Internal wrangles jeopardising PF accomplishments - Mutesa
By Fridah Nkonde
Fri 04 Oct. 2013, 14:01 CAT
THE good that the PF government has accomplished in its first two years in office risks being jeopardised if the leadership fails to heed the concerns that many citizens have raised, says Dr Fred Mutesa.
And Dr Mutesa, who is Zambians for Empowerment and Development president, wished President Michael Sata God's wisdom and guidance as he deals with the internal leadership wrangles threatening the unity and stability of the PF.
In an interview yesterday, Dr Mutesa said if the PF and its government succeeded in its mission of improving the people's living standards, society as a whole would benefit.
"That is why we do not rejoice in making political capital out of the failures of our friends in government. Where they fail, we are all affected. We do not dispute the fact that the growth in infrastructural investments that we have witnessed during the first two years of the PF in government is good for society. This is as it should be and should continue. That is what governments are elected to do," Dr Mutesa said.
"Our concern is with the neglect of other equally important ingredients of peace and prosperity. The Scriptures teach us that, 'as dead flies give perfume a bad smell, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour' (Ecclesiastes 10:1). There is also a proverb common to our people which says that, 'one rotten nut forces a man to spit out everything'."
Dr Mutesa said the PF and its government needed to do something about its governance record, adding that good governance was the hallmark of democracy.
He said there were several undemocratic tendencies which seemed to be taking root under the PF and its government, adding that political violence had increased.
"Too much blood has been spilt during by-elections. What is the government doing to put a stop to this? The rights to freedoms of expression and assembly, especially for the opposition political parties have also come under serious threat. What is government doing to ensure that we are moving towards maturity? We surely can disagree without being disagreeable! There is routine defying of court orders by the executive which has endangered the independence of the Judiciary. The separation of powers should not just be talked about, but practiced," he said.
Dr Mutesa said media reforms, particularly the independence of public media and passing of access to information, had stalled.
"The PF has an opportunity to move the country forward at a faster speed than what we have seen, but it must do so in a manner that takes the concerns of all citizens on board," said Dr Mutesa.
Labels: FRED MUTESA, PF
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Reconciliation holds nations together - Mutesa
By Henry Sinyangwe
Sat 06 July 2013, 14:01 CAT
DR FRED Mutesa says Nelson Mandela's truth and reconciliation efforts dealt with issues larger than corruption.
Commenting on Rupiah Banda's interview with Bloomberg News for a yet-to-be-published article where he urged leaders to emulate Mandela's reconciliatory and loving spirit, Dr Mutesa who is Zambians for Empowerment and Development president, said nations are held together when there is reconciliation among leaders.
"You look at South Africa today; it has largely been held together because of the magnanimity of Mr Mandela. We have a lot to learn from that great man. We can have political differences, but there is something larger than our individual differences," he said.
Dr Mutesa said what happened in South Africa during the apartheid era was worse than the corruption that had characterised the country.
"If you look at the South African model, the truth and reconciliation Commission dwelt with matters which were worse than even corruption cases, they were dealing with murder cases. So really, there is a picture bigger than our personal differences," said Dr Mutesa.
Asked if those seeking forgiveness should also admit their misdeeds, Dr Mutesa responded; "The point is Mr Banda has not been convicted of wrongdoing and therefore must be accorded the respect while the due process of the law takes its course."
Banda recently urged leaders to emulate Nelson Mandela's reconciliatory and loving spirit if the world is to become a better place to live in.
Banda observed that the former South African president's positive attitude after his release from prison in 1990 forestalled what could have become a crusade of vengeance against his jailers when he became that country's first black president in 1994.
Banda said Mandela was an embodiment of the qualities that any leader needed to help create a harmonious society.
He said in spite of all the suffering that Mandela and his African National Congress colleagues had endured at the hands of the apartheid regime, he never allowed the bitterness of the past to cloud his judgement when he became South African president
Labels: FRED MUTESA, NELSON MANDELA
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Reconciliation holds nations together - Mutesa
By Henry Sinyangwe
Sat 06 July 2013, 14:01 CAT
DR FRED Mutesa says Nelson Mandela's truth and reconciliation efforts dealt with issues larger than corruption.
Commenting on Rupiah Banda's interview with Bloomberg News for a yet-to-be-published article where he urged leaders to emulate Mandela's reconciliatory and loving spirit, Dr Mutesa who is Zambians for Empowerment and Development president, said nations are held together when there is reconciliation among leaders.
"You look at South Africa today; it has largely been held together because of the magnanimity of Mr Mandela. We have a lot to learn from that great man. We can have political differences, but there is something larger than our individual differences," he said.
Dr Mutesa said what happened in South Africa during the apartheid era was worse than the corruption that had characterised the country.
"If you look at the South African model, the truth and reconciliation Commission dwelt with matters which were worse than even corruption cases, they were dealing with murder cases. So really, there is a picture bigger than our personal differences," said Dr Mutesa.
Asked if those seeking forgiveness should also admit their misdeeds, Dr Mutesa responded; "The point is Mr Banda has not been convicted of wrongdoing and therefore must be accorded the respect while the due process of the law takes its course."
Banda recently urged leaders to emulate Nelson Mandela's reconciliatory and loving spirit if the world is to become a better place to live in.
Banda observed that the former South African president's positive attitude after his release from prison in 1990 forestalled what could have become a crusade of vengeance against his jailers when he became that country's first black president in 1994.
Banda said Mandela was an embodiment of the qualities that any leader needed to help create a harmonious society.
He said in spite of all the suffering that Mandela and his African National Congress colleagues had endured at the hands of the apartheid regime, he never allowed the bitterness of the past to cloud his judgement when he became South African president
Labels: FRED MUTESA, NELSON MANDELA
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Mutesa calls on opposition MPs to work with govt
By Moses Kuwema
Wed 05 June 2013, 14:01 CAT
ZAMBIANS for Empowerment and Development (ZED) president Dr Fred Mutesa says it is not impossible for opposition members of parliament to work together with the party in government.
Commenting on Vice-President Dr Guy Scott's statement that there would be no need for by-elections if the MMD and UPND offered to work with the PF in good faith, Dr Mutesa said cooperation between the ruling party and opposition members of parliament was feasible.
"I don't think it is impossible, it is something which should be feasible but there must be a formal request by the party in government and arrangements must be made to sit down on the round table and discuss in good faith. I like the Vice-President's openness which probably is not intended but it is quite revealing of the thinking within the PF," said Dr Mutesa.
Dr Mutesa wondered if there has been any offer or invitation by the PF to the leadership of the opposition political parties to sit down and look at the modalities of how they could cooperate.
