By Chilekwa M. Mumba
Time and time again, Zambia’s political scene displays a lack of direction in both our party in government, as well as our major opposition parties who are currently clamoring to ensure the MMD’s exit. This past week unfolded some more political drama that sparked off everything from exchanges of unpalatable words in our local politics to international diplomatic rows. Zambians and the international community observed this fuming spectacle, now thankfully in its simmering stage. The hot air surrounding it is slowly evaporating as is to be expected with steam- and I choose the term “hot air” very intentionally, albeit sarcastically as the conclusion of this polemic will demonstrate.
At a time when our country is heading for major elections, we are supposed to see a difference between the ruling MMD and the country’s opposition. Instead, as we observe the substance (or lack thereof) of political debate, due to the haplessness of the politicians marketing themselves to the Zambian electorate, I cannot help but draw a comical comparative between our political leaders [as salesmen] who all claim to have the “best fix” to our country’s woes, and an old Chinese fable. The tale I refer to tells of a slick talking entrepreneur-cum-salesman who arrives in a village claiming to sell a spear which will penetrate everything and a shield which will block anything. Buyers anyone? No I doubt you will find any takers! If anything, the salesman/politician ends up looking like the oaf. [pullquote]At the end of the day, what was supposed to be a debate on accountability turned into as productive a debate as you would expect between two blocks of wood-nothing.[/pullquote]
In the same vein, our ruling MMD and current opposition will sell nothing to our electorate by their empty and nonconstructive rumblings on donor money. Our ever opportunistic MMD took this serious issue to look large and in charge by claiming sacred sovereignty over our country and thus these monies; and our ever inopportune opposition took this serious issue to express their angelic humility by gaudily stressing our dependency on donors. At the end of the day, what was supposed to be a debate on accountability turned into as productive a debate as you would expect between two blocks of wood-nothing. Donor money will continue to flow in the same path, seeing that the people responsible preferred a shouting match over debating on how to best utilize and account for it.
What is most irking about this particular situation is the fact that we find the donors playing the sensible role of demanding accountability for our country’s financial resources- a role which Zambians have entrusted to the opposition and party in government. It is quite troubling to note that the opposition decided to play the “choir-boy” role, going out of their way to sing praises for donors instead of directing this energy to not only demand accountability, but start discussing ideas of alternative policy arrangements that will ensure that donor money goes to its intended recipients. Donor money is no trivial issue-this is money that mostly supports critical life and death efforts such as our country’s health sector as well as Zambia’s infrastructure development. These displays of tactlessness from the opposition will not separate them from the very party they wish to replace. I wish to remind the opposition that whilst their “dependency song” will certainly attract shady “donors” who want to control our country’s fate, it will not auger well with the genuine and well-meaning donor countries who wish to see Zambia stand on its own two. This approach by our opposition does about as much harm as the equally tactless pronouncements by the ruling MMD government.
In summary, I will echo the observation that our country’s problems persist, because of the fruitless and misdirected political debate our politicians are all guilty of engaging themselves in. This donor debacle has testified that little to no difference exists between the MMD and major opposition. A contrasting difference between our political parties in government and in opposition is key to our nation’s progress on the political-economy front. It is a proven fact that an environment thriving with different and solid ideas breeds the progress we seek. As Zambians we must encourage not just politicians, but ourselves as responsible citizens to engage in productive debate. The best solutions come out of sensible debate, and indeed the very differences are quantified to a total sum; alternately where difference of ideas lacks, the progress summation equals zero.
This is exactly the situation zambians are facing- leadership crisis.Sometimes i wonder what has happened to us as a country for us to end up with no proper or credible alternatives to the ruling party.we are, seriously, in a very bad situation.
I saw the opposition trying to debate with the the ruling government just as you have put it but what was the response? If you go back to the newspapers you are going to realize that It is MMD that do not want to debate issues, they always bring in personal attacks.
However you partially correct because there are times when both the opposition and MMD have just ended at attacking each other instead of focusing on what could be of benefit to the whole nation.
Your article is well written and it shows a person who can discuss issues without emotions, unlike some who right on LT. Bravo!
Chilekwa M. Mumba
Just concentrate on flipping burgers and cleaning Mcdonald restaurant tables there in Dallas, Texas. You know nothing about Diplomacy, International politics and National security. Who fooled you that serving diplomats in a country of their presentation have have special rights to breach Diplomatic conventions and charters they present in their credentials to the host nation? Don’t know that Diplomat are not suppose to be that careless but adhere to diplomatic channels of communication? Who fooled you that Zambia is against accountability? Don’t you know that what those Scandinavian Diplomats are doing in a breach of the diplomatic codes and a receipe for anarchy if condoned.
