By Wesley Ngwenya
elected the President of the Republic of Zambia. Having
undertaken such a huge responsibility on behalf of the Zambian people, it is only fair to give our president a review on his performance in the last six months.
The first mistake the president made was appointing people to his cabinet who either did not qualify for those positions or had a questionable history. Just last week one of Rupiah’s cousins was sworn in as the new High Commissioner of Zambia to Mozambique. This explains the problems the government has experienced in the last six months. There is indeed a leadership crisis in this government. What the president has failed to do is surround himself with credible individuals who shall help him run the affairs of this country. Instead, he has opted to date men and women with low morals–without the slighted foresight as to where this country needs to go.
There have been numerous cases of corruption and abuse of office that have been reported in the last six months of Rupiah’s presidency. Those that have criticized the president have been thrown to the curb while those that have been found wanting have been relentlessly defended by the president. The president has completely failed to wage war against corruption that he promised the Zambian people during the campaign. There is no doubt that his predecessor’s legacy has not been kept alive in the current government.
The country has faced one of the most trying economic times during the past six months. The difficulties that we are facing are not entirely as a result of the world-wide economic crisis but are also a result of inadequate planning and lack of visionary leadership in our country.Hundreds of people have lost jobs, in Zambia, during this time. However, can Rupiah’s government point to a single job that they have created in the last six months other than those of their friends and cousins? Clearly, this government has failed the Zambian masses. They have continued to blame the “global warming” (as someone in government called it) for the problems we face as a nation. If only, you invested in agriculture, empowering the citizens, and tourism maybe we will all be able to take a trip to Mfuwe after all.
Once of Rupiah’s blunders was to initiate and sponsor the national indaba to discuss the current “economic crisis”. This was a sheer waste of time and money. How did Rupiah expect to come up with answers in a couple of days if he could not do it in the last six months? How could he come up with answers when most of the individuals at the indaba were either his friends or were connected to the government? I looked at the list of individuals invited for the indaba—there were only about five marketeers. Most of the 300 plus guests were politicians, government officials, directors, bankers and senior so or so. Look at those categories again. Aren’t those the same people that are screwing us everyday and causing the same problems we have? If Rupiah was interested in coming up with something substantial at the indaba then common people from all walks of life could have been invited.
Six months down the road it is difficult to come up with something substantial about Rupiah’s leadership. During his presidency there have been job losses with unemployment rate rising to probably 80 plus percent. We have seen companies such as Zambian Airways, our national carrier, fold without the slighted help of the government. As if that is not enough, we have also seen the Zambian local currency depreciating to an all time low during Rupiah’s presidency. What is it then that he can proudly show to the Zambian people as his achievement in the last six months? Other than the tours he has taken around the world, with MMD cadres, I cannot think of any. I beg to be challenged here.
When the president leaves office, he is going to be judged on the deliverables he gave the Zambian people and not the promises he made. Although six months have gone, Rupiah still has more than two and half years to turn things around. Things can only be turned around if he becomes selfless and surround himself with men and women of high caliber. And six months later, Rupiah is still wearing the same cream white Caribbean shirt with three squares in the front. Does he need to go shopping?
….to be honest i don’t know
… better watch paint dry than think about Rupiah Bwezani Banda’s rule
In his defense You the Zambians elected him as president.When you or your relatives were voting what did you expect -free mealie meal and sugar forever?Low fuel prices? please.In case you haven’t heard the global economic crisis is real.when Obama fixes it then RB and his relatives in leadership will make a plan meanwhile RB is old, he is chilling and enjoying his golden years.Why should a 72 yr old man worry about shallow things like clothes? He loves that carribean shirt -when was the last time you taught an old dog new tricks? Let him be, its your fault for voting for him, its your fault for having such a useless constitution.I’m sure he will win a 2nd term knowing you Zambians.Viva RB viva MMD circus
… Nothing
The only thing i have noticed is his movements in and out of the country. So far am not convinced he was the right person for this job.
#3 bob doe…..you are upset and i feel you man. Its high time somebody young ruled Zambia, but then again the people that determine the outcome of the elections are the poor and uneducated majority. Which politicians know about and take advantage of them in times of election campaigns. So up until we educate our majority of voters, we can forget about “Change” and the ultimate “Dream”. Sad but true
Well, nothing apart from tours!!!