"I don't think if it is done in good faith, the opposition would refuse to consider the offer. It is the underhand methods in which this is done that infuriates the people in the opposition. It did not begin with the PF, the MMD were doing it and I don't know why it is so difficult to reach agreements and say 'look, these are the working arrangements, we would like to have with you'," said Dr Mutesa.
Speaking during a public meeting in Luangwa after the filing in of nominations for the June 20 Feira by-elections, Vice-President Scott said the PF did not have enough members of parliament to govern by itself.
"The members of parliament we have in government from the opposition are borrowed. The PF does not have enough members of parliament to govern by itself. We are not trying to create a one-party state but to govern properly. If the MMD and UPND offered to work with us in good faith, there will be no need for by-elections or poaching," said Vice-President Scott.
Labels: BY-ELECTIONS, FRED MUTESA, GUY SCOTT, OPPOSITION
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Put measures in place to win credibility, Mutesa urges govt
By Fridah Nkonde and Kabanda Chulu
Sun 19 May 2013, 14:00 CAT
GOVERNMENT should urgently put in place measures to win credibility and avoid the chaos which the removal of subsidies is expected to unleash, says ZED president Fred Mutesa.
Commenting on the removal of subsidies on fuel and maize sold to millers, Dr Mutesa said every major policy reform was bound to produce winners and losers.
"It will always be a delicate balancing act. It is to be expected that losers will resist unpalatable measures while those who stand to gain from such measures will celebrate. The PF government has removed fuel subsidies and announced intentions to do the same with maize subsidies. These measures will face fierce resistance from the ordinary people who anticipate their already depleted pockets to be hit hard," he said.
"At the same time, government will strain to justify that these moves are necessary if resources are to be made available to other needy areas.
Those who lived in the 80s and 90s will recognise that we are essentially back to the times of structural adjustment and the austerity which goes with it. It takes astute political acumen to manage this process. When the IMF tried to impose these measures in Africa in the 1980s, the continent was rocked by social upheavals that saw a number of governments tumble. That is not the way we want to go. The PF is caught between the rock and hard place."
Dr Mutesa, Zambians for Empowerment and Development president, said there were things which the government could do to win credibility and avoid the chaos which its austerity measures threatened to unleash.
"The first thing is to sequence these difficult policy measures in a way that reduces the social cost on the vulnerable groups. The shock therapy that government is trying to administer is unlikely to leave many Zambians standing. If anything, government will just build up social resentment against itself," said Dr Mutesa.
"Secondly, government should be seen to be in the forefront of belt tightening. Citizens will be hard to convince that government has no money if at the same time the President keeps appointing defecting opposition politicians as deputy ministers resulting in unnecessary expenses since they have to be maintained at a great cost."
And NAREP national secretary Jevan Kamanga has urged the government to make people understand the new developments because 'good' policies can cause destruction if not properly implemented.
He said it was saddening that the government had continued to make decisions without regard to the impact they would have on the people.
"These changes may be necessary but the rate at which they are being implemented is simply unbearable for the majority of Zambians. We cannot understand why the PF administration has decided to inflict more suffering on its citizens who are already struggling to make ends meet. It is worrying to see a government that is willing to donate two million litres of fuel to another country yet refuse to better manage the removal of subsidies in order to cushion the impact on its own citizens," said Kamanga.
"The PF administration claims that it is spending too much on subsidizing citizens yet it is prepared to spend colossal amounts on 'engineered' by-elections and a bloated cabinet. We advise government to concentrate on policies that will better the lives of people and not bow down to pressure from international institutions which have no heart for the poor. Even a good policy can cause destruction if not properly implemented. Government must engage the people and help them understand and transform before making decisions that have a negative impact on their well being."
Labels: FRED MUTESA
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Chikwanda's budget a triumph of realism over rhetoric - Mutesa
By Fridah Nkonde
Tue 16 Oct. 2012, 14:00 CAT
THE first national budget formulated under the PF administration is a triumph of realism over rhetoric, says Zambians for Empowerment and Development president Dr Fred Mutesa.
In an interview yesterday, Dr Mutesa said Zambia had a discernible outline of a coherent policy framework which previously has been hard to see.
"For this, commendation to finance minister Alexander Chikwanda. During the next budget implementation cycle, there are several things to which government must pay close attention: fiscal discipline, unauthorised expenditure, collaboration with affected stakeholders, and targeting non-traditional exports," he said.
Dr Mutesa said as the many reports by the Auditor General would attest, financial irregularities had been a major weakness in budget performance.
He said there was need to strengthen monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, with appropriate punitive measures put in place to deter would-be erring officers and spending agencies.
He said the Executive needed to desist from coming up with new policy decisions that would not fall within the ambit of what the National Assembly had authorised.
"For the smooth implementation of the budget objectives, cooperation with all affected stakeholders must be strengthened. In this regard, the private sector, trade unions, development partners and community representatives must be taken on board and listened to," he said.
He said maize, electricity, cotton, flowers, burley tobacco and gemstones had been identified as possessing great potential to increase export revenue.
"Measures should therefore be put in place to ensure continued expansion of these sub-sectors. In particular, there is need to establish strong synergies between non-traditional exports and the national strategy for industrialisation and job creation," he said.
Dr Mutesa said implementation and monitoring budget performance was a collective responsibility and that the PF and its government needed to facilitate space for all citizens to engage in the noble duty by quickly enacting legislation on access to information and respecting the rights and freedoms of the people enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic.
Labels: 2013 BUDGET, ALEXANDER CHIKWANDA, FRED MUTESA, PF
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Name calling among leaders bothers Mutesa
By Ernest Chanda
Tue 04 Sep. 2012, 19:17 CAT
ZAMBIANS for Empowerment and Development (ZED) president Fred Mutesa says leaders must change and move from a culture of slandering each other to addressing real issues in the nation. Dr Mutesa said some of the words uttered by some political leaders displayed their motive for joining politics.
"For us, what is very important is the motivation. Why are people aspiring for public office, particularly political office? And there are different motives. I'll not go into details but suffice to say that the culture of name-calling, insults and violence, which has hitherto characterised our politics is something that we find deplorable and something that we should move away from," Dr Mutesa said in an interview yesterday.
" Because, if our motivation is to serve the public as we indeed claim to do then we must all work to ensure that the harmony and peace of the nation is preserved. Therefore, it means we do not treat each other as enemies; we are competitors or rivals in so far as presenting the best ideas that can help this nation move forward. It's an entrenched culture we have, a lot of people think that shouting loudest is best. That will not help our nation move forward. It's time we started competing on the platform of ideas."
He said it was not too late to change the leadership style and dwell more on issues.