The ZAambian politician have a PLATFORM where they can engage their debate ,in PARLIAMENT and not in the PRESS. WHY DO THEY SLEEP IN PARLIAMENT and want to be ACTIVE outside the HOUSE? Are they sponsored by the PRESS or the people.the press must be a MESSENGER and not INSTIGATOR of issues. THE EARLIER PEOPLE KNOW THE TRUTH THE BETTER INFORMED WE SHALL BE.
One thing that all staff at Washington embassy where told is that we have to protect MMD because when the PACT forms government then they wire recall everyone back to Zambia! But its the same MMD that has recalled us even before our contract expire! MMD is evil and it will never help our country period! KK and UNIP built our country but point at one thing MMD has done in the last 20 years apart from corruption! Do you know how many trunks of dollars and goods are burried underground in Mfuwe? Do you know the reason why RB and his entire family are always in Mfuwe on ‘working’ vacations? Sometimes I get scared to know what I know about MMD but they can take my life and hopefully one day Zambians will see for themselves! MMD is finished
#5 that’s interesting. These things need to be exposed…Stand up and talk if you are right- speaking for the oppressed is a valiant thing- even in death.
Chilekwa Mumba.. Sorry mate.. I think you’ve been in hibernation for the last 20 years and woke up last week.. Leave the opposition out of gross financial mismanagement.. For information.. It’s the opposition, Levey Mwanasawa, Private media, Civil Society & Madamme Auditor General Chipungula Anne (God Bless her), that have been painfully unearthing, fighting, publishing all these incidences corrupt or financial mismanagement, irregularity and theft since 1996.. Its been very its been hard. people beaten, locked up, we’ve been thretatened with media laws, Ghost workers on GRZ payroll (Thandie) , FTJ is free.. Sorry mate. Don’t dare put everyone in that corrupt , visionless , greedy regime.. sorry.. maybe you are like them.. but we continuing the 15 year battle!!!!!
#5… Are you really the same MMD Bootlicker we ve always followed? I guess your user-account has been ‘hacked’ and someone else is using your name?? I’ve always known you to be consistently protective of the current govt and MMD… Strange to hear that from you: Nothing against you and really, you ve every entitlement to express yourself freely… Goo day!
# 8.
Thats an imposter the real MMD Chief is a die hard MMD funatic coz they butter his bread!
How right! Corruption does not embarass government. No, not even the President! When Zambians under KK started dealing in drugs, it was not Kaunda’s government that was punished, it was individual Zambians travelling abroad, who found themselves held in suspicion and visa restrictions imposed. Donor funds go missing and it is the bounden duty of every Zambian to help bring the culprits to book. Corruption is just like HIV/AIDS you are either infected or affected. Everyone MUST play a role to deal with it.
Perhaps we should not be too harsh on ourselves. Maybe this era of insults is indicative of the fact that for so long whether under the colonial govt and then under one party rule we were not able to fully express ourselves. So maybe we need to pass through this stage as our democracy matures – dont know but it would be good to hear govt policy on various issues such as health, environment, education etc and the opposition offering their alternative ideas on how to move things forward. Maybe that is what we should be fighting for and can start that process right here right now on this forum by trying to engage in debates with fellow Zambians without resorting to insults.
# 11 Sansakuwa,
You are spot on! This is why you see that progressive patriots in MMD don’t insult because they know insults are a preserve of losers. They will realise too late that insults are no voter converter. They are busy insulting when MMD is canvassing national votes that matter.
Godd contribution from #11 and 12. I think this article at least is provoking us to do better as Zambians. I think the author was trying to balance both the MMD and the orther opposition while at the same time using some provoking phrases to provoke debate, which I think gives a lot of value to this article. Some articles i see here you just read and forget.Hats off LT and uthor
#5 Please can you stop being an impostor please. Please ignore the comments from #5 He is a fake. Am going back to SA and should start blogging from there in mid july. Just ignore the fake above
Ala u were happy with them the time the fed ur assO and now u want to fool us coz u have flushed ….bootlicker get a life thats cheap what u doing>>>>
Amen amen Chief bootliker has come to his sense, viva chiefbooklicker. Its my guess that you probably must have cought wind that a letter of recall is on its way and you decided to speak anyway.
