Remain calm until Levy returns - KK
By Jack Zimba
Friday July 18, 2008 [04:00]
DR Kenneth Kaunda has said the nation should remain calm and in prayer until President Levy Mwanawasa returns. In an interview on Wednesday, Dr Kaunda called on the ruling MMD and its leadership to hold the nation together. Dr Kaunda said he was saddened to learn of the quarrels within the MMD.
"I'm sorry to see so many quarrels in government and MMD leadership. Let them meet and discuss and agree on a way to follow, a way to go. How do you mix prayer with hatred like that? It can't work. Let them come together and do one thing - to hold the nation together," he said.
Dr Kaunda said the nation should stand together in this "trying moment" as it has from the time President Mwanawasa was hospitalised.
He urged leaders in the MMD to resolve their differences and avoid confrontation.
Dr Kaunda warned that any confrontation within the party and government leadership would impact negatively on the nation.
"We have a well-organised society and we must not destroy it. What is happening in the troubled areas on this earth can happen here, so let us not allow ourselves to fall into that ditch," he said.
Dr Kaunda said Zambia had a system that had worked for over 40 years, which he urged political leaders to follow.
"This system has worked in every situation," he said.
And Dr Kaunda called on the political parties in Zimbabwe to form an interim government of national unity that would pave way for fresh elections after the situation had stabilised.
Dr Kaunda suggested that such elections could be held after two years.
"We have no choice there but to come together and form a government of national unity. It is all about give and take. That is the only way forward," he said.
Dr Kaunda said Zimbabwe could not be rebuilt by insisting on the "ugly situation" witnessed in that country, but by starting afresh.
He also urged US President George Bush and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown to understand the situation in Zimbabwe better before imposing sanctions on that country.
"I want to urge President Bush and Prime Minister Brown, let them look at how this thing came about and help us by stopping what they are doing now. They are not hurting President Mugabe, but the ordinary people of Zimbabwe," Dr Kaunda said.
And commenting on former South African president Nelson Mandela's birthday, which falls today, Dr Kaunda thanked God for the apartheid hero and wished him a long life.
Dr Kaunda, who will join in the celebrations in South Africa, said Mandela was not only a leader for Africa, but for the world.
Mandela turns 90 today.
Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, MWANAWASA
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Unity is key in every situation, says KK
By Laura Mushaukwa and Mwila Chansa
Tuesday July 08, 2008 [04:06]
UNITY is key in every situation, Dr Kenneth Kaunda has said. In an interview ahead of Unity Day which falls today, Dr Kaunda called for the unity of all Zambians through the forces of genuine love. "Unity is key in every situation and Zambians must continue to stand together all the way, that was why this day was established," Dr Kaunda said. "Love thy neighbour as you love yourself."
And UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema expressed confidence that Zambians would continue demonstrating unity when it was needed most. He said Zambians were good spirited people who always united for a common effort.
"They demonstrated unity when they fought for independence, they demonstrated unity when they fought for multiparty politics.
In President Mwanawasa's illness they have demonstrated unity and I have no doubt at all that they will unite for their
country to be run better," Hichilema said. "They will unite for a viable country that will look after the sick. They may take
long but they do come together for a common effort."
Hichilema underscored the need to work on commonality as a country instead of pulling each other down. He also urged
government leaders to show leadership by exhibiting strength even as President Mwanawasa received treatment in France.
He said in such situations, people tend to be emotional but that there was need for the government leadership to provide
confidence to the people.
Hichilema also urged Zambians to remain calm, prayerful, thoughtful and collected.
"It is important that in this situation, we remain calm. We should not panic or create alarm. We need to be strong and
government leaders should provide calmness and leadership of some kind," Hichilema said.
He reiterated his wish for President Mwanawasa to quickly recover. He said it was important to ensure that even as President
Mwanawasa remained ill, issues that should keep the country running were addressed.
Hichilema cited the pending strike at the University of Zambia (UNZA) as one of the issues that needed to be seriously addressed.
And President Mwanawasa's family friend, Dale Litana, yesterday asked all Zambians to kneel down in prayer for his quick
recovery. Litana, a Kitwe-based businessman, said although God did not answer all prayers, he was hopeful that out of the
so-many prayers said for President Mwanawasa's quick recovery, God would listen and respond accordingly.
"I would like to encourage all my fellow Zambians to kneel down and pray for Levy," Litana said. "I am convinced that God has
something for Levy because he picked him for a purpose. Zambia has done very well under Levy’s leadership. This has to
continue."
And Litana said although the government had accepted an apology from South African President Thabo Mbeki concerning his announcement that President Mwanawasa had died, he personally found it hard to accept the apology because a person in President Mbeki's position had all the instruments at his disposal to quickly verify that information.
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, KENNETH KAUNDA, NATIONAL UNITY DAY
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Zimbabwe: Appeal to my two brothers
By Dr Kenneth D. Kaunda
Sunday June 29, 2008 [04:00]
I STARTED writing this only two days before the scheduled June 27, 2008, second round of presidential elections in Zimbabwe. The first, my reader may know, was in March 2008. This is now some three months since those first elections for the presidency and other levels.
The results, it will be recalled, were that Movement for Democratic Change, MDC's Tsvangirai took some 47 per cent, and Robert Mugabe, of the ruling ZANU-PF, got some 42 per cent. The Constitution provides that for a leading candidate to win, he or she must get more than 50 per cent of votes cast. Thus the figures required that Zimbabwe goes to a second round of presidential elections.
So many developments have taken place. It has been announced that over 80 Zimbabweans have been killed. Photographs and images on various television screens have shown terrifying wounds on bodies of our fellow human beings in Zimbabwe.
We have been told that these ugly pictures have been caused by supporters of the ZANU PF, the current ruling organisation.
I also remember three commanders of the various forces of Zimbabwe appearing on the screen and telling the world. Each one of them said they would never salute Tsvangirai. Some people have also pointed out that some MDC supporters have victimised others. All the above facts I have referred to show clearly that there is a major crisis in the country of Zimbabwe.
When trying to help find a solution to this major problem in Southern Africa, we have to look at what has taken place in the past. And I believe we should refer to some of these also as we look at the best way of trying to find solutions to the current issues in Zimbabwe.
In this extremely difficult situation, we also have to remind ourselves about some of the ugly pictures of things that have happened in the past in Zimbabwe.
For example, thousands of people in Matebeleland were destroyed in the conflict just after Zimbabwe's independence. Thank God the Mugabes, of the ruling ZANU-PF, and the Nkomos, of the opposition ZAPU, got together in one political movement. That led to unity between people of Zimbabwe and Mugabe became president and ZAPU's Joshua Nkomo, from 1987 to December 1999 when he passed on, became first vice-president. Simon Muzenda was second vice-president.
For now, the problem is now between ZANU-PF and MDC. Media reports indicate that those who were causing death and injury to MDC supporters include ex-combatants, those who, with President Robert Mugabe, fought in the liberation war.
MDC president Tsvangirai has withdrawn from the elections. This will not make matters any easier at all, and yet a solution must be found to those problems and that solution must involve him and his party. If we actually are to have peace and development in the country, these divisions leading to death and injury must be tackled in an honest and indeed effective way.
The first thing we must consider is genuine prayer that the good Lord God Almighty might bring to the people of Zimbabwe genuine love for forces of our Creator. It is a love of people of Zimbabwe across anything artificial.
The Holy Scriptures tell us, in Mark 12: 29, “Love God your Creator with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” This is how the people of Zimbabwe will need to relate in terms of the relationship between each one of them and his or her relationship with his or her Creator.
In the next Commandment God tells every Zimbabwean to love his or her neighbour as he or she loves himself or herself. This neighbour is every person who is in Zimbabwe. Of equal importance is, “Do unto others as you would want them do unto you.” This is regardless of whether one is black, white, brown, or whether one is Shona, Ndebele, Tonga, European, or from other groups.
I have publicly said, “Please do not demonise Mugabe.” Please remember the history of Zimbabwe, and the harsh experience of the blacks from the time of Cecil Rhodes, to colonialism, Unilateral Declaration of Independence, UDI, by Ian Douglas Smith, and the experience of the liberation struggle, which led, after the London Lancaster House conference of 1979, into Zimbabwe's independence in April 1980.