“job losses with unemployment rate rising,. Zambian Airways, our national carrier, fold without the slighted help of the government. Zambian local currency depreciating” End Quote
Ngwenya, now I understand why you failed to excel in Indiana and have continued the despair at home. I wondering more about your much talked about MBA degree. A properly educated College of Business MBA graduates would not be that daft on basic Econ 101. Ostensibly, you don’t understand basic fundamentals of Macro and Microeconomics. Since the shock therapy of 1992 if I may ask, what economic capacity has Zambia created that would make us immune and resilient macroeconomic variables? Do you really understand fiscal and monetary mechanics to be decrying like the uneducated Sata?
“PRESIDENT OF TOURISM”…….that’s more like it
Let me put it this way: who really expected him to perform wonders? That’s the question.
I don’t even blame him. I blame those who voted him into office. They’re the ones responsible for the mess.
1. Globe trotting
2. Massive Job Losses
3. Threatening a defenceless paper and innocent citizens
4. Lying, the list is endless! in short, he hasnt done anything positive…….
The Report sounds like something that Meastro Hehehe would write so whats your take on this my friend???
This is a poorly written and researched article that is written from emotions rather than facts.
RB came into power amidst the global economic crisis that led to a drop in the copper prices which is still the key economic driver for the country. Of course people will lose jobs if the copper price plummets. I am sorry but you wont find a business that will run whilst making losses. I do however feel bad for the people that have lost jobs.
What has RB’s administration done about it. They have cut some of the taxes the mines where charged so as to reduce on the cost of doing business and save jobs. Anyone that has run a business knows that when you are making losses, labor is the first to go. If you reduce on the cost of doing business, you can save some jobs.[tbc
Ngwenya, An educated mind would not be exhibiting this level of ignorance on currency stabilization and mining job loses. Real economic miracles are built on capacity which has been lacking for a long time. Stuffing the country with angel investors who came to make and expropriate all dividends to their source countries without SME is not real growth. I expect you to among young but pragmatic realists to understand and brainstorm in smart discourses. RB from day one has been confronted with insurmountable macroeconomic forces he has to navigate through. He found nothing to take off the economy on. Tell us what practical steps you would have effected to make an economic miracle within 6 month under prevalent scenarios.
I am only worried about the future of our country
Now he has taken his entire family,party cadres and some chiefs to zimbabwe.The man is a total liability to Zambia.Just his ugly face and that Thandiwe thing is enough embarrasment to our nation.We are lost as a nation under his leadership!
Nothing apart from sucking some MPs.
Good Artocle Ngwenya, Our President needs to seriously think about the problem the country is facing instead of always dealing with petty issues, complaining about the post, Fr Bwalya etc.
Increased salaries for MPs, encourage importation of GMO maize and surpporting corruption
Ok. We have seen rising inflation, food prices, job losses, nepotism, corruption, press intolerance….awe fyafula bakalamba ba Wesley! Tetimpende.
Popo, such hate 4 the man. half of you guys just remind me of the way you rebuked Levy in his first term. Give RB a chance, the global economic crisis is affecting each and every government, frm Chavez, Obama,Mednedev,Jacob Zuma to RB.For me, yes he has made mistakes but he has steered the country well during a time when it was so trying. Give him some credit. Corruption my brother was even worse in Mwanawasa’s time and indeed in FTJ and KK himself, where is yo memory my brotha?
#8 senior citizen, i totally agree with you. I don’t have an MBA( but obviously well versed in my area of expertise) but RB should not take the rap as far as zambias economy is concerned. my understanding from what you have written so far is you may be well versed in economics so what do you think is zambias way forward?
#13 Free-Market-Economist
You re correct in a way my friend that there are several factors that have lead to this. Levy MHSRIP was in a position where there was a boom in copper prices which our country depends on on the other hand RB came in when those fortunes had turned round.
Its has been difficult but if he RB has to be blamed for anything is keeping some bad eggs in government but its like they same keep your enemies even closer btw Magande and Teta, Teta would be more dangerous if not on your side.
