Name calling among leaders bothers Mutesa
By Ernest Chanda
Tue 04 Sep. 2012, 19:17 CAT
ZAMBIANS for Empowerment and Development (ZED) president Fred Mutesa says leaders must change and move from a culture of slandering each other to addressing real issues in the nation. Dr Mutesa said some of the words uttered by some political leaders displayed their motive for joining politics.
"For us, what is very important is the motivation. Why are people aspiring for public office, particularly political office? And there are different motives. I'll not go into details but suffice to say that the culture of name-calling, insults and violence, which has hitherto characterised our politics is something that we find deplorable and something that we should move away from," Dr Mutesa said in an interview yesterday.
" Because, if our motivation is to serve the public as we indeed claim to do then we must all work to ensure that the harmony and peace of the nation is preserved. Therefore, it means we do not treat each other as enemies; we are competitors or rivals in so far as presenting the best ideas that can help this nation move forward. It's an entrenched culture we have, a lot of people think that shouting loudest is best. That will not help our nation move forward. It's time we started competing on the platform of ideas."
He said it was not too late to change the leadership style and dwell more on issues.
Dr Mutesa said leaders must develop a culture of telling the truth when communicating ideas to the public.
"It's not a problem of the opposition, it's not a problem of the party in government alone, it's an entrenched political culture which has been perpetrated by certain type of thinking that this is the only way to conduct politics," said Dr Mutesa.
"It may not be something that our people are familiar with but the beginning has to be made. So things change and we should bear that in mind that tomorrow we may join hands for a common cause. We must have a tradition of separating political ideas from our personalities."
Labels: FRED MUTESA, POLITICS, ZED
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Princes Nakatindi was a heroine of Independence struggle – Mutesa
TIME PUBLISHED - Saturday, April 7, 2012, 2:36 pm
Zambia for Empowerment and Development (ZED) president Fredrick Mutesa has described the late princess Nakatindi Wina as a heroine of the Independence struggle.
Commenting on the death of Princess Nakatindi who died on Thursday at Mill Park Hospital in Johannesburg South Africa after a heart related operation; Dr. Mutesa said the late princess was a steward for Independence struggle and the political fraternity at large.
He says she made tremendous contributions to the political landscape of Zambia during her time and that her death must be a unifying factor in the country.
Dr Mutesa says Princess Nakatindi’s death is a great loss to the nation and he has since expressed his condolences to the Wina family.
The ZED president has also urged Malawians to remain united following the death of their sitting President Bingu Wa Mutharika.
And Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) president Alex Ng’oma says Zambia has yet again lost a gallant patriot who labored tirelessly to fight for the country’s freedom.
Dr. Ng’oma who is also a political scientist tells Qfm in an interview that Princess Wina will greatly be remembered for her contributions to Zambia’s political and social development.
Princess Nakatindi was evacuated to South Africa after it became evident that she required urgent specialist Medical attention and passed away on Thursday at around 22:30 hours after a heart related operation.
QFM
Labels: FRED MUTESA, INDEPENDENCE, ZED
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Fight against corruption should not merely be a matter of accusing people of corruption-Dr Mutesa
TIME PUBLISHED - Friday, January 6, 2012, 8:32 am
Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED) President Fred Mutesa has observed that the Patriotic Front government’s fight against corruption will be in vain if the right channels are not followed. Dr. Mutesa said that the fight against corruption should not merely be a matter of accusing people of corruption without producing tangible evidence of the allegations.
He says the Patriotic Front government should fight corruption in a more professional manner by allowing investigative wings to carry out their functions freely rather than rushing to make unsubstantiated allegations in the media.
Dr. Mutesa says the PF government should fight corruption in a right way because Zambians believe in justice and fair play.
He tells QFM that being the head of State does not give President Michael Sata any powers to accuse people of wrongdoing without proper evidence.
The ZED president has since advised the PF government to let investigative wings in the country to investigate matters, and if there is enough evidence take the matters to court for the culprits to be prosecuted.
QFM
Labels: CORRUPTION, FRED MUTESA, PF, ZED
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‘Dignified wages will bring harmony in industrial relations’
By Fridah Zinyama
Wed 18 Nov. 2009, 04:00 CAT
ZAMBIANS for Empowerment and Development (ZED) president Dr Fred Mutesa has demanded that government puts its house in order and provide the necessary political leadership to transform industrial relations in the nation.
Last week, Konkola Copper Mines workers rioted demanding for better conditions of service, saying they wanted to benefit from the good copper prices on the international market.
Commenting on the protracted differences between the Mineworkers Union of Zambia (MUZ) and President Rupiah Banda, Dr Mutesa said employers, particularly those that were making huge profits like the mine owners, should seriously consider fairness in the way they remunerated their employees.
“Without workers there can be no production. Labour must be respected and given the due dignity through good conditions of service and adequate wages,” he said.
Dr Mutesa said paying dignified wages to employees would ensure a harmonious climate of industrial relations in Zambia.
“The story of rioting Konkola Copper Mines workers should be a matter of grave concern to all of us,” he said. “A harmonious climate of industrial relations will, however, not happen without concerted efforts by the authorities to promote development with equity.”