Zambia closely followed the events of Zimbabwe. And on Robert Mugabe's government side, for a long time, they followed their part of the Lancaster House agreement. This agreement, amongst other things, dealt with the land question and amnesty for mistakes committed by all sides during the liberation struggle.
Please note that, following the Lancaster House agreement, British prime minister Margaret Thatcher's government began to work on this land issue. John Major's government, continued to work on that very difficult problem. Please, remember that it is when my fellow socialists in Britain came to power under Tony Blair's New Labour, as they called themselves, that the land problems now in Zimbabwe began. How could, of all governments, a British government, a socialist government for that matter, negate on such an extremely important agreement?
Yes, on the issue of land, it is being said by many that the reaction by the Mugabe government to this failure by Tony Blair was not helpful. My view is there was, and I think there is still, room for talking to President Mugabe and his colleagues about the future of Zimbabwe. Naturally, these discussions must involve all those concerned – ZANU-PF, MDC, churches, labour leaders, and many other recognised civil organisations.
Going back to the discussion table means the British government's involvement is a must because of the Lancaster House agreement on land matters as proposed by the Thatcher government at that conference.
Just remember, the Thatcher government undertook to resolve this matter as a way of contributing to solving the problems - political, economic, and social - that Zimbabwe was facing.
In this Zimbabwe situation, people like President Jimmy Carter give us some very good example of how to deal with problems of this nature. He helped to negotiate the settlement between Egypt and Israel. Recently, quietly, he visited the Middle East, meeting various leaders as quietly as possible. We are now noting signs of peace developing through talks between various fighting forces
How can we forget that great man Nelson Mandela, “Madiba,” who has just been in London celebrating his 90th birthday. We remember him in 1990 coming to Zambia as the first country he visited after 27 years in prison. He not only came to say “thank you” to the people of Zambia for looking after the liberation leaders and freedom fighters of Angola, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa itself, but also for the contribution Zambia made to the negotiations towards his release from prison. Over the years we had been negotiating with leaders like prime ministers John Vorster, Botha, and Fredereck De Klerk.
Dear reader, I refer to a number of these cases of mediation. These are similar cases of conflict, some of them in individual countries and yet others between countries. Mediation is very important in the field of bringing peace to earth, our one world.
Within Zambia, my own life has serious lessons about conflict. For example, when we became One Party Participator Democracy, we did not impose this on the people of Zambia. We set up a commission under that great son of Zambia, Mainza Chona. We met several times with another great leader in Zambia, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula, who led the opposition ANC.
We negotiated until, through the Choma Declaration, we agreed to come together. An agreed constitution settled every thing. Who can tell us today that we could have handled successfully, thank God, liberation struggles in neighbouring countries that every body knows, if we did not come together?
At a personal level, when we went back to multipartism in 1991, we had three years to go. But Zambia's constitutional arrangement was such that we were required to go back to the people through a referendum on going back to the multiparty system. In the situation, I thought that there was no need for us to spend more time and money on such referendum. So, in December 1990, I signed the repeal of the constitutional clause, thus allowing us to go back to the multiparty system and the third Republic.
In terms of conflict within our nation, I should point out that, after I left State House and was in opposition during the administration of Frederick Chiluba, I had a young and brilliant lawyer Richard Ngenda, who was handling my personal affairs very well. He was assassinated for doing that. Following on that, my own son, third born, Major Wezi Kaunda, also a lawyer and very promising politician, was, in November 1999, also assassinated.
When I was in opposition, there were several attempts on my life. In one, in Kabwe, August 1997, we almost lost the life of outstanding lawyer Dr Roger Chongwe. Thank God he was shot, like I, but he recovered. It was definitely a miracle that he survived.
Many of our friends, supporters, and associates suffered. In spite of this, I thank God that He has made it possible for me to accept the Holy Teaching that vengeance is not ours, but under God's control. Every body who has witnessed me meeting president Chiluba will testify that I accept this Holy Teaching. I greet him without anger. It is not easy but I believe it is the only way.
These teachings must continue to guide us all, whether it is in Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, or South Africa with its current violent xenophobia. We need to “Love thy neighbour as thy self.” It is to “Do unto others as you would love them do unto you.”
I am appealing to my two brothers, Robert Gabriel Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai and their comrades in their parties, please for the sake of Zimbabwe and a new future, please start a new leaf. Remember that after that extremely difficult time of the massacres in Matabeleland, Bob you laid bare your sorrow for that tragedy. That is how Zimbabwe was reborn. You began to build together with your now late brother Joshua Nkomo. In a way, we are a bit fortunate that this current problem is largely between parties, and less between ethnic divisions.
Allow me to remind us all the message of God Almighty, our Creator: “Love God your Creator with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” And, “Love your neighbour as thy self.” We are to, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”
In Matthew 5:43, Jesus says: “You have heard the law that says,'Love your neighbour' and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For He gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and He sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.”
“If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
This is a challenge for the great people of Zimbabwe. Working together, the current conflict can be solved.
Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI, MUGABE, ZIMBABWE
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Talk directly to leaders of Zimbabwe, urges KK
By Masuzyo Chakwe in Lusaka, Kingsley Kaswende and George Chell
Friday June 27, 2008 [04:00]
DR Kenneth Kaunda yesterday said people that want to help resolve the Zimbabwean political crisis should talk directly to that country's political leaders instead of speaking through the press. And MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai said he will not negotiate for a political settlement after today's deadline he has given President Robert Mugabe if the veteran leader goes ahead with the election in which he is the only competitor.
Commenting on the recent development in Zimbabwe ahead of today's presidential runoff polls, Dr Kaunda said if people were going to help, they should talk to both the government and opposition leaders directly.
"It is very important that if we want to succeed in our efforts to help the extremely difficult situation in Zimbabwe, we must talk to the leaders of Zimbabwe, not to the leaders of the press. We value what you (press) are doing very much indeed but if we are going to succeed, we must talk to them. Lets go there," he said.
Dr Kaunda, who did not want to say much on the situation, still insisted on a government of national unity.
"Come these elections or not, I beg that we should work for a government of national unity, that also means talking to leaders there," he said.
On the position that the current SADC chairperson had taken on Zimbabwe, Dr Kaunda declined to comment.
And as of yesterday, the SADC, United Nations, African leaders and other global leaders had called for the election to be put off, but the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) said Tsvangirai's withdrawal was invalid and the election would proceed today.
ZEC chairperson justice George Chiweshe told journalists at Harare's Rainbow Towers Hotel that the commission had deliberated on the content and effect of Tsvangirai's letter where he cited various reasons.
He said after deliberating on Tsvangirai's letter, the commission concluded that the MDC leader's withdrawal was a nullity.
"It was unanimously agreed that the withdrawal had, inter alia, been filed well out of time and that for that reason the withdrawal was of no legal force or effect," justice Chiweshe said. "Accordingly, the commission does not recognise the purported withdrawal.
We are, therefore, proceeding with the presidential runoff election this Friday as planned. The ballot papers have been printed and dispatched. We are advising Mr Tsvangirai accordingly."
Asked if the withdraw would have an effect on the legitimacy of the election, justice Chiweshe responded: "The pullout has no legal force. In fact, there has been no pullout."
He said ZEC was ready for the elections and that the results of the presidential run-off would be announced as soon as they were ready.
Tsvangirai, who withdrew from the run-off and called for a negotiated political settlement, said the deadline for negotiations was today.
"I have been prepared to negotiate before June 27, not after," he said. "Negotiations will be over if Mr Mugabe declares himself the winner and considers himself the President. How can we negotiate?"
Tsvangirai said if Mugabe approached him after today, he would tell him that the time for negotiations was over.
"I would tell him that I made these offers, I made these overtures, I told you I would negotiate before the elections and not after because it's not about elections, it's about transition.
You disregarded that, you undertook violence against my supporters, you killed and maimed, you are still killing and maiming unarmed civilians, the army is still out there. How can you call yourself an elected President?
You are illegitimate and I will not speak to an illegitimate President."