Just recently the ZDA just approved about a 100 licenses from MSE which are going to invest in tourism, agriculture, manufacturing and the service industry. They attributed this due to the measures put in the budget that have made the environment conjunctive. This is the only govt that has put measures in the budget to diversify the economy.
Construction of ring roads in Lusaka is to take place starting this June. This will surely reduce traffic problems in the city. The Ministry of Agriculture announced that we are expected to have a good harvest this year.
In terms of the fight against corruption, we have seen more people convicted on cases of corruption in RB’s administration.
This lack of intelligent cyber punditry you have continued planting here is not only humiliating and worrying to some the forward looking self preserved and achieved intelligentsia. If your caliber is representative, then fear of must be founded. Ten years from now the country may have shortage of well prepared emerging leaders. You cannot tell me that you intellectually got nothing from Indiana to exhibit this degree of economic ignorance? You should know how to create real wealth not the utopian way.
The guy that has written this article nafulwa zoona. ati carribean shirts hahahaha i like this guy! . But the one thing that is definately true is that he is surrounded by hyenas and ba nyandule. no scope nor vision!
Who blamed Zambia’s economy mess on ‘global warming’?That person deserves to be stoned in public!
Lets give him a chance he need to prove himself 2011 is not far from now.
However, am dissapointed with him especially on selection of his cabinet and fighting corruption he just doesnt know how to do it.
he has sorrounded himself with hyners with Levy had rejected.
Concerning the Kwacha, this is a situation that is not unique to Zambia as it is happening all over the world. The US Dollar is gaining as investors flock to the US to find investments that are considered “safe”. The US is still considered the most safe place to invest your money and investors are flocking there or are holding on to their money. Of course the currency will plummet.
I think the reason people think nothing has happened in this administration is because they CHOOSE not to see anything and will see what they want to see.
Wesley be objective. The below statements are meaningless.
“There have been numerous cases of corruption and abuse of office that have been reported in the last six months of Rupiah’s presidency.” Which cases? Can you cite them. Stop talking like TI!
“Those that have criticized the president have been thrown to the curb while those that have been found wanting have been relentlessly defended by the president.” Give us examples please. You are sounding like a gutter journalist.’
Visit Parliament website, in particular, latest Acts and comment again.
LT, where are my comments. Am I being barricaded?
Why Doesnt Free Market Economist and Senior Citizen Write an article describing R.B’s success story and post it here so that we can compare the two instead of just rubbishing Ngenya’s article.
# 13 Free Market Economy, I agree that this is a poorly written article based on emotions. When attempting to write such articles, its imperative for the author to devorce himself from personal opinions and try as much as possible to stick to the facts…….facts which would broadly be based on his record and decisions taken in the past six months.
“Just recently the ZDA just approved about a 100 licenses from MSE which are going to invest in tourism, agriculture, manufacturing and the service industry.” Quote Free-Market-Economist.
And that is capacity building we need. Ngwenya is misled theorist made to believe that Corporatocracy of the too big to fall and artificial currency stabilization is measure of economic growth. The future is not solely in mines but broadening the economic scope, specialization and competitive advantage that we can offer to in the FTA.The country produces nothing but importing 90% of our consumption. Under this scenario you are overlooking the BOP and our labor intensive cost challenges.
This article is “dalo”. Please, if you are going to write about something, the content shld talk to the subject. I got the impression I was going to read some analysis of the situation in Zambia in 6 months of Banda, but zero. Get facts first, then analyze those facts. How can you start an analysis with “the first mistake …. “ When are Zambians going to mature in analysis? The way to handle an article with such huge headline is to seek an interview with Banda. Or a Government rep. After the answers you get as to what they have done in 6 mths, then you compare with the situ on the ground. Otherwise when you run yo mouth with no facts, it does not sound intelligent. U sound like Banda.
Sorry just to make a correction on my post on #22.
The ZDA approved 27 applications from MSE’s which are expected to create 1,721 jobs.
Senior Citizen
Sorry to mislead you (and everyone else). My correction is on #34.
