By Patrick Hatontola
As 2011 dawns, the MMD government must realize that it marks the new era when people’s wish for a forward government will transcend over any manner of political manipulation, Lumpenism and hooliganism. These vices have characterized the political landscape for the past 20 years but 2011 will be the last nail on the coffin. It is a year when the weaker will speak louder to the powerful.
Below are 20 reasons why electorates will not give the MMD another mandate in preference to the UPND-PF PACT.
(A) Urban Development
1. MMD’s failure to maintain infrastructure left by UNIP. This includes institutions of learning such as: UNZA; dilapidation of Health Care centers like UTH and turning tarred roads turned into gravel roads in across the country.
2. MMD’s failure to run Health care centers. These centers cannot dispense basic medication such as panado thereby causing avoidable deaths
3. MMD’s failure to maintain affordable transport by abandoning the railway transport left by UNIP hence increasing the cost of production.
4. MMD’s failure to plan for the city by building new infrastructure and system in major towns thereby causing unnecessary traffic jams. Rather, MMD has promoted mushrooming of shanty compounds like MISISI where no reticulated piped water and electricity are provided.
5. MMD’s failure to timely handle disaster management cases such as floods in Lusaka and collapsed bridges in Southern Province shows that it lacks priorities.
6. MMD’s failure to create employment. Rather, Job loss has been on a raise in MMD’s reign.
7. MMD’s paralyzing of citizens by closing local companies such as Mansa batteries on the copper belt, Eagle cycles in Eastern Province, Mwinilunga Pineaples in Northern Province
8. MMD’s grievous Taxing policy burdens majority Zambians in favor of few foreigners. MMD has failed to create other sources of revenue opposed to strangling citizens with exorbitant Taxes. Rather, they abolished the windfall TAX to the detriment of the country.
(B) Rural Development
1. MMD under RB’s administration has reduced the Fertilizer support Program from 2 hectors to 1 Acre per farmer thereby disempowering farmers.
2. MMD’s late delivery of farm inputs across the country has further crippled the agriculture sector.
3. MMD has killed agriculture viability by abolishing NAMBOARDS through which farmers sold their produce easily.
4. MMD destroyed the agro system by abolishing the agriculture extension services. Consequently, livestock is diminishing in places like Southern and Western Provinces. The collapse of farming in central province was also a direct result of closing the Tobacco Board of Zambia
5. MMD’s failure to fulfill the ever promised rural electrification. ZESCO is now on auto pilot.
6. MMD’s failure to tar major feeder roads has eroded any possibilities of creating an enabling environment for rural development
(C) Generally-Cross functional Developments
1. MMD has disrespected citizens by rejecting their recommendations such as 50+1 through the biased NCC.
2. MMD’s failure to provide free education up to university level left by UNIP is retrogressive.
3. MMD’s sale of ZAMTEL against the wish of the people has compromised the country’s security
4. MMD’s failure to preserve women’s dignity. MMD shows no remorse on the tragedy of women giving birth on streets. Refer to Chance Kabwela’s case. The Health Minister must confirm if the incinerator is now operational at Chipata Clinic.Worst still MMD youth who want to gang rape Nawakwi have not been suspended from MMD.
5. MMD has refused to fight corruption. They seem to have embraced real suspects. Refer to the dillydallying of the registration of the London Judgment against Chiluba; The IG of police not suspended to pave way for investigations; the ruling party being headed by Katele –a man defending himself against serious corruption charges in court? The Auditor General’s revelations are not acted upon to mention a few.
6. MMD’s attempt to abolish freedom of the media through the failed media regulation attempts
In view of the above short comings one can easily establish a case of gross incompetence; gross inefficiency and gross negligence from MMD to warrant a vote of no confidence in next years polls. The UPND-PF PACT therefore stands a better alternative.
I agree, I agree. Zambians now seem to be issue fucussed. Nice dimention to Zambian Politics
Blue kuya bebele
Although not well articulate but you have laid your point, “change is looming”.
# 3, these facts are very clear. Some of you charps like semantics. We need more of such pricise and concise problem diagnosis. VIVA
Well thought article. We shall sort them out soon.
What is MMD? Sure we deserve better mwee!
Badala – please add: illegal allocation of land by MMD cadres, especially in Lusaka West and Ibex Hill, land already on title and belonging to investors has been invaded by MMD thugs under the protection of William Banda! There is no law any more – cadres can do whatver they like. The High Court has ruled and passed judgment that the “illegals” vacate but there is no political will to enforce the judgment!
Lusaka is filthy and looks like a shanty compound. It’s the dirtiest capital in the world!
Is politics in a party or in the people that are in the party? I do not see anything changed as far as partisans are concerned. From Welensky to Bemblish! Meh!
