Mature, UPND MP urges HH
By Kombe Mataka
Thu 06 Feb. 2014, 14:01 CAT
UPND Sinazongwe member of parliament Richwell Siamunene has advised Hakainde Hichilema to show maturity in his politics. Siamunene said it was unfortunate that Hichilema had continued speculating on President Michael Sata's whereabouts when State House had made it clear where he was and that he was on a working holiday.
Siamunene said Hichilema should apologise to President Sata for insinuating that he had gone to seek medical attention in India as opposed to going on a working holiday.
"As leaders, we must mature in our handling of political matters. We are in a mature democracy and this democracy demands that we concentrate on issues that are pertinent to the economy of this country as opposed to issues that are trivial in nature," Siamunene said.
"My strong advice is for Hichilema to humble himself and apologise. Let him come out publicly and tell the nation that he erred in his judgement. Let him concentrate on matters that can help the nation, not matters that are pedantic in nature."
Siamunene said there was nothing sinister about the President taking rest.
"There is no need to speculate on the whereabouts of the President. The President has indicated, he was in Ethiopia and from there he travelled to London," he said.
"The President has worked so tirelessly the past one year and he needed rest. He is a human being like any other who needs rest at one point or another."
Siamunene added that President Sata had an army of ministers and their deputies who were in charge of ensuring that the government was functioning when he is in or out of the country.
"The President has indicated that he is okay and we should take it that he is okay. He is a public figure of course but now people should not take advantage of his absence and start speculating on his health," Simunene said.
"The President is not running this government alone; he has Cabinet ministers, he has also permanent secretaries to continue implementing what has been done, so obviously he is supposed to take a rest and he just did that."
On Monday, Hichilema challenged State House to come clean on President Sata's health so that Zambians, including himself, could pray for him.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MICHAEL SATA, MMD, RICHWELL SIAMUNENE, UPND
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Hakainde and Sata's health
By Editor
Thu 06 Feb. 2014, 14:00 CAT
It seems Hakainde Hichilema does not listen to advice. Sometimes we can learn something valuable even from people we most detest.
If Hakainde was open to advice, learning, he would have picked something valuable in the editorial comment titled "UPND's propaganda about Sata's health" we carried in the edition of The Post of August 24, 2013. There is very little new we can say on this matter other than to repeat the arguments we put in that editorial comment. And we hereby reproduce that comment:
"It is very cheap politics for the UPND leadership to try and twist the provisions of Article 36 of the Constitution of Zambia to cast doubt on President Michael Sata's physical and mental capacity to discharge the functions of his office.
This is taking opportunism to the extreme and dangerous proportions. We know that the UPND has been very opportunistic when it comes to Michael's health.
After the 2008 elections, the UPND were convinced that Michael would not get to the 2011 elections. This was after his treatment in South Africa for a heart condition in 2007. In this belief, they approached the Patriotic Front to form an opposition political pact with them.
This was in the hope that Michael would be dead before the 2011 elections and Hakainde Hichilema would assume overall leadership of the pact and become its presidential candidate.
But to their displeasure, Michael is still here and he was healthy and strong enough to defeat them and their MMD partners in the 2011 elections. But they still can't believe it that the man they thought would die before 2011 is still there and probably ready to defeat them again in the 2016 elections.
Their mischief is clear. There is no function of his office that Michael has failed to perform since taking over as President of the Republic of Zambia.
We are not Michael's doctors but it's clear that the man has no problems performing his presidential functions. And moreover, there is no human being who doesn't fall ill. And can Hakainde or his servant Ephraim Belemu say they never fall ill? Who doesn't fall ill? We all get hit by this or that illness and we simply soldier on, recover and continue with our work.
How many of our politicians are either on hypertension or diabetes medication? And how many of our politicians are every day swallowing ARVs? Can they be said not to be fit for public office?
The truth is Michael is enjoying reasonably good health. And he is also living a very careful life when it comes to his health. Don't forget that this is a man who not very long ago was a chain smoker, contaminating his lungs with nicotine every day. But he has shed off that dangerous habit which he was involved in for more than five decades.
Michael leads a very disciplined life. He carries out his duties in an orderly, efficient and effective manner. He knows when to take a rest. And he knows when to go for medical examinations. He doesn't live like most of us who only go to see a doctor when we are not feeling well even when we have the opportunity to have periodic medical examinations.
But as Bishop John Mambo says, those who used to predict his death have left him still walking this planet. Equally, one can say those who think they will outlive Michael, they will leave him here to complete his mission as President of the Republic of Zambia.
They tried to do the same thing in 2011. They went round the country telling people not to vote for Michael because he was dying. But our people are kind and compassionate human beings and they were not swayed by such propaganda. They gave their votes to Michael and he won.
If the UPND wants to be in government soon, such an approach will not do. They should win not because Michael is not well healthwise but because they are better understood, supported, trusted. They should win because of their beliefs, what they believe in.
As far as a normal eye can see, Michael is in good health. And he seems to be keeping a good check on his health. These insinuations of him not being well only go to raise the question of just how healthy must our leaders be in order to serve, and, conversely, how much illness and or infirmity can we accept among those who occupy our country's highest posts?
Maybe we can learn something from the Americans. At the age of 65, Dwight Eisenhower had a serious heart attack, at a time when there was nowhere near the arsenal of methods available today to treat heart disease. All the same, he was elected to a second term the year after and lived another 14 years.
Then there is Jack Kennedy. Although he was the youngest person ever elected president of the United States and was the man who put the "vigah" into appearing vigorous, Kennedy was plagued with a number of serious ailments, only a few which were known to Americans at the time of his election. They included Addison's disease and a back so painful that he always wore a back brace, nearly always used crutches when photographers were not present, and regularly submitted to amphetamines and powerful anesthetics to quell his pain. Not to mention stratospheric cholesterol levels, which might be controlled by medication today, stomach disorders, and a history of sexually transmitted diseases. His administration's handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis likely will be debated for years but the fact remains that both conventional war - with the Soviet Union at least - and nuclear annihilation was averted. Even with a very bad back.
We wonder if we will resolve the matter of the health of presidents and presidential candidates, all while we mostly accept the physical and mental beatings the presidency inflicts upon those who hold the office. We don't have the best solution, but maybe we should mull over something Benjamin Franklin once said: "Nothing is more fatal to health than an over care of it."
Anyway, it is unfortunate that this whole issue has been sparked by members of Michael's own government and party. The UPND is simply a vulture. And vultures are opportunistic by nature and character - they scavenge. And UPND is scavenging on the bad discourse going on in the Patriotic Front and its government.
But this opportunism on the part of UPND will backfire. In politics, it's important to know the feelings, mood and character of one's people. Zambians, like most Africans, don't like this type of talk or propaganda. Look at Zimbabwe where Robert Mugabe's health has been an issue for the opposition MDC and its backers for a very long time. But Mugabe, at 89, is still there and has overwhelmingly defeated them in an election.
UPND needs to choose its campaign issues carefully. Opportunism can sometimes be very costly. And it won't be long before UPND starts to pay the price for all this. Mark our words."
It is important for Hakainde and his party to choose their campaign issues carefully. Hanging on to the issue of Michael's health, tribalism, racism and regionalism will not do.
And it is also important for Hakainde to learn to respect other people's legitimate entitlements. As Chembe Nyangu says, Michael is entitled to holidays paid for by the state, although he hasn't been very keen on taking them. Therefore, there is no need to always insinuate that he has gone for medical treatment in India every time he takes a short break from work, every time he leaves the country.
If Hakainde does not want to improve his number of votes, he should continue making Michael's health his only discernible political preoccupation.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MICHAEL SATA
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Hakainde and racism
By Editor
Tue 04 Feb. 2014, 14:00 CAT
The remark by Hakainde Hichilema that Vice-President Dr Guy Scott is the only remaining colonialist in Zambia should not be tolerated because it is racist and goes against the spirit of our Constitution.
This country is a nation of many migrants who have come in from different parts of this continent and of this world. Most of the people who make up a greater part of our population arrived in this country in the 1800s.
And together, we have formed a nation called Zambia. This great nation of ours comprises people of different tribes and races. And all have made their contribution to the building up of this homeland of ours. To resort to tribalism and racism when we have differences with each other is barbaric.
Addressing a rally in Chifubu, Ndola on January 17, 1965, the founder of our Republic Dr Kenneth Kaunda made it very clear that "our society in Zambia shall be non-tribal, non-racial, and that our society in Zambia shall only judge each and every individual according to his behaviour".
Given this teaching, why is Hakainde so inclined to clinging to ethnicity, racism and regionalism in his politics?
We detest racialism, because we regard it as a barbaric thing, whether it comes from a black person or a white person. This is so because racism pollutes the atmosphere of human relations and poisons the minds of the backward, the bigoted and the prejudiced.