On the account of the currency as pointed out by free-market-economist investors have been going for safe investment. The safe heaven of currencies has been switching between the greenback and the yen. Basiclly there has been influenced by both the stock market and political retoric.there governments have more to move there economies where as ours is dependant mostly on copper watch the price movement of copper and the Kwacha. if we venture into other economic drivers then maybe we could have a stble currency ie Australi has gold mining but they also hve tourism and others that are big economic drivers.
RB is just a liability. Globe trotting with his children
No comment!
# 14 senior Citizen,
The problem with us is we are getting so blinded by our desperation that we are quick to blame RB for problems that existed but were “veiled with unfounded good legacy”. I always ask people that blame RB to tell us were the good fortunes from copper (as we were told) suddenly went? As a people we need to always understand our problems critically, else we will continue in this stupid and *****ic trap of the blame game. And tabloids like the Post will simply always get rich! Read the Post’s comments on Mwanawasa in the first few years after 2001. They are not different from what we are reading today.
Contrary to what all of you are thinking or saying he has done something if not a lot. He has reminded us to next time vote wisely and sensitize our poorer and uneducated relatives of the importance of their vote and advantages of real positive economic growth. Next time please vote and do not ignore the elections. He’s taught us that despite all we can say he can do whatever he wants because we are toothless and not empowered. He is passed the retirement age and that is a perfect pension for him which he is enjoying beyond his imagination. Ukuchilisha at every possible moment. We allow political parties not to form coalitions during elections and let candidates vie for positions for personal gain. His businesses failed but we took it as a joke. Zambia under him is failing fast…
This man did not play in his youth age; he is just dancing with Women enjoying what he didn’t work for. The man is in wrong position with wrong people.
Sheer waste of time! How difficult is it to impeach this guy and call for new elections?
This chap is talking bull#$@t. Since when did Nchito’s company become the national carrier? And who told him that this is the lowest the kwacha has ever fallen? Although RB has really done nothing much, this guy is writing cheap allegations and innuendos without any reasoning. Abash!
Our inability to be objective and analytical, as Senior Citizen and Free Market Economist argue is the failing of this country. Most opinions posted on this list are not founded on reason, but opinions carried in a once independent tabloid. It is funny that this Tabloid of reason carried the same disinformation campiagn against Mwanawasa in the post 2001 period. Its a blame game that only the Tabloid profits in, and the country is trapped in unfounded desperation.
LT on “Rupiah Banda flanked by his vice George Kunda talks to reporters when he arrived from North western province at Lusaka City airport” as caption of the picture, I would rather you just mention it as “Rupiah Banda flanked by vice George Kunda talks to reporters when he arrived from North western province at Lusaka City airport” for Vice President is not only the vice to President RB Banda but our country’s Vice President. Remember that Minister of Justice Veep G. Kunda is not even MMD vice president.
On “The first mistake the president made was appointing people to his cabinet who either did not qualify for those positions or had a questionable history”, I believe the first mistake was to appoint then Minister of Justice G. Kunda as Vice President also.
44 continued.
That appointment of one person to head two different portfolios was a lack of leadership qualities. How I hope President RB Banda will sort that mess in his possible Cabinet reshuffle. Once he appoints now Minister of Justcie and Vice President George kunda to one position only, then the President RB Banda Administration will start making progress.
The second mistake President RB Banda did was to become a COMPLAINANT of the Global Economic Crisis as a sole cause of our ailing economy which has been hit by job cuts. When you are a leader, you do not need to appear weak by giving excuses even when such is necessary.
Thirdly, President RB Banda has engaged himself in bickering with the media and allowing MMD cadres to dictate how the party and GRZ is run.
Shameful!
Before this forum we had “Information dispatch” that had a very livley blog. PLM was savaged during his first yr by many present bloggers. He turned out a messiah. Lets give RB a chance. Considering that Zambias main export is copper which has had 50 drop in prices, he has managed to stabalise the situation in comparision to other countries.
This article is like it was written by an uniformed PF cadre, Nnwenya, for exihibiting such shallow disregard for fact and current economic situations, i will treat everything written by you with disrespect.
On “We have seen companies such as Zambian Airways, our national carrier, fold without the slighted help of the government“, I beg to differ Mr Wesley Ngwenya here. Zambian Airways was never a National carrier and is just an airline operated by a few Zambians including some foreigners it appears. Coming back to President RB Banda’s six months in office, I can only say that his presidency is “a Zambian Polical Tsunami” whose effects will transcend the next Government of the Republic of Zambia to correct. With this in mind, I hope the MMD will not be governing Zambia further than 2011 so that we as a people can begin to make progress.
