It's evil to call Scott a colonialist - Fr Luonde
By Moses Kuwema
Mon 03 Feb. 2014, 14:01 CAT
ANGLICAN priest Fr Richard Luonde says it is evil for UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to refer to Vice-President Dr Guy Scott as the only remaining colonialist.
In an interview, Fr Luonde said Hichilema was being racist, something he said should not be promoted. Hakainde last Wednesday racially attacked Vice-President Scott, saying he was the only remaining colonialist.
"Guy Scott is a Zambian who has grown up in Zambia and he should be allowed to exercise his freedom of expression. To begin to use the language which is provocative and segregates against individuals cannot be accepted in a modern Zambia. We should live in harmony. As a person who is educated, he should not utter such words. He is inciting people to rise against certain sections of society," Fr Luonde said.
He said it was unfortunate that current politicians were rooted in politics of tribe and regionalism.
Fr Luonde said the promotion of regionalism and tribalism in politics was bad.
"What is coming in could easily break up this nation and lead us to a civil war. Politicians should speak the language of development. We are headed nowhere if we speak the language of tribe and regionalism. Zambians should make sure people who are tribal and promote regionalism are not supported or listened to," he said.
Fr Luonde said the practice of tribalism and hatred was what led to the killing of innocent people in Uganda.
"We don't want Idi Amins in Zambia. If we become tribal and segregative, that will be a total destruction to our nation," said Fr Luonde.
When receiving defectors from other political parties in Matero last Wednesday, Hichilema said any Zambian who held a critical view against the government was being treated like a criminal even after years of independence from colonialists.
He said the country had gotten rid of all colonialists except Vice-President Scott.
Labels: GUY SCOTT, RICHARD LUONDE
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The corrupt religious
By Editor
Sun 26 Jan. 2014, 14:00 CAT
It is said that the corruption of the best is the worst of all. This can be applied to the religious, among whom the corrupt also exist. Many of our religious institutions have problems of corruption, to a greater or lesser extent. And we do not mean isolated cases, but daily occurrences of corruption. We would call them venial, but they do bog down religious life. How can such a thing happen?
A golden rule has been suggested to detect the state of a soul living in peace and tranquility: assign to him or her something extra. A soul closed to generosity reacts badly.
A soul gets used to the evil smell of corruption. It is the same in a closed environment: only the one who comes from outside detects the rarefied atmosphere. When one wants to help a soul in that state, there arises an indescribable sequence of resistances. The Israelites were slaves in Egypt, but they had become used to this loss of freedom, adjusting the state of their soul to it, and did not desire any other manner of living. Their conscience was asleep, somewhat corrupt. When Moses announced to them God's plan, "they would not listen to him because of their dejection and hard slavery" (Exodus 6:9). Later, when the going in the desert got increasingly difficult, they reproached Moses for having got them into trouble: "When they came up on Moses and Aaron … they said to them: 'The Lord look upon you and judge! You have brought us into bad odour with Pharaoh and his servants and have put a sword into their hands to slay us" (Exodus 5:21).
The elders intended to negotiate with the enemy. They were tired and frightened. Judith had to come and re-read history to them in order that they would not accept situations unwanted by God, like sheep led to the slaughter. Jona does not want problems: he is sent to Nineveh and rushes off to Tarshish. God has to intervene and purify him with a long night in the belly of the monster. Elijah says to himself that he's gone too far in the issue of the slaughter of the priests of Balaam, and gets frightened of a woman to the extent of desiring death: he is not up to bearing the solitude of triumphing in God. Nathaniel finds it easier to utter his skeptical "nothing good can come out of Nazareth…" (John 1:46), than to believe in Philip's enthusiasm. The two disciples, new Jonahs, didn't want problems either: they had been summoned to Galilee and escaped towards Emmaus instead…and the rest of the apostles could not believe what their eyes were seeing, "incredulously for joy and amazed" (Luke 24:41). This is the key point: sorrow always leads to a worse state; having experienced defeat, it leads the human heart to getting used to it, so as not to be surprised and not to suffer before another possible defeat. Or, simply, one is satisfied with one's state and wants no more problems.
There is reticence in all these biblical references. The heart wants no trouble. There is the fear that God might burst in and lead us along ways out of our control. There is fear of God's visit, fear of being consoled. A fatalism of sorts sets in; horizons shrink to the measure of one's desolation or tranquility. One fears hope, preferring the realism of less to the promise of more…forgetting that God's utmost realism is in the words: "Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father's house to a land that I will show you. I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing" (Genesis 12:1-2).
There is a subtle process of corruption in this supposedly realistic preferring of the less: one arrives at mediocrity or lukewarmness, two forms of spiritual corruption, and haggles with God according to one or the other. In the sacrament of reconciliation, one asks for the forgiveness of other sins…but does not show the Lord this deluded state of soul. A slow, but fatal sclerosis of the heart has begun.
Then the soul begins to find satisfaction in the products of religious consumerism. Consecrated life is lived more than ever as an immanent realisation of one's personality. For many, this will consist in professional satisfaction, for others in successful works, for others in taking pleasure in oneself for the esteem in which one is held or, in finding imperfection of modern means, the ways of filling the vacuum left in the soul by the absence of the end originally looked for and for which one let oneself be called. Others will engage in an intense social life: they will enjoy going out, holidays with friends, dinners and receptions; they will try to be taken into account in all that implies status. We could go on listing cases of corruption…but, simply, all of this is a part of something deeper: spiritual worldliness. It is a form of paganism ecclesially disguised. In the face of such men and women with their corrupt consecrated life, the Church shows the greatness of her saints…who have been able to transcend all appearances to contemplate the face of Christ, thus becoming mad for Christ.
Many men and women spend their lives in what we have called venial corruption. They don't measure up to the standard of their consecration. They make themselves comfortable beside the pool, during 38 long years looking at the waters and seeing others getting cured (John 5:5). Such a heart is corrupt. One dreams while awake, and would rather revive the dead part of the heart; one feels the call of the Lord…but no, it's too much trouble, too much work. Our indigence must make an effort to open up to transcendence, but the illness of corruption prevents it.
Spiritual worldliness constitutes the greatest danger, the most treacherous temptation. It is insidiously reborn when all the others have been conquered, and the very victories give it new strength. Were this same spiritual worldliness to infiltrate the Church so as to corrupt her in her very principle, it would infinitely be more disastrous than any other, simply moral, worldliness. It would be even worse than loathsome leprosy that at some historical times cruelly disfigured the countenance of the beloved spouse.
Labels: CORRUPTION, RELIGION, RICHARD LUONDE
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Corruption rife in the church-Fr.Luonde
By Roy Habaalu
Sun 26 Jan. 2014, 09:20 CAT
CORRUPTION is rife in the church, says Fr Richard Luonde.
Fr Luonde, a Kitwe-based Anglican priest, says most clergy lived beyond their means, raising suspicion on how they acquired what they have. He said corruption was not only in the secular world but also in churches.
"Corruption is everywhere, even in families, so the church cannot be excluded. If you carried out a thorough investigation on the happenings in the church today, you will be shocked because the church has become so secular in certain areas such that you fail to understand if we are still prophesying the Gospel of Jesus Christ," Fr Luonde said.
"Nobody is speaking out on the corruption in the church. Corruption is also found in the church and the levels of living for ministers in the church leave much to be desired and if they are living comfortably than anyone else, it means someone with whom they run the church have taken advantage of the congregation."
Fr Luonde said the church had not been transparent in its financial dealings.
He wondered how some church leaders were living lavish lives while followers remained poverty stricken.
"There's a lot of hypocrisy, a lot of judging others before judging ourselves. Some churches, the way they are established and their guidelines and programmes, leave a lot to be desired. In certain churches you would find a bishop driven in a posh vehicle with bodyguards; why should you have bodyguards? Some of them are as poor as the church mouse. Now if we call ourselves Christians, why should me as a bishop or a church leader drive a very expensive vehicle while my flock and pastors or reverends languish in poverty? That is corruption.
If you can amass such wealth to buy an expensive vehicle and build a mansion while your ministers and church members are in a grass-thatched house, how did you acquire that wealth? It means it was acquired at the expense of the church because when we talk about equality and being equal before Jesus Christ, the difference should not be so huge that in the same environment, others should live comfortably whilst others are suffering. But this is happening in the church today," Fr Luonde said.
He said it was hypocritical for the church to call others to virtues that they themselves do not practice.
