Fr Miha dies
By Abigail Chaponda, Darious Kapembwa in Ndola and Salim Dawood
Sun 30 Oct. 2011, 11:50 CAT
MISSION Press director Fr Miha Drevensek has died. Secretary general of the Franciscan Friara in Zambia Fr Matthews Mumba confirmed the death yesterday. Fr Mumba said Fr Miha, 65, was taken ill to Mirama Hospital in Ndola yesterday morning following a heart attack, but died around 15:00 hours.
And Get Involved Zambia executive director Fr Frank Bwalya said the death of Fr Miha came with a great sense of shock and loss. Fr Bwalya said to him, Fr Miha was a courageous priest, a prophetic voice and a parent.
"Fr Miha is a person that helped me materially, as well as his family and yet he conducted himself in a very humble way. Even when he criticised leaders like late Levy Mwanawasa and late Frederick Chiluba, he still went to their houses and they remained friends," said Fr Bwalya.
"For me, I will not consider it as death but I will consider it as Fr Miha going back to the Lord."
Fr Miha was also editor of The Challenge and Icengelo magazines.
Labels: CATHOLIC CHURCH, FRANK BWALYA, MIHA DREVENSEK, OBITUARIES
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Rupiah is seeking votes, not reconciliation
By The Post
Fri 10 June 2011, 04:00 CAT
Rupiah Banda and the MMD are not seeking reconciliation with the leadership of the Catholic Church. What they are seeking is political support from the leadership of the Catholic Church.
There appears to be a realisation in the MMD leadership that their hatred against and attacks on the leadership of the Catholic Church was not going well with the great majority of our people and was starting to be politically costly for them.
This is all that is making them talk about reconciliation with the Catholic Church. Otherwise, what would be the reconciliation for when Rupiah himself has openly said that there were no problems between the MMD and his government on the one hand and the leadership of the Catholic Church on the other.
Rupiah has consistently maintained that they have never differed with the Catholic Church. If they have never differed with the Catholic Church, what is the reconciliation about?
Clearly, these are not sincere people. These are crooks who try to crook their way into everything, around everything. They are realising that their attitude towards the Catholic Church, their hostile statements against Catholic priests and bishops are starting to hurt them politically. And they want to control the political damage of all this.
Nothing worries them other than the loss of elections. Anything that doesn’t affect their electoral chances, they don’t care about it. It is the fear of losing elections that is making them say all these things – things they actually don’t mean.
We don’t think that the Catholic leadership has any problems forgiving anyone who does them wrong. But the MMD leadership has not admitted doing any wrong against the Catholic Church. As we have already pointed out, the position of Rupiah is that they have never differed with the Catholic Church.
It is said that people do wrong things because they do not have sufficient knowledge or freedom. If they are not guilty, what is there to forgive? If there is no contrition on their part, why should there be forgiveness? True, the evildoer’s action is bad or wrong. It hurts us. He knows what he is doing. But how much does he know? Does he know all the implications of his actions on himself or on others?
The Catholic Church, in our view, harbours no bad feelings towards Rupiah and his friends and forgave them a long time ago. And right now, there is nothing to forgive. To realise that there is nothing to forgive is true forgiveness. There is nothing to forgive because the stupid things they were saying, the silly things they were saying were out of ignorance. To forgive just because the other has apologised or admitted his mistake or out of condescension, is not true forgiveness.
Forgiveness is an act of love and in love, one does not put another down. The interaction has to be on the basis of ‘win-win’. When we forgive because the other apologised, it is like saying, “Okay, now that you have realised your mistake or admitted it, we forgive you.”
Forgiveness is difficult, especially for those who have been brought up in an atmosphere of harshness and resentment. But forgive we must, if we are to find peace of soul and health of body. It is said that life is an adventure in forgiveness. Nothing clusters the soul more than remorse, resentment and recrimination. Forgiveness is a gift we need to give not only to others but to ourselves also, freeing us from self-punishment and enabling us to see wider horizons.
There are times when we may feel wronged, betrayed, deceived, humiliated. It would be unhealthy not to react against the outrage. Certainly, we ought not to grant others the right to give us ulcers. Forgiveness is not only a precept of Christ or of religious teachers, but it is also a law of nature. Physical and psychological health depends on forgiveness.
Non-forgiveness, holding a grudge, resentment and various forms of anger, all perform the same task – they keep us protected from perceived danger and away from pain of loss. Much psychic and physical energy is needed to keep up this defensive attitude. Most of us have experienced how resentment fatigues us. Forgiveness on the other hand puts us in contact, again, with people.
This relaxes us, saving us a lot of energy. How do we move onto forgiveness? The first requisite is that we really want it. That decision is ours and we need to make it. Many say that they want to forgive because they know it is a precept of their religion. But deep down, they would rather not forgive if they possibly could.
It is not unusual to hear such people saying, ‘Yes, I have forgiven; but God will teach them a lesson, ‘ or ‘I have forgiven, but see how they pay for what they did to me.’ One sure sign that these people don’t want to forgive is that they harbour with great care the unjust treatment meted out to them. The first step towards forgiveness, then, is to really want it. If such a thought frightens us, we need to pray for the grace to want to forgive.
It is said that people who find forgiveness hard are usually those who have not forgiven themselves. If we do not accept ourselves, we can make demands on ourselves that are impossible to meet. When we fail, we find it difficult to forgive our stupidity and incompetence. A self-forgiving stance, on the other hand, creates an attitude of tolerance and flexibility.
Forgiveness is easy when the violators see the pain they have caused us and sincerely apologise for their wrong doing. But as we have seen from the behaviour of Rupiah and his minions, the trouble is that they may not always apologise. Some people just don’t realise how much pain they cause us.
A critical remark, doing something without consulting or informing us when we can legitimately expect that they do, and so on and so forth, can indeed cause us a good deal of pain. Yet others may feel that they have caused us pain, but are too proud to apologise. They feel that if they do, they diminish in our estimation, forgetting the truth that admitting a mistake is a sign of greatness.
Some try many different things and yet do not succeed in forgiving. Christ tells us three things we can do, as a last-ditch effort, which can help us towards forgiveness, provided, of course, we want to forgive and are ready to do what he asks of us. He says: “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28).
If we want to forgive and love our enemy, we need to do good to them, bless them and pray for them. These are all acts within our power. Forgiveness, like love, is not so much a feeling, as a decision to act in a particular way. Feelings are not directly under our control, but actions are. We may have to do these actions almost mechanically for some time before we begin to experience feelings of forgiveness, namely the absence of resentment and a certain degree of closeness to or freedom with the other person.
The first prerequisite to reconciliation is that we do good to those who have hurt us. This is what St Paul means when he says: “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is Mine to avenge: I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: If your enemy is hungry, feed him: If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head” (Romans 12:19-20).
The second is bless them. “Bless them”, as its Latin root bene dicere means to speak well of the other.
Avoid all criticism, slander and gossip about the others and say good things about them. The last prerequisite is to pray for them; pray, not that they may realise their mistakes and come to apologise to us, but that God grant them their wishes and all things that would make them happy. It is remarkable how those who do these things
get rid of their resentments and come to forgive others.
Some might object that it is hypocrisy to behave towards others as if we love them when we really don’t. There is no hypocrisy here, because we admit that we don’t have feelings of forgiveness but that we are doing these acts precisely because we want to forgive. Hence the saying, ‘enemies are not those who hate us, but rather whom we hate.’
Usually we say ‘forgive and forget’, as if to mean that when we forgive someone, we also forget the incident that caused us pain. Forgiveness does not imply forgetting. As long as our memory is reasonably good, we will remember most of the things of our past, both good and bad. So remembering a painful incident does not mean that we have not forgiven. The test whether we have forgiven or not is whether we behave lovingly towards the other and speak well of him.
One indication of such forgiveness is that we do not get emotional when we think or speak of the event that pained us. However, to forgive does not imply that we are as close to the other person as we were earlier.
This could happen; but not necessarily. It is perfectly okay to forgive one and at the same time decide not to have the other too much around, if that is possible or desirable. If from previous experience we know that temperamentally we do not get along too well with the other, it would be in the interest of both parties to keep a
respectable distance without, of course, alienating the other.