As we enter the 50th year of our independence, it is intolerable and unacceptable that the cancer of racism is still eating away the flesh and souls of some of our political leaders like Hakainde.
It is the duty of all patriots and progressive citizens to ensure that colour, race and tribe become only a God-given gift to each one of us and not an indelible mark or attribute that accords a special status to any.
Racism is a blight on the human conscience. And we should never allow our country to play host to racism. Nor shall our voices be stifled if we see that another is a victim of racial discrimination in our homeland or indeed anywhere in the world.
Racism must be consciously combated and not discreetly tolerated.
And again, we should follow the teachings of the founder of our Republic on this score: "The cause of non-racialism is the cause of mankind. It gives us the opportunity to classify man not by his colour, which is beyond his control, but by his action which, of course, is within his control. We should never be part and parcel of that type of society that will condemn people wholesale. That is an old and tired thinking completely unsuitable for a revolutionary. Further on this point, we must learn to hate what is done and not to hate the doer. What is meant here is, if we hated the doer as such, it would mean that even if he changed for the better, we would continue to hate him simply because he was what he was. On the other hand, if we learn to hate what is done, there is always a chance that the people whose activities we strongly disapproved will change, and then we would have no cause to hate them…" (Address to UNIP national council at Mulungushi, November 9, 1968).
Clearly, racism is rejected as contrary to law and justice. And as Christians, we believe that the world is God's world; and that God intervenes in it and gives a human person the power to transform it into a world of brothers and sisters.
It should not be forgotten that racial discrimination happens when there is a distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference which is based on race and which is pursued with the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the exercise of one's rights on equal basis in all areas of public life.
Any political outlook which bases value judgments on racial differentiation is contrary to the moral and ethical principles of humanity and deserves to be denounced, discredited and discarded. And we wish to emphasise that it is definitely against natural justice and Christian brotherly love to discriminate between people of different races and tribe. Nothing but evil can be the fruit of racial or tribal discrimination, a practice contrary to both justice and brotherly love. The practice of racial discrimination is contrary to the principle of unity of the human race, the oneness of the human family. The enjoyment of the freedom from racial discrimination will be a reality when people refrain from paying exaggerated attention to the accidental difference within the human family, especially the accidental difference of colour.
The human race is one. The fact of its oneness is not altered by any secondary differences in the various families that compose the human race. The whole human race has the same origin, the same nature, the same basic rights and duties and the same destiny. The whole of humankind is united by the common parenthood of God and by a common brotherhood in Christ. We wish to make it clear that we recall this truth of the essential oneness of the human family for the benefit of all sections of the community, and not to be influenced by paying undue attention to accidental differences within the human family. All human beings indeed do not possess the same gifts or talents; nor does life offer each the same opportunities. But this inequality of gifts and of opportunity has nothing to do with race for all citizens are entitled to develop a full civic, social and intellectual life.
We fully appreciate the history of our country in terms of race. This is a country in which there was a racially oppressed black majority. But it is also a country in which we had white people who sided and fought side by side with the blacks to remove white oppression and domination. And in a country with our history, non-racism from white Zambians was not an outlook that could simply be taken for granted. Therefore, people like Dr Scott, who have contributed immensely, through their personal example, to nurturing that outlook which is so evident in our country today, cannot be taken for granted. Let those politicians like Hakainde, who have based themselves on narrow ethnic constituencies, now ponder their example. And nobody should be allowed to interfere with their political rights because of stupid racial prejudice. This country will always be a homeland for all Zambians, regardless of their colour, tribe or origin. Dr Scott is as much Zambian as Hakainde. And probably Dr Scott is more patriotic to this collective homeland of ours than Hakainde.
But there is a very worrying thing about Hakainde's tribal and racial political outlook. Why is Hakainde so concerned about tribe and race? What type of leader will Zambia have if one day we were to wake up and find we have Hakainde as president of the Republic? What will be the position on tribe and race in his scheme of things? And where will that leave the country?
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, RACISM, TRIBALISM
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HH warned and cautioned as cadres clash with Police
By Kombe Mataka
Mon 13 Jan. 2014, 16:40 CAT
TEAR gas canisters were fired while three cadres were briefly detained this morning when UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema appeared at Woodlands Police Station for questioning.
Hichilema's supporters were at Woodlands Station as early as 08:00hours to offer solidarity and complied with police over a barricade it had mounted to avoid the station to be over crowded.
Troubled started when Hichilema arrived and the cadres started pushing their way into the police station forcing police to fire tear gas and flogged some cadres who were tempting force their way into the police station along with HH.
In the process police mistakenly beat up Chikankata Member of Parliament Munji Habeenzu and a journalist Kalani Muchima from Prime Media TV.
Hichilema, who was summoned for questioning, was subsequently warned and cautioned.
And a cadre caused a scare when she sprinkled some powder on Hichilema, who thought the police had fired another teargas carnister.
Police that were watching the UPND leader leave mocked, "Ayopa aona monga ni teargas kansi ni uunga(he is scared, he thought it was teargas)."
The cadres later temporally blocked the around about along Pick 'n' Pay bringing business around the area to a standstill.
Labels: CADRES, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, UPND
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HH declines to join pact
By Allan Mulenga and Kombe Mataka
Thu 23 Jan. 2014, 14:01 CAT
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has refused to be part of opposition political parties that have formed an alliance to unseat the PF.
And Mike Mulongoti says Hichilema's insincerity has been exposed by his refusal to unite with other opposition parties.
Meanwhile, MMD deputy national secretary Chembe Nyangu says the former ruling party had no choice but to team up with other smaller opposition parties for their sustenance.
Five opposition political party leaders yesterday held a closed-door meeting in Lusaka's Kabulonga area where they agreed to form an electoral alliance with a prospect of unseating the PF.
Among the participants were Mulongoti of the People's Party, MMD's Michael Kaingu - who stood in for Nevers Mumba, Narep's Elias Chipimo Jr, Dr Fred Mutesa of ZED and Frank Bwalya of ABZ.
During the caucus, the leaders also agreed to officially make the alliance public tomorrow, although Chipimo expressed misgivings over the efficacy of the alliance.
A check by The Post at People's Party secretariat found the leaders locked up in a meeting which lasted over two hours.
Later after the meeting as leaders were seeing each other off, Kaingu was heard telling Mulongoti that it was naive for Hichilema to shun the meeting.
A while later, Bwalya was also heard complaining that some leaders were preoccupied with going to State House at the expense of serving the interests of Zambians.
"I didn't know that this alliance could come to be like this because we were agreed all of us. I am very disappointed. If this is how we are going to operate, then we will give the PF a chance to go through in 2016," he said.
Bwalya told Mulongoti that he had communicated to the UPND in particular over the meeting.
Bwalya, who received a call from a QFM reporter Nancy Chenga asking for his comment over Chipimo's decision to back out of the deal despite attending the meeting, wondered why the Narep leader U-turned barely 10 minutes after the meeting.
"Is that what he has said with reference to Chipimo's refusal to be part of an alliance? Then ask him. I can't speak for him because I was with him here," Bwalya told the reporter.
Later he told Mulongoti that Chipimo had decided to pull out of the alliance.
"I knew even from the way he was talking in the meeting he wanted to be the president of the alliance. These people are preoccupied with the presidency," he said.
Bwalya further remarked: "These people have been thinking that it is about money. That's why when he called me that he wanted to assist me with legal fees as he had promised, I told him to hold on to it. I have reconsidered that offer because if he cannot be part of the pact, then why should he help me?"
In response Mulongoti said he was equally shocked that things turned out that way, where some opposition political parties shunned the meeting.
In an interview shortly after the meeting, Mulongoti said he was surprised that the two leaders decided not to be part of the alliance.
"It is the principle that we must work together as opposition parties. The finer details about who will lead the alliance will come through a technical committee that we will form. Whether we are two or three, whatever the number, it will proceed," he said.
"Others will join us later. Narep has issued a statement that they are not going to be part of us, but he Chipimo just came from here."
Mulongoti said he was ready to serve under any leader of the alliance.
"In politics it is to do with time and circumstances. If he Hakainde thinks that he can win like PF who went it alone, it will be difficult because that revolted against the MMD. Zambians were just fatigued about the MMD," he said.
Mulongoti wondered why Hichilema was shunning the alliance when he had failed to win presidential elections.
"He has been participating in presidential elections, but has he even won a councillor seat? He has been participating in by-elections parliamentary and coming out number three and four. Is that an indication that he is popular? Ku Mansa, wasn't he even beaten by Nawakwi?" mocked Mulongoti.
When contacted, Hichilema said he had no comment while Chipimo's phone went unanswered.