"If we cry for a people-driven constitution in Zambia, we should also cry for a people-driven regulatory framework within the church. The Ten Commandments should apply to all, including church leaders. We should begin to regulate the way we run and conduct church affairs. So corruption is not only in the secular world; it's also in church and this must be fought," said Fr Luonde.
Labels: CORRUPTION, RELIGION, RICHARD LUONDE
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GBM's exit is good riddance - Luonde
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Wed 25 Dec. 2013, 14:01 CAT
IT is good riddance for Geoffrey Mwamba to leave President Michael Sata's Cabinet, says Fr Richard Luonde. And former PF Copperbelt secretary Chanda Kabwe says the PF is an institution that is above individuals, and Mwamba's resignation was good for him, the people and the government.
Commenting on the decision by Mwamba to resign from his position as Minister of Defence, Fr Luonde said Mwamba's resignation from government was, in fact, long overdue.
"All is well and we must wish him all the best in his future endeavours. It seemed that he had his own issues. He has threatened to resign before and his resignation has not been a huge surprise. Our call to the PF is that life must continue, there are many other people that were more than capable of even performing better than Mwamba and also capable of executing duties diligently to the expectation of Zambians," Fr Luonde said.
He said although there were contradictions on his part, Mwamba had given his own reason for leaving government, and it must be appreciated by Zambians.
"Sincerity in politics is very important. It's good riddance for GBM to leave in the manner that he did. Leaders must always be sincere to themselves, we heard that he had serious frictions with the authority and President Sata cautioned Mwamba over Sosala and the controversy surrounding the Chitimukulu chieftainship. We don't know why the government has not recognised Sosala as Paramount Chief Chitimukulu; that's why we can't speculate. However, if Mwamba does not agree with his superior, who is President Sata, then let him go," Fr Luonde said.
He said there were many other chiefs that had not been recognised by successive governments in the past, adding that the PF had a responsibility to explain the status quo on why Henry Sosala had not been recognised as Chitimukulu so that people could understand.
Meanwhile, Kabwe said Mwamba had every right to resign and leave space for other people in and outside government that had exhibited undoubted sacrifice and commitment to serving Zambians through the PF government.
"Leadership is about respecting your superiors, taking instructions from the authority. If you cannot take instructions, that is a sign of disloyalty. We urge those in leadership to respect President Michael Sata and if one does not agree with the ideals of the party, they are free to leave," Kabwe said.
Mwamba announced his resignation as defence minister to his supporters at his Kasama residence on Monday, shortly after President Sata censured him over his meeting with Sosala.
President Sata said Mwamba failed to show collective responsibility on government's position regarding the installation of Sosala as Chitimukulu.
Labels: CHANDA KABWE, GBM, RICHARD LUONDE
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Sata surrounded by people who are not genuine - Luonde
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Mon 07 Oct. 2013, 14:01 CAT
FR Richard Luonde says it is unfortunate that President Michael Sata is surrounded by people who are not genuine and did not struggle with him when he was in opposition.
Commenting on the statement by chief Matanda of Mansa district that he had reservations about some of the people that were surrounding President Sata,
Fr Luonde, who is Open Society Foundation (OSF) board chairperson, said there was a lot of cheating in the PF at the moment.
"Yes, chief Matanda was very right to say that because when PF formed government, I came out and advised them to be careful with the people to take on board. People struggled to change government because they wanted things in terms of governance to change in the country," Fr Luonde said.
"People wanted to see a new breed of leaders rising in 2011. But we are now seeing so many people crossing over to the PF; people who do not even understand the PF's manifesto. They have not even read it."
He said most people who had joined the PF were only interested in serving their pockets and not the ordinary Zambians.
"Just look at what is happening in the country today. Those that are resigning from the PF have already started insulting the party," Fr Luonde said.
"They have forgotten that that is the same government that was giving them fuel, salaries and other things. Some people are even rising against Wynter Kabimba… instead of just finding proper ways of resolving the matter."
He said those that risked with President Sata when he was in opposition were still wallowing in 'political' poverty.
Fr Luonde said it was surprising that only a few people in government were talking about the unprecedented development that the country had witnessed in the two years that PF had been in power.
"These are the same people who will leave the PF when another party comes into power. But they should not take things for granted because the PF is still in power, and they should not think that what the PF has done can be done by another party," said Fr Luonde.
Speaking recently when Vice-President Dr Guy Scott paid a courtesy call on him at his palace, chief Matanda said he supports President Sata but has a problem with some of the people surrounding him.
"I was instrumental in the change of government from the MMD. I support President Sata but I have reservations with the people he is working with and some people surrounding him because they do not share his vision for this country," said chief Matanda.
Labels: CHIEF MATANDA, GEORGE SOROS, MICHAEL SATA, OPEN SOCIETY FOUNDATION, OSISA, PF, RICHARD LUONDE
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HH can cause tribalism in Zambia if elected president - Fr Luonde
By Roy Habaalu
Thu 14 Mar. 2013, 16:20 CAT
Fr Richard Luonde says Zambians made the right decision by not voting for Hakainde Hichilema. Fr Luonde says Hichilema can cause serious tribalism in Zambia if elected president of the country. His remarks come in the wake of Hichilema's description of President Michael Sata and Dr Kenneth Kaunda as dictators.
Fr Luonde, an Anglican priest based in Kitwe, said Hichilema's utterances were a recipe for civil strife.
He said if Hichilema had nothing to say, he should withdraw from the political race, go into reflection and return after the 2016 general election.
"Mr Hakainde can cause a serious tribal revolt in this country if he was by any chance elected president of Zambia. He's in a rush to become president not knowing how to go about it and he's about to crash. He's so hungry for power that's why he moved out of many political pacts including that of his party and the PF," Fr Luonde said.
He said Hichilema would do better to concentrate on his economics because politics had failed him.
He described Hichilema as an angry man who had no respect for elders that had contributed to his education.
He described Hichilema as a hypocrite who lacked respect after benefiting from Dr Kaunda's policies.
He said Dr Kaunda sacrificed the last years of his presidency paving way for the birth of multi-party democracy in Zambia.
Addressing the press at the party secretariat in Lusaka, Hichilema said he never thought for once that another dictator like Dr Kenneth Kaunda would emerge after 1991.
"Sometimes I sit down on my own and ask what sin we committed. Why have you given us this type of leadership? And I ask you to pray to God. We know God will answer us. God will help us," he said. "This is not the type of leadership, I am sure, that the youth voted for when they were shouting ' pa maka, pa maka ', when they were shouting donchi kubeba. I don't understand what Mr Sata wants. He won the elections and Rupiah Banda handed over power, what else does Mr Sata want?"
Labels: HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, RICHARD LUONDE, TRIBALISM
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COMMENT - Robert Amsterdam (Amsterdam & Peroff, corporate member of Chatham House/RIIA) whose clients in incude Thanksi Shinawatra (Thailand) and Mikhail Khodorkovsky (Russia). Apparently, former Zambian President Rupiah Banda is on a par with these individuals some way.
Rupiah's lawyer a vulture - Luonde
By Ernest Chanda and Moses Kuwema
Thu 21 Feb. 2013, 16:10 CAT
FATHER Richard Luonde has described Rupiah Banda's lawyer, Robert Amsterdam, as a vulture who is taking advantage of desperate politicians like the former president. And Amsterdam has described Zambians supporting calls to lift his client's immunity as playing a role of 'useful idiots'.
Meanwhile, the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has stated that the immunity provided for in the Constitution was against prosecution and not investigation. The Kitwe-based Anglican priest said Amsterdam had a tarnished image world-wide such that some countries had even banned him from entering them. He said Amsterdam had taken advantage of Banda's political misfortune and portrayed himself as a super-international lawyer.
"He has taken advantage of the state of mind of our former head of state and his family. And he says because I'm an international lawyer, I can represent you. When you are desperate in life, you end up losing a lot of things. The man is a vulture who is looking for desperate politicians like former president Banda," Fr Luonde said yesterday.
"This is the time that the former head of state should ground himself, stick to Zambia and answer all charges here. To go to such kind of lawyers like Mr Amsterdam who has no credible international record is unfortunate."
He said Zambia had competent lawyers that could represent Banda.
"Even our second Republican president Dr Frederick Chiluba when he was taken to court, he didn't rush for international lawyers. He stuck to Zambian lawyers because he had confidence in our lawyers, and they represented him throughout his cases. We have so many well-articulate and intelligent lawyers in Zambia who can represent him effectively.