On Wednesday, Tsvangirai said the only way to end the impasse in Zimbabwe would be to establish a transitional mechanism that would recognise the results of the March 29 election.
"I am asking the African Union and SADC to lead an expanded initiative, supported by the United Nations, to manage the transitional process. We are proposing that the AU facilitation team, comprising eminent Africans, set up a transitional period which takes into account the will of the people of Zimbabwe.
The African Union team would lead in the constituting and character of the transitional period. The transitional period would allow the country to heal.
As the MDC, we have always said we will be magnanimous in our victory. Genuine and honest dialogue amongst Zimbabweans is the only way forward. The MDC is a people's project; we value our county and our people," he said.
"I want to emphasize that the basis of any settlement must recognise the fundamental principle of democracy, that is, the respect for the will of the people to choose their own leadership.
Over and above this, the Zimbabwe political solution must recognize the following - stability, inclusivity, acceptability, and credibility.
The sum total of all this is legitimacy. A negotiated political settlement which allows the country to begin a national healing and the process of economic reconstruction, provision of humanitarian assistance and democratisation would be in the best interest of the country."
Earlier, the SADC's security troika urged the postponement of Friday's election, saying the re-election of President Mugabe could lack legitimacy in the current violent climate.
The troika, comprising Tanzania, which doubles up as African Union chair, Swaziland and Angola, during a meeting in Swaziland called for talks between the two leaders before a new runoff date could be set.
However, ZANU-PF insisted that the election would go ahead today despite calls for it to be postponed.
Since Tsvangirai pulled out on Sunday, it has been business as usual for President Mugabe, who has been campaigning, holding more than 15 rallies in different parts of the country since Sunday.
ZANU-PF's insistence was even fuelled by ZEC's declaration of Tsvangirai's withdrawal as invalid.
But MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said the party would not recognise the election as well as its outcome because it would be illegitimate.
"We are not even surprised with (ZEC's) decision. They are the ones who failed to put down conditions for a free and fair election. Our case is clear. An election is not possible in the current conditions," Chamisa said in an interview. "ZEC can sympathise with ZANU-PF but that will not be an election. There will be no election held in our view.
This is just a circus. How can one man contest alone? You can't have a race in which you are the only competitor and say you have won. They will have no legitimacy because it is a mock election, an artificial construct of an election."
Chamisa appealed to African and world leaders not to endorse what he called an illegal regime.
Earlier after he received a donation for the Kenneth Kaunda Foundation from the Egyptian government, Dr Kaunda said Africa without the unity of other countries on the continent could not go very far.
He said the example shown by the Egyptian government should be emulated by other excellencies in Zambia and beyond.
Dr Kaunda said HIV/AIDS and malaria were diseases that were killing thousands every day.
"So your contribution to our great struggle is outstanding and we are very grateful indeed, I will convey to the Egyptian President in writing through you Mr Ambassador, may the good Lord Almighty continue guiding you and your great country," Dr Kaunda said.
And Egyptian Ambassador to Zambia Sherif Shaheen said his country would support Dr Kaunda in the fight against AIDS.
Dr Waza Kaunda said the focus of the foundation was on children.
Dr Waza said they were currently supporting orphanages by improving the infrastructure.
Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, ZIMBABWE
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KK advises against selling NCZ
By Brighton Phiri and Agness Changala
Wednesday June 25, 2008 [04:00]
ZAMBIA risks denying itself the chance of developing its agricultural sector if they sell off Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ), Dr Kenneth Kaunda has said. And NCZ workers and their families yesterday staged a protest over the recapitialisation of the company.
Commenting on agriculture minister Sara Sayifwanda's recent disclosure that the government was considering getting an equity partner to run NCZ or sell it off completely, Dr Kaunda said the government was bound to face some serious difficulties in its plans to revive the agricultural co-operative movement in the country.
"It is good that government is discussing the issues surrounding NCZ because it is an indication that they are still listening to various views over this serious matter," he said. "My view is that we need to produce our own fertiliser if we are to sustain and develop Zambia's potential in the agricultural sector. As a country, we shall face a lot of difficulties if we are to depend on imported fertiliser. Let us not deny ourselves chance of becoming the greatest African nation in the field of agriculture."
Dr Kaunda asked the government to recapitalise NCZ instead of selling it to the private sector, as many peasant farmers could not cope up with the increased prices being demanded by the private sector.
He reminded the MMD government that his former UNIP government established the NCZ plant after realising that the country had great potential in the agricultural sector.
"Let me remind the country that just as we were leaving office, we had reached a stage where co-operatives were buying fertiliser for themselves without relying on government. But the Chiluba government destroyed all our well-stocked co-operative societies," he said.
He said it would be difficult for the government to revive the co-operative movement without the existence of NCZ.
Dr Kaunda said it was not possible for the government to empower its citizens in the agricultural sector without NCZ.
"Reviving the co-operative movement will definitely help government reach out to many of our people in the agricultural field, but we must remember that this is not possible through the private sector," he said.
NCZ managing director Richard Soko said NCZ had a lot of potential but lacked recapitalisation.
Sayifwanda said a team of five ministers had been appointed to review operations of NCZ and chart the way forward. She said Cabinet was still discussing whether it should go ahead and invest K58 billion in the company or not.
And NCZ workers, together with retirees and their families, marched to the district commissioner's office in Kafue seeking an audience with Sayifwanda.
The workers called on the government to inject more money into the company as nothing was happening at the moment and that terminal benefits to the retirees should be paid.
And addressing the protestors, Kafue mayor Goodson Sansakuwa said he would stand for the people and he did not care what the government would do to him.
Sansakuwa expressed disappointment that the government had allowed problems at NCZ to worsen.
"This started a long time and should not have come this far," Sansakuwa said.
And NCZ chairman Robert Munsanje called on State House to intervene in the matter.
Munsanje said they had tried as a company to fight for what belonged to them by asking the government to recapitalise the company.
He said the workers were told as early as last year that they were going to be given K58.3 billion which they had been waiting for up to date.
"We were told that our money is being finalised and when the Cabinet sat they agreed that we must be given the money," he said.
Munsanje said when they went to the ministry; the minister said she could not manage to give them the money unless there was an intervention from State House.
"Now we want State House to intervene in this matter and if they have failed to run this company let them close it and pay off the workers. They must separate people from machinery," he said.
Munsanje said they were tired and called on the government to come up with a lasting solution to the NCZ workers' problems.
Munsanje also vowed that the workers would not stop protesting until a solution was found.
Meanwhile, Kafue district commissioner Henry Bowa told the crowed to be calm saying the minister would address them.
Labels: AGRICULTURE, FERTILIZER, KENNETH KAUNDA, NCZ
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Let's not play games with fertilizer
By Editor
Wednesday June 25, 2008 [04:00]
THERE is need for the government to pay special attention to Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ). Over the past few months, workers and retirees have staged protests demanding that the government revive the company by pumping in more money and that retirees should be paid their terminal benefits. In December last year, the workers protested over non-payment of salaries. The workers had not been paid because the government had not released money for the 30,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser NCZ produced for the Fertiliser Support Programme. Yesterday, the workers staged a protest demanding the recapitalisation of the company and payment of retirees' benefits.
On the other hand, the agriculture minister Sara Sayifwanda recently said the government is still discussing the future of the company. Sayifwanda also said the government was still considering whether to sell off NCZ completely or to find an equity partner.
Listening to the concerns being raised by both the government and the workers, it is clear that things are not well and there is need to address the situation.
We agree with Dr Kenneth Kaunda's concerns that Zambia risks denying itself a chance of developing its agricultural sector if NCZ is sold. Dr Kaunda says we need to produce our own fertiliser if we are to sustain and develop Zambia's potential in the agriculture sector.
Agriculture still remains a critical component for economic development and food security in the country. It is the mainstay of the rural people. And these people need inputs for them to be able to produce food for sale and consumption. Agriculture is also a critical component to poverty reduction and if the government is serious with reducing poverty in the country, there is need to pay special attention to this very important sector.
The government has always been talking about strengthening the agriculture sector and how it is key to economic development.