Dr Mutesa said leaders must develop a culture of telling the truth when communicating ideas to the public.
"It's not a problem of the opposition, it's not a problem of the party in government alone, it's an entrenched political culture which has been perpetrated by certain type of thinking that this is the only way to conduct politics," said Dr Mutesa.
"It may not be something that our people are familiar with but the beginning has to be made. So things change and we should bear that in mind that tomorrow we may join hands for a common cause. We must have a tradition of separating political ideas from our personalities."
Labels: FRED MUTESA, POLITICS, ZED
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The unity of opposites
By The Post
Sat 07 July 2012, 13:25 CAT
WE should never deceive ourselves that the role the opposition plays is not important. It would be a mistake to write off the role of the opposition just because opposition political parties and their leaders do not always work well. Opposition political parties form a pivotal institution in a healthy democracy.
Without well functioning opposition political parties, certain sections of society lose the opportunity of being represented in a meaningful way. Opposition political parties are the bridge between government and society, both in the ways they translate society's demands into political ideas and programmes, and in the way they hold government to account on society's behalf.
Clearly, in the pursuit of a healthy democracy, opposition political parties cannot be neglected. Viable opposition political parties and effective party systems are fundamental to building democracy.
But of course different situations in different countries demand different approaches. It is not just a matter of copying and pasting. The opposition challenge must be understood within a wider context of the way society is organised.
A democracy operates on the basis that there is room for choice all the way up to the selection of the government.
A single party state, whether de facto or de jure, is not acceptable. The one party state, except at rare moments in history, is a recipe for tyranny. We have learnt from the history of others and from our history that the concept of one party rule is a disaster no matter how meritorious, how noble, how honest those running it may be.
Dialects also teaches us something about the unity of opposites. The opposition and the ruling party or parties are two sides of the same coin, same state, same government, same society. Destruction of one side undermines or destroys the value of the whole. And this is why we have always been calling for a loyal opposition - loyal to the whole and not just one side.
It means, in essence, that all sides in a democracy - those in the opposition and those in the ruling party - share a common commitment to society as a whole, to the state, to the country and indeed to the people and to the basic values of the nation.
And as we have consistently stated, political competitors in a multiparty democracy don't necessarily have to like each other, but they must tolerate one another and acknowledge that each has a legitimate and important role to play. Moreover, the ground rule of society must encourage tolerance and civility in political discourse.
And all sides must agree to cooperate in solving the common problems of the society. Those in the opposition must realise that their role is important and take it seriously and constructively with the knowledge that their role is essential in any democracy worthy of the name.
As we have already alluded, they are loyal not to the specific policies of the ruling party, but to the fundamental legitimacy of the state, and the democratic process itself. Multiparty democracy, after all, is not a system where political parties and their members and leaders are fighting for survival, but a competition to serve.
This means that opposition to the ruling party should be provided constructively without transgressing the laws, the constitution of the country or being disloyal to the nation.
Opposition political parties have to make themselves relevant to be accepted by society. The acceptance by society of a valid role for the opposition is in itself an important underpinning for its work. It is equally important that those in the ruling party accept and respect the role of the opposition, however small it may be in relation to the ruling party.
The opposition is an important scrutiniser of the work of those running government, and a supporter or critic of its policies. And members of the opposition must accept that greater burdens devolve on them in regard to scrutiny and oversight.
At the same time, those in the opposition have a duty to themselves and their voters to play the role of an alternative government, the role of a government in waiting. In more stable and mature democracies, this is well recognised and the leader of the largest opposition party is often given access to sensitive information on the basis that he or she, as leader of the government in waiting, has to be ready to perform the role of running the country at comparatively short notice.
This calls for maturity, this calls for a loyal opposition, an opposition that is trustworthy. The major challenge for the opposition is its need to be seen as credible in this role.
In order to do that, it must be as responsible, respected and united as an opposition political party and it must create policies that are relevant to the day-to-day lives of people. It must not be seen to be a bunch of anarchists, annihilators, people who are hell-bent on frustrating anything that comes from the ruling party no matter how good it may be.
Those in the ruling party also have their responsibilities to the opposition. In the first instance, sufficient space and opportunities should be provided for caring out the work of a loyal opposition. There must be an adequate level of access to sources of information to enable those in the opposition to make informed statements and decisions.
This is important because this is the only way an opposition can make a sound contribution towards the efficient running of the country and also can make its own points and demonstrate how its policies could have achieved better results.
Those in the opposition sometimes feel their views should carry the day. This is unrealistic as this would mean giving them the position of the majority and creating a majority for them where none exists. It must be accepted that those in the ruling party were elected to rule and that the opposition's role is constructive criticism and keeping alternative policies in view.
Once again, the opposition has to be adequately resourced if it has to come up with ideas, policies and criticisms that are well researched. Otherwise they could end up just wasting time and making a nuisance of themselves with bad effects not just for the opposition but for our multiparty democracy as a whole.
We understand the political challenges that are there in the opposition supporting or cooperating with government in certain things, given where we are coming from and our political culture. The opposition often has a difficult decision to make with regards to supporting the ruling party or in working to a consensus on a policy matter.
This could be statesmanlike approach and in the national interest, but the possibility of negative perception of such stances can be damaging to the opposition if not properly handled. And this is where the prerequisites Dr Fred Mutesa is raising come in.
As he correctly observes, it is not wrong for the ruling party and the opposition to work together for national development. But there should be circumstances warranting non-partisan collaboration. And such collaboration needs to be justifiable, transparent and known to the public.
The opposition may also have to be careful in relation to other civil society organisations and indeed individual interests. These may have their own disagreements with those in government and will seek to engage the opposition in their cause.
If the opposition espouses their positions, this may be misunderstood by others to mean that the opposition agrees with them. This may be far from the truth and could damage the interests of the opposition in relation to other components of society.
Again, multiparty democracy is not a set of revealed, unchanging truths, but the mechanism by which, through the clash and compromise of ideas, individuals and institutions, the people can, however imperfectly, reach for truth.
Multiparty democracy is pragmatic. Ideas and solutions to problems are not tested against rigid political outlook but tried in the real world where they can be argued over and changed, accepted or discarded.
Multiparty politics cannot protect against mistakes, end strife or guarantee economic prosperity. It does, however, allow for the debate and examination that can identify mistakes, permit groups to meet and resolve differences, and offer opportunities for innovation and investment that are the engines of economic growth.
Labels: FRED MUTESA, MMD, OPPOSITION, UPND
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Government, opposition should have a common ground - Mutesa
By Fridah Nkonde
Sat 07 July 2012, 13:24 CAT
DR Fred Mutesa says the government and opposition political parties should always have a common ground where there is national interest at stake.