To such as those who thus forgive will peace be given: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourself with passion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (Col 3:12-15).
We are also told in a Chinese proverb that “one who pursues revenge should dig two graves”.
Clearly, true reconciliation is to seek and accept forgiveness. Reconciliation cannot remain just mere words; it has to be visible in concrete actions and through eradicating the cause of dissension between people. Let us humbly accept our wrongdoings and ask for forgiveness for the times we have offended others. Contrition and forgiveness are the conditions for reconciliation not only between us and God, but also between people.
But it’s not possible to have meaningful reconciliation when people are not honest with themselves and others. Clearly, Rupiah and his minions are not honest with themselves and others. They are simply crooks seeking nothing but re-election and retention of power and the privileges that go with it.
Labels: CATHOLIC CHURCH, MIHA DREVENSEK, MMD
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Govt’s reconciliation with Catholics not real - Fr Miha
By Moses Kuwema
Fri 10 June 2011, 04:01 CAT
FATHER Miha Drevensek says the so-called reconciliation between the Catholic Church and the government is fake. Fr Miha, who is Mission Press director, said the reconciliation was nothing real and that the country should look forward to what would happen after the elections.
“Reconciliation means change of mind but what we are seeing is nothing real. These are just empty words and there is no reality in them,” said Fr Miha. He said people like information minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikap-washa and others in government were guilty of the attacks on the Catholic Church.
“Shikapwasha told Parliament that we Catholics will cause a genocide in the country and above that he is also using the public media as a platform to insult us including all PF and UPND members. This is satanic, and the so-called reverend is responsible. He is too proud and selfish,” he said.
Fr Miha called on Lt Gen Shikapwasha, President Rupiah Banda’s information minister and chief government spokesperson, to stop abusing the public through what was being reported in the public media.
“President Banda should get rid of people like Shikapwasha, who are capable of licking boots just to stay in authority, if the reconciliation is to be regarded as genuine,” said Fr Miha.
Yesterday, Mansa Diocese Vicar General Fr Mambwe Mpasa said the reconciliation with the Catholic Church that the government leaders were asking for was not genuine.
Fr Mpasa said the MMD and the government leaders should first acknowledge that they were wrong before they could talk about reconciliation.
“This is the same government which has accused the Catholic Church of instigating the 1994 Rwanda genocide. This is the same government that has insulted our bishops and priests, calling them all sorts of names.
And today, all of them including the President are saying they have never differed with the Catholic Church. Are they being sincere to themselves and to the nation?” Fr Mpasa asked.
“In my opinion this reconciliation they are calling for is not genuine because they are not admitting their faults. I believe that for genuine reconciliation to take place there must be an acknowledgement from the parties involved that ‘here we were wrong, let us reconcile’.
Equally if it is one party that is wrong, let them also admit that they are wrong before they call for reconciliation. Otherwise if there is no admission of a wrong, what are you going to reconcile about?”
Fr Mpasa said government leaders should admit that they had insulted the Catholic Church and its leaders.
President Banda's government has been attacking the Catholic Church, accusing it of supporting opposition political parties.
The government attacks on the Church have also not spared individuals like the Archbishop of Lusaka Telesphore Mpundu, former Mongu diocese Bishop Paul Duffy and Ndola Bishop Alick Banda, among others.
Labels: CATHOLIC CHURCH, MIHA DREVENSEK, MMD
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Attacks on Catholics will lead MMD nowhere - Fr Miha
By Moses Kuwema
Tue 24 May 2011, 04:01 CAT
THE MMD is digging its own grave through their attacks and arrogance on the Catholic Church, says Fr Drevensek Miha. In an interview, Fr Miha, who is Mission Press director, said the attacks were no longer aimed at criticising but were evil and, as such, would lead the MMD nowhere.
“We are not saints, we know that; but the present attacks, arrogance and evil that the MMD is projecting through public media, using our taxpayers’ money to spit at us goes beyond any perception,” Fr Miha said.
“People like Dora Siliya and many others could study the history of the Catholic Church to know better how we operate and what our call as a Church in any society and in the world is. Don't you remember Kenneth Kaunda, Frederick Chiluba and Fr Umberto with Icengelo magazine or Mwanawasa's family tree... This is our own history in Zambia.”
He said what the MMD was projecting in the public media was no longer just criticism of some individuals or of the Church but evil in itself.
He reminded the MMD that the Church was not a political party but was mandated by God to take care of the people in their spiritual and material life.
Fr Miha said it was unfortunate that the MMD was continuously using the public media which they had imposed on people through the TV levy to insult them, their leaders and anyone that did not dance to their tune of corruption, falsehood and double standards.
He wondered what kind of relationship MMD spokesperson Siliya was claiming existed between the MMD and the Catholic Church when the public media was continuously insulting the Church by carrying negative stories about the Church and never publishing any response on the accusations.
“Where is democracy here? This has become political pornography that they are promoting where truth loses its meaning to insults. What example does present media give to the young ones by continuously insulting those of different opinion? If you insult a priest, you are insulting all the Catholics, and people like Vice-President George Kunda as a 'practicing' Catholic by insulting his priests in preference to his party is spitting into his own plate he is eating from,” Fr Miha said.
“We hope that on the Judgment Day, his party leadership will receive him to eternity. Spitting at a moral authority means a betrayal to ones faith and so one becomes a traitor of the Church and the people.”
In a letter to all Catholics in Zambia to be read in all Catholic Churches on Ascension Sunday on June , 5 on the constant attacks on Catholics, Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) president Bishop George Lungu said Zambians had in the recent few months witnessed a growing barrage of attacks in the public media against the Catholic Church in Zambia, its leadership, priests and even its doctrine.
Bishop Lungu said the attacks on the Catholic Church would not win the MMD votes from their members in this year's elections.
ZEC directed the Catholic Secretariat to monitor the situation and, if the attacks continue, consider engaging lawyers and begin legal proceedings against those who are defaming and vilifying the Church, including the media houses that enable them do so.
Labels: CATHOLIC CHURCH, MIHA DREVENSEK, MMD
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PVT shouldn’t be debatable, says Fr Miha
By Gift Chanda
Mon 11 Apr. 2011, 04:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda is afraid of parallel vote tabulation because he knows too well that people are tired and want change, says Fr Miha Drevensek.
In an interview, Fr Miha, who is Mission Press director, said parallel vote tabulation (PVT) should not be debatable especially that it was going to improve the credibility of election results.
“Those with mixed feelings about this process just want to cheat, they are afraid of having a totally transparent election process,” he said.
“Rupiah Banda knows too well that people are tired and want change that is why he is scared of PVT. He knows too well and he will fight hard to cling on to power.”
Fr Miha said if President Banda was sure of winning this year’s elections, he should have been the first one to call for PVT.
“But because people have shown him that they are tired and want change, he cannot allow a transparent process,” he said.
He said the MMD government would be robbing Zambians of their democratic right if it decided to avoid PVT.
“PVT is a special blessing from God. He wants us for once to be honest because Zambians have been cheated so many times,” Fr Miha said.
“Look at the Constitution, what have they done with it? It has failed and how can people trust them to hold a proper election if they have been pulling all these manoeuvres to ensure they stay in power for a long time.”
Fr Miha said as long as Vice-President George Kunda was still highly involved in the electoral process, Zambians should forget about a transparent electoral process.
“These people have taken Zambians for a ride. They are always pulling manoeuvres to ensure that the process is not transparent. As long as they are involved, no Zambian will believe that the elections were free and fair,” he said.
Fr Miha said it was important that PVT was allowed in this year’s elections especially that the elections were likely to be highly contested.
“They should not be afraid if they have actually brought development as they keep boasting. They should call everyone to see that they have genuinely won the elections. PVT is a straight forward issue; we shouldn’t even be debating it. It should be there,” said Fr Miha.