Various initiatives like the Fertiliser Support Programme (FSP) have been introduced to help farmers with inputs. These programmes are necessary if the country is to attain high levels of food production. And it is good that the fertiliser given to these farmers is from NCZ in that, apart from empowering the local farmers, the government also supports 600 workers that are currently working for that company. However, it is sad to note that the government is considering not to procure fertiliser from NCZ for the Fertiliser Support Programme this farming season, denying these workers jobs and the opportunity to earn a salary. This means that the company will not be able to produce fertiliser this year despite having the raw materials in place. We would like to believe that NCZ, if properly funded, can produce enough fertiliser for both the local and regional markets.
NCZ has a capacity to produce 144,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser annually and 10,000 metric tonnes daily. For the company to run efficiently, they need about K170 billion for repair works, timely purchase of raw materials and basic-working capital. But last year in November, the government said they would only give NCZ K58 billion which is yet to be released.
We would like to believe that the situation can be addressed to ensure that the company is back on track. NCZ is a strategic institution, which the Kaunda regime established for the sole purpose of unlocking the country's potential in the agriculture sector. Dr Kaunda has also rightly pointed out that by the time the UNIP government was leaving office, the cooperatives were able to buy fertiliser without relying on the government. This is something that will be impossible to achieve, in an event that NCZ is not supported because farmers will have to rely on imports which might prove very costly. In an event that the cost does not go up, there would still be a problem in that we would be talking about developing the agriculture but at the same time abandoning a company that can help to build that same sector.
There is need for the government to match its words with action. It is difficult to understand the commitment to developing the agriculture sector when even the allocation to the sector in this year's budget has been reduced to K787 billion against last year's over K1 trillion. We need to remember that all these factors are intertwined. We are talking about developing the agriculture sector because it has a fundamental role in poverty reduction, food security and overall economic development. It is also central in the livelihoods of people, especially the rural poor who account for over 70 per cent of our country's poor. It is the economic heart of most countries and the most likely source of significant economic growth.
In countries where agricultural productivity has risen, the fastest rates of economic growth have occurred. Actually, we need to understand that an increase in the agricultural yields can go a long way in reducing the percentage of poor people living on less than a dollar a day. While hunger and food insecurity have many causes often outside agriculture, it remains a vital contributor to national household food security.
And for us to have a dramatically improved performance into this sector, particularly small and medium-scale agriculture, we need to plough our resources in institutions that will enhance the sector. Much as we, as a country, may not have control over issues of global commodity prices, national policies and initiatives should provide the right incentives to develop the agriculture sector.
Like Dr Kaunda said, it is good that the government is considering the future of NCZ. We can only urge them to ensure that the company is revived to enable our farmers have access to inputs as well as secure the jobs of the 600 workers currently working for NCZ.
With proper funding and proper use of funds by the management, NCZ can be revived.
It may be necessary to entice National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) to takeover NCZ and pump some of its billions in this company. This is not a loss-making business, it is a highly profitable undertaking, if well capitalised and managed. And NAPSA will certainly not make a loss for its pensioners if it took over this company. And if NAPSA takes over NCZ, it should also be given Maamba Collieries because coal is an important input in the production of fertilisers.
The government has an obligation to intervene and regulate the economy, more especially the agriculture sector, in order to ensure adequate supplies of food, and also to ensure just remuneration for all those who labour to feed the nation.
Food is the most important element in any economy. Consequently, the arrangements to make food readily available to all people take on a very high priority in a well-ordered society.
Food security is central to the economic, political and social future of our country. Meeting the basic food needs of families must be top priority in our government planning. Hunger in our society is a sign of gross injustice and a block to development.
We need to provide food at prices, which give a just return to farmers and are reasonable to consumers. And the best way we can achieve this is by ensuring that the prices of inputs are reasonable.
Labels: FERTILIZER, KENNETH KAUNDA, NCZ
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Resolve land wrangles now!
By Editor
Wednesday June 18, 2008 [04:00]
We join Dr Kenneth Kaunda in calling upon the government to quickly find a lasting solution to the current land wrangles almost in every province of the country. These wrangles, small as they may seem, have the potential to explode into life-threatening violence if there is no solution in sight. The land dispute between chief Shakumbila and chieftainess Nkomeshya is the case in point. We do not know the merits or demerits on both sides and, therefore, we cannot state with certainty as to who is wrong. And since it is not possible for both chiefs to be wrong or right at the same time, it goes without saying that one of them is right and the other is wrong.
That is why it is important for the government to quickly intervene and chat the way forward on this matter and others that have been reported in the recent past. There is need for the government to take very decisive steps to bring these land wrangles, together with succession disputes to a close. If left unchecked, these wrangles have the potential to sustain tension among our people, even creating anarchy in the nation.
Zambians have for a long time existed and lived as one, regardless of which part of the country they find themselves in. So, these developments, where chiefs are now expelling from their areas those of the unlike tribe, should be a source of worry. What is happening to our One Zambia, One Nation motto?
We know that Zambians have now discovered how valuable land is. We hear of minerals being discovered in some areas and oil in others. We also hear how foreign investors are ready to part away with so many millions of kwacha to own some huge tracks of land from our traditional rulers. These could be some of the issues inspiring or motivating our chiefs in these wrangles. It cannot be denied that our traditional leaders enjoy some inherent benefits when it comes to such issues.
For example, in the case of chief Shakumbila and chieftainess Nkomeshya, we heard how the former vowed never to release the disputed land because Nampundwe Mine, Trade Kings and Kafue Sugar, among others, allegedly fall within his boundary. He said however chieftainess Nkomeshya fights, she will never get these industries on her side.
Like we said earlier, we do not know who is right or wrong. But the government’s prolonged silence on this matter is not helping. These are issues that seriously breed hatred among our people.
This country is not devoid of history so as to continue guessing who could be right or wrong. We have experts in the government to deal with such matters. So why should these issues be left unresolved for a long time? Does the government want to make a move after lives have been lost, after blood has been shed, as some chiefs are threatening?
We also appeal to our traditional leaders to address and resolve these disputes with the decency and decorum befitting their status. Traditional leaders anywhere are held in very high esteem. But if they lower their esteem, can these traditional leaders expect anyone to raise it for them. Why should anyone bow before a chief who does not respect himself or herself? When traditional leaders start using the kind of language that some of them are using against one another, we wonder if that is what their subjects are expected to emulate from them. We thought that traditional leaders are among the most respectful people in our society.
With what is going on, will our chiefs take offence if their subjects use the same uncouth language against them. And some of the words used by our traditional leaders are very inciting and provocative. Actually, some of these threats or words border on criminality. Do we want to perpetuate tribal conflicts or ‘wars’ as a country?
Zambia has been an oasis of peace from time immemorial. Do we want to lose this peace just for a few pieces of silver expected in form or royalties or something else? We need to learn what happened in other countries where tribal conflicts were allowed to slide into chaos or anarchy. The 1994 genocide in Rwanda is a case in point. We are all familiar with the genesis of that tribal war with all its consequences. And surely, we do not want that to happen to Zambia. Are Solis less human to live in Mumbwa or anywhere else?
Dr Kaunda’s motto of One Zambia, One Nation was meant to inculcate in every citizen of this country the thought that we are all God’s children created in his image and therefore should interact and harmoniously live together as one, regardless of our origins or tribes.
We hope we are not about to lose this oneness and togetherness as a people. If there are problems between Salas and Solis, let these problems be sorted out not on the basis of tribe. If there are problems between Tongas and Lozis, let no tribal tones tack centre stage.
Labels: CHIEF SHAKUMBILA, CHIEFS, CHIEFTIANESS NKOMESHYA, KENNETH KAUNDA, LAND
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KK warns against land disputes
By Brighton Phiri, Lambwe Kachali and Kelvin Tembo
Wednesday June 18, 2008 [04:00]
DR Kenneth Kaunda yesterday warned that the land dispute between chief Shakumbila and chieftainess Nkomeshya can explode into life-threatening violence if the government delays in resolving it. Commenting on the land dispute between senior chief Shakumbila of the Sala people of Mumbwa district and chieftainess Nkomeshya of the Soli people over their boundary, which has resulted into an exchange of threats of violence, Dr Kaunda said the dispute between the two traditional leaders had the potential to explode into a situation where Zambians would abandon their uniting motto of "One Zambia, One Nation".