In an interview yesterday, Dr Mutesa, president of the Zambians for Empowerment and Development, said it was not wrong for the government and the opposition to work together for national development but there should be circumstances warranting the collaboration.
"In as much as the opposition political parties need to offer checks and balances and give government policy options, there is need for both the government and the opposition to adopt non-partisan positions where there is national interest at stake," Dr Mutesa said.
He said there was also need to ensure that the role of the opposition is maintained for the sake of democracy.
Dr Mutesa said it was important for both the ruling party and the opposition parties to show genuineness in the way they were tackling issues of national development.
He said the ruling party should not be seen to have a motive of trying to liquidate the opposition, adding that it would also not be right for the opposition to join the ruling party for a particular gain.
Dr Mutesa said all collaborations between the government and the opposition political parties needed to be justifiable.
He further said circumstances causing the government and the opposition to work together needed to be transparent and known to the public.
"The issue of the government and the opposition working together for the sake of national development is supposed to be understood very well because in a multi party state, the opposition needs to offer constructive criticism. But it depends on what Zambians want…whether to have a one party state or what…if they want both the ruling party and the opposition to think alike, then it would mean that the opposition has failed to play their critical role of offering checks and balances," he said.
Dr Mutesa said in the Zambian context, cooperation between the ruling and the opposition political parties was mainly motivated by sinister motives.
Labels: FRED MUTESA, MMD, OPPOSITION, UPND
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COMMENT - When he was Finance Minister and was in a position to do something about it, Situmbeko Musokotwane couldn't care one bit about unemployed youth. This is as problem the MMD let fester, because they prioritised foreign investers and mining houses above everything and everyone. Situmbeko Musokotwane himself got rid of the Windfall Tax, which would have generated hundreds of millions of dollars which could have been put into infrastructure projects for job creation - but of course they didn't believe in government intervention, they wanted to 'see what the markets can do'. They neglected job creation for 20 years. They lost any right to criticize or comment on their own mess.
Unemployment will make PF unpopular - Musokotwane
By Allan Mulenga and Bright Mukwasa
Tue 03 July 2012, 13:25 CAT
SITUMBEKO Musokotwane says unemployment levels will make the PF government unpopular. And Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED) president Dr Fred Mutesa says the government must implement measures that will boost existing entrepreneurial businesses as a way of tackling the current unemployment.
Meanwhile, Dr Mutesa says President Michael Sata's comment regarding George Kunda's widow, Ireen that she should stop politicking before "traditional rituals" were performed on her, was a move to subjugate women in politics.
In an interview, Dr Musokotwane, who is former finance minister, warned that unemployment levels would get worse if good economic policies were not put in place.
"Youth unemployment will only get worse and worse because every year there is a lot of young people coming on the job market. Every year 400,000 young people get on the job market. So, the situations can only get worse. It requires very serious economic policies to get controlled. The cumulative of people who are not being employed for a year added to the new ones… that will even make it difficult to solve," he said.
Dr Musokotwane observed that many countries experiencing uprisings and
turmoil had failed to solve the unemployment problem.
"It unemployment is a very serious problem in all these countries where you have heard a lot of uprisings and there is a lot of turmoil is because of problems related to unemployment. In short, what I am saying is that if this is not solved it will make the government unpopular," said Dr Musokotwane.
And Dr Mutesa said the youth policy must be revised.
"The first thing that the government must do is revise a number of policies. For instance, the youth policy itself must be revised with the participation of the young people. Already the young people are involved in many activities where they have already identified the constraints," Dr Mutesa said.
"If you take entrepreneurship, a lot of young people are involved in self employment and they will tell you that the challenge they are faced with is capital. How do we make credit affordable and easily available to these young people?"
He said the government must find means of assisting with skills training to the
horde of youths that prematurely got out of school.
Dr Mutesa said the government should critically look at how it could grow the micro, small and medium scale enterprises.
"Critically look at how we can provide skills to those that are already involved in a number of these activities so that they can increase their productivity and improve the quality of their product."
And Mutesa said women's movements should challenge President Sata on his comment regarding Ireen as that would encourage the men domination in politics.
"It may have been in the context of a campaign, but for him to say that this woman must not be campaigning before even traditional rituals are performed is one way of subjugating women, make them second class citizens in society," said Dr Mutesa.
He said there was no greater honour a widow and her children could
to their departed one than to take up his legacy.
Dr Mutesa urged women to challenge President Sata on his remarks.
"If we talk like that, we will perpetuate this patriarchal domination of women in society where they would always be scared to come out for fear of what people are going to say. That's an outdated way of looking at issues and one that's sure to stifle the potential for development of this country."
President Sata, in reaction to Ireen's accusation that the PF prayed for the death of her husband so their candidate could take over the seat, said it was unfortunate that Kunda's widow and her son Howard could have taken to politics even before mourning period was over.
Labels: FRED MUTESA, MICHAEL SATA, PF, SITUMBEKO MUSOKOTWANE
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Mutesa bemoans insults in politics
By Bright Mukwasa and Fridah Nkonde
Tue 19 June 2012, 13:24 CAT
IT'S unfortunate that insults have become part of our political culture, says Zambians for Empowerment and Development president Dr Fred Mutesa.
And former Copperbelt Province National Restoration Party coordinator Kennedy Simpemba says well-meaning opposition leaders should rise up and speak out against UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema's careless talk.
Dr Mutesa said in an interview yesterday that moderation in political discourse and reactions to political provocations was something all those involved in politics must embrace.
Dr Mutesa appealed to all Zambians to encourage President Michael Sata as he made the transition from a vocal opposition leader.
"On his part, President Sata must brace himself and become thick-skinned. He does not need to reply to every criticism. It is unfortunate that insults have become part of our political culture. We must all work to change this," Dr Mutesa said.
Dr Mutesa said Zambians, who decide to choose governments through the ballot box, should be left as the final judges on the kind of language they approved from politicians.
He said critics of the opposition also needed to desist from making blanket condemnation of opposition politicians, because not all opposition leaders believed the only way to become popular in politics was to treat rivals as enemies.
"We do not see politics as a zero-sum game where one can only be effective if they are in government or wish those in government failure so that they can be viewed as the alternative. Likewise, the ruling party has a responsibility to ensure that those in opposition perform their role in an environment that is free from threats and intimidation," said Dr Mutesa.
"The people that we claim to represent are overburdened by poverty and would like to see politicians compete on ideas that seek to ameliorate their suffering. To do this effectively, mutual respect is required from all of us."
And Simpemba said it was unfortunate that Hichilema was practicing politics of self-centredness and individualism.
Simpemba said there was need for opposition political leaders to behave in a much more responsible manner because Hichilema's behaviour lacked patriotism.