I CANNOT BELIEVE somebody sand down to write such a shallow article. I usually rebutt articles on this blog, but this time I will surely not dignify this low level kind of writing with a rebuttal. There can only be two things here.
It is either this Mr Hatontola is a dull chap, and a Kulima Tower for that matter, or he has just plagiarised a GRADE 9 speech for a Secondary School English debate.
Privatising ZAMTEL will comprise Security, really? Aren’t these arguments are Grade 9 students debate in school because they have been forced to take the side. What a shacker of an article, you might as well argue that stone age was better than modern age.
This is so shocking!!!! Is this what free education to grade 12 will produce?? I will it at that and wait for next topic.
Patrick, well spoken… MMD kuya bebele.
But Mr Hatontola you have not addressed the question that will determine the outcome, come 2011. We cannot vote a vacuum into power to replace Rupiah Banda. The question is, what is your suggested alternative leadership? Surely you cannot be thinking of Sata and his ilk? Or the exposed demon worshipping preacher Bwalya? The period since the 2008 elections and particularly the last few weeks or so must have revealed even to the blind what sort of alternative the opposition can offer. The Post has done a very good job by giving publicity to Sata (and baby Sata to some extent), all well intentioned but actually fatal to their political ambitions. Now enter Nawakwi, same same.
#9 Bootlicker. Only a few months ago you didn`t know that internet banking existed in Zambia. How ironic that you can call someone dull!:o
Who is dim between you and the author of this article? Batata just make sure you steal enough. You time is up.
RED Card!:d
very shallow to blame everything gone wrong on MMD and forgetting where the country was in 1991 compared to today. those health centres he is talking about were not there until MMD came into power and set up health centres around the country and also district hospitals and clinics. this article portrays Zambia in a light that is very shallow and dishonest. There has been a lot of progress even though we need to do better. BUT what is alternative going back to UNIP or is it advocating the pact which will soon break up?
if this is the calibre of people within the Pact I shudder to think what will happen to our beloved country if we allow these *****s to take over
Good article for its simplicity. It may not not address all issues but for sure the current MMD leadership has not been inspiring. Leadership is about being sensitive to all – even to the village fool.
King Solomon, I wonder how old you are because you seem to be mixed up with the facts of our country.
# 9, look at how much you struggled to write nothing! Daddy, can you add 1+1?. #13 and 14, please dont embassase yourself if you cant think. Keep your minority views as private as possible.
awe kwena zoona,ati bootlicker.uku nomba ekufyompa ama jombo yakwa alaaa bee icine cine.is bootlicking something someone can be proud of?personaly i think the article by mr hatontola is well articulated and the issues raised in it are genuine.i challenge the MMD chiefbootlicker to travel to the copperbelt and see how bad roads are that side for himself,especialy kitwe and ndola.but when we complain about such things we are insulted..called names such as PF kaponya’s.tax money is not being used for the intended purposes.we’re taxed heavily even just buying fuel, road tax is inclusive and yet the roads are not worked on.such ignorance about zambian people’s concern’s should not be allowed beyond 2011.change is inevitable.
Good Evening
Much as I appreciate the author’s contribution for pointing out the development deficits, I must say that I also understand the exasperation of fellow bloggers like #9 and #13. We need to be objective here:
It’s not MMD’s job to address development in ALL areas of the economy. We must’nt forget that the government can only implement necessary measures to boost the economy but it is up to the performance of the respective companies to achieve economic growth. Plus there are also several factors in the free market economy and corporate world, usually beyond the government’s control, which also play a significant role.
It is only when we are honest enough and remain true to these and other principles that we will not blame the MMD and the government for every…
… malfunction in national development.
WELL SAID HATONTOLA. Your article was simple to understand, coincise and to the point. But, as usual pa nsaka tapabula fiwelewele (there’s always a fo.ol or two in parliament). MMD’s exit is 2011 and its inevitable. Goodbye MMD. Welcome the pact.
And for those who always get excited about bombastic words advice is that George Mpombo’s articles are allover the place for you to read and they too have content.
Umukalamba pansaka……….. MMD is blamed for its failure to sustain and improve the already deteriorating conditions and infrastructures. They had a dream but they misplaced the priorities. They were eager to getting rich and manipulate the Zambian people whom did not understand the pace of change and development. MMD had a mouthful and that led to most things spill out and not be chewed. Indeed as we acknowledge that we the people of Zambia were irresponsible by not auditing our leaders but for now we know how and thats why we saying no more MMD and enough is enough. Change came to quick from UNIP to MMD. The article is fine though a little biased because its focused on only the failures, thats politics anyway.
#19, what has happened to your objectivity suddenly, how can you sink that low so say that govement is not responsible for PUBLIC infrastructure? Health care, ROADS, FLOODS management? Please come back to your usual self. What you have said does not belong to you. Its for senior citizen and bootiliker and the type.
What a frankly good read
You couldn’t be more right on