"I have read what chief Shakumbila and chieftainess Nkomeshya have said. It is an entry into separation between the two ethnic groups that have lived in harmony," Dr Kaunda said. "This is what can bring about an explosive situation that will move us away from our One Zambia, One Nation. We must avoid it."
Dr Kaunda appealed to chief Shakumbila and chieftainess Nkomeshya to avoid issuing threats against each other as their statements had the potential to incite their respective subjects.
"My greatest plea to my chiefs is that they should quickly reach out to the responsible ministers such as the provincial minister and local government minister to address their concerns instead of issuing threats," Dr Kaunda said.
And addressing headmen and subjects on Monday afternoon in Mwembeshi, chief Shakumbila charged that chieftainess Nkomeshya was an idiot who had started a fire that she would never extinguish. Chief Shakumbila urged his people to get ready for war with chieftainess Nkomeshya.
He said he would not accept any nonsense from chieftainess Nkomeshya and her people. Chief Shakumbila said it was unfortunate that chieftainess Nkomeshya had decided to go ahead and claim part of his chiefdom. He said although he was a law abiding traditional leader, he was ready to break the law.
"It is unfortunate for Nkomeshya to continue maintaining her stance. I am reliably informed that today Monday morning; she gave a statement or report that she is ready to fight me. She is ready for bloodshed. Is that good? Is that good? Now my message to her is this; from this time where the sun is, I am more than prepared for her. Any form she wants to meet me, if it means in the air, if it means in water, if it means underground, day or night, I am ready to fight," chief Shakumbila vowed.
He bragged that he had fought many battles and challenges in life and had never lost any. Chief Shakumbila, whose subjects demonstrated how ready they were to go to war by waving their spears in the air, said although he had a lot of respect for chieftainess Nkomeshya, he had now lost it.
He ordered his people to beat up any Soli that would be found causing confusion in his chiefdom.
"Nkomeshya must be told and should know that she is on a journey which she will never complete. I am not a coward. She must go and ask the type of a person she is trying to touch. She is nothing to me. It's water to drink. I am not even worried about her. If there are no men in her chiefdom to marry her, let her come here and we will marry her.
That's been stupid. Huu! Avulamalweza she is cursed. Where are the Salas? There is a saying that when you are stirring the soup of a Sala, don't go in the middle because it will steam on your hands. It is actually powder of the groundnut. I want to ignite the fire. Today, I am leaving the buttons on. Everyone (Soli) you see hovering around here please beat them up. I am very much prepared to face the law. I have been too obedient," he said.
Chief Shakumbila said it was sad that chieftainess Nkomeshya had failed to accept that the boundary was at the railway line.
"People of God please we wanted to die with that good word in our mouths. We didn't want to insult people at public platform like this one. Nkomeshya is like my mother. I should have been calling her mother whenever I meet her. But now, she has started a war that will never end, and that I will never give her any respect again. My warning to her is that she must go and shut up. She is very stupid, she is a devil, an idiot, and she should go to hell. Tell her that I have insulted her. I have prepared my army and my Impis. We shall fight up to the bitter end. I am ready to go to Mukobeko prison," chief Shakumbila said.
He further ordered the eviction of nine headmen and many other subjects believed to be Soli from his chiefdom.
Among those to leave his chiefdom include, headman Sijoobo, Mukuni, Shamakaba, Shachindalo, Mwanjeleka and Shakunkuma.
"All these should leave and go to Nkomeshya's land. But for Solis who are not problematic, we will have no problems with them to stay here. I will even continue to appoint them as headmen," said chief Shakumbila.
But Soli Cultural Association (SOCA) president Charles Mwambi said Solis were ready to fight chief Shakumbila to the bitter end at Mwembeshi River and not at the railway line.
In an interview on Monday in Chongwe, Mwambi said Solis were not claiming land on the western side of the Mwembeshi River but that on the eastern side.
"We are ready to shed blood over that land and Shakumbila has no moral right to prevent me from visiting my subjects in her chiefdom which extends up to Mwembeshi River," Mwambi said.
He said SOCA had advised chieftainess Nkomeshya not to respond any further to Shakumbila's utterances because they were baseless. Mwambi warned that whatever would happen to chieftainess Nkomeshya's life, chief Shakumbila would be held responsible.
Later on Monday, scores of women marched to chieftainess Nkomeshya's palace to show solidarity over her stance on the boundary dispute.
Chieftainess Nkomeshya, when addressing the women, said the Surveyor General Danny Mubanga had no right to address her as "that woman" because she was not his girlfriend.
She said the fight between her and chief Shakumbila had been caused by Mubanga as he had failed to give guidance on the maps.
"How can he say he has had enough of me, am I his girlfriend?" the visibly annoyed chieftainess Nkomeshya questioned.
She maintained that Mubanga was a corrupt man and that she would not change her stance. She said her people had buried their relatives there and they could not be removed now.
Chieftainess Nkomeshya wondered if people would be made to dig up the remains of their relatives and bury them elsewhere.
And Lusaka Province minister Lameck Mangani advised the two chiefs to desist from issuing death threats, saying it was a crime.
Mangani said when the meeting for permanent secretaries for Central and Lusaka provinces was held, the Surveyor General and the two chief ended inconclusively, he was not told that the Surveyor General sat again and resolved the boundary wrangle.
Mangani said there was still a problem with the 1958 map because a lot of features in Lusaka Province had changed.
He warned that the government would not tolerate death threats because they threatened the country's peace and security.
"My appeal to the two chiefs is that the matter will soon be resolved but there should be no chief to evict people from the other tribe. As Zambians, we are one and can stay anywhere we want. And they should also stop insulting each other through the press," he said.
Mangani also directed that no investors should be allowed to prospect for investment in both chief Shakumbila and chieftainess Nkomeshya's areas until the dispute was resolved.
When contacted, home affairs minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha referred all queries to local government minister Sylvia Masebo.
Lt Gen Shikapwasha said Masebo was in charge of all chiefs' affairs including security.
"She is in-charge of chiefs' affairs, she knows how she is going to handle that matter," Lt Gen Shikapwasha said.
Lands minister Bradford Machila also declined to comment but said he would resolve the wrangles diplomatically without involving the media.
Labels: CHIEF SHAKUMBILA, CHIEFS, CHIEFTIANESS NKOMESHYA, KENNETH KAUNDA, LAND
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KK urges Levy, Mugabe to resolve differences
By Brighton Phiri
Sunday June 08, 2008 [04:00]
DR KENNETH Kaunda yesterday advised President Levy Mwanawasa and President Robert Mugabe to avoid the verbal war but quickly meet to resolve their differences as the two leaders cannot afford to be at loggerheads. Commenting on the verbal war that has erupted between the Zambian and Zimbabwean governments, Dr Kaunda said the two leaders should stop using their ministers and the media to resolve differences.
“President Mwanawasa and President Mugabe must quickly meet outside the media to discuss whatever difference is there between them and the two countries. Let them guide us,” Dr Kaunda said. “Time has come for our leaders to come together to discuss these matters, not through ministers or chief government spokespersons.”
Dr Kaunda said it was important for President Mwanawasa and President Mugabe to quickly resolve their differences because Zambia and Zimbabwe could not afford to be at loggerheads. He said it was not healthy for the two countries to be embroiled in a protracted verbal war.
The verbal war between the two countries’ leaders triggered off last month after Zimbabwe’s justice minister Patrick Chinamasa attacked President Mwanawasa for his alleged failure as Southern African Development Community (SADC) chairperson to ask Britain and other western countries to lift sanctions against Zimbabwe.
Zambia’s chief government spokesperson Mike Mulongoti charged that Chinamasa’s attacks were seemingly bent on discrediting the integrity of the impeccable office of President Mwanawasa among the international community. He said those verbal attacks had immense potential to negatively affect the existing warm relations between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Recently, Zimbabwe’s Herald and Chronicle newspapers published articles stating that some SADC heads of state blocked President Mwanawasa from convening a special meeting to review political developments in Zimbabwe prior to the forthcoming presidential runoff at the just-ended Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) summit.