He said opposition leaders needed to take people's aspirations at heart by behaving in a manner that people they represent would be proud of.
"Zambia is a Christian Nation and this just has to be reflected in the people. We all have responsibilities as citizens to make Zambia a better place for all of us now and our future generation. It is important to behave in a way that upholds the rule of law. We should learn to accept that there can only be one president at a time, chosen by God. That is why we should all condemn Hichilema's insults on the President in the strongest language possible," Simpemba said.
Simpemba said there was nothing wrong with trading politics of objectivity and supporting President Sata so as to help him work according to people's expectations.
He urged other opposition leaders who were still bitter with the PF's victory to refrain from such vices.
Simpemba said there was need for Hichilema to apologise to the President and the entire country for peace's sake.
He further condemned Hichilema's utterances that PF was sponsoring youths to go to Sudan to train as militia.
"HH is a human being just like anyone else. He shouldn't destroy the peace that we are enjoying by alarming the nation with such kind of utterances," said Simpemba.
Labels: FRED MUTESA, INSULTS, MICHAEL SATA
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Kafue PF leaders condemn decision to privatise NCZ
By Henry Sinyangwe and Allan Mulenga
Mon 23 Apr. 2012, 13:27 CAT
THE government's decision to privatise the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) is wrong and should be rescinded, according to Patriotic Front Kafue district leaders. And Dr Fred Mutesa says it is disappointing that the PF government has gone back on its promise of revamping NCZ.
Commenting on
recent remarks by agriculture and livestock minister Emmanuel Chenda that the government's privatisation of NCZ was the ultimate solution for the plant, Kafue district chairperson Paul Banda in a statement jointly signed with district secretary John Ngwira stated that people were expectant that the PF government, once voted in, would provide employment and improve their livelihoods by
revamping the plant.
He stated that if NCZ was privatised, benefits would not accrue to the Zambians but to the investors' countries of origin, a situation he described as unacceptable.
"Conversely, looking at the agriculture minister's statement, the expected generation of employment through revamping of NCZ will not occur but this will only happen in those countries where Zambia imports the products which are supposed to be produced by NCZ,'' Banda stated.
He stated that recapitalisation of the plant was a better solution as the duty of government was to raise funds to meet what Zambians needed.
And Lusaka Province vice publicity secretary Clement Katongo said the government's position that it cannot afford to revamp the NCZ operations because the undertaking was expensive and the only solution was to privatise it, showed lack of vision and proper planning.
He said it would be prudent for the government to employ initiatives other than privatisation as this had failed since 1998.
"NCZ was not built in one year but in many years, Katongo said. "Similarly, the minister employing a clear vision and objectives can spread the revamping of its operations in phases or stages, Katongo said.
He said NCZ was a viable and strategic industry for the country, which did not need privatisation but expansion of its capacity to generate products related to its explosive grade fertilisers.
"The government can consider giving NCZ to our security wings which can put it to good use due to its viability of explosive grade fertiliser," Katongo stated.
And Zambians for Empowerment and Development president Dr Mutesa urged Zambians to ensure that the country starts producing fertiliser locally.
"It is disappointing that the PF has gone back on its promise. But let's do something as a country to ensure that we are producing fertilisers locally because in the process, we will also create jobs for our people," he said.
Dr Mutesa said the country needed vibrant chemical engineering industries to strengthen the agricultural sector.
"I believe that Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia was set up for that purpose. We also need to look at agriculture, that is the sector where the majority of our population is found. And if we improve and remove the bottlenecks that affect performance of the agricultural sector, then we are improving incomes in the rural areas, issues of marketing , timely supply of inputs such as fertilisers and payment of farmers on time so that they can plan properly. Those are cardinal issues that the PF government must critically look at," he said.
Dr Mutesa said the government should realise that fertiliser imports had been riddled with corruption.
"They need to give us the alternatives. So until we begin to produce locally and we have this infrastructure it might be old, but they must tell us what they intend to do with it," he said.
Dr Mutesa urged the PF government to explain how it would deliver on its campaign promises.
Labels: FRED MUTESA, NCZ, PRIVATISATION
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Zambia's Vision 2030
By The Post
Thu 19 Apr. 2012, 13:00 CAT
IT is becoming increasingly clear that while huge investments have been made in the country's key economic sectors, this trend does not appear to be very effective in making a dent on rural poverty. This is so because the gap between the majority poor and the rich keeps widening while billions of dollars are pumped into productive sectors of our country's economy. Most of our people still live on less than a dollar a day; many have little or no access to proper medical care and quality education facilities and many other services required in an organised society.
But we are comforted by the fact that Michael Sata and his government seem to have a strong desire to change things for the better, especially for the poor. There is a lot of talk and intentions being expressed in this direction.
However, what remains and what is important is to change things. Not long ago, the previous government launched what it called the Vision 2030 that seeks to transform the country into a middle-income prosperous nation by 2030 - an initiative that has been adopted by the current government.
The objectives of this vision, which we believe are attainable, include: to diversify and develop a strong industrial sector with a modern agriculture industry; making technology proficient, adaptable and innovative; and investing through human and natural resources. It is good that the Vision 2030 programme has been carried through into the new government.
However, we know that the most attainable visions are those that are accompanied by a very clear strategy, which is followed through a specific set of actions that are regularly monitored, with clear accountability for the delivery of the outcomes.
This is one of the areas that our new government needs to pay attention to. They have a very huge task before them which needs the participation of every well-meaning Zambian to turn our country around.
Taking this country to another level goes beyond the everyday politics; it requires a dedicated and disciplined government that is free of corruption, and willing citizens who are ready to play a part in building a better Zambia that will be good for all of us to live in.
Michael is providing the necessary leadership but the people have to take charge, they have to govern - leaders lead, the people govern. Transforming our country into a middle income economy by 2030 will definitely not be an easy task.
It will require a very committed, self-sacrificing and exemplary political leadership at all levels. It will also require a citizenry that is aware of its role and is willing to play its part. Vision 2030, in itself, guarantees us nothing.
It offers instead the opportunity to succeed as well as the risk of failure. In this sense, it is both a promise and a challenge. It is a promise that if we work together and commit ourselves to this common vision, we can govern our country in a manner that will serve our aspirations for economic opportunity and social justice.
It is a challenge because the success of the Vision 2030 rests upon all of us as citizens of this country and on no one else. Moreover, it is said that government of and by the people means that the citizens of a democratic society share in its benefits and in its burdens.
And it is also said that when a free man fails he blames nobody. It is true as well for citizens of a country who, finally, must take responsibility for the fate of the society in which they themselves have chosen to live. In the end, we get a country we deserve, we live in a way we deserve.