In light of this, I am humbly asking the Undereducate to disband PF and join the UPND Team so that they can have a telling 2011 convention.
I can’t blame RB for the global crisis. Its everywhere. The only thing that I’m not happy with is the way he has made friendships with peopl that are so corupt. So corupt that he himself has become corupt as well to the extent of putting Mulongoti and Teta on a ZPPA board. He has never in any way tried to keep Levy’s legacy as he promised those that voted for him. He just used it as a strategy of getting into that office. One of the bloggers said that we need a young president. But among the young peopl who like yapping about pilitics, I can’t see any who can deliver to the people of Zambia. Every politician in Zambia seems to be power hungry. I don’t where we will end up.
47, kc, on your “PLM was savaged during his first yr by many present bloggers. He turned out a messiah. Lets give RB a chance. “, late former President LP Mwanawasa was a serious let down and this is why we have President RB Banda as our President of Zambia.
It is beyond my mind why and how late LPM could appoint Mr RB Banda as Zambian Vice President just because Chief Mpezeni changed his mind to support the MMD to win the 2006 elections when he (Mpezeni) had initially said “namukonda” referring to president HH when the man of the moment Mr Hakainde H. had a campaign in Eastern Province of Zambia which caused panic in the MMD ranks in 2006.
Let us not just judge leaders by some small issues but by the way they discharged their authority in a wholesome manner.
guess you’ve all heard Bwezani’s going to zimbabwe with his five kids, the maid and an entourage of 43 for 4 days….
Well, first things first..”supposedly” means you not sure?? not sure if he was really elected in or what?? Secondly…..Complain Complain complain , Mr Ngwenya, what have you done in the last six months, critisize people and write tuma strories of how bad our economy is or what happened when you were arrested or some dolll of that sort.., or the national anthem not not having a meaning bla bla…. Sour grapes, what would you have done if you were president?
sour grapes LT, why have you deleted my comment….
Yeah , the article is full of emotion. I have been let down in a number if areas but the article is devoid of facts. I will repeat what I has said earlier , compare how FTJ was perceived after 6 months , what about Levy and compare the contrasting economic and political scenarios . We should alsi consider that economic policies take time to be planned and then implemented. Do you know that the planning for Lumwana started actively in 1996. ?? The actual construction has taken over 6 years. One thing we need to change in my beloved ZED is this terrible habit of despising our leaders. Criticism is fine but let it be objective based on reality. Leave the come out shooting everything you do is either good or bad depending on your name to the types of lifwekelo and visionless politicians.
imwe ba LT mwalipena…why mulechitila delete fyonse ifyo nalemba…
Sounds like a Liverpool or Arsenal surporter talking bout Man U
Sorry Mr Ngwenya, you are totally out of order. In Economics there is what is known as the economic cycle. In other words, this years budget affects the economy in subsequent years. It is totally absurd to pin the economic meltdown on this year’s budget. Mr Magande and LPM’s government are responsible for the problems in Zambia’s economy today. They did not make hay while the sun shone. On corruption, a Minister in this government has done something unprecedented in Zambian politics, resigned because of a tribunal’s findings. High profile corruption cases are still going on in court. Some people have been convicted. Regina’s conviction was stupid. How can you convict someone of receiving stolen goods when the goods have not yet been proven to be stolen?
56 positivist pa zed, following your “Do you know that the planning for Lumwana started actively in 1996. ?? The actual construction has taken over 6 years. One thing we need to change in my beloved ZED is this terrible habit of despising our leaders.” How about the Kafue Gorge Lower Power Station project? I for one thought that I would be working there now as an Engineer (LOL).
Whatever the case, it is clear that the appointments of Certain people are terribly done. Look at the recent appointment of Minister Mutati F. to head Ministry of Comm. and Trans. after Ms Dora resigned. This is another bad leadership decision unless the President aims to merge the two ministries at play under Minister Mutati. Otherwise, why do we have a Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Com.