And Nyangu said it was the wish of the membership that the MMD joins forces with other opposition political parties, regardless of their popularity.
"Our members have been phoning us that they want us to work with other opposition parties. They have told us that the party had become weaker and weaker ever since we lost power," he said.
Nyangu said members had threatened to defect to other political parties if the leadership did not reconsider its position on the formation of an alliance.
"They have informed us that the party will continue losing members if we fail to work together as a team. We are just trying to do what our general membership want," said Nyangu.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MIKE MULONGOTI, MMD, UPND
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Siamunene on Hakainde
By Editor
Mon 11 Nov. 2013, 14:00 CAT
" THERE is need for HH to realise that the country is much more important than him," says Sinazongwe UPND member of parliament and commerce deputy minister Richwell Siamunene, accusing Hakainde Hichilema of championing selfish interests.
Many people have accused Hakainde of being self-centered and too full of himself. They say with him, everything is 'me this, me that'. Hakainde seems to be in politics because of ambition or pleasure and not to fulfil a sacred duty to his people and his country. José Marti, outstanding hero and forerunner of Cuba's liberation, said that "All the glory in the world fits in a kernel of corn".
What a penetrating thought! How unassuming! What modesty! That's what Marti had. You will never catch him talking about his personal image. He was always dedicated to work and thinking of the people and their future.
Therefore, we should be unassuming and limit ourselves to doing our duty to the best of our extremely limited possibilities.
As we have stated before, if you have had an opportunity to come into close contact with history and analyse this issue, you will realise that humans tend to make a fool of themselves if they think too much about personal interests, personal glory, about the positions they should occupy in things, in life.
We would say it would be wiser to aspire to a modest, simple, even anonymous place in things, because, if you have a true measure of the power of people as individuals, you know it's so fragile and such a small thing that it really doesn't make sense to magnify one's role as an individual, no matter how intelligent, brilliant or able one may be. There have been many able, intelligent, meritorious figures in the course of our history.
And a strict sense of justice should keep us away from toying with the idea, from being consumed by ambition and a spirit of self-importance, of occupying prominent or highest positions in things. We should a thousand times rather think of the place life will assign to the causes and ideas we are promoting and defending, to the rights of humanity and to people's happiness in the world of the future.
There is no power on earth that can neutralise the influence of a high, simple and useful life. It is said that he who has done his best for his time has lived for all times. Selfish hearts, hot heads and cold hearts have never solved anything. The influence of each human being on others in this life is a kind of immortality.
A Hindu proverb says, "There is nothing noble about being superior to some other man. The true nobility is being superior to your previous self." And this is probably why it is said that leadership is action, not position.
A good political leader should have largeness of mind and should be staunch and active, looking upon the interests of the people as his very life and subordinating his personal interests to those of the people. A good political leader should be more concerned about the masses than about any individual, and more concerned about others than about himself. Only thus can he be considered a good political leader. Hakainde needs to learn this and change his attitude towards others.
Every politician in this country, including Hakainde, must be brought to understand that the supreme test of his words and deeds is whether they conform with the highest interests and enjoy the support of the overwhelming majority of the people.
At no time and in no circumstances should a political leader of his people place his personal interests first; he should subordinate them to the interests of the nation and of the masses. Hence, selfishness, seeking the limelight and so on and so forth, are most contemptible, while selflessness, working with all one's energy, whole-hearted devotion to public duty and quiet hard work will command respect.
Hakainde seems to be ready to oppose anything, frustrate everything that those in government are doing, no matter how good it may be for the people as long as it doesn't benefit him personally, politically and otherwise.
A good political leader wishes his country the best in everything, with or without him participating in delivering that or gaining any credit for such progress or success.
A good political leader must be ready at all times to stand up for the truth, because truth is in the interest of the people; good political leaders must be ready at all times to correct their mistakes, because mistakes are against the interests of the people. Hakainde is ready to support and defend wrong things simply because he believes there is something to gain politically from that. It is for this reason, and probably no other reason, that Hakainde is defending Rupiah Banda and his corruption.
It is all simply in the belief that doing so will gain him the support of Rupiah's 'people'. Hakainde will perpetrate a lie even where he knows very well that what is being said is not true against a person he detests, simply because doing so is politically beneficial to him. The truth matters less to Hakainde. What matters to Hakainde is his personal interests. The dignity and interests of other citizens, especially those who don't support him politically, doesn't seem to matter at all.
Politicians, if they want to be good leaders, must always go into the whys and wherefores of anything, use their own heads and carefully think over whether or not it corresponds to reality and is really well-founded; on no account should they follow blindly and support or defend clearly wrong things.
Good political leaders should set an example in being practical, as well as far-sighted. For only by being practical can they fulfil their responsibilities, and only far-sightedness can prevent them from losing their bearings in the march forward. They should be the most far-sighted, the most self-sacrificing, the most resolute, and the least prejudiced in sizing up situations, and should rely on the majority of the masses and win their support.
Liars, people full of themselves, selfish elements can never be good leaders. And this is why if Hakainde really wants to be a political leader of us all, he has to move away and move away very quickly from these vices. It's not us pointing out these weaknesses in Hakainde. These are weaknesses that have been highlighted by many people in his party, publicly and privately. He needs to mull over things and meditate deeply over these issues if he really wants to one day be president of this country.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, RICHWELL SIAMUNENE
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HH a merchant of death - Sata
By Mwala Kalaluka
Fri 11 Oct. 2013, 14:00 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata yesterday described UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema as a callous 'merchant of death' who is attempting to gain cheap political mileage from the nurses' and midwives' strike when multitudes of Zambians' lives are at stake.
But Hichilema says he is wholeheartedly behind the striking nurses and midwives and has urged the government to meet their demands as promised instead of issuing threats of dismissals.
Commenting on Hichilema's solidarity visit to the University Teaching Hospital UTH where he met the striking health workers, President Sata stated the overture was aimed at inciting the nurses, pharmacists and midwives not to return for work.
President Sata stated that it was unfortunate that the UPND leader had embarked on a 'cruel and self-centred' mission of encouraging striking health workers without regard for innocent people's lives.
President Sata also wondered how Hichilema expected Zambians particularly the relatives and friends of those suffering as a result of the strike to vote for him, if he was in the forefront of cheering the striking workers.
"Mr Hichilema's cheap attempt to gain political mileage from strikes when multitudes of our people's lives are at stake is not only regrettable but callous. This level of self-centredness and desperation should be avoided by leaders especially those seeking public office," President Sata said in a statement issued by his special assistant for press and public relations George Chellah.
President Sata urged the striking nurses, pharmacists and midwives to resume work immediately stating that the Government was handling their matter competently.
Hichilema in his address to the striking UTH nurses and midwives said when people fail to reason, they resort to brutality.
"The Minister of Health must be ashamed to threaten dismissal of nurses and midwives who were promised huge increments and have only been given four per cent. He has received 100 per cent increase, and he should not even attempt to threaten the nurses," he said.
"If you can't dialogue, if they don't listen to you, how will the problem be solved? But you must know that there are people out there whose minds, whose hearts are with you and I am one of them."
Hichilema claimed that the government was unable to resolve the nurses' strike on time because of its poor policy and management approach.
"The PF government is failing to meet its commitments to the people. The nurses are not in the wards. There is no one dispensing medicine, patients who could live are dying. It is not the nurses causing the death," he said.
Hichilema said it was the nurses' constitutional right to express themselves on such matters.
In May 2010, President Sata as opposition leader then, also visited Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) workers who were striking. Upon seeing President Sata, the workers explained their problems to him and sort his intervention.
In response, President Sata pleaded with the workers to return to work because they were dealing with a vicious government, which would victimise them, especially the junior workers.
"Write your demands on a piece of paper so that we can present it on your behalf. Let's meet tomorrow at my office. But tell the people to go back for work because the junior workers are the ones who are going to be victimised more," said President Sata then.
President Sata's dealing with striking workers as an opposition leader had changed from his 2005 strategy where he openly incited workers to go on strike.
In July 2005, President Sata openly said he had incited the miners on the Copperbelt and dared late Levy Mwanawasa to arrest him.
President Sata had cautioned that the then strike by Konkola Copper Mines workers was the beginning of worse things to come.
"What has happened at KCM is just the tip of the iceberg. PF will bring back the same militancy that existed in the mine unions during the days of the late Lawrence Katilungu and Justin Chimba, just to fight corruption," said President Sata then.
"PF is requesting all the mine employees to reorganise themselves so that next time its not restricted to KCM alone. We are regrouping, its not Mwila (Davis) who is inciting the miners, it's the entire PF structure...it's the PF policy to bring sanity to the Zambian workers."