Every one of us has to make a contribution. We cannot build an economy or a society purely on the basis of entitlement. The state will provide certain things but we also need to mobilise our sweat equity.
Attaining this vision also places great responsibility upon citizens who must not only hold their leaders accountable but must also support genuine efforts that are being made to reform our economy.
By holding leaders accountable, we mean having citizens who will question the wrong decisions that our leaders in government make; ensuring that public resources are equitably and prudently spent on the needy areas of our country, and most importantly, having citizens that will also take a leading role in the fight against corruption.
The Vision 2030 will be a far-fetched dream if those in leadership do not lead the way in the whole process of turning our country into a middle-income status. Looking at the abundance of the natural resources and the dedication of the top leadership of our country, the task to transform this nation to a middle income status can and will be attained.
The starting point should be to ensure that the majority of our people have access to basic services such as shelter, food, healthcare, decent education, clean and safe drinking water and proper sanitation.
There is need to come up with programmes that are tailored to the needs of the majority poor, the marginalised who still constitute the largest portion of our country's population today.
What our country needs are coordinated efforts from the grassroots to the highest leadership. Problems need resources to fix them. But this will only happen if resources are placed in right areas that have the potential for massive job creation and poverty eradication.
And this also requires all those in government start to sing the same song; to begin to see the same vision for our people; it requires all leaders in government put up a spirited fight against corruption to ensure that resources reach intended beneficiaries.
This also requires our government to put in place policies that will encourage private investments in areas of agriculture, manufacturing and other key sectors of our economy. At the same time, the government needs to both expand and improve the efficiency of its own investments to support agriculture, especially in infrastructure.
There will be twists and turns in our efforts to realise the Vision 2030. There are still many obstacles and difficulties on our way. The difficulties will be many. We know that some people don't like to think much about difficulties.
But difficulties are facts; we must recognise as many difficulties as there are and not adopt a policy of non-recognition. We must recognise difficulties, analyse them and combat them.
There are no straight roads in the world; we must be prepared to follow a road which twists and turns and not try to get things on the cheap. It must not be imagined that one fine morning we will wake up and find the Vision 2030 all there, all realised.
In a word, while the prospects are bright, the road has twists and turns. There are still many difficulties ahead which we must not overlook. By the leadership uniting with the entire people in a common effort, we can certainly overcome all difficulties and realise the Vision 2030.
It is sheer fantasy to imagine that the Vision 2030 is all plain-sailing and easy to realise, without difficulties and setbacks or the exertion of tremendous efforts.
Labels: FRED MUTESA, VISION 2030
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Dr Mutesa notes efforts in attainment of Vision 2030
By Roy Habaalu
Thu 19 Apr. 2012, 12:59 CAT
THE government has made key milestones in the attainment of the Vision 2030, says Dr Fred Mutesa. In an interview, Dr Mutesa who is president of Zambians for Empowerment and Development, said the current government's commitment to continue with the Sixth National Development Plan was part of the steps leading to the attainment of the vision 2030.
"I think there has been some key milestones that have been achieved particularly in the area of macro stability, inflation rate, interest rate. These are encouraging signs that we are creating conditions for sustainable economic growth," Mutesa said.
He said the planning process had been consultative and participatory at various levels that needed continuity for it to succeed.
Dr Mutesa said with the change of government, it was expected that the PF would come up with its own priorities.
"Those priorities however should not divert more from the general planning framework. If you look at what the PF government had said with regard to a number of key areas, they outlined health, education, agriculture and decentralisation and the fight against corruption, among the key areas of focus, all those are already applied in the plan," he said.
Dr Mutesa said what was worrying at this stage was the growth prospects for the economy.
He said the government had not done enough to woo foreign investors.
"It's clear that this economy will not perform to its optimal level without the involvement of foreign investors. I think what we need at the moment is to set clear policy directions, remove all uncertainties…," he said.
Dr Mutesa said much emphasis should be placed on job creation by prioritising the manufacturing industry.
"How many people have climbed out of the poverty trap? How many jobs are being created on an annual basis for the young population? Its growth without employment...We should look at the distributive aspect of growth; how we are sharing the national cake," said Dr Mutesa.
Labels: FRED MUTESA, VISION 2030
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Princes Nakatindi was a heroine of Independence struggle – Mutesa
TIME PUBLISHED - Saturday, April 7, 2012, 2:36 pm
Zambia for Empowerment and Development (ZED) president Fredrick Mutesa has described the late princess Nakatindi Wina as a heroine of the Independence struggle.
Commenting on the death of Princess Nakatindi who died on Thursday at Mill Park Hospital in Johannesburg South Africa after a heart related operation; Dr. Mutesa said the late princess was a steward for Independence struggle and the political fraternity at large.
He says she made tremendous contributions to the political landscape of Zambia during her time and that her death must be a unifying factor in the country.
Dr Mutesa says Princess Nakatindi’s death is a great loss to the nation and he has since expressed his condolences to the Wina family.
The ZED president has also urged Malawians to remain united following the death of their sitting President Bingu Wa Mutharika.
And Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) president Alex Ng’oma says Zambia has yet again lost a gallant patriot who labored tirelessly to fight for the country’s freedom.
Dr. Ng’oma who is also a political scientist tells Qfm in an interview that Princess Wina will greatly be remembered for her contributions to Zambia’s political and social development.
Princess Nakatindi was evacuated to South Africa after it became evident that she required urgent specialist Medical attention and passed away on Thursday at around 22:30 hours after a heart related operation.
QFM
Labels: FRED MUTESA, INDEPENDENCE, ZED
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Michael's US$10,000 Botswana donation
By The Post
Fri 23 Mar. 2012, 13:00 CAT
IT is difficult to understand why anyone would wonder why Michael Sata donated money to a school, an elite school, in Botswana when Zambia has many areas that needed financial assistance. There is need to understand the history of our country, of which Michael is part of. Before the mid 1970s, Botswana was a very poor country that was totally dependent on cattle. And at the time of our independence, we had more cattle in Barotseland than the Tswanas had in their whole country.
Under the leadership of Comrade Kenneth Kaunda, our country opened the doors of all its institutions of learning to the young people of Botswana for free. At that time, Zambia didn't also have many educated people and needed more school places for its children.
KK and his comrades did not wait for our country to satisfy all the educational needs of its children before it could open the doors of its learning institutions to the children of Botswana and others in the region who needed that education.
The principle here is that if one has to wait until one has a surplus to give to others, one may never have the opportunity to give to anyone at all because some of these things will never be enough, money will never be enough.