To go to such kind of lawyers who just want to reap where they did not sow will just put him into more problems."
And in statement released on Tuesday, Amsterdam said that recent calls by the PF government and other stakeholders to remove Banda's immunity were politically motivated and an example of selective justice.
Amsterdam, who described people calling for the lifting of Banda's immunity as praise singers, further stated:
"...President Michael Sata's government is persecuting Banda in a completely opposite, backwards fashion."
He accused Post editor-in-chief Fred M'membe and Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito of guiding the undermining of the rule of law in the country.
"...The two men have already allegedly abused their powers to force the government to help them avoid paying back debt to Development Bank of Zambia, and now they are asking citizens to play the role of 'useful idiots' to support lifting immunity without even knowing why," he stated.
He accused President Sata and chief government spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni of direct interference in the judicial affairs of the country.
Amsterdam stated that the government had turned the fight against corruption into a political instrument.
Recently in Rosebank, South Africa, Amsterdam organised a press conference for UPND, MMD and ULP leaders, where the opposition heads called for Zambia to be suspended from the Commonwealth among other demands. The press conference has been widely condemned by a cross-section of the Zambian society.
Amsterdam also represented incarcerated Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
Khodorkovsky was jailed in 2003 for corruption and is due to complete his 14 year jail term next year after a Russian court cut off two years.
He also represented former Thailand prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who at one time was wanted to answer to corruption charges.
Last year, the Zambian government said Amsterdam was not welcome in Zambia. This was after he had gotten a tourist visa. He has once been denied entry to Singapore also.
Recently, Dr Ludwig Sondashi, who is president of the opposition Forum for Democratic Alternatives (FDA), said Amsterdam had been unfair to Banda and other opposition leaders by not advising them properly.
"In my view as a constitutional lawyer, I've not seen anything wrong which this government has done to warrant Mr Rupiah's running out to go and seek assistance. If anything, Mr Rupiah must be answerable to the local jurisdiction," said Dr Sondashi.
And in a statement, LAZ president James Banda, said that a proper case has to be presented to the National Assembly for the members of parliament to seriously consider before Banda's immunity is removed.
James Banda stated that lifting the immunity of Banda now would be premature and risks being an academic exercise as long as critical issues were not addressed.
"It is established by the Republican Constitution (Article 43 3) and the courts of law that the National Assembly can lift the immunity of a former head of state if it has before it allegations showing prima facie criminal conduct and that to remove such immunity would not be contrary to the interests of the state. Therefore, it is not only evidence of criminal conduct which is to be considered.
The parliamentarians must address their minds to the question whether removing the immunity of the head of state is not contrary to the interests of the state," Banda stated.
Banda stated that the immunity provided for in the Constitution was against prosecution and not investigation.
He stated that once credible investigations were carried out and it emerges that there was a prima facie evidence of wrong doing then at that point, Parliament might be moved on a motion for the lifting of the immunity.
"However, the former head of state enjoys all constitutional rights and liberties of any person suspected to have committed a crime.
"Further, the issue of the lifting of immunity of a former head of state is not without precedent in Zambia. Following the acquittal of late president Frederick Chiluba, uproar was raised against the judgment and it was a strong feeling amongst many stakeholders that the justice system was interfered with. The Law Association raised concern with the judgment as well and we were clear," stated James Banda.
According to LAZ, the precedent and experience Zambia had gone through over Chiluba should help the country not make similar mistakes.
"In this regard pertinent questions to ask before considering the removal of the immunity of the former head of state are:
Have the problems identified in the justice system been rectified?
Do our investigation and prosecution systems enjoy independence and credibility?
In our view, before the above issues/ questions are addressed this process (removing Banda's immunity) will be mired in controversy and the whole process, which might earn kudos for certain sectors of our political system, risks achieving nothing," stated Banda.
Labels: LAZ, LEGAL IMMUNITY, RICHARD LUONDE, RUPIAH BANDA
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PF setting up company is good idea, but there're risks - Kachingwe
By Moses Kuwema and Fridah Nkonde
Wed 17 Oct. 2012, 13:00 CAT
MMD national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe says the setting up of a company by the PF is good idea but that there are risks involved.
And Anglican priest Father Richard Luonde says the formation of a company by the Patriotic Front is a milestone in Zambian politics.
Commenting on the decision by the Patriotic Front to register a company called Ilunda Chalo Investment, Maj Kachingwe (left) said the MMD did the same thing when they formed a company called MOPED but that it left the party in debt.
"There are risks involved; first of all they will be tempted to make money and they will use government facilities because it's very difficult …or they will ask for favours in one way of another and it will be a source of problems. MMD went the same way and today, MOPED, we don't even know what happened to it.
Nobody can stand up today and tell us what happened to it, we got embroiled with Meridean Bank, with Chibote and we don't even know what happened," he said.
Maj Kachingwe said cited South Africa's African National Congress party which he said had a lot of investments in companies.
He said the idea also keeps parties in power away from temptations.
"Even for the MMD at that time, I think it was a good idea but it was mismanaged. I don't know the history but what I know is that there are debts that we have been dealing with arising from MOPED. I don't know how the party was attached to it (company) because it was a company limited by shares, but it ended up with the party," Maj Kachingwe said.
Asked if the MMD had any plans of setting up a company now that they were no longer in power, Maj Kachingwe said the party had ideas on the table to start investments and would want to create as many traditional sources of income as possible.
"It is just like parastatals, that is why even the donors and cooperating partners insists that we must dismantle as much…in fact, they told MMD to dismantle parastatals because one, they become conduits for corruption because they normally get instructions from politicians. Even party properties, anybody gives instructions, it does not belong to one particular person, so people don't care much about it.
So it is quite difficult but I wish them well to start such a project as long as it is independent but there is also this fear that in the world of competition, you may use your status to influence business," Maj Kachingwe said.
And Fr Luonde said Ilunda Chalo Investment would in a way help the PF not to use government funds in party matters.
"MMD went all the way in misusing funds meant to benefit Zambians because they had no other sources of money apart from government. We therefore commend the PF for the initiative and we just pray that the company comes to fruition. The plans should not just be on paper," he said.
Fr Luonde said it was evident that the PF would still remain a formidable opposition even after getting out of power because they would still have money to run party structures.
He said most of the political parties went into extinction just after getting out of power because they found it difficult to access funds.
Labels: PF, RICHARD KACHINGWE, RICHARD LUONDE
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PF setting up company is good idea, but there're risks - Kachingwe
By Moses Kuwema and Fridah Nkonde
Wed 17 Oct. 2012, 13:00 CAT
MMD national secretary Major Richard Kachingwe says the setting up of a company by the PF is good idea but that there are risks involved.
And Anglican priest Father Richard Luonde says the formation of a company by the Patriotic Front is a milestone in Zambian politics.
Commenting on the decision by the Patriotic Front to register a company called Ilunda Chalo Investment, Maj Kachingwe (left) said the MMD did the same thing when they formed a company called MOPED but that it left the party in debt.
"There are risks involved; first of all they will be tempted to make money and they will use government facilities because it's very difficult …or they will ask for favours in one way of another and it will be a source of problems. MMD went the same way and today, MOPED, we don't even know what happened to it.
Nobody can stand up today and tell us what happened to it, we got embroiled with Meridean Bank, with Chibote and we don't even know what happened," he said.
Maj Kachingwe said cited South Africa's African National Congress party which he said had a lot of investments in companies.
He said the idea also keeps parties in power away from temptations.
"Even for the MMD at that time, I think it was a good idea but it was mismanaged. I don't know the history but what I know is that there are debts that we have been dealing with arising from MOPED. I don't know how the party was attached to it (company) because it was a company limited by shares, but it ended up with the party," Maj Kachingwe said.
Asked if the MMD had any plans of setting up a company now that they were no longer in power, Maj Kachingwe said the party had ideas on the table to start investments and would want to create as many traditional sources of income as possible.
"It is just like parastatals, that is why even the donors and cooperating partners insists that we must dismantle as much…in fact, they told MMD to dismantle parastatals because one, they become conduits for corruption because they normally get instructions from politicians. Even party properties, anybody gives instructions, it does not belong to one particular person, so people don't care much about it.
So it is quite difficult but I wish them well to start such a project as long as it is independent but there is also this fear that in the world of competition, you may use your status to influence business," Maj Kachingwe said.