Labels: MIHA DREVENSEK, VOTERIGGING
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Kunda can’t be trusted - Miha
By Ernest Chanda
Tue 29 Mar. 2011, 04:01 CAT
FATHER Drevensek Miha says Vice-President George Kunda is a trickster who can never be trusted on anything. Reacting to Vice-President Kunda's change of heart on statutory media regulation which it had earlier advocated, Fr
Miha, who is Mission Press director said it was hard to believe the government on such matters.v“He is the trickster of the world who cannot be trusted on anything. Personally, I can't believe Kunda. Remember it was him and information minister Ronnie Shikapwasha who threatened us that if we do not develop a self-regulatory mechanism they will regulate us,” Fr Miha said.
“And when we did what they demanded from us, they still continued fighting us. They have said they are not comfortable with the steps we have taken in trying to find ways of regulating ourselves. So, in this case how can you believe people who change their minds to where the wind blows?”
Fr Miha said Vice-President Kunda's statement was meant to deceive the media, especially that the country was going into an election.
“It is just smoke meant to choke our eyes and to hoodwink the media. Remember we are going into elections, so Kunda is scared that his government may not have it well with the media. The truth is that these people don't want a free media, especially at election time,” he said.
“Just look at the way they crippled the constitution making process. Can you believe such people to grant you self-regulation? They want the media to sleep and then bring in the law immediately after elections, if they will win. We can't believe them because they are betrayers. If someone betrays you once, can you believe them the second time? So, for me, I willnot take Kunda as a serious person.”
He said if the government were passionate about media freedom it would have reintroduced the Freedom of Information bill to Parliament.
Vice-President Kunda, responding to a question from Mwansabombwe PF parliamentarian Samuel Chitonge during the Vice-President’s question time in Parliament on Friday, said statutory regulation might not be necessary since the media had started regulating itself.
Chitonge wanted to know if the government would insist on regulating the media despite them formulating a self-regulatory mechanism.
“We have talked about that issue many times. Our position on the media is that there should be self-regulation. And I've seen of late that some of the media houses have stopped using vulgar language, they have stopped insulting,” Vice-President Kunda said.
“They are under attack from others; we have seen that their language has changed. There is a lot of self-regulation now in some newspapers. And with this it may not be necessary to impose statutory regulation since they are regulating themselves. But we are still monitoring the situation.
Should they change we shall regulate them.”
In August 2009, Vice-President Kunda challenged media bodies in Zambia to come up with a draft Bill for self-regulation within six months failure to which the government would introduce one in Parliament.
Vice-President Kunda had said there was a lot of irresponsible and unethical reporting in Zambia hence the need to change the scenario.
However, the ultimatum was not implemented due to media associations’ opposition.
Labels: GEORGE KUNDA, MIHA DREVENSEK
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Rupiah’s tyranny will consume him, warns Miha
By Misheck Wangwe
Sat 26 Feb. 2011, 04:01 CAT
PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda's growing tyrannical tendencies will consume him in the end, says Father Miha Drevensek. Speaking in an interview yesterday, Fr Miha, who is Mission Press director, said President Banda's style of leadership within the MMD and the country did not match with what was expected of a democratic leader.
Fr Miha said the perception of many Zambians was that critical institutions of governance, such as the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), the public media and the judiciary, were being controlled by State House.
“The political terrain in the country is not inspiring because it is no longer democratic.
"President Banda has given himself so much power. He doesn't care about what the people want, whether within his party or in the country at large,” he said.
“Even ECZ cannot guarantee free and fair elections in its current state because it has been weakened by his government. The public media is no longer public. It’s busy disseminating hateful messages against the opposition and people with divergent views who are not given a chance to defend themselves. Surely this is dangerous to democracy and must be corrected.”
Fr Miha said sincere senior members of the MMD must appeal to their conscience not to allow President Banda to destroy the ideals of democracy on which the MMD was founded because it was detrimental to the growth of meaningful democracy in the country.
He said the sacking of Mike Mulongoti as works and supply minister spoke volumes about the undemocratic and dictatorial tendencies that had been adopted by the president and his supporters.
“What we are seeing is that bootlickers of the president are busy threatening the lives of people who criticise his style of governance. But one thing for sure is that people will not stay quiet in a society full of injustice. People will talk and eventually good will defeat evil. It happened when Jesus was persecuted, crucified and killed. The hope we have is that our Jesus conquered evil and it will happen in this land one day,” said Fr Miha.
Labels: GOVERNANCE, MIHA DREVENSEK, RUPIAH BANDA
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Fr Miha calls for ‘serious funding’ to the judiciary
By Ernest Chanda
Sun 09 Jan. 2011, 04:00 CAT
PEOPLE cannot expect justice from a judiciary that is not properly funded, says Father Miha Drevensek. Reacting to concerns raised last week by Chief Justice Ernest Sakala that the institution was poorly funded, Fr Miha who is also Mission Press director said the judiciary could not be independent under such circumstances.
He called for serious funding to the institution, saying that is where every aggrieved citizen runs to for justice.
“We heard it from the head of the judiciary, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala that justice is expensive. And he is right because for you to receive justice you have to invest in the institution that provides it. Under the current circumstance it is difficult to receive justice from a poorly funded judiciary,” Fr Miha said.
He said the country was making alot of money in the mines, part of which could have been channelled to the judiciary.
Fr Miha said the government should not demonise people who express concern over national matters.
“These are the things Col Panji Kaunda talked about. He mentioned the Electoral Commission of Zambia, the judiciary and many other institutions where things are not in order. And now it is coming from the Chief Justice himself. When people express concern any responsible government should pay attention and act accordingly,” Fr Miha said.
Speaking at the opening of the Lusaka High Court sessions for 2011, Justice Sakala said the judiciary's core function was adjudicating and that for it to perform efficiently and effectively, it needed a certain level of resources.
"Over the past few years, the trend has been that less than 80 per cent of the approved budget is released," he said. "This has no doubt negatively affected our projects and programmes and we have even been unable to fulfil the obligations relating to conditions of service of our support staff in terms of paying terminal benefits and other benefits. It is also defeating the very concept of an autonomous judiciary."
Justice Sakala pointed out that justice is not a cheap commodity anywhere.
Labels: JUDICIARY, MIHA DREVENSEK
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MMD scared of 2011 polls, says Fr Miha
By Darious Kapembwa and Kabanda Chulu in Kitwe
Tue 23 Nov. 2010, 04:02 CAT
FR Miha Drevensek says the MMD government has refused to incorporate democratic clauses in the proposed constitution because it is scared of its own shadow.
In an interview yesterday, Fr Miha, who is Mission Press director, said the government was afraid of next year’s elections because they had failed to fulfil their promises to the people.
“They have failed to deliver in 20 years. They promised the people and now people are frustrated because if I am a good leader, why should I fear to put 50 per cent plus one in the constitution and why should I fear a referendum?” Fr Miha asked.
He said the government had manipulated the people.
“This is the most unfortunate situation because being elected by a two-thirds majority is the desire of any right-thinking politician but it is unfortunate that most politicians spend time discussing one another instead of discussing policy matters,” Fr Miha said.
And Copperbelt acting PF provincial chairman Chibwe Mulenga said the MMD would not easily manipulate next year’s elections despite the exclusion of the 50 per cent plus one clause from the proposed constitution.
Mulenga, a former parliamentarian for Chifubu, said PF was capable of winning any election with or without the 50 per cent plus one clause.
“My advice to PF members is not to panic over the refusal to send the clause to the referendum because this party is capable of winning any election,” said Mulenga.
“MMD is not a factor in Zambian politics anymore. Even if they rig, they will not succeed this time around since the tools they use to rig are known.”
Labels: 50 PERCENT PLUS 1, CHIBWE MULENGA, MIHA DREVENSEK, MMD
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A govt that can’t perform doesn’t deserve to be in power - Fr Miha
By Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Sun 05 Sep. 2010, 04:39 CAT
MISSION Press director Fr Miha Drevensek has observed that a government that has failed to perform to the expectations of its people does not deserve to be in power.
And Fr Miha has asked President Rupiah Banda and the MMD government to take the London High Court judgment registration matter back to the courts so that former president Fredrick Chiluba pays back what he owes the people of Zambia.
