By Daimone Siulapwa
RECENTLY, a number of people including the clergy have been talking about the need for change of government in next year’s elections. And when they talk of change, they mean not just the President, but the ruling party as well.
The ruling party, the Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) will be in power for 20 years come 2011. For that reason, some people believe that change is necessary.
In fact, they go further to say change is good for democracy as it brings with it new ideas. Perhaps that is the case.
For now, lets us address ourselves to this need for change in next year’s general elections.
It is not the first time that people are calling for change of the country’s leadership since Zambia became a self-governing republic some 46 years ago. The most defining call for change was made in 1991 when then President Dr Kenneth Kaunda was forced, literally, to change the political system from a one-party state to multi-party.
So loud were the calls for change that during the 1991 elections, the opposition MMD led by Frederick Chiluba won by a landslide. Dr Kaunda, ever gracious, accepted the results, with the usual magnanimity.
A new era had begun, and with it, lots of hope, thanks to the many promises that the new government had made during their campaigns and calls for change of leadership. I was young then, about 25 years, my future looked bright and I was ready like all the youth of that time to hold the bull called life by its horns. Now am around 44 years, nothing much has changed, I am lucky am able to earn a living and be able to feed my family. What about my brothers and sister who had so much hope and have lost it?
I am very much interested more than ever to leave for my children and grandchildren what I didn’t get. In the moment of excitement, all citizens ignored to do the credibility check the leaders they voted in power in 1991. The results are there for you and me to see so clearly.
Now we have the best opportunity to change and make it better and we must do it wisely with a lot of caution.
But not s fast! Soon, there was realization, first within the party itself, that the change that was expected or promised to the people was not the one happening.
So, out were the likes of Akashambatwa Mbikusita-Lewanikaand his sister Inonge as well as Humphrey Mulemba, Baldwin Nkumbula and Emmanuel Kasonde among others. They formed the National Party (NP) which unfortunately was destroyed at birth because of in-fighting between Mulemba and Nkumbula and also between Aka and the rest.
Aka was one of the original architects of the Garden House meeting that led to the formation of the MMD. Always forthright in his views, he decried that the original Garden House agenda had not been followed by the MMD government since winning the elections. Few believed him or took him seriously. But his assessment was correct and he was right.
After this group, followed the likes of Dean Mung’omba and Boniface Kawimbe, who were fired after they held a press briefing at the airport before briefing President Chiluba at which they said donors were concerned with the corruption and drug dealing in government. They had just come back from a Paris Club meeting with donors.
Also out at around the same time was Levy Mwanawasa and Ludwig Sondashi, who said certain ministers, particularly Michael Sata was being protected from corruption allegations by the President.
At that stage, Kaunda was vindicated; he had warned Zambians that the MMD should not be trusted, for they had within their ranks people with shady characters and backgrounds. Despite those visible signs that things were not right with the MMD, they still got the second term albeit controversially.
Fast forward a few years later, there were differences again within the MMD, mostly to do with the third term. This saw a number of senior members of the MMD leave the party, mostly those who were against while those who were in support and at least did not show it remained.
Those who left included Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda, Lieutenant General Christon Tembo, Edith Nawakwi and Vincent Malambo.
Among these to remain included Enoch Kavindele, Vernon Mwaanga and Michael Sata, who only left after he was over-looked for the Presidency, in favour of Levy Mwanawasa.
The rest as they say is history. But what is not history are the recent calls for change in the 2011 general elections.
With these lessons learnt, assuming something has been learnt, what kind of change do we really want?
As things stand now, we are talking about changing the MMD government which right now is led by Rupiah Banda, one of the few people to have resisted change in 1991 by remaining in UNIP until 2006 when Mwanawasa asked him to join the ruling party.
So, assuming that RB as President Banda is fondly called and his party, the MMD, are voted out, who comes-in next?
Right now, there are two possibilities, either Michael Sata’s Patriotic Front (PF) or Hakainde Hichilema’s United Party for National Development (UPND). Of these two, Sata looks to be in pole position as he enjoys more support than HH.
HH has always been plagued with disability from the beginning. He succeeded Anderson Mazoka, who through-out his tenure as UPND President, had to fight accusations of his party being tribal despite enjoying support in Lusaka, Western, Southern, Central and North-Western provinces.
Even more, when Mazoka died, there were calls within the party to have a Tonga succeed him. On that basis, HH beat Sakwiba Sikota, who naturally should have been the President of the UPND. In every sense of the word therefore, HH is tribal, and he has a huge task to prove otherwise. In the meantime he should not be considered for Plot One. He has the task of proving himself to be a nationalist. Age is on his side to do so.