And Fr Luonde said Ilunda Chalo Investment would in a way help the PF not to use government funds in party matters.
"MMD went all the way in misusing funds meant to benefit Zambians because they had no other sources of money apart from government. We therefore commend the PF for the initiative and we just pray that the company comes to fruition. The plans should not just be on paper," he said.
Fr Luonde said it was evident that the PF would still remain a formidable opposition even after getting out of power because they would still have money to run party structures.
He said most of the political parties went into extinction just after getting out of power because they found it difficult to access funds.
Labels: PF, RICHARD KACHINGWE, RICHARD LUONDE
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Don't fear to express yourself
Sat 01 Sep. 2012, 10:12 CAT
We all have a duty to speak out when something is wrong. We shouldn't be silent when things are not going well. Our ability and willingness to speak out when things are wrong, when things are not going well, is the lifeblood of our country.
Mankind's ability to speak out, to speak up is the bedrock of civilisation. And on this score, the Gospel according to John is very instructive: "Before the world was created, the Word already existed; he was with God, and he was the same as God. From the very beginning, the Word was with God. Through him, God made all things; not one thing in all creation was made without him. The Word was the source of life, and this life brought light to mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out" (1 John 1-5).
Clearly, everything begins with the word, with our ability to express ourselves, to speak out. Freedom of speech and expression is the lifeblood of any democracy. To debate and vote, to assemble and protest, to worship, to ensure justice for all - these all rely upon the unrestricted flow of speech and information.
Clearly, democracy is communication: people talking to one another about their common problems and forging a common destiny. Before people can govern themselves, 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. The greater the volume of such exchanges, the better.
Democracy depends upon a literate, knowledgeable citizenry, whose access to the broadest possible range of opinions and information enables them to participate as fully as possible in the public life of their society. Ignorance breeds apathy. Democracy thrives upon the energy of citizens who are sustained by the unimpeded flow of ideas, data, opinions and speculation.
But we also know that not all ideas that are propagated are good, correct and acceptable. Some of them are blatant lies, harmful speculation and propaganda and an abuse of the freedom of speech.
But what should the government do in cases where freedom of speech is abused with information that, in the opinion of the majority, is 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 of 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 and groups 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 advocates of free speech argue, the suppression of speech that I find offensive today is potentially a threat to my exercise of free speech tomorrow - which perhaps you or someone else might find offensive. One of the classic defences of this view is 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.
We believe that the strength of a democracy lies in the involvement of people in their own governance. As such, participation is a key component of any democracy.
We also believe that participatory governance generates an environment where matters of abuse of power, corruption and such other social evils could be controlled and even overcome. Through checks and balances, mechanisms that curb any abuses, through the separation of power among political structures, could be put in place. Through this separation of power, political structures are able to restrict each other's political discretion, whereby none of them is overly powerful and uncontrollable.
It is necessary that we all participate in the governance of our country according to our position and role, in promoting the common good.
No one should be afraid to speak out their minds. And as Nelson Mandela advised, "men must follow the dictates of their consciences irrespective of the consequences which might overtake them for it".
And as Fr Gabriel Msipu correctly observes, we all have a special mandate to help each other and to alert those in authority and make them know what is happening in certain places which sometimes they cannot visit at all. For this reason, no one should be afraid to express themselves and become tight-lipped because of fear.
We cannot deny that there is a growing culture of intolerance in our politics. And intolerance is not limited only to those in government. It is something that one sees even in our opposition political parties. You dare to challenge some of the top leaders of our opposition political parties and see what happens to your membership, to your position in the party! Freedom of expression is suppressed in many of our political organisations. It is even suppressed in the church. Dissenting voices are rarely tolerated in our political parties and in our churches. Dissent is equally not tolerated in our traditional institutions. Oppose some of our chiefs and see what happens to you!
But for as long as legitimate bodies of opinion feel stifled, vile minds will take advantage of justifiable grievances to destroy, to kill and to maim.
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right. And to deny any person their human rights, their freedom of expression is to challenge their very humanity.
We all know that some of this intolerance is the result of fear. And fear arises when we view everyone else with suspicion. And as we all know, the route of all problems is anger, attachment, jealousy, hatred. These are the real enemy. And there is one enemy who is always an enemy, with whom we should never compromise; that is the enemy inside your heart. You cannot change all these bad thoughts in your friend. But you have to confront and control them.
Some people turn very negative when things are not going their way. But negativity is never the solution. Anger, jealousy, impatience and hatred are the real trouble makers; with them, problems can never be solved. Though one may have temporary success, ultimately one's hatred or anger will create further difficulties.
No good ever came of anger. Anger may seem to offer an energetic way of getting things done, but a perception of the world is misguided. The only certainty about anger and hatred is that they are destructive.
And we think that anger can be of two type: hatred with ill-feeling is one while another anger - with compassion as the basis of concern - may be positive.
There is need to keep anger in check. Usually people consider that anger is part of the mind, and that it is better to show it, to let it come out. We think that is a wrong conception. Resentment because of grievances may be let out, because then it is finished. Constant anger - that, we think, it is better to check. Hatred cannot be overcome by hatred. Hatred will only regenerate more problems. If we live our lives continually motivated by anger and hatred, even our physical health deteriorates. If you succeed through violence at the expense of others' rights and welfare, you have not solved the problem, but only created the seeds of another. Tolerance and patience with courage are not signs of failure but signs of victory. Actually, if you are too important, that's a real failure. We shouldn't forget that one's own actions create one's life situation.
And as Mandela aptly put it, "anger is a temporary feeling - you soon forget it, particularly if you are involved in positive activities and attitudes. It is not easy to remain bitter if one is busy with constructive things".
Labels: FREEDOM OF SPEECH, GABRIEL MSIPU, RICHARD LUONDE
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Freedom of expression is fundamental -Fr Luonde
By Ernest Chanda
Sat 01 Sep. 2012, 10:20 CAT
FATHER Richard Luonde says freedom of expression is a fundamental ingredient in any human society which should be utilised in love. Commenting on Chipata Catholic Diocese treasurer general Fr Gabriel Msipu's message that people had a special mandate to speak against injustices in society, the Kitwe Anglican priest said such freedom was good for healthy human interaction.
"In as much as it is there, where your freedom ends, another person's freedom starts. So it means that even those in authority have got such freedoms and should be respected. Nevertheless, no one should stifle another person's freedom of speech because it is a constitutional right that should be respected and upheld whether we agree with what others say or not," he said.
Fr Luonde therefore advised that people should exercise their freedom of speech with love and respect.
"…It does not pay to insult others or call them names in the name of freedom of expression. If we have issues to speak about we should bring them out genuinely and in love. Free speech is fundamental right which all of us should enjoy at all times," said Fr Luonde.
Delivering a sermon during morning mass on Radio Maria on Wednesday, Fr Msipu said it was everyone's right to express themselves on issues of national concern.
"It is the duty of all of us as Christians, as church leaders and as concerned citizens of this country. We all have a special mandate and this is our human right to express that what we feel is not okay and we do not do it out of bad will, but we are there to help each other and to alert those in authority and also to make them know what is happening in certain places which sometimes they cannot visit at all," he said. Fr Msipu said those in authority were sometimes detached from reality because of being misinformed about what was happening in the country.
"When you look at the church and indeed some church leaders, brothers, sisters, priests, pastors and other religious leaders, we are found in most places, sometimes even in remote places which cannot be reached by people in authority, to inform them what is happening among certain people in society," said Fr Msipu.
Labels: FREEDOM OF SPEECH, RICHARD LUONDE
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We don't kill
By The Post
Fri 22 June 2012, 13:25 CAT
CARELESS talk can be very costly. And one who talks carelessly is ill-suited to be a leader. Whatever you believe with emotion becomes your reality. You always act in a manner consistent with your innermost beliefs and convictions. Think before you say anything or act and then act decisively. Be absolutely clear about who you are and what you stand for. Hakainde Hichilema is increasingly becoming very careless in his talk.
Why this desperation? On Wednesday, Hakainde phoned-in on an UNZA Radio programme featuring his advisor Douglas Syakalima insinuating that The Post and its editor-in-chief were out to kill him.
Why make such very serious allegations he cannot prove? We have repeatedly advised Hakainde to learn to discipline his disappointments. We believe that if someone is going down the wrong road, he doesn't need motivation to speed him up.