In an interview on Friday, Fr Miha said the economic situation in Zambia was pathetic and it was time Zambians voted for people who could develop the country, unlike having corrupt leaders.
“The London judgment is a very simple matter, the government should take it back to court. People are not happy with the judgment. Look at George Kunda, he was the one advocating for the ‘jailing’ of Chiluba using the London judgment during late president Mwanawasa. What has changed now? He should tell the nation,” Fr Miha said.
“If George Kunda feels that his friend Chiluba is innocent, then he should pay back the money Chiluba stole from all Zambians because he Kunda and President Banda including the MMD government are busy supporting him.”
Fr Miha asked Zambians to vote wisely next year and put a government that would work and not steal from its people.
He said the MMD had not worked according to people’s expectations.
Fr Miha urged the people to wake up and vote for leaders who would revamp the country’s economy.
He said there was too much corruption in the country and there would be no meaningful development if the trend continued.
“What is happening in the MMD government is not good. There is no reason to insult donors. If you insult donors today, what happens if they close up and left Zambia? This is bad.
I urge those in government to be very careful with whatever they say in public,” said Fr Miha. “And the fight against corruption has been buried. Leaders are corrupt and they are enjoying it. People of Zambia, next year please vote wisely and put in power leaders who are not corrupt and vote for leaders who are going to respect you.”
Labels: CORRUPTION, GOVERNANCE, MIHA DREVENSEK
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UN declaration on access to clean water has shamed NCC
By Joseph Mwenda
Fri 30 July 2010, 14:10 CAT
MISSION Press director Fr Drevensek Miha has said NCC delegates who laughed and rejected the constitutional clause that sought to give citizens the right to access to water and food should be ashamed following the UN's declaration passed this week making access to clean drinking water as a basic human right across the globe.
And United Nations ambassador and 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) advocate Marsha Moyo described as ridiculous the debate of whether clean and safe drinking water for every person should a priority, saying the matter was non-negotiable.
On Wednesday July 28, 2010, the UN General Assembly made a declaration that stated “Access to clean, safe drinking water is now an official basic human right everywhere in the world”, following a realization that globally, nearly 900 million people lack access to clean water while more than 2.6 billion people lack access to basic sanitation.
Speaking in an interview with The Post On-line, Fr Miha said the NCC delegates laughed at the Mung'omba draft constitution should now realise that they were laughing at their own children and grand children.
“The Constitution is the bible for a nation so it was most unfortunate that the majority of delegates laughed at that clause, it only means that they were laughing at their own children and grandchildren who will depend on that same clause,” Fr Miha said.
Fr Miha said the delegates’ altitude portrayed their arrogance and lack of concern for the Zambian people.
“They made an arrogant laughter, the most unfortunate laughter since independence... this shows that the MMD is trying to manipulate the Constitution,” he said.
Fr Miha said if the Zambian government will not adhere to the UN declaration, it means they do not adhere to the demands of their own children and the demands of the Zambian citizens.
And UN ambassador, Moyo said it was ridiculousness for delegates to debate on weather the access to clean water should be a basic human right in Zambia.
“Access to clean and safe drinking water should not be a privilege, but a right and so it is ridiculousness to discuss whether it is a priority in this day and age,” she said.
Moyo said the UN declaration was clear and would help Zambia contribute to MDG number seven which is aimed at ensuring environmental sustainability.
Labels: HUMAN RIGHTS, HUNGER, MIHA DREVENSEK, NCC
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Shikapwasha is a hypocrite, says Lubinda
By Patson Chilemba and Masuzyo Chakwe
Wed 21 Apr. 2010, 04:30 CAT
RONNIE Shikapwasha is a hypocrite, Patriotic Front (PF) spokesperson Given Lubinda charged yesterday. And Mission Press director Father Miha Drevensek said the MMD government wants to regulate everything in the country before the 2011 elections.
Meanwhile, Media Liaison Committee (MLC) chairperson Henry Kabwe said there was no basis in Shikapwasha’s assertions that the committee bulldozed the media regulation process.
Commenting on Shikapwasha’s statement on Monday that he could not support a fraud system on media regulation and that the Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC) was just a reincarnation of the failed Media Council of Zambia (MECOZ), Lubinda said Shikapwasha had always back-peddled on the regulation of the media.
“A person who back-pedals on matters like that, a person who comes and tells you ‘please come up with a framework for self-regulation’ then before you even present it to him he refuses to receive it, and instead calls for statutory regulation, obviously that kind of person is referred to as a hypocrite.
Yes that is hypocritical,” Lubinda said. ”It is sad that this whole issue, particularly the issue of media regulation and freedom of information is coming in 2010. And they left it this late because they know they want to use 2011 elections as an excuse, because anyone who is going to speak in favour of self-regulation of the press, anybody who is going to advocate for the enactment of Freedom of Information Act, shall be deemed inimical to the state.”
Lubinda said the MMD government had never been honest on the issue of media regulation.
“When we started talking about media laws, they have been behaving like yoyos going back and forth on every issue. The citizens have not forgotten that the issue of media regulation started in 2002-2003 when six MPs from the opposition started to push for the ZNBC Amendment Act, and we were pushing for the Freedom of Information bill,” Lubinda said.
“And they duped Parliament by saying the opposition withdrew the private members bill because they will sponsor government bills. With time they have tried to gag the press so that as we push for Freedom of Information, they also control the press. So they have not been sincere. They think that they can give the Freedom of Information only if they also take the power to regulate the media.”
Lubinda said Shikapwasha was just trying to hoodwink people when he assured the media that they should come up with a self-regulatory framework.
“You recall that Shikapwasha, he has wanted to be the judge. He cannot be the judge of what is best for media regulation. It is not up to him. He cannot be the judge and the jury on his own. How can he possibly say that ‘if you don’t come up with a framework which compels every journalist, therefore you don’t have media regulation?’” Lubinda asked.
“That is not correct. You can have a framework through which to regulate without that self-regulation being compulsory, because as a matter of fact, if you want to go into self-regulation, you must come up with a framework that attracts everyone voluntarily. Only then can you say [this is self-regulation’. As long as you come up with a law or a framework that compels everybody then it ceases to be self-regulation.”
Lubinda said Shikapwasha’s back-pedaling on the media was not surprising because he had back-pedaled on many things including the late president Levy Mwanawasa’s legacy.
“Obviously he has to see which side of the bread is buttered. For the time being, it is Rupiah Banda who is buttering his bread. And therefore he has to defend Rupiah Banda without thinking about his own integrity,” said Lubinda.
Shikapwasha has maintained that the government would not recognise the ongoing process towards the formation of a self-regulatory mechanism because the Media Liaison Committee had become dishonest.
But the media in the country have rejected Shikapwasha’s position to force statutory regulation on them.
And Fr Miha said Shikapwasha’s statement was unfortunate and the diversion of the truth. He said the government gave the media six months to regulate themselves and the media managed to come up with a document within those months.
Fr Miha said unlike the constitution-making process that had been dragging for eight years, the media managed to come up with something in six months that was not dictatorial or pushy but democratic.
He said the problem with the government was that it wanted to regulate the lives, thoughts and minds of people.
“We are going back to the Kaunda’s days where the government not only wants to regulate peopleí’s actions but also peoples’ expectations. This is very clear that what they want to do is regulate everything before the elections so they can push anybody who express themselves freely and openly. They want all Zambians to express happiness in the way they are ruling the nation and this is what we call a rabbit in the bush,” Fr Miha said.
He said the problem was Shikapwasha’s personality.
“Shikapwasha agreed with the Fringilla Consensus and suddenly when things do not go his way, he wants to change his mind. What kind of leadership is this? He first said yes and when things don’t go his way, he says no. Where is his honesty and integrity?” Fr Miha asked.
He said it seemed that the government was bent on not allowing people to be free and express themselves or choose leaders capable of leading the nation.
Fr Miha said if the MMD with the present leadership had truly served the people’s aspirations, they would be re elected.
“People will choose them, they have nothing to worry about. When they react to everything, it proves that they themselves do not believe that they have achieved. The fear of not facing the truth has become a shadow of which they themselves are afraid of,” he said.