Mulongoti described the media reports as malicious and unfounded. And foreign affairs minister Kabinga Pande said no amount of money would buy President Mwanawasa to go against President Mugabe.
Pande refuted allegations that President Mwanawasa had received money from some Western countries to hold the Lusaka SADC summit and a consultative meeting in Tokyo.
Pande said it was not correct that President Mwanawasa had also threatened to resign as SADC chairperson after his alleged move was blocked by other leaders as reported in the Zimbabwean media.
According to The Herald and Chronicle newspapers, diplomatic sources said President Mwanawasa was blocked from convening the consultative meeting by other regional leaders. The newspapers reported that President Mwanawasa threatened to resign after he was blocked but that SADC leaders described the Zambian President's move as unnecessary and improper because the Zimbabwean issue was being handled by the regional body with South Africa’s President Thabo Mbeki as mediator.
Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, MWANAWASA
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SA violence against foreigners upset KK
By Brighton Phiri
Monday May 26, 2008 [04:00]
DR Kenneth Kaunda yesterday revealed that he feels hurt by reports of continued xenophobic attacks and killings of foreigners in South Africa because this is against the spirit of the liberation struggle. And Dr Kaunda said Africa must soldier on to achieve economic emancipation of its people.
Commenting on the xenophobic violence in South Africa that had spread from Gauteng Province to other provinces such as Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Kwa-Zulu Natal and the Cape by last Thursday, Dr Kaunda said he felt disturbed with the wave of attacks and killings of foreigners in South Africa because that was against the spirit of oneness through which the founding leaders contributed towards the liberation of southern Africa.
“I feel hurt about it. I strongly feel hurt indeed because that is not the spirit in which we fought for our freedom as Africans. It is very unAfrican for one to conduct himself in such a manner,” Dr Kaunda said.
He asked South Africans perpetrating xenophobic violence to stop their actions as they were not in the interest of African unity, which the founding freedom fighters championed.
“We condemn these xenophobic attacks in strongest terms,” he said.
However, Dr Kaunda said he was comforted with the South African government’s quick response to stop the violence.
“I hope and pray that South African government’s handling of the situation will bring out something meaningful,” Dr Kaunda said.
Over 42 foreigners have been killed and over 15,000 have been displaced.
And addressing the diplomatic community accredited to Zambia during the commemoration of Africa Freedom Day yesterday, Dr Kaunda called for rededication to the cause of Africa.
“Let us rededicate ourselves to peace, social justice, economic and social development. For we need peace in order to attain sustainable economic prosperity,” he said. “We need peace to achieve regional economic integration. We need peace in order to be able to link Africa into the global economy, a mission that must be fulfilled.”
Dr Kaunda paid tribute to Africa’s founding leaders for their vision and relentless efforts to achieve liberty and forge a true sense of unity for the continent by establishing the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) on May 25, 1963.
He said the founding leaders laid a firm foundation for succeeding generations to build on.
“Let us remember that our founding leaders were instrumental and inspirational in fulfilling our quest to achieve political independence. To all intents and purposes, they have passed on the torch to a new generation of leaders whose mission is to achieve economic emancipation of our continent,” he said. “On this auspicious occasion, we should once again take note of the commitment to the cause of Africa by those patriots who paid the supreme sacrifice during those dark days. They were selfless citizens of our continent with an important mission to accomplish.”
Dr Kaunda urged African leaders to do everything possible to maintain peace and unity of purpose among their countries so that together they could fulfil the people’s aspiration to achieve a higher standard of living in peace and harmony.
Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, SOUTH AFRICA, XENOPHOBIA
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KK lauds liberation struggle trade union leaders
By Mutuna Chanda
Sunday May 04, 2008 [04:00]
DR Kenneth Kaunda has said the leaders of the trade union movement during the liberation struggle were selfless and towering pioneers worth emulating. In an acceptance speech on Thursday evening after receiving the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Solidarity Award in recognition of his contribution to the development and strengthening of the labour movement in Zambia, Dr Kaunda said the union leaders during the liberation struggle stood up against injustice.
“They stood up against racial discrimination…they courageously fought for the rights of the workers and the dignity of the human being,” Dr Kaunda said.
“Tonight marks a special occasion in the history of the labour movement in our country and the people who provided leadership at that critical time. For how can we forget those fallen heroes like comrades Lawrence Katilungu, Matthew Nkoloma, Wilson Chakulya, Basil Kabwe, N. Tembo to name but a few.”
Dr Kaunda said the trade unions today had an important responsibility to ensure that workplace policies covered issues that related to the welfare of workers.
“In the age of HIV and AIDS our unions should ensure that the employers commit themselves to developing and implementing workplace HIV and AIDS policies to cover employees and their families,” Dr Kaunda said. “I wish in this regard to appeal to the employers in the private and public sectors to develop workplace HIV and AIDS policies.”
And labour minister Ronald Mukuma said the government was finding it difficult to pull in one direction with labour unions given their fragmentation.
“The introduction of Freedom of Association has led to the proliferation of unions which from experience has weakened the labour movement.
For increased productivity, there is need for one union. In unity lies power,” Mukuma said. “Government’s position is not to force any merger or deregistration of unions but we are just appealing for unity if unions are not strong, do something about it.”
He commended the role Dr Kaunda played in economically empowering Zambians and strengthening the trade union movement.
He urged the current labour unions to change their approach in the current economic struggle that Zambia was involved in.
He said unions could no longer use the same approach that was used in the country’s political liberation in its economic struggle.
And ZCTU president Leonard Hikaumba said his union would not have been what it is today had it not been for the leadership of Dr Kaunda.
He said it was only in the first and second Republics when the law was tilted towards workers.
Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, TRADE UNIONS, ZCTU
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Struggle for a just society never ends
By Editor
Thursday May 01, 2008 [04:00]
There is need for us to recognise the fact that many people contributed to our struggle for independence. And this being the case, we have a duty to all of them to ensure that our independence is safeguarded and is used to deliver our people what independence should deliver.
As Swedish Ambassador to Zambia Lars Ronnas reminded us on Tuesday, the Scandinavian people also contributed heavily to the independence struggle not only in Zambia but in our entire region.
Out of these efforts must be born nations of which all humanity will be proud. Of course, although their contributions to our struggles were not acts of charity arising out of pity for our people, but an affirmation of our common humanity, there cannot be duties without rights. All those who contributed to our liberation struggles have a right to see to it that their efforts were not wasted.
And it would have been immoral for them not to have done what they did, to keep quiet while imperialism, racism and fascism sought to reduce an entire people into a status worse than that of beasts of the forest. And it will also be equally immoral to keep quiet and watch us squander for our present and future generations the opportunities offered by independence.
Ambassador Ronnas is right when he says that although our region is today a liberated one, the struggle to achieve and uphold a just and decent society was a permanent one. There are still a lot of deficiencies that we need to combat, that we need to wage struggles against.
It cannot be denied that although politically apartheid has been defeated in our region, it still continues to live with us in the poor housing of our shanty compounds and rural areas; in the bulging stomachs of hungry children; in the darkness of homes without electricity; and the heavy pails of dirty water that rural women carry for long distances to cook and to quench their thirst.
We must agree that real liberation is not achieved by the mere act of proclaiming independence; it is only achieved when economic domination over a people is brought to an end.
The important thing is to give the happiness to our people that the denial of political and economic rights and perpetual subjugation denied them.
It is the duty of our political leaders to steer our people through the tide of history and enable them to be among the very best in all areas of human endeavour.
And now that our people are no longer subordinated to any other country, they have an opportunity to build democratic nations and decide upon their own future forms of government and discovering and themselves dealing with any dangers which might arise – without being told or ordered by anybody else on what to do.
There is need for us to exert ourselves much more, and break out of the vicious cycle of dependence imposed on us by the financially powerful; those in command of immense market power and those who dare to fashion the world in their own image.
We have had to contend with the consequences of conquest in a denial of our own role in history, including the denial that our people had the capacity to bring about change and progress.
It would be a cruel irony of history if our actions to regenerate ourselves were to unleash a new scramble for our countries which, like that of the nineteenth century, plundered our wealth and left us once more the poorer.
