watching some members who are in the habit of doing that so, be warned because we will soon read out their names and we are watching them very carefully," said Banda.
And Banda said Nawakwi withdrew her participation from the NCC because she needed to be with her injured son who was involved in an accident in Malaysia.
"So FDD sent a replacement for Honourable Nawakwi because she had to leave the country to be with her injured child in Malaysia and the appropriate committee was told," Banda said.
And the NCC failed to get the required two thirds majority vote for the clause that allows the terms and conditions of the government loans to be laid before the National Assembly before coming into operation unless they have been approved by a resolution of the National Assembly. This means that the clause has now been reopened for debate until a decision is made.
And the NCC unanimously adopted two clauses in the finance committee report which allow the Minister of Finance to borrow money from any source on behalf of the country as authorised by an Act of Parliament.
Debating Article 311(3) which forbids the Minister of Finance from committing the country to a loan without parliament approving the terms and conditions of that loan, Kaingu argued that the clause could give parliament more powers than the executive.
"I am worried in the manner this committee is trying to replace the function of the Minister of Finance. We should have separations of powers or else we will end up making one institution very strong and I am worried that this constitution which we are making here will not stand the test of time because other people will come to change these things. I am worried," Kaingu said.
According to Article 311(3) of the 2005 Mung'omba Draft Constitution, which was also adopted by the committee: "The terms and conditions on the loan shall be laid before the National Assembly and shall not come into operation unless they have been approved by a resolution of the National Assembly."
Works and supply minister Mike Mulongoti said adopting the clause would make it difficult for government operations in an event of a hostile Parliament.
"If you adopt this clause then you are saying there will be no separation of powers because you will be pilling everything in the hands of parliament and suppose you have a hostile parliament and you don’t get the support of other MP’s?” asked Mulongoti.
He was supported by Southern Province minister Daniel Munkombwe who said the country would be losing out on the loans if authority was given to Parliament to approve the conditions of the loans.
"Those who negotiate will tell you that there is scramble for money but if you are given the money and the Minister of Finance says 'let me first go to parliament for authority', somebody else will get the money. And if you have a hostile Parliament you will paralyse government operations," said Munkombwe.
Other ministers who stood to oppose the clause included information minister Ronnie Shikapwasha, foreign affairs minister Kabinga Pande and Copperbelt minister Mwansa Mbulakulima.
But Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) president Mwilola Imakando said adopting the clause would encourage transparency and borrowing responsibly on the part of the government.
UPND vice-president Ben Kapita said the clause was a progressive one and would enhance accountability.
And the NCC on Tuesday unanimously adopted two clauses in the finance committee report which allow the minister of finance to borrow money from any source on behalf of the country as authorised by an Act of Parliament.
The clauses were also in accordance with the recommendations of the Mung'omba draft constitution of 2005.
Article 311 (1) reads: "Subject to this Article, the minister responsible for finance may borrow from any source, on behalf of the Republic; provided that the Minister responsible for finance shall not, in any year, borrow beyond the aggregate debt stock, including interest and fees on the debt."
And clause 2 of the same Article forbids the minister of finance from borrowing outside the Act of Parliament.
The clause reads: "The Minister responsible for finance shall not borrow, guarantee or raise a loan on behalf of any State or organ, state institution, authority or person except as authorised by or under an Act of parliament."
The NCC is still deliberating on the report of the finance committee.
And Mwansabombwe PF member of parliament Samuel Chitonge has said it was irregular for the NCC to announce that he faces expulsion for being constantly absent from the plenary sittings without apologies.
"I’m not a member of the NCC. How do you expel someone who is not a member? Let them do whatever they want. I don't care even if they expel me I don't want their money. Let them take it anywhere," Chitonge said. "I belong to PF and whatever PF decides I have to abide by that. I didn't come to Parliament dubiously. I came through PF and PF has decided against the NCC."
And Lubansenshi PF member of parliament Lazarous Chota said the PF members that were being threatened with expulsions from NCC withdrew their membership some time back.
"We withdrew from the NCC just when they started sitting. They know these things but I don't know why they are trying to do this. I haven't received their money so why should I care if they expel me or not? I resigned so what action can they take?"
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, GUSTON SICHILIMA, MICHAEL KAINGU, NCC
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FDD spokesperson resigns
Written by George Chellah
Friday, May 15, 2009 2:18:42 PM
OPPOSITION Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has lost direction, party spokesperson Charles Banda has stated. And Banda stated that there is too much secrecy in the party especially where finances are concerned.