Fr Miha advised Shikapwasha not to become a dictator but rather a free thinker and a true democrat that listens to those that elected him.
“That is my prayer for him and for all those who are not in power but are afraid to become poor commoners as all of us are,” he said.
And Henry Kabwe advised the government to listen to the voices of reason before reacting to the issues being raised by members of the MLC. He said MLC did not have a position before the conference and invited various media organisations.
Kabwe said before the conference, the media organisations were given the documents to go through and later debate and later at the conference adopt them.
He said there were more than 120 participants at the conference and despite inviting people to represent the various media organisations, other people outside the media were allowed to attend.
Kabwe said there was no basis therefore for Shikapwasha to accuse the MLC of bulldozing the process when they invited media institutions from Lusaka and other provinces.
He said as far as the conference was concerned, Shikapwasha should be addressing participants of the conference and not the MLC.
Kabwe said it was the conference that agreed that the media needed non-statutory self regulation.
“We all know that the minister did not attend the whole conference. We invited him to stay on but he decided to leave. Now we are wondering how he got this information or who talked to him. We advise him to first of all hear from our side and be able to categorically state where he got that information from,” Kabwe said. “We got suspicious when the minister judged the conference before even discussing anything. We are not surprised that he is now advocating for the Kenyan model.”
Kabwe said in his opening speech, Shikapwasha showed that he had U-turned on his prior agreement, which was that the government was looking forward to the self-regulation mechanism spear-headed by the MLC.
Kabwe re-emphasised that the MLC could not be paid by any entity for them to speak on issues and that they spoke out of principle.
On January 9, 2010, the government removed the six-month ultimatum it gave media bodies in the country to come up with a self-regulatory mechanism.
MLC spokesperson Amos Chanda disclosed in an interview that following a consultative meeting the committee had with Shikapwasha that afternoon, the minister announced that the government had quashed the ultimatum.
Chanda said the government had done that because they were happy with the progress the media bodies had made in coming up with a self-regulatory mechanism.
On January 10, 2010, Shikapwasha said the government was hopeful that self-regulation of the media would work looking at the steps the MLC had taken in formulating a self-regulatory mechanism.
Shikapwasha said looking at the concept paper submitted to him by the committee, he was hopeful that self-regulation would work.
"Well, I met with officials from the Media Liaison Committee and we discussed. I think you remember that they had earlier on submitted a concept paper, which, to us as government looks good. I think we are happy with that arrangement as government and we hope that they will finally come up with a self-regulatory mechanism," Shikapwasha said.
On January 16, 2010, Shikapwasha said talks between the government and media associations on self-regulation of the media were progressing well and showing signs that the two parties would arrive at a positive conclusion.
Labels: GIVEN LUBINDA, HENRY KABWE, MEDIA, MIHA DREVENSEK, RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA
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People attacking me are not clean, says Fr Miha
By Ernest Chanda
Tue 23 Feb. 2010, 04:00 CAT
MISSION Press director Fr Miha Drevensek has said people attacking him over his observations on the revelations of the Auditor General’s annual reports are not clean.
Reacting to Copperbelt minister Mwansa Mbulakulima and MMD provincial chairman Joseph Chilambwe’s demand for the Catholic leadership to discipline him, Fr Miha challenged the duo to explain what the MMD government was doing with public resources.
“First of all, both Mr Mbulakulima and Mr Chilambwe are Catholic. And I’m sure they understand the story of our Lord Jesus Christ who, after fasting for forty days was tested in many ways. He was tested with the evil of power, corruption and cheating but He resisted.
Those two are my children and that’s why they call me Father; I was praying for both of them,” Fr Miha said. “Now, when I commented on the Auditor General’s report, I was merely stating facts.
You cannot have a situation where various cases of abuse of public resources are highlighted every year and the government doesn’t take any action. Where is the essence of good governance if people who abuse public resources cannot be probed?
Looking at the two people’s reaction to my comment, it suggests that they are not clean. If they were, they would have agreed with me that there is a lot of corruption. Let them explain how the MMD government is using public resources.”
Fr Miha challenged Chilambwe and Mbulakulima to explain the cause of poverty in the country since they belonged to the ruling party.
“Can they explain to the nation how their government has been using donor money? And if they claim that their government is fighting corruption, why are we poor? If you step on a cat’s tail, it reacts angrily,” said Fr Miha. “I insist that those stealing public resources should be put behind bars.
These two leaders couldn’t understand my language because they don’t know amapinda proverbs. When I said the fight against corruption has gone to the dogs I was simply saying we’ve abandoned the fight; not that those in government are dogs. So, this is a simple adage that a learned person should have understood easily.”
Commenting on revelations in the Auditor General’s report last week, Fr Miha said the fight against corruption had gone to the dogs.
He said next year’s elections would not be free and fair because the ruling party had condoned corruption.
And in reaction to Fr Miha’s comment, both Mbulakulima and Chilambwe called on the Catholic leadership to discipline him for what they termed as insulting the national leadership.
Labels: MIHA DREVENSEK, MWANSA MBULAKULIMA
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Next year’s elections won’t be free and fair - Fr Miha
By Ernest Chanda
Wed 17 Feb. 2010, 04:02 CAT
MISSION Press director Fr Miha Drevensek has charged that the fight against corruption in Zambia has gone to the dogs.
Expressing his disappointment with government's failure to act on revelations of the Auditor General's reports released annually in which several abuses of public resources are highlighted, Fr Miha challenged President Rupiah Banda to show leadership and cage the culprits.
He said a trend had been set where people could steal public money with impunity, knowing too well that no one would question them.
“Corruption seems to have now become a part of our life. People who are supposed to fight corruption are now promoting the vice. Revelations of the Auditor General's reports are ignored every time. We have reached a stage where no one is responsible for anyone.
People can steal with impunity, the Auditor General's office reveals it and no one takes action. This has now become an annual ceremony where we will read about various irregularities and they lie just like that,” Fr Miha complained.
“Now if President Rupiah Banda has any desire to fight corruption, I challenge him to put his foot down, catch these thieves one by one and put them behind bars. If he doesn't do this, people will take his pronouncements about the corruption fight as lip service. Let me also say that if government doesn't address this issue seriously, then they don't deserve to be re-elected. In fact, I can just say the fight against corruption has gone to the dogs.”
Fr Miha said innocent people had suffered at the hands of corruption by not getting the much needed social services. He warned that next year's elections might not be fair going by government's embracing of corruption.
“Children are suffering because there is no one to give them social services. Some of them cannot access quality education while others can't have good health care because somebody stole from them. Some public official became selfish and stole from state coffers, the resources our children should have benefited from. We will not tolerate such a situation,” said Fr Miha.
“Going by the current scenario, it is enough warning that next year's elections will not be free and fair. People's money will just disappear and find its way in campaigns all because somebody knows that nobody will make them accountable. Can we please have someone responsible enough to act on these reports and bring the culprits to book?”
Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, CORRUPTION, ELECTIONS, MIHA DREVENSEK
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Don’t kill Fr Mwewa over his opinion of Rupiah
By Editor
Wed 06 Jan. 2010, 04:01 CAT
Criticising Rupiah Banda is not a crime that Fr Augustine Mwewa should be taken to Calvary and be crucified for.
Criticising the President of this country is a right that every citizen has. Every Zambian should have an undoubted right to lay what sentiment he or she has about the President of this country before the public; to forbid this or intimidate anyone trying to do so, is to destroy the freedom of expression in our country. And when the freedom of expression is destroyed in a country, meaningful citizen participation in governance becomes impossible. Where there is no meaningful citizen participation, dictatorship and tyranny are bound to appear and become the order of the day.
Fr Mwewa has every right to criticise Rupiah – whether this is palatable or unpalatable. And there is no doubt, of course, that criticism is good for people and institutions that are part of public life. No institution – the presidency, Parliament or indeed the judiciary – should expect to be free from the criticism of those who give it their loyalty and support, not to mention those who don’t.
It also should be borne in mind that the structures of our government and those who serve in them exist and are there to serve the people; the people do not exist to serve the government and its officers.