And then who told you that Zambian Airways was ‘our national carrier?’ Zambian Airways collapsed long before RB became president. Mr Ngwenya’s writtings have been good in the past but this one is pathetic! You have written like a ‘kabova’ from KMB. Ill informed and ill thought out. I agree with the issue of appointments. RB has made mistakes by appointing cronies and yes men. But, in mitigation, that is the usual practice of leaders elected with slim majorities. They are so insecure that they run from their own shadows. That is RB’s biggest mistake which will be responsible for his short reign.
59 continued.
Why do we as Zambians have two Ministers heading the Ministry of Tourism as one ministry? Such is bad leadership on the part of President RB Banda – whoever his advisers are!
The UPND Team and INDABA on the economy both highlighted the need to reduce the size of GRZ which has been talked about for a long time now since the late President’s time, LP Mwanawasa.
Why is President RB Banda holding on to a big Cabinet? Is it to allow him to have people that will give money to the MMD campaigns in the time for 2011 elections?
Why is President RB Banda our Zambian President? Is he our number one man for strengthening his hold on the Presidency? Or is he there to make sure all Zambians have good food on their tables, health facilities, jobs, school places, ect.? Anyhow, WAIT!
60 THE SAINT nice following up on the Zambia Airways issue. On facts, what is the source of the information that “80% of Zambians” are unemployed?
Later in the evening!
Zambia sweet mothew Zambia
i just have a question to all my friends
whta can RB do to achieve a better economy
put it in writting submit
if he can not take it without reasons
then you have the right to complain
long live
Zambia sweet mother Zambia
Miss Daisy
I have had a big chunk of my contribution deleted too! There is no swearing and all clean language. That is it! I will never come to this site again! Bye bye, everyone!
Poor piece….don’t publish such poorly written articles in the future. Shame ba LT
LT, where is my contribution? this is why i don’t comment at all. waste of time
But before I go, let me just say this: RB’s achievements will be seen in the next Parliament. All the things that he is doing NOW had their foundations in the last Parliament: 1. Ndola soccer stadium. 2. ZPPA Act 3. Kariba North project 4. Lumwana and Kansanshi Mine 5. Fertilizer Support 6. Continuation of Citizen Economic Empowerment 7. Continuation of Vision 2030. 8. Lusaka city project 9. Various parliamentary acts. 10. Visa fees 11. Kasaba Bay development 12. Chirundu bridge project 13. Repaired relations with Zimbabwe and help with unity government (Foreign policy: LPM botched this) 14. Restoration of office of former President’s dignity 15. New investments attracted from Zambians in diaspora (e.g. EDS inter alia). 16. Roads development projects… etc, etc etc
sleeping!!!
On appointments, I think RB did not have enough time to know people because he was living in Chipata before he became VP. If he had been either in Lusaka or the copperbelt he would have been better exposed. LPM lived in Ndola so he got lots of people from there. Chiluba got some from the trade union. RB could not get people from Chipata (that would have been tribalism). Clinton brought people from Arkansa, Bush from Texas and Obama is the odd one out. (crafty fellow!). In the days of KK, the shushushu helped him out.
Ine! all am trying to say is we need strong leadership in this econimic crisis.Look at the way he was quick to append his signature to the emoluments bill to increase salaries .A prudent leader was supposed to analyse the economic position of the country before making such commitments.Nomba chi Rupiah has kulilapo mentality.The man is dull and has no interest to serve the zambians.Besides Levy and Maureen had the brains to take the country to greater heights not that ka villege chicken called Thandi.