What he needs is advice to turn him around. The only way the politics is going to change and become favourable for Hakainde is when he changes his approach and attitude. Telling lies and half-truths about others will not gain him the political mileage he is chasing.
Reason and judgement are the qualities of a leader. And there is nothing noble about being superior to some other man. There is a Hindu proverb that says, "The true nobility is in being superior to your previous self." Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions.
Hakainde is under no obligation to like us. But he has no right to tell lies about us and stretch things to the point of insinuating that we are out to kill him. For what?
We don't believe in politics of violence. We have never organised or hired anyone to go and beat up somebody. It is Hakainde's political party that has perpetrated acts of violence against other people, including against some of our reporters. Hakainde has never condemned the violence against our reporters perpetrated by his own cadres. Why?
For us, no doctrine, no principle or proclaimed political position can justify atrocious acts such as the physical elimination or maiming of another human being. No crime can be committed in the name of politics or political differences.
We sincerely believe that violence can only do one thing, and that is to breed endless counter-violence. Those who rise to go and attack others, to go and kill others are no better than animals. And we hope one day we will reach a stage where people like Hakainde see the use of violence against anyone as something that puts them next to animals.
Hakainde is not concerned about violence and seems to believe that violence in politics, in human relations is something that can be tolerated. How else can Hakainde justify his recruitment of the notorious violent politician like William Banda? There is no one in this country, including in the MMD, who doesn't know that William has a shameful record of violence.
The MMD has denounced his violence. But this is the person Hakainde thinks can mobilise the grassroots for him in Lusaka. How? Through violence! Violence should only, and only be used in self-defence. And if it is possible to run away from violent elements, there should be no shame in doing so to save lives.
We are of the view that those who seek to lead us, if they want our conversion to find true expression in the life of our national community, must strive to lead lives worthy of the Gospel (Phil.1:27, Eph.4:1), reject all lies, all harmful or offensive words, all anger and evil utterance, and be benevolent.
It behooves us to value each life as a gift of God, help the young to find meaning in their lives, and prepare themselves for their future roles in society.
Criminal acts can in no way be justified as legitimate politics. Violence is an attack on life which depends on the Creator alone. We must also stress that when a political outlook appeals to violence, it thereby admits its own weakness and inadequacy.
Hakainde's desperation for political power, if not controlled, may lead him to grief. He has now resorted to telling lies and to malicious insinuations. Mendacity seems to be his daily diet.
We have never organised violence against anyone even though our journalists have been victims of political harassment. It is in UPND where they accuse each other of killings. We don't kill.
Hakainde has resorted to slandering us with impunity. He doesn't see anything wrong now with telling lies about us. All this is in the hope that it will help him resurrect his declining political fortunes. It is true that with every election Hakainde has been going down, he is not improving. He shouldn't try to blame us for his political problems or poor performance.
Hakainde wants to fight us at any cost. He thinks telling lies about us will earn him political points. This is why even in the other matter he has been telling lies about us. And resorting to lies will just worsen his political standing.
It is a serious offence to accuse someone of wanting to kill you. If Hakainde truly believes that we want to kill him, let him go and report this to the police so that we can be arrested and prosecuted for this serious crime. And what would happen if tomorrow we decided to go and report Hakainde to the police for accusing us of plotting to kill him? This is lawlessness on the part of Hakainde. And every act leaves an incurable wound, like one left by a double-edged sword.
Hakainde has been telling lies about us in connection with Zambian Airways' indebtedness to the Development Bank of Zambia. We have never sought protection from anyone in this world from paying our debts. We have never discussed Zambian Airways' debt with Michael Sata or any other government official.
It is not possible for us to do so because in the first place we don't owe the Development Bank of Zambia any money, we have never borrowed money from that bank. And we challenge Hakainde to produce any evidence showing that we ever borrowed money from the Development Bank of Zambia.
The records of this case are still with his friend Vincent Malambo; let Hakainde go to him and get any document that shows that we ever borrowed money from the Development Bank of Zambia. At the risk of boring our readers with repetitions of the things we have stated before, the only thing we got involved in was to guarantee the Development Bank of Zambia a share buy-back if they had converted their loan to Zambian Airways into equity.
This was because at some point they wanted to exit the company if they became shareholders and the airline was not listed on the stock exchange for them to sell their shares to the public. The airline went into receivership before this process was concluded and the Development Bank of Zambia was stopped from converting its loan into shares by the government of the day. Where is our theft of K14 billion they are singing about, sloganeering about? We don't steal.
If others live by stealing and some of them have gone to jail for stealing, we will never be part of that. Our business ventures can fail but never as a result of financial mismanagement, stealing or other abuses.
As we have stated before, this matter was taken to court on political orders by the previous government to fix us.
When they saw that the court process they had initiated against us was not going to succeed, they started playing games with the judicial process. We refused to be subjected to such games and followed through the meaningful process of redress. We are not against the matter continuing in our courts of law. We are very confident that any independent and fair adjudicator will rule in our favour.
And we have repeatedly asked those handling this matter to put everything in the public domain so that there is no room left for lies, speculation and insinuations by petty-minded people like Hakainde. If at the end of the day, when the matter is concluded by our highest courts we are required to pay the Development Bank of Zambia K14 billion, we will pay it without any hesitation.
Our record with banks is very clean. We have raised capital at home and abroad to run our newspaper and we have been able to pay back everything we have borrowed. But it seems Hakainde and his friends think that they will make political capital out of this issue and win the next election.
They are cheating themselves. They are being very shallow and opportunistic in their thinking. If this is the only issue they have against us and is the only issue they are hanging their political fortunes on, then they are headed for unmitigated political failure.
Anyway, we are used to this type of propaganda, to this type of lies and calumny. It simply rolls over our shoulders and we move on. But to accuse someone of trying to kill another human being, without justification, is criminal, inhuman, insensitive and cruel. If Hakainde and his friends live by killing, we live by open discourse, we settle disagreements through public debate.
If they themselves live by killing, they shouldn't think everyone else lives by that, they shouldn't reflect their own conduct on us. Hakainde and his party declared us their enemy number one. We have never declared them to be our enemies. Those who have declared us enemies are the ones who know what to do with the lives of enemies.
Piling lies, one on top of another, in an attempt to try and discredit us politically and humiliate us won't work. If Hakainde thinks this is the route to election victory then he is headed for another humiliating defeat. Anyway, Hakainde is used to losing elections. But there is need for decency and respect for the humanity of others.
Those who want to lead should show a good example in terms of honesty, integrity and humaneness. Hakainde seems to have none of these. Sometimes those who need leadership positions the most are inclined the least. And this is true of Hakainde.
But integrity is the foundation upon which all other values are built and truthfulness is the main element of character. Without these, how can one think of being a leader of his people? We don't kill. Those who lie are the ones who can kill. It is said that if you can lie, you can steal and if you can steal, you can kill.
Labels: FRED M'MEMBE, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, RICHARD LUONDE, UPND
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HH will be killed by his own bitterness - Luonde
By Ernest Chanda
Fri 22 June 2012, 13:25 CAT
FATHER Richard Luonde says UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema will be killed by his own tribalism and bitterness.
Commenting on Hichilema's insinuation when he called into a UNZA Radio programme that The Post and its editor-in-chief Fred M'membe were out to kill him, the Kitwe-based priest advised the opposition leader to develop a more progressive attitude in politics.
He said Hichilema should develop a nationalistic approach to his politics.
"The behaviour of Hakainde Hichilema is un-Zambian at his age. When you begin to accuse people wrongly, that means you are also trying to falsify things against them. Probably your intention is you want people to rise against those you accuse; these are the politics of Hichilema," Fr Luonde said yesterday.
"If he is not careful, what will kill him is his own tribalism and hatred towards certain people and tribes. And if Hichilema wants to come and lead us as a nation, he should change his attitude and begin to work as a politician working for Zambians. When you criticise constructively, people will be able to listen and sieve and get out what is right and force the government to do something. But the attitude of Hichilema, he's living in a world of his own dreams; a world where he wants by all means to lead this nation."
Fr Luonde said Hichilema was the one inciting Zambians to rise against certain people through his displayed hatred.
"Fred M'membe has never threatened anyone in his life more than he has been threatened. All the governments, starting from UNIP to MMD, including PF in opposition threatened him. But when the PF discovered that what he was bringing out was a fact and truth to Zambians, PF accepted him. If there's anyone inciting people to rise against innocent people, it's Hakainde Hichilema," said Fr Luonde.