Freedom of speech and expression is the lifeblood of any democracy. Before people can govern themselves or participate meaningfully in the affairs of their country, they must be free to express themselves. Citizens of a democracy live with a conviction that through the open exchange of ideas and opinions, truth will eventually win out over falsehood, the values of others will be better understood, areas of compromise more clearly defined, and the path of progress opened. And the greater the volume of such exchanges, the better.
But what should the government do in cases where the freedom of speech and expression is abused with statements that may be considered to be false, repugnant, irresponsible or simply in bad taste? The answer, by and large, is: nothing. It is simply not the business of government to judge such matters. In general, the cure for free speech is more free speech. It may seem a paradox, but in the name of free speech, a democracy must sometimes defend the rights of individuals who themselves advocate such non-democratic policies as repressing free speech. Citizens in a democratic society defend this right out of the conviction that, in the end, open debate will lead to greater truth and wiser public actions than if speech and dissent are stifled.
Furthermore, the suppression of free speech that we find offensive today is potentially a threat to our exercise of free speech tomorrow – which perhaps you or someone else might find offensive. It is said that “all people are harmed when speech is repressed. If the opinion is right, they are deprived of the opportunity of exchanging error for truth, if wrong, they lose the clearer perception and livelier impression of truth produced by its collision with error”. And this being the case, why should Fr Mwewa be killed for simply expressing his opinion on the way Rupiah is running the country; for saying that the President is a chintelelwe who moves anyhow without a vision? Probably we will need to go back and reproduce a viewpoint United States president Theodore Roosevelt had on criticism of the presidency:
“The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore, it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right.
Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. To announce that there must be no criticism of the President , or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or anyone else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about anyone else.” This quote was part of an editorial Roosevelt wrote on May 7, 1918 for the Kansas City Star during World War I.
Probably it may be appropriate to also include one of Roosevelt’s top three most requested quotes, that is, the one regarding the “man in the arena” or “not the critic” contained in a speech at the Sorbonne, Paris, April 23, 1910: “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring great, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”
It is quite true that acceptance of criticism implies the highest respect for the human ideal, and that its denial suggests a conscious or unconscious lack of humanity on our part. Intolerance to criticism must surely rank as one of the worst forms of immorality in human affairs. We can see the horror in people who go out of their way to organise violence or attempt to kill someone for simply being critical of the way Rupiah is governing.
Rupiah’s supporters have every right to disagree with Fr Mwewa. But their disagreement should be expressed in ways devoid of any violence and slander of Fr Mwewa. All citizens must be guided by the truth, integrity and justice which, for Christians, are anchored on God’s commandments.
It is necessary to remind all our people who are in one way or another involved in politics that politics is for the good of people, and not for political survival of any individual or political party. If the spirit of the primacy of the common good were to animate all our political parties and their cadres, we would not witness the politically-motivated violence which leaves the public dismayed and disheartened. The quality of democracy is determined by the establishment of proper structures which facilitate the freedom of thought and expression. The interests of our political parties and their leaders should be kept subordinate to the public good.
As we have stated before, no doctrine, no principle or proclaimed political position and no political differences can justify violence against anyone. No crime should be committed in the name of politics, in the name of supporting and defending Rupiah. It is very easy to start violence but it’s very difficult to stop a culture of violence when it’s planted in a nation. There is only one basis on which violence can be justified by anyone and that is only in self-defence. And this means that if no one can use violence against anyone save in self-defence, then there will be no violence to talk about. But we have seen and heard Rupiah and his supporters justify violence on the basis that their supporters will not tolerate them being insulted. Again, insults cannot justify violence because there are many ways to address and redress such issues. Those who justified the violence of their cadres because they were insulted will today find it very difficult to stop them from committing similar crimes in their name.
It’s easy to start a fire but it’s not that easy to put it out. Similarly, it’s easy to start violence but it’s not that easy to stop it. Violence begets violence and those who try to live by violence will they themselves one day perish in it. This is because no one has the monopoly of violence. And violence can only do one thing, and that is to breed counter violence. Those who hire unemployed youths, propel their weakened souls with Chibuku to go and attack a defenseless Catholic priest with the intention to kill him are no better than animals. And we hope that those who are behind those criminal youths in Ndola will realise that their violent actions against Fr Mwewa and others who from time to time cross their path put them next to animals.
Fr Mwewa has a right and a duty to continue speaking fearlessly and forthrightly about what is going on in our country; about how Rupiah is governing this country. But this culture of violence that they are today encouraging will tomorrow backfire on them. The bells tolling for Fr Mwewa today will tomorrow toll for Rupiah, toll for the whole country. Let’s work to stop violence whatever its source and motivation. Violence is not good for its perpetrators, for its victims and for the whole country.
Labels: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL, MIHA DREVENSEK, PRESS FREEDOM
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It’s sad govt wants to suffocate freedom of information - Fr Miha
By Margaret Mtonga and Chibaula Silwamba
Wed 06 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT
THE MMD government wants to impose statutory regulation of the media because they have seen that Zambians have lost confidence in their governance, Mission Press director Fr Drevensek Miha has said.
And Patriotic Front (PF) spokesperson Given Lubinda has charged that President Rupiah Banda has abdicated his powers to Vice-President George Kunda who is now a defacto President of Zambia.
In an interview yesterday, Fr Miha said it was sad that the President Banda-led government was so much geared to suffocate the freedom of information in the country.
“George Kunda and Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapawasa are busy working hard to ensure that the democratic tendencies of our country are done away with. This is very unfortunate. You cannot have a minister of information who is in the forefront advocating for statutory regulation of the media,” Fr Miha said. “Shikapawasa knows very well that this law that they intend to pass will surely affect the right of individuals to express and access information.”
Fr Miha said it was clear that Lt Gen Shikapawasa and George Kunda were the mastermind of statutory media regulation because they wanted to protect their jobs and please President Banda.
“Why should the government insist on statutory regulation of the media? I smell a rat and that rat is that the government wants to hide a lot of wrongs that they have done in their tenure of office and want to find means and ways of suppressing access to that information. They think by so doing they will win the 2011 elections. They will not win even if they impose this statutory regulation of the media,” Fr Miha said.
He said it was important for the government to leave the media to work in a self-regulatory way.
“I would like to tell George and Ronnie to shut up and not give the people of Zambia statutory regulation of the media. Who are they to start choosing for the Zambians?” asked Fr Miha. “I would like to warn the government that they will not achieve their mission,”
And in an interview, Lubinda said Vice-President Kunda was a very sly man.
“Zambians must realise that Rupiah Banda has got nothing to do with the governance of Zambia, totally. George Kunda is the defacto President of Zambia,” Lubinda said. “It is George Kunda who is governing this country. That is the reason for the arrogance you see in George Kunda because one Mr Rupiah Bwezani Banda is just gallivanting without knowing what is happening in his country.”
Lubinda said President Banda did not even know some of the decisions that Vice-President Kunda was unilaterally making without his input.
“The left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing; this is the reason for the numerous contradictions between the President and the Vice-President,” Lubinda said.
“If you follow all the contradictions that have been exposed, George Kunda ends up taking the order of the day. Whenever there is a contradiction between George Kunda and Rupiah Banda, the one that ends up winning is George Kunda, not the boss.”
Labels: FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL, MIHA DREVENSEK, PRESS FREEDOM
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Don’t allow govt to regulate media - Fr Miha
By Abigail Chaponda in Ndola
Mon 16 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
MISSION Press director Fr Miha Drevensek has urged people not to allow the government to regulate the media as doing so will defeat the purpose of freedom of information, which provides checks and balances.
Speaking at a sensitisation meeting organised by Citizens Forum for stakeholders on the constitution-making process at Ndola's Cathedral of Christ the King on Saturday, Fr Miha said people should change their passive attitude and challenge some negative actions by the government.
“I am concerned about the sleeping attitude the Zambian people have on issues that affect their well-being. Our sleeping nature is what has caused some of the problems we are facing because we don't want to react,” he said. “People should protest against the government if it will regulate the media because that is the only way people will know about what's happening in Zambia and what government is doing.”