Conflict threatens not only the gains we have made but also our collective future.
Our rebirth is now more than an idea, its seeds are being sown in our regional communities, the groupings we are busy building.
And one destabilising conflict among us is surely one too many – we can’t afford it.
For as long as the majority of people in any of our countries feel oppressed, feel they are not allowed democratic participation in decision-making processes, and cannot elect their own leaders in free and fair elections, there will always be tension and conflict. And such conflicts will certainly push our people deeper into poverty and backwardness.
Like we treated our liberation as a common challenge, we should also treat the question of peace and stability in each one of our countries as a common challenge. And those who saw it as their duty to participate in our liberation struggles should also be allowed to see it as their right not to allow us to abuse the rights of our people under the guise of national sovereignty.
We say this because to deny any person their human rights is to challenge their very humanity. We should never allow our political leaders to get away with clichéd catechisms which tempt all who become part of an apparatus. We should not tolerate hypocrisy and humbug.
It cannot be denied that the Scandinavian countries were truly our allies in our struggles to free ourselves from the yoke of colonial and racist oppression. And there is no reason they should not continue to be our allies today because as Ambassador Ronnas correctly pointed out, our norms and principles remain the same to guide us as we engage in efforts to resolve issues where democracy, peace and the wellbeing of our people are at stake. But no true alliances can be built on the shifting sands of evasions, illusions and opportunism.
It is important that we get back to the norms and principles that made us allies, friends and comrades in our liberation struggles. However, we have every reason to remain eternally grateful for the support that we received from the Scandinavian people and their governments.
Even if everything changes tomorrow, we will still have no reason to be ungrateful. And for this reason, we urge all our people to join Dr Kenneth Kaunda in thanking the Scandinavian people and their governments for their selfless support to our liberation struggles and in our development efforts today.
Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA
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Zambia is today in good hands - Swedish envoy
By Staff Reporter
Thursday May 01, 2008 [04:00]
Zambia is today in good hands, Swedish Ambassador to Zambia Lars Ronnas has observed. Hosting a dinner for close to 50 guests who gathered at his Kabulonga residence in Lusaka to celebrate Dr Kenneth Kaunda's 84th birthday on Tuesday evening, Ambassador Ronnas said Zambia was doing well and there was progress.
"Of course many challenges remain. President Mwanawasa has in various ways, and not least recently, demonstrated courage and leadership in addressing pressing issues, and he is thus contributing to the vision of Africa, in which principles of human rights and democracy are highly cherished," Ambassador Ronnas said.
" In doing so, Zambia with other countries in the region, forge the necessary bonds that bring us together as an international community based on common values."
Ambassador Ronnas praised Dr Kaunda and his comrades for their contributions to the struggle for independence.
"On an evening like this, with so many distinguished guests, please accept that I turn my attention in particular to those of you here present who contributed so much in the struggle for independence and self-determination.
First and foremost, to your own country Zambia, but also as a Frontline state, providing shelter and safe haven for the various liberation movements in the region at the time," Ambassador Ronnas said. "You did so at your own country's peril and with much hardship. And you succeeded in your noble endeavours.
You were part of a truly historic process which transformed Africa into a continent of nation building based on the free will of its people. That struggle of yours also changed relations between Europe and Africa. Today our relations are strong and sound, based on common values and aspirations."
Ambassador Ronnas observed that in many ways the struggle for self-determination was also one in defence of human dignity.
"That is, that without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, language, religion or political opinion, all men and women have equal rights and are entitled to enjoy them.
I mention all this, because whatever wrongdoings and failures that have followed in this region, the great achievements of attaining independence, of liberating people so that they may determine their own destiny, will always be recognised as one of the great changes that took place during the last century," he said.
Ambassador Ronnas said the Nordic support in the struggle for independence and self-determination was rooted in within their churches, trade unions and what was nowadays called civil society.
"The Nordic countries lent their support to this process of liberation. To take just one example among many: You yourself, Dr Kaunda, sent Simon Kapwepwe to Sweden to solicit our assistance in terms of scholarship and the education of professionals, as you prepared to head your first government.
These ties between our nations grew strong from the very beginning and they remain a solid base as we seek to cooperate and dialogue in resolving today's challenges," Ambassador Ronnas said.
"As contacts developed, information became available, a strong sentiment emerged that we must side with those who were fighting to overcome the unjust systems that prevailed at the time. And so our governments have continued to respond to public sentiments and engagements for southern Africa up until today.
Attacks on human rights, the widespread use of discrimination and persecution were and are an affront to all of us, to our strong common sense that we are all bound together as human beings."
He reminded his guests of the importance of Dr Kaunda's message of one nation.
"Your message Dr Kenneth Kaunda about one nation, your refusal to accept divisions along line such as of being white or black, or of any other ethnicity, was of great importance then, and it continues to carry a message to this region and beyond," Ambassador Ronnas said.
"In 1969 our late prime minister Olof Palme, on a visit to Zambia, standing at the edge of the Zambezi River, looking towards the then Rhodesia, remarked that here the border is drawn that marks the end of civilisation. I was only a young teenager at the time.
Though he gave voice to what many of us felt, and it compelled us in our different small ways to demonstrate support to those who lived and suffered under illegal racist regimes."
Ambassador Ronnas observed that although the region has changed dramatically since then and apartheid was gone, frontline states has become a community of development and of cooperation in various fields, the struggle to achieve and uphold a just and decent society was a permanent one.
"The question as to whether justice and decency prevail in society, is not to be answered dependant on which government is in power. It is to be judged by whether men and women live in freedom from fear and freedom from want. And for that every government, irrespective of background and previous credentials, must be held accountable," Ambassador Ronnas said.
"The context may have changed, the surrounding circumstance will not be the same. Though what must remain is our norms and principles to guide us as this region engages in efforts to resolve issues where democracy, peace and the well being of ordinary people are at stake."
He said although it was 17 years since Dr Kaunda left government office, his advice was still sought by many people.
"It is a tribute to your wisdom that people from differenet walks of life still seek your advice and assistance. Your campaign against the pandemic HIV/AIDS is one but only one example of how you have continued to contribute to the well being of this nation. At the age of 84, you still stand as a an example to others."
And Dr Kaunda thanked the people of Sweden and other Scandinavian countries for their selfless support to the region's liberation struggle and in today's developmental efforts.
The dinner was attended by the British High Commissioner, Nowergian Ambassador, Finnish Ambassador, Malawian High Commissioner, President Levy Mwanawasa's economic advisor Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, Grey Zulu, Elijah Mudenda, among others.
Labels: KENNETH KAUNDA, MWANAWASA
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'Vengeance is not yours'
By Editor
Wednesday April 30, 2008 [04:00]
It seems genuine goodness is threatening to those at the opposite end of the moral spectrum. Our daily deeds as ordinary Zambians must produce an actual Zambian reality that will reinforce our belief in justice, strengthen our confidence in the nobility of the human soul and sustain all our hopes for a glorious life for all.
It is very pleasing to hear an old man who lost a beloved son in what can clearly be described as a political assassination, urge his people not to embrace the spirit of vengeance. In other countries and with other people, the death of Major Wezi Kaunda would have sparked riots, political turmoil and further loss of lives. This is a death that the previous regime should have been made to account for.
In other places and with other people, this issue could have been broadened and deepened and turned into a very big political issue. There would have been vengeance. But Dr Kenneth Kaunda made sure that the death of his son was not used to bring political turmoil in the country. He took it with a lot of tolerance, humility and forgiveness. All along, he has been saying vengeance is not his.
We know it is hard to understand, but sometimes painful things like this happen.
It can also not be denied that agents of the previous regime attempted to assassinate him. Again, he has not advocated vengeance against the representatives or leaders of that regime.
It is said that political competitors 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. And moreover, the ground rules of society must encourage tolerance and civility. We started to see a decline of this in the last regime. It is surprising that the murders of political figures that characterised the last regime have almost stopped. Under that regime, we lost so many people under what appeared to be political deaths. But now, we are not experiencing any of that. What has happened or rather what has changed? Things seem to be so quiet now, no one seems to be dying from politically engineered murders or accidents.