In a call-in to an interview featuring his advisor Douglas Syakalima on Lusaka's UNZA Radio on Wednesday morning, Hichilema said The Post had never supported the UPND from as far as the days of the late Anderson Mazoka.
The programme was discussing whether the UPND was losing direction through the political course it had taken since the PF government took the reins of power.
"It is an issue and please let us stop having double standards. There is no bitterness. That Post has never supported UPND. They used to call Mazoka names and used to write 'dialysis machine' in their newspaper. Today they can praise Mazoka because he is dead," said Hichilema.
"Remember M'membe said my days are numbered. I am not afraid. If he wants to kill me, he knows my house. I am not afraid but we will talk for the people of Zambia."
Labels: FRED M'MEMBE, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, RICHARD LUONDE, UPND
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Fr Luonde refuses to pray for judges
By Ernest Chanda
Sun 10 June 2012, 13:00 CAT
FATHER Richard Luonde says he cannot pray for judges because they are not showing signs of repentance. The Kitwe Anglican Priest said biblical principles demanded that people accepted their wrongs and repented before they could be forgiven and prayed for.
Fr Luonde was reacting to Chief Justice Ernest Sakala's call for prayers on judges and the Judiciary. He said since the judges had portrayed a public picture of innocence, there was no need for anyone to pray for them.
"How do you pray for people who don't want to reform themselves? You only pray for a person who is repentant. It would be a waste of time; how do you pray for someone who is not sorry?" he asked.
"And for me, I'm not taking it away from them; some of these judges if not all they are Christians. And they should understand the principle of Christianity. The principle of Christianity is, 'forgive and you shall be forgiven; repent and you shall be forgiven'. Now, if people don't repent and don't look at their shortcomings, how could they be forgiven?"
On the Bibles donated to the judges, Fr Luonde said: "Some of them have piles and piles of Bibles in their homes; even in their offices. They read them but they don't understand them. That's why if you read the story of the Ethiopian eunuch in the Bible who, when he was asked by the Evangelist Philip if he knew what he was reading, said how can I understand, unless I'm taught? Also these people should begin to understand what they are called for."
Fr Luonde reminded judges that theirs was a call from God to serve humanity with integrity.
"To be a judge is a biblical calling; you bring peace among the afflicted, you bring peace on those who are trodden on, you bring peace on those who are not treated well in the communities. So when they come to you, they are asking God to say can God intervene through the person He has put across as our adjudicator? They are in the same footing as priests or pastors," said Fr Luonde.
"So you continue giving Bibles to people who are found wanting by the communities, what will be the purpose of those donations? You only go to them if they are ready to recognise their shortcomings and they ask for forgiveness; that's when you begin to re-lecture them. To me it's like Zambia is a state where the Judiciary has its own powers and the executive has its own powers. It's like we have a country within a country. People are now skeptical about going to the courts; be it magistrate court, be it the High Court or Supreme Court. And if they Judiciary can rise against the Executive, what more with the ordinary person? Zambians are now scared; they are now seeing that the Judiciary is more powerful than the executive, which is not the case."
Speaking after he received Bibles from Save Rural Africa Foundation president chief Chipepo on Friday, justice Sakala asked for prayers from members of the public, especially now and said no one in the Judiciary was resisting reforms.
Labels: JUDICIARY, RICHARD LUONDE
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Luonde questions Musonda's claim of threats against him
By Mwala Kalaluka
Mon 14 May 2012, 14:00 CAT
KITWE Anglican priest Fr Richard Luonde says Zambians demand substantiated evidence from judge Philip Musonda over his claims that Director of Public Prosecutions Mutembo Nchito and the intelligence are conspiring to kill him.
And United States embassy in Zambia public affairs officer Priscilla Ann Hernandez says the US does not recognise the granting of asylum at embassies abroad. In an interview yesterday, Fr Luonde said only proper, credible evidence would make Zambians listen to the suspended Supreme Court judge.
"He is now bringing the name of Mutembo Nchito and the name of the intelligence into disrepute when there is no evidence," Fr Luonde said. "We need substantiated evidence from judge Musonda before he even writes the President."
He said without evidence from Musonda, his allegations would remain hearsay.
And according to a letter authored by justice minister Sebastian Zulu to President Sata dated May 9, 2012, Zulu stated that judge Musonda called him at his ministry with complaints that his life was in danger.
Zulu stated that judge Musonda alleged that Nchito had conspired with the Zambia Security Intelligence Services to fabricate evidence against him in order to destroy him.
He stated that judge Musonda cited the case of an article on the front page of the Zambia Daily Mail of Tuesday May 8, 2012 entitled "Banned Judge Visits Mohan'.
"He denies that he ever visited the Lusaka Central Prison to see Mohan or otherwise and that in fact he does not know Mohan," read Zulu's letter in part. "Your Excellency, Honourable Justice Musonda alleges that his life is in danger from alleged conspiracy and that we should not be surprised if he takes refuge in some Embassy such as the American Embassy for fear of his life. He further informed me that he has transferred monies from his personal account to his wife's account and has written a note to his family that if he dies they should know what has led to his death."
And Fr Luonde said judge Musonda's request for early retirement was an attempt to avoid being implicated by judge Lovemore Chikopa tribunal's findings.
On judge Musonda's request to be retired in national interest by President Sata prior to the commencement of a tribunal hearing set up to probe him and two others, Fr Luonde said that the Judiciary had not performed to expectation, especially during the reign of the MMD.
"When I read that letter, so many things came to mind. How do you retire when you are being investigated and what prompts you to retire?" he asked. "If the President would have accepted his retirement, people would have been more suspicious of the Judiciary.
"Judge Musonda should wait for the tribunal to sit and present its findings to the President."
Fr Luonde said it was clear all was not well in the Judiciary and if one could only compare how the same judges that were today disposing electoral petition cases expeditiously used to drag the same cases during the MMD reign.
"These are the same things which are coming out now, because the truth has to be revealed," he said. "Judge Musonda wants to retire now so that he is not implicated in anything. The President has done well not to accept his retirement."
Fr Luonde said by his action, judge Musonda was trying to indicate to the people that there was something he did not do right in his role as a judicial officer.
"The system needs to be re-organised from the top to the bottom. In our language we have a saying that, lisabi litampila uku bolela kumutwe the fish starts rotting from the head," Fr Luonde said. "For me the Judiciary has lost credibility before the Zambians. The majority who can't afford a lawyer have paid heavily while those who can manage to get good lawyers have gone scot-free because they have been defended."
He said people from all walks of life should be defended by the Zambian law.
"In Zambia it seems we have a law for the rich and a law for the poor," said Fr Luonde. "These are indications of things to come. The Judiciary is our last defence but if they are held in suspicion, where do we run to?"
And commenting on judge Musonda's hint that he might seek refuge at an embassy such as the United States Embassy because his life was "in danger", Hernandez said pursuant to regulations, the US government does not comment publicly on asylum matters.
"The United States does not recognise the granting of asylum at embassies abroad," said Hernandez in response to a question on whether judge Musonda had already officially sought asylum from the embassy.
President Sata, through his special assistant for press and public relations George Chellah, on Friday released correspondence where judge Musonda applied for early retirement.
Another correspondence was one where justice minister Sebastian Zulu revealed that judge Musonda told him that people should not be surprised when he seeks refuge at an embassy such as the American one because his life was "in danger".
But President Sata rejected judge Musonda's application for retirement until after the tribunal set to probe his conduct together with High Court judges Charles Kajimanga and Nigel Mutuna concludes its work.
Labels: ASSASSINATION, DPP, MUTEMBO NCHITO, PHILIP MUSONDA, RICHARD LUONDE
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Root out MMD cadres in government - Fr Luonde
By Agness Changala
Mon 19 Mar. 2012, 12:00 CAT
PROTESTS over President Michael Sata's appointments will continue as long as he tolerates MMD cadres in the public service, says Kitwe Anglican priest Fr Richard Luonde.
In an interview yesterday, Fr Luonde said the PF had not eliminated all the cadres who were running government under the MMD. He said it would be very difficult for President Sata to work with those who were close to his predecessors.
Fr Luonde said PF had appointed people who were serious MMD cadres and because of this action, there were protests all over the country, citing an incident in Kabwe, where PF cadres protested for the same reason.