He wondered why the government wanted to silence the media through regulation when freedom of information created checks and balance in the governance system of any country.
"When we ask people to react, they don't want, but complain that they are suffering, that attitude is not good," he said.
He urged the Church to act as one like they did during the third term bid campaign.
He said there was need to pressurise the government to come up with the new constitution within the stipulated timeframe.
Fr Miha appealed to the Catholic Church to educate their communities and families on the happenings in Zambia so that they could appreciate and support the church when it criticises government.
And Citizens Forum programme coordinator Francis Chipasa said the extension of the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) by 10 months was a blow to the constitution-making process.
“The ten months extension does not mean ten continuous months like from January to October, it means that the NCC will run for another 303 days. The NCC does not convene when Parliament is sitting and weekends and public holidays are not part of the 303 days," he said.
"Taking into account the times Parliament sit in a year, it means that NCC will continue to do its business the whole of 2010 and will even go into 2011 election without finishing. The 10 months extension closes the door for holding a referendum because the 2000 census records are the ones that should be used to determine the numbers of eligible voters and it will expire next year and results of the 2010 census would not be ready before 2011 elections.”
Labels: MEDIA, MIHA DREVENSEK, REGULATION
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Destruction of Zambian Airways is a political curse, says Fr Miha
Written by Mutuna Chanda in Ndola
Sunday, September 20, 2009 8:22:20 AM
MISSION Press director Fr Miha Drevensek has said the destruction of Zambian Airways is a political curse on the country.
Commenting on Kenya Airways' launch of two direct flights every week between Nairobi and Ndola on Thursday evening, Fr Miha said it was folly for the government to have kicked Zambian Airways when it was ailing instead of helping it to survive.
"Whoever had that idea of bringing two flights to Ndola must have been a person of courage, of vision. Now at the same time as I am thinking and thanking these people for such courage, such strength, such vision, I feel very, very sad that the Kenyans have to come here and tell us that it is worth to do something with an airline which connects the people with the world and in Zambia we are happy, we are dancing when we destroy somebody," Fr Miha said.
"We had Zambian Airways which went into problems. Instead of looking at what was wrong and try to correct, the people stamped on it and just kicking and they were enjoying. And this is disaster, this is a curse, a political curse in Zambia that we are happy when we destroy somebody."
He said other airlines such as Kenya Airways saw the future in the country.
"We ourselves we are enjoying when we are killing and torturing each other politically, economically, socially, medically... that is our mentality, a shameful mentality which will never take us beyond; we are all the time going to be slaves to somebody. Foreigners will come, they will make money out of us unless we change our mentality."
He said the Rupiah Banda government was afraid of its own shadow and wanted to suppress everybody.
"They want to suppress media, they want to regulate media, they want to regulate NGOs [non governmental organisations] and this is the mentality of the socialist, communist ideologies of 80s of [Dr Kenneth] Kaunda; control everything, every human being, every action, everything. I am a communist educated priest, I went to communist schools and so on. I resisted this mentality since I was four, five, six years old," Fr Miha said.
"That's why I am telling this to President Banda, please change. Freedom of expression, freedom of action, respect for anybody even with the most different opinion, respect him - we are going to prosper. As soon as we are going to start to suppress each other and insult each other, what we have now in our politics and everywhere, we are going to be slaving [for] anybody in the world who comes; very unfortunate. I praise Kenya Airways for having the courage of having two flights to have courage to get two flights from [a] god-forsaken place called Ndola."
He said information minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha needed to control his brain a little bit because he could not control everybody.
"Let him control his brain a little bit if he can't control his thoughts, if he can't control his speaking out and so on when he wants to control everybody, you control nothing. You hardly control your own life, your own military life when you betray your own military honours and so on, how can you control the nation and the ideas of others?" said Fr Miha.
"And remember there is never any force greater and bigger and stronger than the idea and ideas when its time comes."
And officiating during the Kenya Airways cocktail, Copperbelt permanent secretary Villie Lombanya praised the airline for coming to Zambia's rescue by introducing direct flights into Ndola.
"There is no way we can foster tourism in this province even though we have very attractive sceneries without communication," said Lombanya. "So what has happened today is most welcome to us because as you know Zambia has no flag carrier. Since the demise of Zambia Airways many years ago we have been like orphans. We have been actually handicapped in terms of travel. Even though tourists will like to come to Zambia first of all they'll like to know how they are going to get there. What has happened today has answered the question and we thank you Kenya Airways for that support that you have given to us and we can now ask our missions abroad to market our products here, tourist products because we are sure that when they want to come to this region we shall be able to tell them 'yes! There is a reliable carrier that will take you into Ndola without problems'."
Kenya Airways chief executive officer Dr Titus Naikuni said the Ndola-Nairobi flights were helping Kenya Airways achieve its core purpose of creating sustainable development in Africa
Labels: MIHA DREVENSEK, ZAMBIAN AIRWAYS
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Shikapwasha exhibited ignorance, says Fr Miha
Written by Margaret Habbuno
Sunday, August 16, 2009 3:54:32 PM
MISSION press director Fr Drevensek Miha has urged information minister Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha not to blame The Post for his lack of respect for Catholics. And former Radio Icengelo station manager Fr Frank Bwalya has called on Catholic leaders in Zambia to protest against Shikapwasha’s continued remarks against the Catholics and his linking them to genocide.
Commenting on Lt Gen Shikapwasha’s statement that The Post twisted his ministerial statement to Parliament on the MMD cadres’ violence against journalists because he did not insult the Catholic Church, Fr Miha said it appeared that Lt Gen Shikapwasha always has someone to blame for his ignorance and inability to project the truth as a government spokesperson.
“Why is he trying now to defend something that is non-defendable by accusing The Post newspaper?” Fr Miha asked.
Fr Miha said Lt Gen Shikapwasha exhibited total ignorance in the speech that he presented to in Parliament.
“He has shown total ignorance, ungratefulness and disrespect as the information minister of this country,” Fr Miha said. “The Catholics and many other people heard for themselves on the [Parliament] Radio what he said about the Catholics. It is important to have principles of truth and love as a minister.”
Fr Miha said even Vice-President George Kunda was one of the people who applauded to Lt Gen Shikapwasha’s statement in Parliament that was full of insults directed at the Catholics in Zambia.
“Vice-President George Kunda and MMD members of parliament had approved of the nonsense and insults in his [Shikapwasha’s] speech. But the most unfortunate is that even the Vice-President who is a practicing Catholic thanked Lt Gen Shikapwasha for his insults on his Church,” Fr Miha said. “Could this be a sign of senility, forgetfulness or just mere lack of intelligence to understand what is going on?”
Fr Miha said it was sad that a number of people in Parliament had clapped after Lt Gen Shikapwasha finished presenting his ministerial statement.
“How can any sensible person clap and approve the load of insults and lies as Shikapwasha’s speech reflected in Parliament? “ Fr Miha asked. “It does not make sense for the information minister to start refusing what he said in Parliament.”
Fr Miha likened Lt Gen Shikapwasha to a person who had sold Jesus Christ for 30 silver pieces for personal gains.
“Characters like Shikapwasha are able to sell Christ for dirty 30 silver pieces as long as there is an opportunity of something to gain for themselves. Your church, and even your party allegiance is just another of your opportunism to suckle what is not yours.” Fr Miha said.
He urged Lt Gen Shikapwasha to resign with immediate effect because he had failed to uphold the rule of law in the country.
“Shikapwasha’s insults and lies have proven beyond doubt that respect of the rule of law and love for what is right is not part of your life. Your leading force is opportunism. Therefore, it is important that you resign as Minister of Information,” Fr Miha said.
He advised President Rupiah Banda and the rest of the MMD members of parliament to stop taking Zambians for granted.
“Mr. President and the rest of your political companions, for God’s sake, do not take people of Zambia any more for granted with the pretext that they are peaceful and you can say or do anything you want because they’ll do nothing,” he said. “Remember that when a most peaceful person gets angry, their anger is much stronger than any other anger.” warned Fr Miha.