There is no need for us to hate each other to such levels where we start to physically eliminate each other. Each one of us has the right to live and must live. Neither the blow of the whip nor the voice of insult should teach us to hate. Let us not despise each other, since we cannot hate anyone. Let us not preach, in any way, hatred as a philosophy, the philosophy of hatred. But this doesn’t mean that we should have any friendly feelings for criminals or regimes that do criminal things or we shouldn’t struggle against such criminals or such regimes.
There are people like Dr Kaunda who have suffered terribly at the hands of such criminal individuals and their regimes, but yet when they meet such elements they treat them with respect because they don’t want to hate them. What they repudiate and hate are their acts or deeds, the system they represent; it is a matter not of hating individuals but of hating their iniquitous deeds; it is not hatred of individuals. And we would encourage everyone to fight against such evil deeds or practices with courage and boldness.
However, we are also not speaking about hatred for the individuals but their evil deeds. What we are talking about is the repudiation, rejection, and hatred of evil and criminal deeds – hatred of injustice. We are not preaching hatred among individuals, because in the final analysis, individuals are victims of the system. If we have to fight the system, we will fight the system. If we have to fight the individuals who represent the system we hate, we will do so.
When we were young, in our lessons in biblical history, we used to be told that there were struggles even in heaven, among the angels – and if there were struggles in heaven, how can we fail to understand that there are struggles on earth between good and evil? We were taught that there was a constant struggle between good and evil, and evil had to be punished. We were taught that those who committed crimes and were responsible for injustice, evil, and all those other things that we are fighting against would be punished in hell. And could that be interpreted as an expression of hatred?
What is more, Jesus tells us we must love our enemies – and there is no greater love for a wrong-doer, a criminal, a thief than to prevent him from continuing to do wrong things, commit crimes or steal.
We should be grateful that we have people like Dr Kaunda in our country, people with very high moral standards. The worst thing that has happened to our country is the deterioration in moral standards. We today live in a contaminated moral environment. We fell morally ill because we became used to saying something different from what we thought. We learned not to believe in anything, to ignore each other, to care only about ourselves.
Concepts such as love, friendship, compassion, humility or forgiveness lost their depths and dimensions, and for many of us, they represented only psychological peculiarities, or they resembled gone-astray greetings from ancient times, a little ridiculous in today’s Zambia. And as we have stated before, the individual does best in a strong and decent community of people with principles and standards and common aims and values.
It is not hatred alone which is contrary to the laws of charity but also indifference to the welfare of our neighbour. When people think only of themselves, then there is a big problem in the nation.
We must work unceasingly to lift this nation to a higher destiny, to a new plateau of compassion and love. We should care about each other all the time.
If we live a life devoid of vengeance and hatred, our reward will come in the life of freedom, peace and hope our children will enjoy through ages ahead. Let us strive to have hearts that are clean, goals that are high; to be modest so that we will remember the simplicity of true greatness, the open minds of true wisdom, the meekness of true strength. Let us start to believe quite simply in the brotherhood of man – men of all races, of all colours, of all tribes, of all creeds. We think it is this that must be at the centre of our thinking.
Labels: CHILUBA, KENNETH KAUNDA
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Only God can punish Chiluba, says Kaunda
By Lambwe Kachali
Wednesday April 30, 2008 [04:00]
IT is only God and not me who must punish Chiluba, Dr Kenneth Kaunda has said.
And Dr Kaunda has insisted that the British government is responsible for the problems Zimbabwe is currently facing. Responding to a question during the Eyeball to Eyeballprogramme on Muvi Television on Monday, with reference to the picture published in last Saturday's Post edition where he was captured hugging with former president Frederick Chiluba, Dr Kaunda said Bible teachings were crystal clear that vengeance was not in the hands of human beings but God's.
He said although Chiluba offended him during his administration, as a true Christian, he did not subscribe to the thought of revenge.
Dr Kaunda said he found God's teaching of 'Love your neighbour as you love yourself' to be key on earth.
"You see, that young man Chiluba did some terrible things to me. His organisation, his people took the life of a very brilliant young politician Wezi Kaunda his son. They tried to take away my life. But you see God's teachings have a very mutual work. Vengeance is not yours; vengeance is mine that is what God is saying; so who are you to take vengeance to somebody else?" Dr Kaunda said. "I can't find myself as one who could be saying, 'somebody has done something against me, I will do something against him'. I don't subscribe to that thought. So, whenever I meet president Chiluba I greet him. Vengeance is not mine, vengeance is in the hands of the Lord. If that man will be punished it is only God who must punish him not me. Who am I? Who am I if God says no?"
He said the teachings of God demanded that every human being should not take vengeance regardless of the gravity of the offence committed against the other.
Dr Kaunda said Chiluba's regime hated him so much. He thanked God for protecting him.
"Dr Rodger Chongwe could have perished, could have died. The gun was targeted at me, fortunately it missed me, missed the member of staff and landed into Dr Rodger Chongwe's neck. They nearly destroyed his neck. Thank God Dr Chongwe went to the clinic and recovered well. I thank God for that," he said.
And Dr Kaunda urged British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and United States President George Bush to speak to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in an effort to find a lasting solution the economic problems that country was facing.
He said he understood where the hatred between Britain and Zimbabwe emanated and insisted that the British government was to blame for not taking back the land they occupied to the people of Zimbabwe.
He said President Mugabe sacrificed a lot for the liberation of Zimbabwe and that it was unacceptable for the British government to continue blaming him.
Dr Kaunda said President Mugabe and his comrades were imprisoned for 10 years at the hands of the British government.
He explained that when the wind of change was approaching to liberate Northern Rhodesia (Zambia), Nyasaland (Malawi) and Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe), the late Ian Douglas Smith declared that there would be no independence for black people in Southern Rhodesia in his lifetime.
Dr Kaunda said after Zimbabwe became independent, British nationals refused to take back the land they occupied for more than ten years despite President Mugabe and the people forgiving them for their evil deeds.
"And when Zimbabweans tried to ask for their land, America under President Bush joined to help Britain. So you can't blame Mugabe for what is taking place there. Ten years in prison, 10 years waiting for the British government to hand over land to Zimbabwe, about 20 years all together and now they want to start blaming Mugabe? No. Mugabe sacrificed for that country and its land...
What I am saying is that the current British Prime Minister Gordon Brown knows that, George Bush knows that. Let them speak to Mugabe and find out what took place, to find a solution together," said Dr Kaunda. "I feel very bad because I understand the whole thing from the beginning to where they are today. Those who started the matter of land are the British and are responsible for what is happening in Zimbabwe. For 10 years the British government stopped Mugabe to say anything about land, which is very bad."
Labels: CHILUBA, KENNETH KAUNDA
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KK celebrates 84th birthday
By Brighton Phiri and Mwila Chansa
Monday April 28, 2008 [04:00]
DR Kenneth Kaunda has asked Zambians to use the forces of love to overcome their problems. And Dr Kaunda’s grandson, Pelekamoyo on Saturday called on Zambians to use his grandfather’s birthday to reflect on the struggles and sacrifice made by freedom fighters for Zambia. In his birthday message which falls today, Dr Kaunda said forces of love were very important in life.
“I don’t think there is something we can do of importance that our God creator wants us to do without the weapon of love. I am saying the forces of love can help us overcome many of our problems,” Dr Kaunda, who has turned 84, said. “If your woman does something wrong, one has the duty to explain why you are angry against her actions. In every situation, even at State House, when things went wrong I was guided by the forces of love and not hatred. Out of love comes respect. Anything good comes out of the forces of love.”
He said it was the forces of love that guided his colleagues’ contribution towards the liberation struggle of Southern Africa. Dr Kaunda said he worked well with his colleagues during UNIP’s reign because his trust for them were motivated by love. He asked Zambians to use the forces of love to save the extended family system from extinction.
“From my small allowance, I pay school fees for my great grandchildren who are my children in the African sense. If we are guided by the forces of love, I see no way we can become English in culture. It is important that we strengthen our extended family systems instead of following cultures of people from different origins,” he said.
Dr Kaunda paid tribute to his wife Betty and late mother Hellen for contributing towards sustaining 