Ba THE SAINT your contribution makes interesting reading a good perspective on matter of governing
Ba Ngwenya, you have fallen prey to hate reporting as can be seen in your anecdotals such as 1. “The first mistake the president made was appointing people to his cabinet who either did not qualify for those positions or had a questionable history. Just last week one of Rupiah’s cousins was sworn in as the new High Commissioner of Zambia to Mozambique. “ Is the High Commissioner a Cabinet Minister? Who do you perceive as unqualified in Cabinet? 2. “Instead, he has opted to date men and women with low morals–without the slighted foresight as to where this country needs to go” whatever you mean by “low morals”. But are high morals a measure of performance? Define what you mean by morals regarding RB’s performance 3. “There have been numerous cases of corruption and abuse…
#73 Kamunyama continued “There have been numerous cases of corruption and abuse of office that have been reported in the last six months of Rupiah’s presidency” which ones are those? In fact we have seen the fastest reaction to corruption allegations under RB than in LPM or even FTJ who usually requested to given the evidence for him to act and it ended there. 4. “Those that have criticized the president have been thrown to the curb while those that have been found wanting have been relentlessly defended by the president” who are those? You have to be careful in your use of superlatives –relentlessly? relentlessly you say? Tone down bawishi otherwise muzagwela mupoto yathobwa. “The difficulties that we are facing are not entirely as a result of the world-wide economic crisis…
“The difficulties that we are facing are not entirely as a result of the world-wide economic crisis but are also a result of inadequate planning and lack of visionary leadership in our country” the unfortunate part is that you seem not be realistic – who does the planning and when is the planning done? I say it is the civil servants and around November. So how much time did RB have to check where he was and to come with a plan of where he needed to take the country? Remember that at one time Mr Magande said Africa will not be affected by the crunch, so everyone relaxed because they thought the specialist had said the truth, but here we are has he apologized? 5. “If only, you invested in agriculture, empowering the citizens, and tourism maybe we will all be able to take a trip to…
“If only, you invested in agriculture, empowering the citizens, and tourism maybe we will all be able to take a trip to Mfuwe after all” Oh my God!! I think you just picked this sentence from one of the papers. I am sure you plagiarized and even then it lacks a critical thought. You have not told us how agriculture or even tourism could be the savior to Zambia. 6. “Once of Rupiah’s blunders was to initiate and sponsor the national indaba to discuss the current economic crisis“
“Once of Rupiah’s blunders was to initiate and sponsor the national indaba to discuss the current economic crisis“. Awekwena Zambia twasebana. Your facts are so trivial to warrant attention anyway. So let me just end here. Alamwampeshamano ba Ngwenya, and if this is the kind of journalism we are going to have in addition to the Post, wafwa walemana because we are destined for Lupatolism.
Senior Citizen, Free_market-Economist, One True One, positivist pa zed and the saint- thanks for your contributions.
#71POPO 2
On the matter of salries it was alwas going to be signed even here in the uk amist the doom and gloom they have given mp a pay rise
Without a doubt we have many problems in Zambia, but I get fed up with people who are always looking for negatives as to the situation in our country. You only have to look at what is happening in places like Uganda (Lord’s resistance army) DRC (ongoing civil war) Kenya(tribalism, factionalism and famine in the north) to see that we have many things to celebrate. Banda may have made mistakes but you can not blame him for the current economic malaise. We should have done better to diversify the economy from day one but even countries with much more diversified economies than ours are suffering. Perhaps the greatest achievement that Banda has made is ensuring that despite our poverty, we continue to enjoy peace and stability for which I for one am grateful.
Maestor,# 59, 62 Please , do you think antthing sifnificant cone be done concerning Kafue Gorge in a year. Hell no the world bank is talking of about two years just to prepare biddng document invite bids and evaluate. If RB or indeed LPM had cut corners what would we say?? corruption, you see not as easy as it seems. Then on cabinet size, I would like to see a smaller cabinet but the President and his predecessors have never heeded, thats just politics and its selfish nature they need the numbers to control parliament and practise patronage. and now I fel quite sorry for him because any radical idea he comes up with with be linked to corruption.
#64, Abigail Sweet Abigail, I can’t understand your question. Probably you need to slow down a bit when writing…..Abigail Sweet Abigail..
Shame the saint, hope you dont go forever..i also didnt write anything bad at all..even lost interest in thier ka topic…. let me go home n cook for family…..eish!
Most contribtors here and mine at 33, we have agreed that this article is full of emotions and lacks objectivity.However, it would be nice to analyse RB’s govt’s performance sector by sector, say…a) Education b) Health c) Economic performance d) Agriculture e) Foreign policy..etc This way, objectivity might not be lost and the article might have a clear structure and direction. So Mr Ngwenya, could you kindly take this advice and write a more structured article devoid of emotions. Thank you very much.