Meanwhile, in a letter addressed to President Sata dated October 9, Hichilema said he went to the UTH to carry out an on-the-ground assessment of the situation.
"Our finding is that the nurses and midwives are still on strike and the pharmacy is still closed, contrary to public media reports," Hichilema stated.
"We are concerned with the current standoff between your government and the nurses and midwives. In typical fashion, your government has negated its earlier pledge to increase their salaries by 200% and has effected increases of up to 4% only."
He stated that the government's programme of harmonisation of salaries was being implemented in a haphazard manner and, in the process, demoralising the health professionals.
"Whilst we appreciate that non-professionals have to earn a living wage, professionals ought to be rewarded appropriately because of their qualifications and experience," he stated in part.
"We urge you to urgently intervene in this matter by committing to reward nurses and midwives according to your government's earlier promise. Threats of dismissal is not part of the solution to this problem. It is no secret that some of you in the Executive got your 100% increment and you are paid on time. It is only morally right that you do the same for the nurses and midwives."
Meanwhile, the Human Rights Commission says the current strike action in the health sector will have a negative bearing on people's ability to fully enjoy their inalienable right to health and eventually, even the right to life.
In a statement following the strike action by nurses over anomalies in the recently granted salary increments, Commission spokesperson Samuel Kasankha stated that even on a normal day, when all health staff were present at their work stations, there were a lot of challenges in health care administration arising from shortages of staff.
"The strike action will tend to cause more inconveniences for clients seeking medical attention, such that permanent disability and/or loss of lives cannot be discounted as possible consequences. We therefore humbly call on the striking workers to resume work and allow dialogue to continue with government over their grievances. We trust that Government has the ability to address all concerns and shall endeavor to do so," Kasankha stated.
He also cautioned opposition political leaders to carefully weigh the situation before commenting on the strike in a manner that appears to encourage it.
We are very uncomfortable with any stance that encourages confrontation between the workers and Government and the prolongation of this needless standoff. Life is sacrosanct and we, together, must promote only those actions that will preserve it," stated Kasankha.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MICHAEL SATA
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PF's confusion must be ended - Nawakwi
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Mon 30 Sep. 2013, 14:01 CAT
EDITH Nawakwi says the PF should not allow anybody within their party to advance a tribal agenda or gain political mileage using a tribe. And Hakainde Hichilema says he expects that the Anti Corruption Commission to move in to investigate and prosecute the corrupt elements in government.
Speaking in Kitwe after she attended Mass for the presentation of Seminarian Fund at St John's Convent on Saturday, Nawakwi, who is the president of the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), said Zambians must condemn with contempt anybody attempting to use a tribe as a political strength, adding that the squabbles in the PF and allegations of tribal politics were extremely unfortunate as they were directly affecting the governance of the nation.
She said the world had advanced to another level whereby no human being should be viewed as greater than the other on the basis of tribe or race.
"We look at the drama in our sister party the PF, and I say sister party in the context that governments on earth are governments that are provided for in the Bible. That confusion in the ruling party must be brought to an end because a house divided cannot stand. The character of the ruling party gives the face of government. This now shows us that there is no cohesion, there is no leadership in the PF," she said.
Nawakwi said in party politics, calls for resignation of a secretary general like the PF members that were calling for the resignation of Wynter Kabimba signalled the end of such a political party.
"Some of us belong to a tribe with less than hundred thousand people and we are still proud to be Zambians. I just came from Western Province; the people welcomed me as their own. They never called me names, they called me musali Nawakwi. That's a Zambia we want, a united Zambia," she said.
Nawakwi said the people from outside were looking at Zambia as a country destroying itself because the leaders in the PF were fighting. She said the infighting in the PF was unfortunately spilling over to the streets and property was being destroyed while everybody was watching.
"It's like a home, when you walk in a house where parents are fighting, you will see the misery on the face of children and this is what is happening in Zambia," she said.
Nawakwi said name-calling in the PF was extremely embarrassing for the nation, hence the need for President Michael Sata to show leadership and stop the squabbles.
And Hichilema said the PF had no agenda for Zambia other than sharing positions.
"PF went into office not to work for the suffering masses but to dubiously obtain money from the poor Zambians by corruptly awarding themselves tenders. The PF formed government to put more money in their pockets corruptly as confirmed by both Vice-President Guy Scot and secretary general Wynter Kabimba that there are corrupt elements within their ranks. Corruption is a cancer and we need to fight it and not harbour it as the case is with the PF government," said Hichilema, who is UPND leader.
Labels: ACC, EDITH NAWAKWI, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PF
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Attacks on HH in Kasama
By Editor
Fri 20 Sep. 2013, 14:00 CAT
There should be no area or part of our country that is a no-go place for any of us. There is no district or province of our country that belongs to a single individual or political party. All are free and should be free to canvass for support in any district or province of our country.
Kasama is increasingly being turned into a no-go area for the opposition and others considered hostile to those who think they own that district.
We say this in the light of this week's attacks on Hakainde Hichilema and his entourage in Kasama. Hakainde has the right to go to Kasama, address meetings and talk to whoever he wants to talk to without inhibition.
But it's increasingly becoming difficult for opposition politicians to visit Kasama. Not very long ago, NAREP president Elias Chipimo had problems in Kasama. And Nevers Mumba also had serious challenges going around doing his political work in Kasama. These people have the right to be in Kasama. If one doesn't want to meet them or listen to them, they are also entitled to stay away from them and their meetings. No one has the right to force anyone to attend a meeting or to listen to someone they don't want to listen to.
There are many ways of showing political disapproval for someone. The best way is simply to stay away from them and their meetings. This is perfectly in order. But it's not in order to start harassing people and trying to chase them from Kasama.
Our multi-party political setup is starting to establish a reputation for intolerance that is difficult to match.
What seems to be distinctly lacking in our politics is a culture of tolerance and humility which places the humanity of others before self and accepts that all citizens have a right to participate in the shaping of their destiny directly without fear of reprisal.
Tolerance and respect for our fellow citizens makes us allow our critics to express their opinion about our views without inhibition, whether these seem to be unpalatable or not. At the same time, we expect the same treatment or privilege when our turn comes. This is not something we achieve instinctively. Rather, we develop it consciously and respectfully.
For our very instincts would drive us to throttling our opponents in argument, or, better still, smack them with a deadly blow.
Why should we fear to have other people's voices heard? Are we afraid to be undermined by what they say?
Being in opposition, or holding a different opinion, is not a crime against anyone. There are some people who think everyone must belong to them or be condemned. The sponsors of this dialectic are not ashamed to attribute enmity where it may not exist. They thrive on the explosive emotions which this dialectic is likely to generate among the unsuspecting idle youths of low literacy. In fact, no regard is ever had for the patriotism of those they detest, unless they happen to die.
To them, opposition per se is non-existent. Anything else is enmity. Opposition is an expression of hate, not pure disagreement.
It is quite true that the acceptance of opposition and the criticisms that go with it implies the highest respect for the human ideal, and that its denial suggests a conscious or unconscious lack of humanity on our part.
Intolerance must surely rank as one of the worst forms of immorality in politics and in human affairs in general. We can see the horror of this in people who go out of their way to organise violence against someone for simply belonging to another political party.
But this intolerance is not one-sided. Hakainde himself is intolerant of those who don't support him - he sees them as enemies. And we are one of such people Hakainde sees as enemies for simply not giving him the political support or endorsement he wants from us. We have been victims at the hands of Hakainde's cadres and supporters. This has never bothered Hakainde at all.
If all our politicians cared about what happens to another human being, to a fellow citizen, there would be very little violence if any in our politics. But it seems violence and intolerance are okay as long as they are directed at others and not at themselves. It only becomes a bad thing if it's directed at themselves. Here is Hakainde who recruits the worst known politician for violence - William Banda - and makes him his advisor.
Advisor in what? Violence! What example has Hakainde been setting, being surrounded by such people?
Violence is bad and it is bad against anyone. There is no violence against anyone that is good and that should be tolerated by anyone. If our politicians can cleanse their political parties of violent characters, there would be no violence. But they want them and that's why they keep them - for use at appropriate times. They ferry them to by-elections to cause havoc, to intimidate and harass opponents. They have use for them and that's why they are keeping them. They actually pay them - these violent characters live off them.
But we shouldn't forget that violence begets violence; violence breeds counter-violence and the vicious cycle goes on. Violence can only do one thing, and that is to breed counter-violence.
And as we have repeatedly pointed out, there is no political doctrine, principle or proclaimed political position that can be used to justify atrocious acts such as the physical attack on a political opponent. No crime can be committed in the name of politics.