"And in most parts of the country, protests are taking place. What PF should do is to engage itself seriously and try to look at the kind people that they would help them move this nation forward," Fr Luonde said.
"MMD cadres are still there in government and in their best interest, they would want to frustrate the efforts of the PF government and if it is overtaken by that, it will be at a loss on how to govern this nation."
PF cadres in Mpika also protested.
Fr Luonde said if the PF government did not sit down and seriously reflect and clean the civil service, they were bound to fail.
"All their efforts will be frustrated and this is the good time that PF should begin to move forward and examine their position," he said.
Fr Luonde said it was easy for PF to identify MMD cadres now because they know who was opposing them when they were in opposition.
He also said institutions such as the police, army, Prisons Service, Cabinet Office and all ministries, had MMD cadres likely to frustrate government efforts.
"The PF through its investigation network can know the people who were MMD and are still in government," he said.
Fr Luonde said if the PF government was going to use sympathy for the sake of it, Zambia would not develop.
"Let PF identify the new crop of leadership within the nation, especially those who have not participated. Let them be given chance, and chance could only be now before the PF is seen as a party which won't do anything," Fr Luonde advised.
He said the PF government should begin to seriously engage people to govern the nation and stick to their manifesto.
Fr Luonde said the PF government should critically look at the policy on youth empowerment, job creation, better health and education policies.
"…The above must be looked at seriously as it will enable people's trust in PF," said Fr Luonde.
"There are many technocrats who have not participated in governance and given a chance, they can do a good job."
Labels: CADRES, MICHAEL SATA, MMD, RICHARD LUONDE
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MMD petition to UN is embarrassing - Luonde
By Allan Mulenga
Fri 09 Mar. 2012, 11:59 CAT
FATHER Richard Luonde says the MMD's decision to petition the United Nations over the perceived "harassment" from the Patriotic Front government shows that the former leaders are afraid of their corrupt practices. And Fr Luonde says the MMD leadership has dented the image of the country on the international scene over corruption.
Commenting on the MMD's decision to petition the United Nations over what they have termed "selective prosecution" of its leaders and non-adherence to rule of law by the Patriotic Front government, Fr Luonde, a Kitwe-based Anglican priest, said if MMD leaders were sincere in their dealings, they would not have rushed to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon for protection.
"To me those are the last kicks of a corrupt dying horse. If they are honest in their dealings, if they know that they didn't do anything wrong they should await upon the results of the investigative wings.
Now, when you know that you are guilty you always want to cry so that you are protected," he said.
Fr Luonde said the MMD leaders should be ashamed of their corrupt activities.
"You see they should not do that, if they talk about MMD leaders being persecuted for nothing, there´s something, for example Dora Siliya over Zamtel saga, Maxwell Mwale with the campaign bicycles, then there is Austin Liato…The MMD leaders had powers in their own rights when they were in government, so many people followed them.
The government is just trying to follow the law and find out how they acquired these things," he said.
Fr Luonde said the former ruling party had embarrassed Zambians by its petition to the UN against the Patriotic Front government.
"They the MMD should behave like civilised people who know what they have caused to the Zambian people. They are just embarrassing themselves. If anything they should await the outcome of their cases in the courts of law. They will have the right to complain when they are acquitted, they can either sue the government or those who took them to court," he said.
On former MMD national secretary Dr Katele Kalumba's call for party leaders to apologise to Zambians over corruption, Fr Luonde said the MMD leadership should be apologetic like Dr Kalumba.
"He Dr Kalumba is simply trying to open the Pandora's Box to say what the current government is saying about corruption of the MMD government, it is true and those who are found wanting should come out in the open and apologise. We are human beings; we make mistakes, but we should not take advantage of the poor majority, where you take advantage of the suffering of Zambians just to enrich yourselves. That is deceit and you need to come out and repent," said Fr Luonde.
Labels: MMD, RICHARD LUONDE
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Where is your son? Luonde asks Rupiah
By Mwala Kalaluka
Mon 20 Feb. 2012, 12:00 CAT
RUPIAH Banda should disclose to the nation the whereabouts of his fugitive son, Henry, so that he faces the law, demands Kitwe Anglican priest Fr Richard Luonde.
Fr Luonde said in an interview from Ndola yesterday that when Banda was at State House, the country was kept abreast of the first family's whereabouts but it was now surprising that he did not want the nation to know Henry's whereabouts.
"Of course, the former president if his son is wanted by the investigative wings, he should be able to assist the nation through the investigative wings so that they locate where Henry is and put this argument to rest," Fr Luonde said.
"Because when the father was at State House, the nation knew wherever they were and for him to disappear or to be in hiding, what is he hiding from? Let the former president disclose where his son is and encourage him to come and face the investigative wings and give his side of the story."
Sources have disclosed that Henry was recently spotted in Nairobi, Kenya, although that government dispelled the story as "false".
Presidential Press Service director Isaiah Kabira dismissed the claim, calling it nonsense.
"That is not true. It is nonsense. We shall take it up," Mr Kabira told the Sunday Nation on the phone.
On February 3, Kenya's Police Commissioner Mathew Iteere also said Henry, who has been declared a fugitive in Zambia, could not be traced in Kenya.
And Fr Luonde said for as long as Henry was hiding from the probe team, people would conclude that he had proved himself guilty of the deals he is alleged to have involved himself in.
"So the best thing that Henry should do is come out in the open, face whoever wants him," said Fr Luonde. "The nation wants to know what the investigative wings what to know."
Banda told journalists recently when he addressed MMD cadres that went to offer solidarity with his wife, Thandiwe, when she appeared before the combined investigative team over Mphundu Trust funds, that his family was hurt by the investigations going on against them.
On the police looking for Henry, Banda said the law enforcement agencies were liars.
"They're actually lying. Yesterday I said he former Inspector General of Police Dr Martin Malama was silly. Now I want to tell you that they're lying; they've never even approached this poor boy and he has never been to Kenya," Banda said.
"He was last in Kenya, if you heard the BBC yesterday, he was last in Kenya six months ago. So anawenye amudala enena kuti ali ku Kenya so the man saying he is in Kenya is a liar. We have all heard it, he's not in Kenya."
But Kenya Police said Henry used two passports on different occasions, with the last update showing he left Kenya on November 23 last year.
And foreign affairs and tourism minister Given Lubinda said the government would investigate the "revelations" about Henry's whereabouts.
Local investigative wings recently said Henry, who is wanted for alleged corruption during his father's rule, is seeking refuge in Kenya after the alarm was sounded for his possible interrogation.
Labels: HENRY BANDA, RICHARD LUONDE, RUPIAH BANDA
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Judiciary will cleanse itself only when Sakala steps down - Fr Luonde
By Darious Kapembwa, Ernest Chanda and Allan Mulenga
Thu 19 Jan. 2012, 13:59 CAT
THE Judiciary will cleanse itself only when Chief Justice Ernest Sakala steps down, says Father Richard Luonde.
Backing calls for Justice Sakala to step down, Fr Luonde, an Anglican priest based in Kitwe, said it was morally wrong for Justice Sakala to wait to be fired when he himself knew that he was not supposed to continue in that position based on his past conduct.
"Public officers are suppose to exhibit maximum professionalism even under very difficult circumstances," Fr Luonde.
"Justice Sakala refused to shake President Sata's hand when the president was in opposition, what was he telling us about his Judiciary? Zambian people will not support Justice Sakala even if he began to show that he was correcting his image and that of the Judiciary because his is a very sensitive institution that should be protected from any form of public ridicule. But he failed to do that, so he should go. Sakala must go," said Fr Luonde.
He said justice was not just a public interest matter but also a moral issue that anyone in justice Sakala's position with a conscience could have done by now.
He said Justice Sakala was clearly not himself after the last elections.
"For those of us that have done sociology and psychology, you can easily tell that the man is not himself whenever he appeared in public at state functions, so why clinging on to the position if your stay threatens the integrity of such an important institution?" he asked.
And senior chief Bright Nalubamba of the Ila people in Namwala district says the government should stop employing judges on contract.
Adding his voice to calls for serious reforms in the Judiciary, Nalubamba said Justice Sakala and all judges on contract should step down to leave room for reforms.
Nalubamba observed that it was because of serving on contracts that leaders in the Judiciary became vulnerable to government control.
He said if the same people were in office during the reforms, they would frustrate the process.