#80. Peter Chipango. No one is calling for strife here. We just want to ensure that people entrusted to run the affairs of our country are doing it the right way. We cannot just go to sleep pretending that everything is rose-cheeked. As a citizenry of our beautiful country, we have a moral responsibility to ascertain that we are being governed property. That is our civic duty.
If you are all students i give you ma A++++ its like you mark your own assignments LOL
This country is like a chicken without a head.Sometimes i wonder if at all we have the so called president inthis country.This man you call RB is a total failure, he failed to give that required leadership to this country.There is completely nothing he has done apart from appointing his relatives and stooges in government positions.
81. positivist pa zed, you have valid points there but there is no need to fear about corruption when one does not conduction oneself in a corrupt manner. Let President RB Banda do his job pro[erly and nothing tricky will come up on him, but praises. However, President RB Banda has a choice of either pleasing his cohorts who are singing praises to him now and may leave him alone later or working for the Zambian people in this mandate we gave him and go honourably even if he may not get a second term of presidential office.
I think it will be very satifying to point out that I tried my best, but that is only how far I went, and really people will give him respect.
Have a great day for I have to go to church now for a service starting 19 hrs.
no coment
The only thing he has archived is growing corn at his Farm. Thumbs up for that.
Been paranoid all the way. Just rule big bro. Your mandate whether anybody likes you or not will still run till 2011. Actually you can even promote Dora For being “mislaid”. Viva Z politics, Viva bakulu bakulu.
I have no comment, his actions have spoken volumes.
We need Jesus to help us to find a great leader.
Utah saints #90 I hope you are not black and Mormon. That is loosing Jesus and your blackness in one swoop hahahahahahahahahahaha. I pray you are a christian, if not I still sent a prayer for your salvation.
The saint are you both MMD and UNIP, even I leaving in America knew all those appointments were wrong even before they were thought up. You are at it again stuck in a fantasy.
Why complain about RB employing relatives – KK did it, FTJ did it, LPM did it, so why can’t RB “did” it too? What’s important is whether they’ll deliver the goods. However, I object to taxpayers’ money being used if children are over 18, especially if they already earn more than me and can afford to pay their own way!!
6 Months?
He has been to
1.Zimbabwe
2.Nigeria,
3.Mfuwe,
4.Livingstone
5.Ndola
6.Swaziland
7.Chipata
8.Malawi
9. Embassy park (to say thank you :-0)
10. State houseParliament
11. LSK intl’ airport 100 times (seeing off people or leaving)
With the VEEP going to the airport all the time (one wonders what time he spends in the office drinking Milo and muching on Eeet-sum- mores
12. Was it Eygpt also where they AU leaders met? Whatever up north he went too
13. Kabwe
14. Mazabuka
15. Bet he can’t wait to go to Mars
mmm ba no 97 ba Lisa that list mwafumya kwi mwalikwata good memory or is it your archaives.
One way of looking at RB’s achievements is to consider what would have happened if he was not such a strong leader. In the face of the global economic meltdown, a non-supportive citizenry, and an opposition/post which has failed to emerge from campaign mode, things would have been worse. Job losses would be triple times, the country would be unstable, banks would have collapsed, people would be dying of hunger on the streets, etc etc. Also imagine if the vote in 2008 had gone the other way, would Zambia have a better leadership? Well maybe we would achieved a lot in the first 90 days? Guys times are hard, we need to stand together and with our president. RB’s failure would not be his alone but our collective failure and shame as a nation. Let’s count our blessings.
I concur with 97, Lisa.
He’s probably the most traveled President the first 100 days . Of course, we know all his
goings on , dances and parades.
Oh .. Didn’t he just return from Zim tracing his ancestral ties ?
He as achieved globletrotter status.
Wonder if the Challenger issues frequent flyer points
Fact ist, RB has no leadership qualities. Neither has he any vision. Anyhow, this was anticipated.
Peter Chipango, if RB continues supporting what is wrong, as in the case of Dora, whereby it
seems clear to every one that he is on her side, for the reasons best known to themselves,
I bet people would get so fed up that peace and stability would be of no use.
What African leaders have not realised up to now, is that it’s them that are frustrating the the people. They are just too selfish. By the way, It’s a bad attitude to compare anything with the worst.