And the truth also is that the police have historically never been very firm on the violence of cadres from the ruling party. This culture was so strong under the MMD and there is no transformation of the police on this score under this new political dispensation. The police are still behaving the same way towards ruling party cadres. And as Dr Kenneth Kaunda once remarked, "Nothing would be more dangerous than to confuse men and women who are responsible for the maintenance of law and order in any country.
"UNIP members, therefore, apart from the fact that they are humanists, must remember that even for their own good, their fellow workers in the police force must be left to deal with the maintenance of law and order in the way they were trained…We will create a very dangerous situation if we should want to control every police unit locally as some local party leaders want them to operate. Otherwise, chaos will follow, and I am sure no true UNIP member would like to see this. First and foremost must come the quality of impartial fair play, for I do not wish my policemen to be partisans to the main political and tribal feuds that may emerge in our country, as has happened in others. The worst policeman so far as I am concerned is that man who will not admonish or arrest another because he is of the same tribe, race or political sympathy. Equally reprehensible is a policeman who will not do his duty for fear that because he is of a different tribe, race or political feeling, his deeds will be misunderstood. If you should ever find yourselves in a position of compromise against the principles of fair play and impartiality, then be humble enough to seek God's guidance because neither the present nor the future generation will forgive you for betraying the many people who have died and suffered in the struggle to bring forth this independent land."
Tolerance is very important. If people have tolerance, you can easily overcome difficulties. If you have little tolerance or are without it, then the smallest thing immediately irritates you.
Learn to love your fellow citizens and all other human beings. If you love others, you cannot go out to harm them. And love doesn't discriminate on the basis of political affiliation or some other factors. We are all taught to love our enemies. If you have love and compassion toward all sentient beings, particularly toward your enemy, that is true love and compassion. We are social creatures, and a concern for each other is the very basis of our life together. Our doings and thinkings must be motivated by compassion for others. The way to acquire that kind of outlook is to accept a simple fact that whatever we desire is also desired by others. No one wants to be beaten. If we all don't want to be beaten, why should we allow others to be beaten?
Labels: CADRES, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PF, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, UPND
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Suspected PF cadres attack HH in Kasama
By Abel Mboozi
Thu 19 Sep. 2013, 14:01 CAT
SUSPECTED PF cadres in Kasama yesterday allegedly attacked UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and prevented him from proceeding to pay a courtesy call on Paramount Chief Chitimukulu.
And Northern Province police commissioner Mary Chikwanda confirmed the incident but explained that the cadres only blocked Hichilema from proceeding to the palace.
Hichilema in an interview said he was attacked together with his entourage that included former deputy speaker Mutale Nalumango and some members of parliament by the suspected PF cadres who were armed with various dangerous objects.
"As we were heading for Mungwi out of Kasama, we stopped at a roadblock and in few minutes, about 20 vehicles sprang from all the directions and PF 'militias' came out. They whipped us and we had to seek refuge at Kasama central police. As I am talking to you now (yesterday), we are still here and let me state that they will not stop me from seeing the paramount chief because he invited me to his palace," Hichilema said.
He said it was sad that President Michael Sata was drifting Zambia into anarchy by letting PF cadres engage in hooliganism.
"He is the fifth President and so I want to ask where he is running Zambia to, with this kind of hooliganism of his cadres. I have an appointment with the Chitimukulu Mwine Lubemba; I have not addressed a meeting anywhere, so why these attacks?" he said.
Hichilema was saddened that none of the hooligans were arrested, alleging that the police were afraid of acting.
He, however, vowed not to stop visiting any part of Zambia as the country belonged to every citizen.
"I have no fear; I will move to see any Zambian. Nobody attacked us in Solwezi, Mwinilunga, but here we are attacked. I urge Zambians to stand against Sata. Sata is worse that the colonial regime," Hichilema said.
However Chikwanda said it was not true that the PF leader was attacked.
"Hichilema came to report to the police that he was blocked and the cadres had nothing like whips when they came here. I talked to the PF cadres who said they blocked him because it was against tradition to allow him to see the chief at the time," said Chikwanda.
Labels: CHIEF CHITIMUKULU, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PF, POLITICAL VIOLENCE
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'It's time HH faced reality'
By Abel Mboozi and Moses Kuwema
Thu 19 Sep. 2013, 14:01 CAT
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema acts as an economic saboteur rather than somebody providing checks and balances to the government, says President Michael Sata.
Meanwhile, Hichilema says President Sata is trying to decapitate his freedom but that he is not worried because he has not committed any crime.
President Sata said Hichilema's claims of government failure and intimidation were nothing but his trademark of irresponsible and unpatriotic utterances.
In a statement issued by his special assistant for press and public relations George Chellah yesterday, President Sata said: "In all intent and purpose, he sounds and acts like an economic saboteur than somebody who is providing checks and balances."
President Sata said the UPND leader was too pre-occupied with elections to contribute meaningfully to the development of the country.
"No doubt, the bright prospect of a better Zambia on the horizon, which is emboldened by robust infrastructure growth, economic recovery and general improvement in people's livelihoods, has caged him in perpetual resentment and anger," President Sata said.
The head of state added: "It's time he faced reality and started talking about development and other unprecedented progressive reforms happening. Let him realise that his 'failed promises' hymn has passed its shelf-line."
Hichilema on Wednesday said the insinuation by President Sata that he planned to engage in activities that would disrupt production in two Copperbelt towns was mere intimidation because the President had failed to run Zambia in a formidable manner.
The UPND leader said President Sata should have revealed the two towns instead of issuing "baseless" threats.
"I don't understand why he President Sata likes venting his anger on HH, when it is clear that he has failed the Zambian people through lack of jobs; no money in their pockets; vaccinations are in short supply," he said.
Meanwhile, speaking on a UK-based Crossfire radio blog on Tuesday evening, Hichilema said President Sata was under pressure to deliver and was now seeking the help of his ministers.
He said the head of state made reckless commitments towards the 2011 general elections and very few of those promises had been fulfilled.
"UPND is a true opposition and our job is to remind the PF on the promises they made. So the pressure is on Mr Sata and he sees HH as one who reminds him consistently of his failures and therefore is uncomfortable and he continues to digress from national issues and is talking about Hakainde," Hichilema said.
He said President Sata must be grateful to the UPND for their constant reminders to his government of their promises.
Hichilema said calls by President Sata for ministers to be talking were an admission that the President had failed to address the problems faced by the people.
And responding to a question from a caller from South Africa identified as Hope Nyambe, who wanted to know if Hichilema was not worried for his personal security in view of the revelations by President Sata that the Intelligence had infiltrated the opposition political party, Hichilema said he was very much aware of the threats against him from President Sata.
"I am aware of the threats from President Sata, he has been threatening me for a long time. Mr Sata has been working round the clock to seize my assets. He is trying to decapitate my freedom but I am not worried because I have not committed any crime," Hichilema said.
He said all that President Sata had been doing since he came into power was threaten individuals whom he thought were a threat.
"My personal security is at risk but I am at peace with myself," said Hichilema.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MICHAEL SATA, OPPOSITION, UPND
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Hichilema accuses Sata of failure, intimidation
By Abel Mboozi
Wed 18 Sep. 2013, 14:01 CAT
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema says he takes President Michael Sata's statement on Monday that he was engaged in activities to disrupt production in two Copperbelt towns as intimidation because he had failed to run the country in a formidable manner.
Responding to the head of state's statement, Hichilema yesterday said he was not aware of any illegal activities that he and his party were planning to undertake on the Copperbelt.
He said President Sata should have revealed the two towns instead of issuing "baseless threats".
Hichilema said he only visited Solwezi and Mwinilunga, where he went to mobilise the party, especially that the opposition was being denied permits to hold rallies.
"Let me state here that it is our legal right to mobilise the party anywhere. I was out of town in Solwezi, where I was refused to hold a rally and yet his militia cadres marched without a permit. I therefore take his comments to imply intimidation because he is aware that the PF has failed; the PF is now a third or fourth choice in Zambia," Hichilema said.
He claimed that President Sata was fond of venting his anger on him instead of striving to deliver on his campaign promises to the Zambian people.
"I don't understand why he likes venting his hunger on HH when he has failed the Zambia people through lack of jobs; no money in their pockets; vaccinations are in short supply," he said.
Hichilema said President Sata and the PF were losing popularity going by the party's recent losses in by-elections.
"I am not responsible for his mismanagement of the country; he is only getting the taste of his medicine. He has failed to run Zambia," he said.
Hichilema said Zambians had now realised that the PF had failed to deliver on the many promises they made, a situation which was unsettling President Sata.
"PF went into government without any plan; in fact, the two years of PF in government can be described as a failed project. My time will come to run Zambia, courtesy of God and Zambians to show how best to run a country," he said.
On remarks by President Sata that there was no formidable opposition to offer proper checks and balances to government, Hichilema said President Sata was contradicting himself.