The article is well written and indeed Zambians should take responsibility of their future. We should embrace and fight the enermy “MMD’ and secure our future and for our generation to come. Again the coward educated should be rebellious with ideologies that don’t offer nothing to our future
Ba Chilekwa, your article is well written. Unfortunately, you are not a politician and dont know what is required to new a vote in Zambia. The mass population in Zambia are not educated, and CANT follow the “productive debate”. Imagine taking, your article to Kanyama or Chawama, how many people will understand what you are saying? In USA or UK, on evarage everyone has a college diploma, hence the politician engage in “productive debates” and people follow. When HH started, he used to avoid insults, and in two elections he came out third. Being bright and intelligent as he his, he had to change and be come prince cobra. Look at Miyanda, 90% of what he say is wise (make sense), but doenst have even a single MP. The bottom line, our democracy will only mature, when our people get…
Dinga,you should give credit to MMD who have improved on the time Audit Reports come out.In the previous UNIP administration,Audit reports centred on activities that took place five to seven years .In other words most reports were grossly outdated.
#17…Remember Mazoka? Mazoka had a proper opposition party, that was robbed of victory in 2001. Did Mazoka engage in insults? No. Mazoka got the support of Zambians who saw him as a man discussing issues, His ability to articulate issues finally conquered the tribal thing UPND was compared to. . HH came and changed the UPND with first his tribal manners and then completely destroyed it with aligning along with King Cobra and his insults. Zambians see sense when it is there. The problem is there is no sense going on, therefore we feel we have little choice. The article is very right and written in a very provocative but intelligent way as someone has said. You may be right when you say it is not for the people who are not so bright but it has great substance and humour.
They came, they destroyed and they went. Who were they? They were the German’s. Argentina 0- Germany 4. Can you feel it? or Can you touch it? England already suffered 4-1 to the German’s.
Zambians in south africa are anxious to meet you and teach you a good lesson. You are always here insulting anybody and everybody who is not MMD and your f.u.kiin mmd has stolen and made our families suffer? Mid july is your d-day in SA baba! Come quickly coz the boys cant wait! You thought you know everythin on here just because RB was feeding u and now that he fired you, you want to start hoodwinking urself in the opposition? Go to SA and watch how the boys do it… aka Veteran, Senior Citizen, Ben Kangwa
MMD is here to stay and if you have a problem call me at the embassy so we can argue as grown ups. Call the embassy number and ask for me if you are man enough: 2419 Massachusetts Avenue Northwest
Washington, DC 20008-2851
Phone number: (202) 265-9717 OR better yet leave your email comments here: embzambia@aol.com
The drama which is happening here btn the “fake” MMD bootlicker is and the embassy staff is amazing. Surely you Mwata can put embassy contact info for this…over someone blogging things which cannot even be taken serious because of the nature of the platform they are in? Ni blogging chabe and people put all kind of things here, which they would never say to anyone’s face. The ones who say personal and negative things are ppl who are not very happy with their own lives so they vent here on others. LT is is a good site which you should not degenerate to this type of behavior. Mwata and “fake” MMD Bootlicker, just leave it be. It cannot be that serious!!!!!
No one insults my integrity! and if you are man enough to blog it on here then you should be man enough to talk to me. There is a good reason why MMD hasnt served me a letter of recall! If you think you can push me around im ready to fight you tooth and nail! Call me asap and I will blast your ears off!
ba Mwata ba Mwata… ninshi mulimpeta sana ka ? amaka ninshi nayafulisha ?
Iwe Chinsali Inc, you are even giving this leach Mwata respect he does not deserve. If this nitwit Mwata is half the man he is let him state his actual name instead of hiding behind a keyboard.-after all he says the MMD have retained his services for a reason. We will forward it to the Post Newspaper to expose how these nitwits use Embassy Resources over blogging- don’t they have better things to do. Mulefuma next year you will see. UPND PF!This is a great article by the way. Kudos.
mmd are thieves and we shall arrest all of them..
Mwata these are thing u can not be immotional about. You are acting just like RB. chipuba chipuba. Who the hell blew you head? You know when you are right you can not be so radical and when you are wrong you can not be conservative. Think. Giving your number what for?
@ 14 MMD Chief boot licker. For crying out loud, who really cares where you blog from? Did you cry wolf when you claimed that your performance in SA was so incredible that you earned a promotion and moved to the US. Remember you were so vociferous and upbeat about your moving and received accolades , a warm welcome, wonderful stay here- wish from your cohort mwata. How come your stay has been so short lived such that you are retracing your steps. Has it dawned on you that the world and life in general is complex and unpredictable? That things are not always in black and white as you perceive them? Caution, the worst may be knocking.