Monday, April 12, 2010

Fr Bwalya challenges white ribbon campaigners to champion good governance

Fr Bwalya challenges white ribbon campaigners to champion good governance
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Mon 12 Apr. 2010, 04:01 CAT

CHANGE Life Zambia executive director Fr Frank Bwalya has charged that the White Ribbon campaign will be baptising corruption, bad governance, ineptitude and bad leadership if it does not challenge government to address these concerns.

Commenting on white ribbon campaign (which originally is a safe motherhood campaign) launched by some sections of society seemingly to counter his red card campaign, Fr Bwalya said Zambians had the right to express themselves in a manner they want.

Fr Bwalya challenged the initiators of the white ribbon to also engage government and influence it to use common sense and allow Zambians to have a constitution they want – one which is just, durable and reflecting their aspirations.

He said those promoting the white ribbon should also ensure that government recommits itself to fighting corruption, theft of public resources and that they should also make President Rupiah Banda’s government to restore the notice of appeal against the acquittal of Frederick Chiluba.

“In the absence of government acting on these issues and many other national issues, the white whatever campaign is a waste of valuable time and resources. As a matter of fact it would be another way of baptising corruption, bad governance, ineptitude and bad leadership in general,” said Fr Bwalya.

“As people who have embraced the democratic spirit we shall defend the rights of those attempting to start the white whatever project but we wish to advise them that they are embarking on a futile exercise of defending government without advising it to address national issues that the red card campaign is based on.”

And Fr Bwalya said the wheels of change in Zambia had started turning slowly but surely and would by the end of this year gather speed that would make the few doubting Thomases convinced that Zambians want positive change.

Fr Bwalya said people were sick and tired of corrupt, inept, selfish and greedy leaders.

He said people countywide were speaking loudly and in no uncertain terms that they want change.

“As Change Life Zambia, we have resumed our programme of launching the organisation throughout the country, this Saturday 17th April 2010, we will be in Chililabombwe at Twafwane Basic School grounds and on the following day, Sunday yesterday, we will be launching Change Life Zambia in Nchanga, Chingola. Soon we shall move to rural areas of the Copperbelt such as Lufwanyama and Mpongwe. We are also asking people in Mansa, Kapiri Mposhi and Lusaka to start expecting us. We are doing this because we stand for change that offers a better life for all Zambians, that’s why we invite people in these areas to come so that we can work together,” Fr Bwalya said.

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Sunday, March 21, 2010

Mpombo vows to take part in red card campaigns

Mpombo vows to take part in red card campaigns
By Patson Chilemba
Sun 21 Mar. 2010, 04:20 CAT

GEORGE Mpombo yesterday said President Rupiah Banda should have expected the red card campaigns because he has failed to provide leadership.

In an interview, Mpombo, who is Kafulafuta MMD member of parliament, said he would take part in the red card campaign demonstrations against President Banda whenever they would be called. He said President Banda had left people with no choice but to resort to red cards because of his administration's gross failure.

“The administration is bad. President Banda has not provided leadership, so that red cards is expected. Especially travelling, today yesterday he is travelling to Namibia. You can't always be traveling. There should be no jet-set diplomacy, always in the air,” Mpombo said. “When the demonstrations are called, I will be part of them.”

And Mpombo asked President Banda to take heed to comments by British High Commissioner to Zambia Carolyn Davidson that there would be consequences for the assistance provided by the cooperating partners if evidence suggested that the government was not committed to fighting corruption.

He said President Banda's government had continued to let the donors down on the lukewarm approach towards the fight against corruption.

Mpombo said High Commissioner Davidson was diplomatically telling President Banda that donors were not impressed with his government's fight against graft.

“It is a polite manner of saying that the fight has hit rock-bottom in terms of effort. It is not focused, 'can you ensure that this fight is brought back on the road'. It is one way of expressing diplomatic disquietness over what they perceive to be sluggish government efforts, feeble efforts by government,” Mpombo said. “You see, he has not exhibited courageous leadership over the fight.”

Mpombo said the statement by High Commissioner Davidson had far reaching consequences for the country.

He said President Banda's handling of corruption could be seen from his conduct on the RP Capital Partners' involvement in the privatisation of the 75 per cent stake in Zamtel, the disbandment of the Task Force on Corruption and the dubious dealings in the procurement and awarding of oil contracts.

“And also the disparaging statements to the fight against corruption by late president Levy Mwanawasa, but my advice is it is important to take serious heed to the comments by the British High Commissioner, and we continue to let them down,” said Mpombo.

High Commissioner Davidson last Thursday said there would be consequences for the assistance provided by the cooperating partners if evidence suggested that the government was not committed to fighting corruption. The remarks were made during the official launch of the national anti-corruption policy implementation plan.

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