Michael comes from a culture where sharing with others is not dictated by the quantities one has but by human solidarity and the spirit of sharing in itself. In the place where Michael hails from, they generally believe that there is nothing too little to share; as long as something is divisible, it can be shared and it must be shared.
Michael's donation of US$10,000 of his personal money should be something that is praised and not frowned upon. Michael needs that money for himself and his family. Michael is not a rich man who can easily part with US $10,000 without feeling it.
It's a big sacrifice from Michael to give away US$10,000. And it is a sacrifice for which he deserves credit and not a harangue. Botswana needs highly educated people. And quality education is a necessity for that country as it is for all the countries in this region.
Encouraging that type of education is not a bad thing, it is a necessity. We need more and more of such schools. Our region needs to move away from Bantustan-like type of education if we are to harbour any hope of meaningful development.
Yes, we do have many unsatisfied needs. Sometimes we do things elsewhere that we could do here. Michael's donation constitutes a great example in a world plagued by egoism. A firm internationalist consciousness is something we cannot do without.
Criticising Michael for donating US$10,000 to the education of boys and girls in Botswana reveals a total lack of understanding of the reasons for that donation. The analysis being given couldn't be more simplistic.
This simple act of solidarity on Michael's part needs to be defended. The principle of solidarity must be defended for its own sake. Now, let's take a look at the other side of the coin: what would have become of our independence, our development and our country without international solidarity, aid, donations?
How much have we done for others compared to what others have done for us in so many fields? Look at what the Chinese did for us when their country was very much in need of resources to take care of its billion-plus citizens! Even the European nations that have been giving us aid have many problems in their countries that need those resources.
How much is the economic co-operation that is being given to us worth? We don't much like to use this kind of argument because it is unChristian and is devoid of human solidarity. It may be logical, dialectical, but it isn't Christian.
It does serve, however, to make internationalists and Pan-Africanists understand the question a little better; but it's no arguments for internationalists. The argument for internationalists goes like this: help others even if nobody helps us. It's simply a moral duty, a matter of principle, of conscience, to contribute to humanity even if humanity has done nothing for us.
That's what internationalism means. And we must go on developing this internationalist consciousness that Michael is showing.
Moreover, the highest level of political thought was reached when some men became aware that no people and no man had the right to exploit others, and that the fruits of the efforts and intelligence of each human being should reach all others; that man really had no need to be a wolf, but could be a brother to man.
We should welcome all those who have arrived at these stimulating convictions and we should also welcome those who, although they do not share these ideas, are humane, kind and helpful to others.
Michael's relatively small gesture has a message for all persons in this region, on this continent who hunger and thirst after justice. The very God who creates human beings in the divine image and likeness, creates the earth and all that is in it for the use of all humans and all nations, in such a way that created good can reach all in a more just manner, and gives them power to transform and perfect the world in solidarity.
It is the same God who, in the fullness of time, sends the Son in the flesh, so that he might come to liberate all persons from the slavery to which sin has subjected them: hunger, misery, oppression and ignorance - in a word, that justice and hatred which have their origin in human selfishness. Thus for our authentic liberation, all of us need a profound conversion so that the kingdom of justice, love and peace might come to us.
All humans are merely humble stewards of material goods. In the search of salvation, we must avoid dualism which separates temporal tasks from the work of sanctification. Although we are encompassed with imperfections, we are persons of hope.
We have faith that our love for our brothers and sisters will not only be the great force liberating us from injustice and oppression, but also the inspiration for social justice, understood as a whole of life and as an impulse toward the integral growth of our countries.
We therefore appeal to everyone with simplicity and humility and ask them to be convinced of the seriousness of the present moment and of each one's individual responsibility, and to implement - by the way they live as individuals and as families, by the use of their resources, by their civic activity, by contributing to economic and political decisions, and by personal commitment to national and international undertakings - the measures inspired by solidarity and love for others.
This is what is demanded of the present moment and above all, by the very dignity of the human person. Michael was simply fulfilling a duty by making that little contribution. We are a poor country. But we made the contribution we could in the struggle to liberate our region from the yoke of apartheid, the yoke of colonialism.
We did our duty. We paid our historic debt. And by donating that US$10,000 to the children of Botswana, whatever their backgrounds, Michael is simply fulfilling a duty, an elementary internationalist duty.
It is said that if a man cannot sacrifice himself for others, he is incapable of sacrificing himself for anything; a people that cannot sacrifice itself for other peoples is incapable of sacrificing itself for its own sake; a people that is not willing to struggle for the wellbeing of others will never be ready to struggle for its own wellbeing.
What Michael did is something we should feel proud of. Michael, as we know him, is not always conventional. But that's Michael! That's the man we elected to be our President! Michael's donation must serve as an example of solidarity to the people of Botswana and to all of us.
What Michael is teaching us is that the whole region is our homeland and we should aid, as far as we can, every good initiative that takes place in any part of our region. This is what it means to be a patriot without ceasing to be an internationalist.
Those who are not capable of sharing the little they have with others should just remain silent in the face of Michael's gesture.
Labels: BOTSWANA, FRED MUTESA, MICHAEL SATA
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Sata's Botswana donation worries Mutesa
By Moses Kuwema
Fri 23 Mar. 2012, 12:59 CAT
DR Fred Mutesa says Zambians will wonder why President Michael Sata donated money to a school in Botswana when Zambia had many areas that need financial assistance.
Commenting on President Sata's donation of US $10,000 to an ultra-modern high school which he officially opened during his three-day state visit to Gaborone, Dr Mutesa, president of the Zambians for Empowerment and Development, said Zambians will feel there were many other needs that the head of state could have donated to.
"…Much as it was his personal money, Zambians would be wondering if the country had no needs which the President could have donated to. The people of Zambia would be saying ‘don't we have other needs that he could have donated to' and I think the school he was opening is an elite school, in my view which did not really need his contribution. People would be saying it's misplaced priorities," Dr Mutesa said.
He, however, noted that President Sata was free to decide what to do with personal money.
"Really I would not make a storm out of a tea cup. If it's his personal money, he decides what to do with it, I would not fault find, it's not a big issue to me," he said.
The ultra-modern school, with a capacity of 2,000 high school students, is the first of its kind in Gaborone intended to be a showpiece in the region and a sign of commitment to education in that country.
And on President Sata's three-day state visit to Botswana, Dr Mutesa said it was important for the country to foster strong bilateral ties with its neighbours.
He said the head of state's visit to Botswana was particularly important because of the impending bridge project linking Kasane and Kazungula across the Zambezi River, which had been on the cards for a long time.
Dr Mutesa said his party supports the need for strengthening of bilateral ties with neighbouring countries.