And Fr Bwalya said on Friday that accusations by Lt Gen Shikapwasha against the Catholics were meant to bring hatred against the Catholic Church in Zambia.
“Shikapwasha is inciting the people of Zambia to have hatred against the Catholic Church. Catholic Church leaders should take a bold step and formally protest against Shikapwasha and demand for his removal from his ministerial position,” Fr Bwalya said.
He said Lt Gen Shikapwasha’s remarks against the Catholics had serious implications adding that some people who were younger at the time genocide took place in Rwanda might believe his remarks that Catholics in Zambia might bring genocide.
Fr Bwalya said Lt Gen Shikapwasha should understand that the Catholics had been involved in charity and social work not only in other parts of the world but Zambia in particular.
He said the Catholic Church had been involved in the construction of schools, hospitals and clinics in the country.
Fr Bwalya said as an individual Catholic, he was considering protesting against the government over Lt Gen Shikapwasha’s remarks.
“For that reason, Catholic leaders should not just say no to Shikapwasha’s remarks, me as an individual Catholic I would protest against Shikapwasha over his remarks against the Catholics,” he said.
Labels: CATHOLIC CHURCH, MIHA DREVENSEK, RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA
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Rupiah, dora havea special bond – HH
Written by George Chellah, Margaret Habbuno and Patson Chilemba
Sunday, June 21, 2009 3:26:08 PM
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema yesterday said it is clear that there is a special bond between President Rupiah Banda and education minister Dora Siliya. And Mission Press director Fr Miha Drevensek said the re-appointment of Siliya to Cabinet is a mockery to the justice of the country.
Meanwhile, chief Chikwanda of the Bemba people of Mpika district charged that President Banda's re-appointment of Siliya is not normal and straightforward.
Reacting to chief government spokesperson Lieutenant General Ronnie Shikapwasha's challenge to him to prove his statement that President Banda and Siliya were inseparable following her recent appointment, Hichilema said President Banda likes Siliya so much more than the 12 million Zambians.
"It's clear that the President will always protect Dora. He came out to protect
Dora so much against public interest. He went ahead to defend her. It's clear that there is a special bondage between the President and Dora. What I mean is it's either Dora is a relative or she is involved in the shoddy deals in government so there is a special bondage. How can you appoint somebody within hours after the judgment?" Hichilema asked.
"What is so special about Dora that the public will cry that she is wrong and he goes ahead to protect her? Is Dora the only person who is fit to be minister? Shikapwasha's understanding is so raw so he can't follow debate easily."
Hichilema said Siliya had no moral and sane right to return to Cabinet.
"Dora is embarrassing herself and the people of Zambia. Whatever [High Court] judge [Phillip] Musonda said, the facts remain that she was wrong. Zambians will have the last laugh on this issue of Dora because they are bright and Dora and Rupiah will regret this action. Rupiah has slapped Zambians in the face by re-appointing Dora," Hichilema said. "The decision to re-appoint Dora is pure poor judgment and vested interest in the whole RP Capital Partners deal."
On revelations that most documents linked to the corruption scam at the Ministry of Health had gone missing, Hichilema said the ruling MMD and government officials involved in the K27 billion scam had destroyed evidence to kill the audit trail and exonerate themselves.
Hichilema described the revelation by Auditor General Anna Chifungula that the forensic audit at the Ministry of Health had delayed because most of the documents were missing as unfortunate.
"But it's not surprising. The question one should ask themselves is why are they hiding documents? It's because the scam is bigger than we think it is. The stealing is much larger or it's colossal than what has been reported. There is a lot more money missing than what has been reported," Hichilema said.
"The people involved know that things are catching up with them. They are hiding and destroying evidence so that the full extent of the stealing is not known. This confirms what we have been saying that the figure is much higher."
He said like every other scam the 'big fish' involved were the corrupt MMD politicians and government officials.
"They would deliberately find delaying tactics so that the trail is killed or covered up, so that they hide and they don't get discovered and eventually they continue stealing. There are people trying to cover up the trail and the amount of money is colossal so they want to conceal the evidence," Hichilema said.
"The big fish is the MMD politician so they are covering up the trail. They are urging the people in the ministry to destroy the documents so that they exonerate themselves. I have confidence in madam Chifungula and her team but her job will be made difficult by this systematic manipulation."
Hichilema said a responsible government should have acted quickly and earlier.
"They should have done more work to seal the loopholes. We have been vindicated, our figures have not been wrong but Shikapwasha has been arguing. Now what can this government do? Their capacity to do a good job has been impaired. They are the culprits so they would do everything to cover up," Hichilema said.
"Zambians are tired of this corrupt regime. They are busy talking about Rupiah Banda for 2011 and yet the chap has not even performed. MMD is on its way out."
And Fr Miha said the re-appointment of Siliya was a clear indication of something that was going on in the government adding that people needed an explanation.
"There is something fishy going on in the government that they need to explain to the nation. The people in government are so corrupt. What is so special about Siliya from these other ministers that we have in the country that she should be re-appointed even when the people of Zambia do not need her services?" he asked.
Fr Miha said the people who advised the President should endeavour to give him advice that would be beneficial to the country.
"Condoning corruption in the country will not help in the attainment of social and economic development. The judicial system should be independent. In this country there is a lot of government interference," Fr Miha said.
Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) president Reuben Lifuka said President Banda was slowly becoming an island because he were not moved by public opinion.
Lifuka said it was sad that President Banda had never told the Zambian people about the findings of the judge Dennis Chirwa-chaired tribunal which found Siliya to have breached the Constitution when she engaged RP Capital Partners to valuate Zamtel assets before partial privatisation.
"The President has not told the Zambian people what his analysis was on the tribunal that was set up. All he did was to tell the nation that he welcomed Siliya's resignation which is unfortunate. He should have explained to the nation what his findings as a President were on the tribunal as it had comprised a lot of issues," Lifuka said.
He wondered how the President expected Siliya to work with people who were annoyed with her.
"President Rupiah Banda is slowly becoming an island because he is not moved by the public opinion. He is forgetting that the people are the ones who will decide on whether he should continue ruling them," Lifuka said. "The judicial system in our country has failed and needs to redeem itself."
Patriotic Front (PF) youth wing national secretary Eric Chanda said President Banda had insulted the teachers, students and the MMD leadership.
Chanda said the re-appointing of Siliya as education minister was sad.
"It is not a hidden fact that Dora Siliya is arrogant and a failure who cannot manage university and college students, teachers and lecturers. She has got no agenda," Chanda said.
Meanwhile, chief Chikwanda charged that it appeared that the President re-appointed Siliya even before she was cleared by High Court judge Musonda.
He said President Banda's mind was already made up, and whichever way the case went, Siliya would still have been appointed minister.
"It is like he appointed her in advance, which is not good. He should have waited, 'is what Siliya is being alleged for true'? He wasn't supposed to do that [reappointing Siliya]. He was supposed to listen to people's views," chief Chikwanda said. "Is that how we are going about to be doing things? That is not straightforward."
President Banda appointed Siliya as education minister after judge Musonda cleared her of breaching the Constitution as found by the tribunal in the RP Capital Partners deal.
Earlier when some PF leaders paid a courtesy call on him, chief Chikwanda said President Banda's government had started to strategise on how to steal votes by starting the mobile registration of national registration cards (NRCs) in areas perceived to be the President's strongholds.
He said logic demanded that registration be commenced in areas with larger populations.
Chief Chikwanda said President Banda's government was cruel.
"Nibumambala sana sanafye [it is crookedness of the highest order]. The way of stealing," chief Chikwanda said of the ongoing mobile registration of NRCs. "They should have at least started the exercise in all the parts of the country."
Recently, home affairs minister Dr Kalombo Mwansa announced that the government would commence with the mobile registration of NRCs in North Western, Western and Eastern provinces.
Chief Chikwanda said he had failed to travel to Ndola for a due hernia operation because of the ongoing strikes by health workers.
Labels: CHIEF CHIKWANDA, CORRUPTION, DORA SILIYA, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, MIHA DREVENSEK, RUEBEN LIFUKA, RUPIAH BANDA
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