"Just yesterday, (Monday), he was telling his ministers to be defending the party from attacks by the opposition but today he is talking about something else. The President is contradicting himself, which is most unfortunate. The issue is that the PF has failed to run the country," he said.
Hichilema insisted that the PF government was bloated and that President Sata presided over a tribal Cabinet.
On Monday, President Sata cautioned Hichilema against engaging in activities intended to frustrate production in the mining sector.
President Sata said the government was fully aware and prepared to thwart UPND's planned illegal activities in two mining towns on the Copperbelt.
"As elected representatives of the people, the PF government will not sit idle and allow frustrated, unpatriotic and bitter politicians engage in premeditated acts of sabotage," said President Sata.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MICHAEL SATA
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Sata mocks HH
By Roy Habaalu and Allan Mulenga
Sat 13 July 2013, 14:00 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has mocked Hakainde Hichilema over his ascendancy to the presidency of UPND.
In a letter to Hichilema dated July 12, 2013, President Sata said he would only respond to Hichilema's claims after telling him the legitimacy of his leadership.
"RE: Appointment of acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda. I acknowledge receipt of your letter dated 9th July, 2013, on the above matter. I will only respond to your letter when you tell me who elected you as president of the United Party for National Development (UPND), because as far as we know, you have never been elected to the section, branch, ward, constituency, district, province and let alone to the presidency of your party," read President Sata's response to Hichilema's letter.
In his letter to President Sata, Hichilema stated that the continued stay of justice Chibesakunda at the helm of the Judiciary was illegal.
He stated what was obtaining in the Judiciary suggested that there was more rot now than at any other time in the history of the country.
Hichilema claimed that if not corrected, the continued stay of justice Chibesakunda would erode people's confidence in a very important arm of government.
"We have noted with great concern that madam Justice Lombe Chibesakunda has been in acting role for more than (1) year. "Acting" does not connote permanency. It is temporary administrative measure. What is obtaining now in the judiciary is tantamount to making a permanent decision in temporary circumstances. This is a breach of the Constitution and is unacceptable. We demand that you live up to the oath you swore to uphold by correcting the constitutional and statutory violation outlined above through the appointment of a substantive Chief Justice," read Hichilema's letter.
Hichilema stated that a select committee of Parliament comprising political parties rejected the name of justice Chibesakunda.
He stated that the continued stay of Justice Chibesakunda after she was rejected by the select committee of Parliament was a clear abuse of power by the executive.
Hichilema said appointing judges on contracts was unconstitutional.
"There is no provision in the constitution for a judge to serve on contract. Allowing a judge to serve on contract like in the current case only serves to compromise their independence. There are many qualified person below the age sixty-five (65), years that you can choose a substantive chief justice from," he stated.
Hichilema said her continued stay would cement the idea that she was in that position as a cadre of the government party to dispense injustice against the opposition.
And Vice-President Dr Guy Scott told Parliament that justice Chibesakunda was on contract and that her continued stay at the helm of the judiciary was legal.
Responding to Katombora UPND member of parliament Derrick Livune who rose on a point of order questioning the legality of the continued stay of Justice Chibesakunda after the parliamentary select committee rejected her candidature for the position, Vice-President Scott explained that she was on contract and her stay was legal.
"Let me first seek permission from Mr Speaker, whether I can respond to this because it is before the courts of law. You should know that she is has signed a contract and therefore, it is legal. There is nothing like acting Chief Justice; it is just Chief Justice," he said.
Vice-President Scott explained that it was procedural that her name was submitted to the parliamentary select committee for scrutiny.
But Mazabuka UPND member of parliament Garry Nkombo in a point of order demanded to know the length of Chief Justice Chibesakunda's contract and when it became binding but Speaker Patrick Matibini said the Vice-President had already tackled the question.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MICHAEL SATA, UPND
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Sata advises HH to check his bitterness
By Allan Mulenga
Fri 28 June 2013, 14:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Michael Sata says Hakainde Hichilema is a desperate "loose cannon". And President Sata says he is eager to give the opposition a chance to test their popularity in 2016.
In a statement over UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema's assertions that the government plans to manipulate the draft constitution and sneak in a clause that would extend the presidential term to eight years, President Sata stated that Hichilema lacked political civility or basic decency and was resolved to harm any mature, rational and constructive discourse on matters affecting the country.
"These kinds of careless claims only proves that we are dealing with a desperate loose cannon who is constantly in denial and determined to display his fallacious notion, just to massage his ego," President Sata said in a statement issued by his special assistant for press and public relations, George Chellah.
President Sata stated that nobody within or outside government had ever contemplated or lobbied for such a retrogressive and selfish agenda.
"In fact, we are eager to give the opposition a chance to test their popularity in 2016. We have no doubt that the Zambian people will judge us on the basis of the unprecedented massive infrastructural and other developmental projects, which are being done in the interest and for the benefit of the Zambians," the President stated.
President Sata urged Hichilema to do a self-introspection and assess if his endless slander, pessimism and bitterness was adding value to the country's political dialogue.
On allegations that the government is inducing by-elections to have Parliament dominated by the ruling party, President Sata reiterated that if the opposition parties whose members of parliament were currently serving in government allowed their parliamentarians to contribute without intimidation, there would be no need for by-elections.
President Sata stated that in the spirit of inclusivity and co-existence, the PF administration would collaborate with whoever was prepared to contribute to the development of the country to stimulate social and economic growth.
President Sata added: "Every responsible government world-over will make sure that it consolidates itself to be in a position to deliver on the promises that got it elected into office, especially if faced with injudicious and unpatriotic leaders of the opposition who are recklessly resolved to undermine government's ability to deliver services to the people."
President Sata reaffirmed his personal commitment to deepening democracy, equality and respect for the will of the Zambian people.
Recently, Hichilema claimed that President Sata wanted to deliberately delay the constitution-making process to put a clause that would extend his stay in the office from five to eight years.
Hichilema said President Sata and his government were scared of the opposition ahead of 2016 elections.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MICHAEL SATA
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PF gives UPND, HH sleepless nights
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Tue 11 June 2013, 14:00 CAT
HAKAINDE Hichilema has lamented that the PF is giving him and his national executive sleepless nights.
Addressing senior party officials in Luanshya at one of the houses within the town centre on Sunday, Hichilema expressed disappointment with the leaders in his party particularly on the Copperbelt for allowing the PF to remain vibrant, adding that the ruling party does not deserve to be popular because it had made serious mistakes on the Copperbelt and the country at large in terms of governance.
He further condemned his party leadership on the Copperbelt for keeping quiet and not coming out strongly against President Michael Sata and the PF on various issues.
According to sources that were part of the meeting, which was also attended by UPND vice-president Richard Kapita, chairman for labour Percy Chanda, UPND Mwinilung'a parliamentarian Stephen Katuuka, UPND Copperbelt chairman Elisha Matambo and information and publicity secretary Kennedy Kalunga and other senior party officials, Hichilema encouraged his officials to soldier on.
"The boss (Hichilema) is not happy that the PF is on top of things on the Copperbelt when you look at politics. He asked why the PF is giving us sleepless nights here and why there is no chance to criticise them and why we are not raising issues. He further said he was irritated that every radio station was leading their news with the PF and that the UPND had allowed PF Copperbelt youth secretary Chanda Kabwe to be making statements in media houses without being challenged by the UPND on the issues that he was raising," the sources revealed yesterday.
The sources said Hichilema challenged his officials to emulate the vibrance and coordination of the PF the time it was in the opposition.
The sources said the UPND leader was mindful of the fact that the Copperbelt dictates the country's political destiny and had since pledged to frequently visit the province.
And speaking when he addressed a rally in Luanshya's Mpatamantu Township at Mwaiseni Grounds, Hichilema said he was on the Copperbelt to see how the poor people were coping with the high cost of living.
He said the PF was a failed project and a disappointment to Zambians.
"Everything has gone up. The PF has failed the people. Look at the transport costs, mealie-meal prices, everything in terms of basic commodities and many other things have increased. No medicines in hospitals and the country is crumbling because of their poor policies. People can't continue to live like this," Hichilema said.
He said the removal of fuel and maize subsidies was a wrong move, saying it would worsen the situation in the country.
Hichilema said the people on the Copperbelt must rally behind the UPND which was the only hope for any Zambian who was interested in seeing the country develop.
But mines deputy minister Richard Musukwa said it was Hichilema who was a failed project because the UPND had failed to progress.
Musukwa who is also Wusakile member of parliament said many Zambians could not listen to Hichilema because they appreciate the PF which was efficiently executing projects and implementing policies aimed at making the country a better place.