Labels: BOTSWANA, FRED MUTESA, MICHAEL SATA
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Mutesa urges government to address investor concerns
By Kabanda Chulu
Tue 20 Mar. 2012, 11:58 CAT
THE government should spell out its plan of action on repossessed companies in order to mitigate the current negative investor concerns on Zambia's economy, says Fred Mutesa.
In an interview yesterday, Dr Mutesa, who is president for the Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED), said the lack of clarity and inconsistency on major national issues by most government leaders was creating anxiety among investors.
"Government should come out clearly and state its position on repossessed companies such as Zamtel. Is it nationalisation, or off loading of shares at Lusaka Stock Exchange or seeking another investor?" asked Dr Mutesa.
"On Zanaco, uncertainties are still there and these are some of the negative concerns which investors have on our economy resulting in depreciation of the kwacha, among other issues. So government should spell out its plans and provide leadership by channeling resources especially on some programmes that were started by the previous regime but are of national importance such as the SNDP (Sixth National Development Programme) and other national documents."
And National Movement for Progress president Ng'andu Magande challenged the government to take measures to make a favourable economic environment for both foreign and local investors.
"If locals are not supported, they might get involved in capital flight to safe havens. So government should sit down and work out measures that can give hope to investors that their money is safe," said Magande, who is also a former finance minister.
"Utterances and actions by government leaders should be moderate especially that we are going through a turbulent time globally. It is up to government to address these issues although it can't happen overnight but they outline their plan of action to bring back confidence in the economy."
The Zambian kwacha has depreciated by 15 per cent to trade at K5,300 against the US dollar while international rating agency Fitch has revised the country's economic outlook from stable to negative due to inconsistencies on economic policy pronouncements by government officials.
Labels: FDI, FRED MUTESA, NEOLIBERALISM
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Only criminals are scared of abuse clause - Mutesa
By Kabanda Chulu
Mon 12 Mar. 2012, 11:59 CAT
ONLY people with criminal mentality are scared to see the restoration of the abuse of office clause in the anti corruption Act, says Dr Fred Mutesa. And Ng'andu Magande has said the restoration of abuse of office clause will strengthen the government's fight against corruption.
Commending the PF government for making progress towards restoration of the clause, Dr Mutesa, who is president of the Zambia for Empowerment and Development (ZED), said the initiative was a positive development that would benefit the country.
"We support it since it will benefit every Zambian. Only those with something to hide are scared of this Bill because it is meant to catch law breakers and people who are transparent in the activities have nothing to fear, but those with criminal mentally will definitely oppose it," said Dr Mutesa.
"Actually, this is something we have been advocating for and there is no need to criticise government on this matter since it will help stop misuse of public resources."
And Magande, who is president for National Movement for Progress (NMP), said amendments to the ACC Act were welcome.
"Any government that would want to fight corruption, they first start with strengthening tools to help institutions (Anti Corruption Commission - ACC) that are fighting the vice and this is what government has done," said Magande.
"When the previous government removed the clause, we protested and expressed our views that there was nothing wrong with it especially that some of us worked for over 30 years in public service and we didn't see anything wrong with the clause."
Last Thursday, justice minister Sebastian Zulu tabled in Parliament the Anti-Corruption Bill which seeks to reintroduce the abuse of office clause and to strengthen the ACC in its quest to provide for the prevention, detection, investigation, prosecution and punishment of corrupt practices and related offences based on the rule of law, integrity, transparency and accountability.
Labels: ACC, FRED MUTESA
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Corrupt judges shaken - Mutesa
By Bright Mukwasa and Moses Kuwema
Mon 06 Feb. 2012, 12:59 CAT
THE mere intent to clean up the Judiciary has shaken up corrupt judges, says Zambians for Empowerment and Development president Dr Fred Mutesa.
Commenting on calls for judicial reforms, Dr Mutesa encouraged stakeholders in the legal fraternity to converge and propose the desired reforms in the Judiciary as it was critical to the development of democracy in the country.
"I can assure you right now, no judge will act corruptly. The mere intent to cleanse the system is sufficient to cause the rogues to lie low for a while," Dr Mutesa said.
"Use the ‘truce' to bring up proper reforms. Targeting individuals retrospectively is witch-hunt and counterproductive."
He said policy should triumph over personal vendetta as it was a civilised way of
doing things in the process of pushing for reforms in the judiciary.
"The bad eggs can't survive in a clean environment! There is no doubt that the Judiciary in our society is long over-due for far-reaching reforms," he said.
Dr Mutesa said the reforms must be targeted at addressing systematic failure.
He said slowness in the dispensation of justice, shortage of judges and prosecutors and a weak legal aid system for the poor were some of the areas that needed reform.
Dr Mutesa said lack of judicial independence, particularly in political cases and those involving members of the ruling class, unlawful rulings, rogues in the system, insufficient funding and archaic laws had ‘bedeviled' the country's legal system.
He also said the proposals for reforms could be submitted to the constitution-making process.
"Emphasis should be on security of tenure of judges, financial autonomy, code of ethics to guide conduct of judges, autonomous and credible judicial service commission, review of salaries and conditions of service for all personnel in the Judiciary, and improved legal aid for the poor," Dr Mutesa said.
There have been widespread calls for reforms in the Judiciary with some stakeholders calling for the removal of the Chief Justice Ernest Sakala.
Meanwhile, Dr Mutesa said there is need for the government to address the other components of its development agenda with the same zeal that it is showing in the fight against corruption.
In a separate interview, Dr Mutesa said sectors such as education, health services, local government and decentralization as well as agriculture development were the ultimate areas that would improve public service delivery and create the much needed jobs in the economy.
And Dr Mutesa said the recently released Pastoral Letter by the Zambia Episcopal Conference provides timely counsel to the PF government.
He hoped President Michael Sata will carefully study the Pastoral Letter and make the necessary adjustments to his style of governance.
"As ZED we would like to particularly reiterate the point well made by the Pastoral Letter that the PF government should take all the necessary measures to ensure that the rule of law is strictly adhered to in its quest to fight corruption. We as a party would like to further caution the PF government to avoid endangering the macro economic stability and investor confidence which has taken 20 years of great sacrifice on the part of the Zambians to achieve," Dr Mutesa said.
He said the unauthorised budget expenditures on areas such as the creation of new districts and salaries hikes were bound to create a budget overrun with grave consequences on the country's inflation targets.
He said similarly, investor confidence was likely to go down if companies felt insecure about their investment.
"Thus what might ensue, the pressure on the Kwacha may increase resulting in reduced ability to import goods and services in the economy. A weak kwacha is bound to result in the increase of fuel and food prices which hurt the poor," said Dr Mutesa.
Labels: FRED MUTESA, JUDICIARY
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