"They should not be employed on contract to ensure they're independent. Then we can have a fair and good judiciary so that this corruption we see around can be avoided," Nalubamba said.
"The fact that these people are on contract they can also try to appease the leadership, like we saw in the just ended administration, you find all the judgments are just biased. People could not even go to the higher courts for intervention; they went outside court for intervention"
He said the Law Association of Zambia was right in joining the call for judicial reforms, which the public had been crying for.
Nalubamba said it was such reforms that would result in an independent Judiciary that would eventually regain public confidence.
And Nalubamba said the government should seriously consider the call from LAZ and support it.
He said the onus was on the government to start the judicial reform process by doing its part.
"That should be the message to the people of Zambia from the government side; they should support LAZ's motion. If they do that they will deliver the message to the people that they are for fair justice delivery in this country. I expect them to respond as a matter of agency," said Nalubamba.
"In fact, I want to believe that the current administration suffered at the hands of a Judiciary which was not so independent, a Judiciary which was directed by the administration on what to do. And if they can't take this as an opportunity for them to clear this notion so that we shall have a dependable justice delivery, then I'll be very disappointed."
And Council of Churches in Zambia general secretary Reverend Suzanne Matale says President Michael Sata must take the call for judicial reforms seriously.
Rev Matale, in an interview, said there was public outcry about the operations of the Judiciary.
"The call for reforms is long overdue and we hope and trust that this can be taken very seriously and that the reforms could start now, so that in the few months time we can have the Judiciary that we can be proud of. At the moment we are not very happy with the way things are in that regard, ¨ she said.
Rev Matale said the implementation of the judicial reforms would bring efficiency in the judicial system.
¨The President has talked about many people who are in prison that shouldn't be there. They are only there because of system has not given them a fair trial and we all know that justice delayed is justice denied and also the cases just take too long to be disposed off. The example is the one of former late president Frederick Chiluba which took almost eight years, ¨ she said.
Rev Matale said the current judicial system had made most corruption cases in the courts of law to delay.
¨You know cases seem to go stale and to go cold because it takes too long through our current judiciary system to dispose off cases. Not even the high profile, but the worst thing is the low profile people who have nobody to talk for them and then they are not represented," said Rev. Matale.
And PF chairperson for mobilisation Charles Banda said a lot of judgments passed in the previous regime were politically engineered.
"It is correct that we must go back and look at several other judgments that were politically motivated because it is an open secret that a lot of judgments especially the political cases were of a political nature. We need to study some of those judgments, so that the owners of those judgments should suffer the consequences," he said.
Banda said misconduct of some judges and magistrates had compromised the operation of the Judiciary.
Banda said the judicial reforms once implemented would bring confidence to the public over the operation of the judiciary.
"We are not saying that let's take vengeance. Vengeance is for the Lord, but what we are saying is that let's correct this, so that people can be able to enjoy the existence of that institution called the Judiciary. We should not have the situation whereby you even know that when I go to court, I will lose because I am in the opposition. That is not correct," said Banda.
Labels: BRIGHT NALUBAMBA, CORRUPTION, ERNEST SAKALA, JUDICIARY, RICHARD LUONDE, SUZANNE MATALE
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Nothing should stop Sata from probing Rupiah - Fr Luonde
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe and Ernest Chanda in Lusaka
Tue 04 Oct. 2011, 15:10 CAT
NOTHING should stop President Michael Sata's government from investigating and prosecuting Rupiah Banda over abuse of national resources, says Father Richard Luonde.
But St Ignatius assistant parish priest Father Charles Chilinda who openly differed with President Sata in church on Sunday over his call to forgive Banda, has maintained that there should be respect for the presidency hence his message on forgiveness and reconciliation.
In an interview yesterday, Fr Luonde a Kitwe-based Anglican priest said it would be illogical for thieves that have caused misery in the lives of many people to continue evading the law under the guise of forgiveness.
He said President Sata had a mammoth task of wiping out corruption that had gripped the country's governance system.
Fr Luonde said people had raised concerns over the lavish spending of public funds which was seen in the Rupiah Banda administration and the MMD's expensive campaigns in which the former ruling party was dishing out money and its party regalia like leaves.
He said there was no doubt that public funds were misappropriated by the MMD government because it had never disclosed the source of funding for its expensive campaigns and the party regalia which flooded the country.
"It is clear that at many occasions the Church, NGOs, foreign dignitaries accredited to this country and other stakeholders advised former president Banda to execute his duties diligently by fighting corruption and avoiding temptations of abusing public funds, but he never listened. The advice we gave was in vain as the country continued to see dirty government deals and blatant abuse of public funds," Fr Luonde said.
He said President Sata had a challenge of inculcating discipline in the minds of public officers so that they refrain from corruption.
Fr Luonde said people that were calling on the PF government to abandon investigations on the alleged corruption the former administration were not acting in the best interest of the nation.
He said President Sata could forgive former president Rupiah Banda but the due process of the law must take place so that would-be offenders could learn a lesson.
"The Bible is very clear on forgiveness and the steps that must be taken for one to be forgiven. The Bible has never contradicted itself. In this case, let the due process of the law take its course and forgiveness for Rupiah Banda can even come through a presidential pardon," said Fr Luonde.
And clarifying on his difference with President Sata earlier in his sermon on Sunday where he pleaded with the latter to forgive the wrongs that his predecessor Rupiah Banda may have committed and move on, Fr Chilinda wondered how the nation would benefit by always pointing out wrongs in former leaders.
He said although he believed in the rule of law, there should be respect for the presidency.
"For example president Bush, he did something wrong; even the Gulf War he went for it with wrong reasons and it was proved afterwards that it was not the right thing to do. But he still maintains the status of the past president.
I think we should start seeing people who are in political office, like a president for example, with the dignity that they deserve," Fr Chilinda said in an interview at his office.
"Yes, they are human beings they make mistakes. If somebody has made a public scandal to such an extent where lives have been lost like war crimes or stuff like that, that is a different issue.
If certain corruption issues have to be followed up, let them be followed up to
the conclusion. Like now the President has set up people to probe the
sale of Zamtel and Finance Bank, they'll follow up those things. That
is a different issue, but there are also people who want to start
witch hunting. And you can spend a lot of time trying to prosecute
your former leaders."
Asked if he was suggesting that former leaders should be respected
even if they had abused their offices, Fr Chilinda said people should
not be insulted or called names.
"But sometimes we want to see this kind of approach where you want
every little thing that this person did they are in court every time.
For me if you understand what has gone wrong, and you've discussed
with your friend this is what you did, grant amnesty, move on building
the country. And that is the biggest thing that people want," he said.
"It is to improve the living conditions; yes your friend did a lot of
good and some bad things.
You learn from the mistakes of your friend to build the nation. What will the people of Zambia gain by just focusing on the wrong things that were done instead of national building? The Christian calling is one of forgiveness and
reconciliation, there's nothing that beats this. So that is the message that I preach every time; it is a message of love, it is a message of peace and reconciliation."
Fr Chilinda said it was important to acknowledge the mistake that
somebody did, tell them about it and forgive.
He said he did not differ with President Sata, but that they were good friends.
"The whole context is one of reconciliation, national building,
harmony, peace. So the thing that I try to tell people is if you are
hurt for example by somebody, how do you react to them? Are you going
to react to them in a way that you are going to hit them back very
hard so that you they see that you are very strong? That is one way
of acting.
"But the Christian approach to somebody who hurts me is one of
compassion, that is the heart of Christ. That you become compassionate
to somebody who has done something wrong. You are not condoning the
act that they have done," said Fr Chilinda.
"And my challenge to my President is that, you have got a lot of power
as a President now vested in you. There are people that you fought
with, people who said bad things about you. This is time to forget,
reconcile, embrace and move on.
That is what shows the magnanimity of somebody's heart, and as a Christian this is what distinguishes us from others. I can love somebody when it doesn't make sense to love somebody, I can forgive somebody when it doesn't make sense to forgive somebody. For example, if say His Excellency the past president had
done something wrong to Mr Sata as a person, what should happen now?
For me as a priest the message that I can give to both of them is sit
down and reconcile and show to people that despite what happened, you
still respect each other and you can sit down as brothers.
And that sets an example of love, of peace and reconciliation that is beyond
the sense of vindictiveness where I say you did something wrong to me
when I was in power, I'm going to do something wrong to you."
Labels: CORRUPTION, RICHARD LUONDE, RUPIAH BANDA
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