"Who can listen to Hichilema? Ask how many people attended his rally in Luanshya. It was only children and a few of them. The people of Luanshya and other towns have not forgotten that this is a man who was at the helm of privatisation and brought nothing but misery to Zambians. You can even see that he is bitter of himself because he has continued to miscalculate his political judgments," said Musukwa.
Meanwhile, Kabwe says it is clear that Hichilema is still bitter that President Sata and the PF were in government.
Reacting to Hichilema's statement on Kitwe Radio Icengelo's Face to Face programme on Saturday morning that he was grateful to God that he was still in the opposition and not in President Sata's government which he further accused of being heavily corrupt, Kabwe said the Copperbelt community was able to tell that Hichilema was full of bitterness.
Kabwe said God's name must not be used in vain by the UPND leader because it was God that gave President Sata an opportunity to become Republican President.
"You heard his tone on radio; many people who phoned and wrote messages disagreed with him on many issues because he was clearly mocking God.
He was very hypocritical and he was struggling to address the issues of tribalism, the issues of bitterness that people raised and these are serious issues when it comes to his politics. It's very unfortunate that we have politicians like Hichilema who is self-centered and he always prophesies doom on President Sata and the PF government but it will not happen," he said.
"The PF is delivering in every sense and there are constructions everywhere but Hichilema has chosen to deliberately ignore this. On Sunday morning, he was on ZNBC, the national broadcaster, criticising the government and this never used to happen in many years that an opposition leader could be featured on national media, but it's the same Hichilema accusing the PF of fighting to defeat democracy."
Kabwe said many people would like to see a matured and improved Hichilema regarding the manner he handled politics.
Kabwe said it was a pity that some politicians like Hichilema had chosen to close their eyes and attack President Sata and the PF government despite a lot of progressive things happening in the country, including the enhancement of democracy and good governance.
"It's a pity that he wants to measure PF members of parliament to those of the UPND. What are the UPND MPs in Southern Province doing for Zambians there in terms of development? Our MPs in the PF are performing better than his members of parliament in Southern Province. The people in that region should in fact demand more from their MPs because their party has been winning elections in Southern Province from 2001, but there is nothing tangible they've done for the people there," he said.
He said Hichilema had no moral right to scandalise the PF that was working hard to meet the aspirations of the people when he had refused to work with anybody as his goal was only to be in State House.
Kabwe said Zambians would never vote for Hichilema because he was selfish and always practices regional politics.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PF, UPND
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(LUSAKATIMES) World Bank is wrong to support the removal of fuel and maize subsidies-HH
Time Posted: June 6, 2013 9:03 pm
United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Hakainde Hichilema says
the World Bank is wrong to support the removal of fuel and maize subsidies by the Zambian government.
Mr Hichilema has since challenged the World Bank Zambia office to prove him otherwise on the removal of subsidies by government.
He says those praising the removal of subsidies including high commissioners and ambassadors accredited to Zambia are being misled by the PF government.
And Mr Hichilema says the high cost of mealie meal and the instability of the kwacha against major foreign currency since the PF Government in 2011 is an indication of failed PF economic policies.
He points out that when the PF government took over power in 2011 a bag of mealie meal was costing K36, 000 kwacha, while the current price is stands at K70, 000.
Mr Hichilema adds that he is still waiting for a reply from President Michael Sata to his letter of 21st May, 2013 in which he raised concerns over the removal of subsidies.
He was speaking on 5-FM’s the Burning Issue this morning.
He explains that subsidies are part of any society, pointing out that big economies including the United Kingdom and the United States of America all have subsidies in place.
Mr Hichilema says the issue is not whether or not there will be subsidies, but how and where to apply subsidies.
The UPND leader states that to debate that the subsidies are not necessary is a sign of ignorance which says obtains among most PF officials.
He adds that subsidies are the future of any society and would help preserve jobs in the country.
Labels: FARM SUBSIDIES, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, World Bank
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PF has people masquerading to be knowledgeable - HH
By Kombe Chimpinde
Tue 04 June 2013, 14:01 CAT
HAKAINDE Hichilema says the PF has people masquerading to be knowledgeable on government policies. But home affairs deputy minister Steven Kampyongo says Hichilema is a big hypocrite whose hypocrisy will not take him anywhere.
Meanwhile, the UPND says it will in the next few days present an update report of alleged PF constitutional abuses to SADC, AU and Commonwealth.
Speaking when he featured on UNZA Radio's Lusaka Star programme, Hichilema wondered whether Kampyongo understood economics better than him.
"He doesn't and that was the ignorance I was talking about earlier. There is a total misconception. When you listen to (Wynter) Kabimba talk, you listen to all these PF sympathisers, including ministers, you can see there is an assumption that government money belongs to them. That is the problem. You have people masquerading to be knowledgeable in the PF. This is why as citizens, we can't allow the country to be run from the dark room," he said.
He said the PF had continued deceiving Zambians.
"This is part of the cheating that has been going on by the PF leadership," Hichilema mocked, with constant reference to Kampyongo, who appeared on the same platform last Tuesday to explain the government position on the removal of subsidies.
"First month they were saying these subsidies (removal of subsidies on maize and fuel) was meant to punish the rich and not the poor, but the rich are continuing with 800 litres. Kampyongo himself is continuing with 800 litres of fuel in a month despite the high price increment," he said.
"It is the poor that have to rely on mealie-meal every day. They do not have options of potatoes and rice and all that stuff…a woman in the market who used to buy her tomatoes from Chamba Valley at a lower price, now the grower has to increase the price, because of cost of production."
He said every Zambian was feeling the pinch with the exception of greedy leaders.
Hichilema said ministers had been lying to the people that the removal of subsidies on fuel and maize had no effect on the poor, something he called playing a 'fools game'.
"These people are deep at sea, they are completely lost and want the people of Zambia to pay the price. Kampyongo or whatever his name is, is out of depth and he was here to defend a policy he does not know even an iota of it," he said.
"Including this issue of buying buses, it will be a situation where now corruption under PF will increase. They will manipulate this money to give to cadres and relatives."
But Kampyongo said that he was aware that Hichilema was infuriated by his featuring on the institution's radio station because he thought he had monopoly over the students.
"I got to the radio station on Tuesday and interacted with students and he was surprised and infuriated that I appeared because he wanted monks to be unleashed but the students were very peaceful and appreciated the programme," he said.
"Why is HH panicking and thinking he is the only one who has a monopoly of wisdom? We may not be economists but we know how to dissect these policies. I am an elected member of parliament who has been given a mandate to lead the people that elected me. So, I am on firmer ground than him who has never received the mandate of the people. Let him not ride on the students."
He said it was clear that Hichilema had a bad taste pronouncing his name by saying 'whatever the name is', an indication of how disrespectful and tribal he was.
And briefing the press at the party secretariat yesterday, Hichilema announced the move to present an update report of alleged PF constitutional abuses to SADC, AU and the Commonwealth was aimed at compelling the international community to intervene.
Hichilema said the country was undergoing tremendous difficulties under the PF in form of abuse of their rights of freedoms and expression.
'The Commonwealth submission has gone and now gathering interest, when we submitted, they were calling us bitter but can they still say we are bitter?" he asked.
"We are going to make a supplementary submission of others who have been battered. I hope the journalists and Oasis Forum will support the submission. Only one (news) paper will remain behind."
He said the assault of people that had gathered to pray at Matero's Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BiGOCA) last Friday was among the examples of many of such abuses that would be documented for the international community.
"PF leaders organised thugs to beat worshipers. I was supposed to be in church and I was aware that I was one of the targets for that panel. It's sad that people we put in office are the ones battering us," he said.
Hichilema also condemned Matero PF member of parliament Miles Sampa, who went to apologise to the church for the incident, whose culprits had not yet been traced on Sunday.
"He went to send a simple message. 'I can kill you. I can batter you but I will pay you.' They are not even using their own money but money removed from subsidies," he said.
Hichilema also repeatedly referred to what he termed the low calibre of people in the PF.
He repeatedly boasted that the credentials of his officials were there to see on the internet while most of those in the PF had just paid their way into getting university degrees, further challenging President Sata Michael Sata and justice minister Wynter Kabimba to a live broadcast debate on ZNBC on subsidies.
"When the blind in knowledge, those with limited knowledge, are explaining issues of subsidies, they can mislead people. I want the PF to choose any member of UPND who they can debate with to see whether they will say nothing or something."
And UPND vice president-political, Dr Canisius Banda yesterday implored Zambians to protest against the PF like the people of Turkey were doing over its alleged bad governance.
Banda, who described the PF as an organisation of fraudsters, said the UPND would continue holding rallies whether the PF liked it or not.
"We will continue speaking whether they like it or not. We have seen what is happening in Turkey (Ankara and Istanbul), the people there, they are protesting against the government…."