In a letter to FDD president Edith Nawakwi dated April 14, 2009, Banda stated that he had resigned from the party's National Policy Committee (NPC) and subsequently from the position of chairperson for information and publicity.
"...after carefully reviewing and holding exhaustive consultations with my family, friends and colleagues, it has become abundantly clear to me that I should give way to other members of the party to take over and help drive the party's agenda to achieve the intended goals for which it stands today," Banda stated. "In my view, the party has completely lost direction in that very few people are driving the whole process in a very selfish manner without due regard for the rest of the membership. There is intolerance in the FDD to the extent that any divergent views are translated to mean power struggle and rebellion."
Banda, who is also former FDD Kapoche member of parliament, stated that there was too much secrecy in the party especially where finances are concerned.
"Up to this day madam, despite several reminders and requests by other party members and myself the NPC has never received any financial reports regarding the money the party has been receiving from the Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue (ZCID) and other donors," Banda stated. "You have personally witnessed how violent some senior members of the FDD become when it comes to money issues, especially the ZCID funds. I am not going to be party to an arrangement where people will be personalising party finances. I am not going to be party to the legitimisation of abusing the party and its general membership for personal gain.
"The national policy committee will recall that the national secretary, Mr Newton Ng'uni promised to call up a meeting at which he himself would present financial reports. He promised that there was going to be physical fighting after presenting his financial reports. Whatever precipitated his anger I have waited for that day, unfortunately, it has not come."
He stated that the democracy that began with the party has faded away completely.
"What we have today is complete dictatorship. It is either this leader has said or that leader has decided that it be done in this or that way. Any other suggestions are met with hostility from the top most members of the NPC," Banda stated.
Banda also criticised and questioned the party's inclinations to the ruling MMD.
"I would rather my colleagues dissolved the party and joined the MMD than say we are in the opposition but supporting the ruling party. What are we opposing then?" asked Banda. "How do we hope to wrestle power from the MMD? How shall we present ourselves to the electorate in the event of another election?"
Labels: CHARLES BANDA, EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD
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Differentiate between politics and national developement- FDD
Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 15:41 Headlines 144 views 14 comments
Forum for Democratic Development (FDD) Livingstone District Chairman, Allan Shawa, has described the just-ended national Indaba as a pilot to national development.
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Livingstone today, Mr Shawa said submissions made by the delegates at the Indaba were valid and that something will come up from the gathering.
He advised his fellow opposition party members to differentiate between politics and national development as the Indaba was for the sake of national development.
Mr Shawa said those who shunned the Indaba are short-minded because the exercise was meant to benefit everyone, not just individuals.He said he does not fully agree with those who say the Indaba was a waste of tax-payers’ money as it was meant to find a lasting solution to the effects of the global recession Zambia is experiencing.
Mr Shawa said he only hopes that every citizen of this country will ensure that what was resolved during the Indaba is operationalised.
“It is my hope and prayer that what was being said in the Indaba will be put into good effect as you heard a lot of suggestions came up and so did the contributions save their purpose and I think the whole process was a success. I do not regret having my party at the Indaba,” he said.
Vice-President George Kunda in his closing remarks at the just ended two-day Indaba conference, assured the Zambian people that Government will put in action all the views that have been recorded before the Indaba conference.
ZANIS/ENDS/AS/EB
Labels: DEVELOPMENT, FDD
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Inclusion of cadres in AU summit entourage a waste of money – Sata
Written by Moses Kuwema and Chibaula Silwamba
Tuesday, February 03, 2009 9:03:06 AM
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata yesterday said the inclusion of FDD president Edith Nawakwi and MMD cadre Judith Banda Simuziya on President Rupiah Banda's entourage to the African Union (AU) summit is a wastage of taxpayers’ money.
And chief government spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha has confirmed that Nawakwi and Simuziya are in President Banda's entourage at the AU summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In an interview, Sata said the MMD cadre's presence at the AU summit was irrelevant. He said it was clear that President Banda was trying to satisfy the women who would be campaigning for him to become MMD president.
"We know [the President's chief analyst for press and public relations] Dickson Jere's function; he is advising the President on how to respond to certain issues and we know [the President's political advisor] Akashambatwa Mbikusita Lewanika is also advising the president but when you come to madam Simuziya, she is wasting taxpayers' money for nothing. What is she doing there, apart from exhibiting her beauty?" Sata wondered.
Sata said he sympathized with Nawakwi because she was just obeying instructions from the founding leader of FDD, Lt Gen Christon Tembo.