Dr. Mutesa said the announcement by labour minister Austin Liato on setting up of a tripartite committee to review legislation on the minimum wage which currently stands at K268, 000 per month was long overdue as employers had been taking advantage of their employees due to weak laws.
“In all sincerity, this move is long overdue. Government should not just pride itself in its ability to attract foreign investment into the country,” he said. “It’s a well known fact that capital without labour cannot produce anything.”
Dr Mutesa said his party was a strong advocate of labour empowerment.
“The empowerment of labour includes paying the workers a living wage, ensuring the highest standards of safety and occupational health and protecting the rights of workers,” he said.
Dr Mutesa said the riot by KCM miners was not an isolated case, as rioting in Zambia had become the main negotiating tool by workers in the collective bargaining process.
“This is happening because of weaknesses in the Industrial relations Act,” said Dr Mutesa. “Government has been talking about reviewing labour laws in this country for a long time and no concrete action has been taken.”
Labels: FRED MUTESA, KCM, ZED
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2010 budget doesn't empower Zambians - Dr Mutesa
By Kabanda Chulu and George Chellah
Tue 20 Oct. 2009, 14:33 CAT
ZAMBIANS for Empowerment and Development (ZED) president Fred Mutesa has condemned the MMD government for coming up with the 2010 budget that does not address spending priorities aimed at empowering Zambians.
Giving a critique and a ZED perspective on the 2010 budget, Dr Mutesa said that it was disappointing to see that the MMD government's macroeconomic objectives were only referring to growth, inflation and domestic borrowing.
"There is no mention of poverty reduction, which is the biggest challenge facing many Zambian households. From this perspective, we wish to express our disappointment that the budget which is a major government policy instrument indicating public spending priorities according to policy goals falls far short of moving towards empowerment of Zambians," Dr Mutesa said.
"We should not work on the assumption that economic growth will automatically translate into poverty reduction. This has not worked in the past and it will not do so now, nor will it do so in the future. To reduce poverty there is need for deliberate and conscious measures targeted at the poor in our midst."
He questioned why finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane focused his 2010 budget on starting new projects without completing the ones already in existence.
"Surely, what sense is there in spending money on new farming blocks when existing ones like Kanakantapa, a stone-throw away from Lusaka have gone without roads for over two decades? Shouldn't we be rationalising expenditure by doing a good job in places like Kanakantapa so that production goes up and government can broaden its tax revenue to do more?" Dr Mutesa said.
He said that after political independence and multiparty democracy in 1964 and 1991 respectively, the next task is for Zambia is to empower its people.
"We view empowerment to be an all embracing objective which includes economic, political and social spheres. From this perspective, we wish to express our disappointment that the budget which is a major government policy instrument indicating public spending priorities according to policy goals falls far short of moving towards empowerment of Zambians," Dr Mutesa said.
He said Dr Musokotwane's government cannot claim any special credit for the anticipated 4.3 percent economic growth for 2009.
"The truth of the matter is that this growth, if at all it comes, is due to the rebound in world copper prices. In other words, this is externally driven growth which is attributable to favourable trends in the global economy. The MMD needs to be judged on how much it has done to diversify the economy and reduce our vulnerability to external shocks such as the recent global financial crisis. The answer is that the MMD has failed on this account. The evidence is there for all to see: non-traditional export earnings are expected to reach US$820.2 million this year, down from US$876.2 million attained in 2008. This is not anything to be proud of," Dr Mutesa said.
Labels: BUDGET, FRED MUTESA, ZED
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New political party formed
Tuesday, June 23, 2009, 16:07
A new political party called Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED) headed by University of Zambia (UNZA) lecturer Dr. Fred Mutesa has been officially launched.
Dr. Mutesa, who is the party’s interim President, announced the launch of the new party at a press briefing in Lusaka today. He said Zambians for Empowerment and Development (ZED) was registered and given the certificate of registration on June 9th this year.
Dr. Mutesa said the party will focus on citizen empowerment which the country’s leadership has allegedly failed to provide since the country got its independence in 1964.
He said the new party wants to see Zambians become empowered and thereby contribute to the nation’s development.
He said Zambia has lagged behind in development despite the huge resources the nation has because the local populations have been neglected.
Dr. Mutesa, who is also University of Zambia Developmental Studies Head of Department, said his party would extend the citizens empowerment to political, independence and social empowerment.
He has also called for a new breed of politicians in the country and those that will bring a change in the governance of the country.
Dr. Mutesa said only a new breed of leaders in the country will help address the injustices and poverty that the country is currently experiencing.
“We in ZED are saying its time we replace our old politicians with leadership that will renew our democracy and help develop the country” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mutesa has disagreed with calls from sections of society who are calling for a presidential candidate to have a minimum qualification of a Degree to be president.
He said the only qualification a Presidential candidate should have is selflessness, integrity, transparency and accountabily.
Dr. Mutesa has further said that opposition political parties should only form pacts when there is need.
He said unity of purpose should be the only determining factor for the formation of pacts adding that they should only be formed to advance the interest of the common person.
Other members of the party executive are Kapembwa Lamba who is the interim Vice President, and Stembiso Daka who is the party’s interim Secretary General.
ZANIS
Labels: FRED MUTESA, PARTIES, ZAMBIANS for EMPLOYMENT AND DEVELOPMENT, ZED
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