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, PF, STEVEN KAMPYONGO
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Radio Macha staff refuse to host HH
By Hope Mkunte in Macha, Choma
Mon 27 May 2013, 14:00 CAT
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema on Saturday night pleaded to be on Radio Macha in Choma so that he could denounce the government over the removal of subsidies on fuel and maize for millers. But the radio station refused to host him because he had not booked for air time.
Hichilema arrived on Saturday night at Radio Macha unannounced and tried to get on air but was stopped by the Radio Macha staff because he had not made any prior arrangement. He arrived at Radio Macha in a convoy of four vehicles after a series of meetings with local leaders.
This was after attending chief Mapanza's funeral on Saturday.
Hichilema tried to persuade the radio staff to allow him to be on air and offered to pay KR4,000 if they let him or UPND members of parliament to speak on radio, but the staff stood their ground and said he should have made prior arrangements so that they put him on their programme schedule.
He got frustrated that he could not be allowed on radio in his own homeland.
"See what the PF government can do! This is the work of a dictator who does not allow freedom of speech," said Hichilema to hundreds of his supporters and shop owners who cheered him on.
"Why do you treat me like this when other radio stations cry for me to speak on radio when they hear that I am in the area? If Wynter Kabimba came here and said he wanted to go on air, you would allow him straight away because he is in the ruling party."
Hichilema accused Radio Macha staff of belonging to the PF.
But Mastone Moonze, who is in charge of news at Radio Macha, said the station was neutral.
" As much as we respect Mr Hichilema, the timing of his arrival at the radio station was wrong. We would have loved to have him on air under different circumstances but not in the manner he came without notifying us in advance of his agenda," said Moonze.
Hichilema, who was in the company of Mbabala member of parliament Ephraim Belemu, Choma Central member of parliament Cornelius Mweetwa, former Southern Province UPND vice-chairman John Chidyaka and other UPND officials, went round the nearby shops greeting shop owners and villagers, some of whom took pictures with him.
And Chidyaka said he was disappointed that Radio Macha could not allow Hichilema to address 'his people', stressing that the UPND leader was newsworthy.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA
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(THE ECONOMIST) Sata pack
Worries about politics are growing in one of Africa’s zippiest economies
May 18th 2013 | LUSAKA |From the print edition
A VISITOR led blindfold to the Levy Junction Mall in Lusaka, Zambia’s capital, might think he had pitched up in a middle-class suburb in Johannesburg. The pristine shopping centre is filled with South African retailers from Pick n Pay, a grocery chain, to Mugg & Bean, a coffee shop. The traders on Mwumba Road, a short drive away, serve a broader class of shoppers but are no less busy. If you need a part for a uranium-enrichment plant you might find it here, jokes one local businessman.
Lusaka’s bustle is a reflection of Zambia’s thriving economy. GDP has risen at an average rate of almost 6% a year in the past decade, while inflation has dropped from more than 20% to below 7%. Until quite recently Lusaka had no shopping malls. It now has ten and more are planned. The potential is enormous. Zambia is rich in arable land, water, gemstones, as well as copper, its main export, which China wants in abundance.
A flaw is that this new-found prosperity has not been widely shared, which helped a populist veteran politician, Michael Sata, to an election victory in 2011. Zambia’s tax take from mining is poor. Its biggest export market is not China but low-tax Switzerland, where copper trades are booked. Prosperous Lusaka pulls in rural migrants but copper-belt towns are less of a draw because mining uses more machines than manpower; 61% of the population remain in the poorer countryside. President Sata presents himself as their champion. But his imperious style has lately left business folk nervous and others dismayed.
One concern is that the liberal policy on foreign investment is under threat. The finance minister, Alexander Chikwanda, recently signed a law giving the central bank power to monitor cross-border capital. Proceeds from exports worth $10,000 or more must be remitted to a bank in Zambia within 60 days of shipment. Capital that flows out of Zambia in dividends or offshore savings will be similarly tracked. The use of foreign currency in domestic transactions was banned by an earlier statute.
Mr Chikwanda says the goal is to know precisely how much money is flowing in and out of Zambia, so he can verify that the right amount of tax is being paid. It is not, he insists, a disguised attempt to impose capital controls. “It is controls that lead to capital flight,” he says. “When you know you can take the money out, you don’t worry.” Locals can still hold dollars in Zambian bank accounts even if they can no longer use them in shops. Their widespread use, say officials, had undermined the central bank’s hold on the economy.
Foreign investors would be less anxious about this were it not for the bullying manner of the president. Mr Sata dominates his government, rarely delegates, is impatient with dissident ministers and is inclined to throw his weight around. He is no diplomat. He told off George W. Bush, the former American president, for tardiness. Mr Sata’s predecessor, Rupiah Banda, whom he defeated in the election of 2011, was stripped of immunity from prosecution in March and is now on trial for corruption. Interpol has cancelled a request for the arrest of Mr Banda’s son for lack of evidence. Opposition leaders have been detained for public-order offences. A coalition of Mr Sata’s opponents filed a 26-page charge-sheet to the Commonwealth in January. It claimed that the president wants to impose a one-party state.
Mr Sata is scarcely a model democrat. He supported Frederick Chiluba’s thwarted bid in 2001 to alter the constitution so he could serve a third term as president. But it is not yet clear that Mr Sata’s rule marks a step-change in Zambian politics. For sure, he uses the Public Order Act, a dismal piece of colonial-era law, to harass opponents and disrupt rallies. But so did his predecessors. Mr Sata was himself detained when in opposition. And his threats and bullying have not had great success. In general, charges are quietly dropped or fail to stick for lack of evidence.
Nor are his opponents much cowed. Hakainde Hichilema, leader of the United Party for National Development, recently called Mr Sata’s outspoken vice-president, Guy Scott, the “most stupid white man” he had ever seen. “If it was really a one-party state he would be locked up for that”, says Mr Scott, perhaps forgetting that Mr Hichilema is no stranger to the police station.
A few well-heeled Lusakans think the choice is between Sata-style populism now and something worse later, if inequality goes unchecked. There are signs of more measured decision-making. An original draft of legislation required the central bank to regulate as well as monitor capital flows. The word “regulate” was removed after lobbying from financiers. Mr Chikwanda says he has resisted pressure for a windfall mining tax. Taxes on the low-paid have been reduced. Fuel subsidies have just been removed, a risk rarely taken by populist governments.
Such fiscal rectitude is all the more surprising as bond investors are throwing cheap money at African governments. In September Zambia raised $750m in dollar bonds to spend on improving road and rail links, after receiving orders of $12 billion. Investors seem inclined to give Zambia the benefit of the doubt.
From the print edition: Middle East and Africa
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MICHAEL SATA, THE ECONOMIST MAGAZINE
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HH takes wife to India for treatment
By Roy Habaalu
Wed 08 May 2013, 14:01 CAT
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has accompanied his wife Mutinta for medical treatment to India, sources have revealed. And Lusaka Province PF youth chairman Kennedy Kamba has
wished Mutinta a quick recovery.
Sources said Hichilema left Zambia on April 30 aboard an Emirates flight EK714 destined for Dubai and arrived in India on May 2. Sources said Mutinta was being treated as an outpatient.
But UPND deputy spokesperson Cornelius Mweetwa said Hichilema was visiting various places and India was just one of them.
Hichilema's absence from the party is only known to those considered loyal to him.
Kamba asked all Zambians to pray for Mutinta's quick recovery so that she comes back to Zambia and offer her husband support in his political career.
"May the good Lord help Mrs Hichilema get well soon. All well-meaning Zambians should pray for her quick recovery so that she returns home.
This is not time for politics but time for the country to pray for our dear sister. No one chooses to be sick. Anyone can fall ill at anytime and it's as a result of this that we in PF wish Mrs Hichilema a quickest recovery," said Kamba.
And Mweetwa said there was no leadership vacuum from the time Hichilema left.
"HH is making visitations in various countries around the world and taking time from the hectic schedule brought about by these unnecessary by-elections. He will be back and you will see him during nominations in one of these constituencies," said Mweetwa.
He said the votes UPND got in the past by-election encouraged Hichilema to forge ahead.
Mweetwa said as Hichilema's dogs of war, they would ensure that they liberated Zambia economically and politically.
Hichilema was quoted on Lusaka's QFM as saying yesterday that Zambians needed a generational change of leadership and not being taken backwards.
According to QFM, Hichilema said the PF went into government without a plan for the country, but for purposes of sharing jobs amongst themselves.
Hichilema added that President Michael Sata had changed from being a man of action to a man of negative action.
Labels: CORNELIUM MWEETWA, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, INDIA, KENNEDY KAMBA, MUTINTA HICHILEMA, UPND
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