"When they [Lt Gen Tembo and Nawakwi] united at the former vice-president's residence, he ordered FDD to dissolve and join MMD and she has been doing that to the letter. In any case, when she is there she has not gone as opposition. She is a very insignificant leader of an insignificant political party with an insignificant representation in Parliament," Sata said.
"As I have said before, when General Tembo was the president of FDD, he had 11 members of parliament and when she took over she 'improved' on General Tembo's 11 MPs to two. That is a great improvement from 11 to two MPs representing less than 30,000 votes."
Sata said Nawakwi enjoyed good food when she campaigned with President Banda last year.
"So three months after the elections, she must have missed staying in expensive lodges, free ride in government vehicles and choppers, and today she is in Addis Ababa. What is she doing? Only God knows," Sata said.
"Her [Nawakwi] secretary general Newton Ng'uni is the secretary general of NCC and all other MPs; the vice-president of FDD Chifumu Banda is the chairman of the NCC. So when it comes to enjoying on the heads of the people, that's FDD's policy! That's their manifesto and now if she is in Addis Ababa, we don't know in which position she has been to Addis Ababa. And if there is something the opposition requires to oppose, is she going to oppose?"
Sata said opposition political parties in Zambia had been badly hit by poverty and that Zambians had no alternative apart from PF.
"Zambians have only remained with one true opposition party to speak for them, the Patriotic Front because there is no enmity between us and the MMD or the ruling government. Our job is just to provide checks and balances. But if you are eating with them in Addis Ababa and during campaigns, how do you oppose them?" Sata asked. "For example, Edith Nawakwi as former minister of finance, where would she get the courage to oppose Rupiah Banda and [finance minister Dr Situmbeko] Musokotwane on this budget of the leaders because the way I understand the budget, you only abandon the projects after they have been completed. But in Musokotwane's budget, money has been reduced from the police, Zambia National Service, Zambia Army, Zambia Air Force, Office of the President."
Sata said Nawakwi could no longer function as an opposition leader.
"Edith Nawakwi will have to come and justify because the people who are not going to justify on that trip to Addis Ababa is Akashambatwa, Dickson, the first lady, the minister of foreign affairs. Those are there to accompany the President," Sata said.
But Lt Gen Shikapwasha said Nawakwi and Simuziya would contribute to the agenda being discussed at the AU summit.
"As far as the government is concerned, those people [Nawakwi and Simuziya] are part of the entourage of the President," Lt Gen Shikapwasha said. "They are there purely to deal with the issues that the President might want to consult from them."
He said Nawakwi was included on the entourage as an opposition leader in the country.
Asked in what capacity Simuziya was at the summit and what contribution she would make, Lt Gen Shikapwasha defended the MMD cadre.
"I don't think you should ask me so many questions because those people will help the President on issues he wants to consult them on," said Lt Shikapwasha. "Those people will contribute to the agenda being discussed there."
But FDD vice president Chifumu Banda said he did not know why Nawakwi was at the summit.
"I don't know," said Banda. "But even [UPND Mbabala member of parliament Emmanuel] Hachipuka is also there. So ask [UPND president Hakainde] Hichilema why Hachipuka is there."
Nawakwi was among several leaders of opposition political parties who campaigned for President Banda in the October 30, 2008 presidential elections.
Simuziya was a receptionist at MMD's campaign centre on Bwinjimfumu Road in Rhodes Park in Lusaka.
Labels: AU, CADRES, EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, RUPIAH BANDA, SATA, SHIKAPWASHA
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Sata evicted me from MMD, Nawakwi
October 26, 2008
Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) President Edith Nawakwi said that she left MMD because Patriotic Front, PF President MICHAEL SATA evicted her from the ruling party. Ms Nawakwi said the people of Mkushi would make a very big mistake if they voted for Patriotic Front, PF President MICHAEL SATA in the October 30 elections.
Ms. Nawakwi claimed that this was because Mr. Sata was quarrelsome and an arrogant individual who lacked respect for others.
Ms. Nawakwi said she was was not an enemy of the MMD just because she had her own party, but that she left the party because Mr. Sata evicted her.
She charged that there was no way Mr. Sata could lead the country, if he chased from office anyone who differed with him in opinion or tried to advise him.
She further said her party has endorsed Acting President Rupiah Banda’s candidature in the October 30 elections because he was a peaceful man who knew no insults.
Ms. Nawakwi further urged the people in the area not to listen to lies from the opposition aimed at tarnishing the image of Mr. Banda but to listen to the voice of the MMD and ensure that they voted for Mr Banda.
ZANIS/ENDS/CK/MK/EML/CLM
Labels: EDITH NAWAKWI, FDD, MMD, SATA
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