That leaves with us with the ‘King Cobra’, Michael Sata.The PF President, just like HH and the UPND, have to prove that they are national parties and not regional. Currently, the PF enjoys wide support only in Luapula, Northern, Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces. But that is not Zambia, how about the Western, North-Western, Central and Southern provinces? For those that want change, you may argue that since we have two opposition parties enjoying supports on the two extreme ends of the country, then they should join hands in next year’s elections. In other words, they should join hands for the sole purpose of removing the MMD from government. The mistake made in 1991 when removing UNIP. See where we are now!
Pacts or alliances should not be made on such shaky grounds. They should be formed on ideological principles or manifestos. Elevating the poor living conditions of our people should be focus number one, not who becomes what and from what tribe.
The UPND manifesto is more on the right while that of the PF leans to the left. How do they intend to bridge these gaps when they form government? Those are the questions they should resolve now and not when in government. And just in case they find common-ground, who becomes President? In all likelihood it is Sata. But are we sure Sata is the change we want? Sata was among the last people to join MMD in 1991, and one suspects he only did so after realizing that UNIP was unlikely to win the elections. Again, Sata was among the last people to leave the MMD at the height of the third-term. He only did so after Chiluba sidelined him for the Presidency, and only because they had deep personal differences with Mwanawasa.
Again, in order to win the support of the PF in Luapula and the Northern provinces in the 2006 general elections, Sata promised to drop all corruption charges against Chiluba. After he fell out of favour with Chiluba and the former President switched his support to RB, he again changed positions regarding the corruption allegations facing Chiluba.
So, while I may agree with you that we need change, am still looking at what we really need to change. The two possible candidates for change do not inspire confidence at all, and they do not pass-out as Statesmen or nationalists capable of taking this poor nation forward. Maybe, you can assist me find someone.
This man Daimone is telling it as it is.I think am beginning to like him. We need to find solutions and it must me now and not tomorrow. thank you man.
My Friend , there is no one in the Opposition and I mean no one. Unless you are out of your mind and a die hard Kaponya would one put the likes of GBM, Willie Nsanda, Kambwili, Convict Mushili, not forgetting the chief thug himself Satan and his VP Gay Scott.
Sorry it will have to be MMD till at least 2030
#2 Not only 2030. Forever. I do not see anything wrong with this hard working listening Government. Maybe they should just change the name from MMD to something else. What do you think bloggers?
#2 Those thugs like Nsanda will never make picked as cabinet ministers by President Chilufya Sata with his Prime Minister Hakainde. The next Vice-President Mama Wina will make sure GBMs stays stimulating the current sleepy parliament. And next years’s Foreign Affairs Minister Given Lubinda will far better than the current minister RB.
The opposition has better people than useless Mulongoties, Siliyas, Veras… So why Daimone is so doubtiful or cowardish of change?
this is issue of calling other people tribal shall one day bring about ethnic total divisions and we shall see who will flee..! desist from labelling other people tribal you quack!Mr.Neo Simutanyi is a frustrated MMD cadre…
#2&3…i know u dont mean whatever you say. you do that to get on to some mean bloggers like Hehehehe maestro
Change we need…how? only God knows.
mulifipuba bonse…tamwakwata mano you satanists.
The author of this article has failed to put up proper comparative analyses involving RB,HH and Sata.For one to simply call Sata and HH as tribal and not nationalists is rather trivial in this context.Is RB less tribal than HH or Sata.Is Sata or HH more tribal than an average Zambia above 35 years?These questions beg.And to say,Sata or HH want change now is just absurd.The two guys have stood in more than one election.Zambians generally have wanted change since the 1996 elections.The fact that Sata,like him or hate him,speaks for those millions in Zambia makes him a nationalist.Also,is the MMD or RB for that matter really win the elections through popular vote or rigging.This cold hand in Zambia cannot be ignored unless one is either very naive or a political nicompomp.
#3, It cannot be MMD for ever in it’s present form and the quality of it’s leaders. As long as you have these power hungry tired old men, Rupiah Banda, Vernon Mwaanga, Daniel Munkombwe and others, Zambia will remain stagnant forever. The presence of organised MMD brutal militia in Lusaka and the Copperbelt are evidence of clinging to power by all means and that is why the country needs change.
#3. I would have been the first to support MMD. if they looked at these things. 1. Review of the labour law. Dont you find it shocking that this same working government is still encouraging investors to use k 268,000 as minimum wage .2. We move away from being a Trading Nation. We appreciate the ever increase of shopping mall but where are the industries to produce the things for our shops. 3.They government becomes real in SMEs. I dont need a whole ream of paper just to borrow 5 million for my business .5. CORRUPTION should be reduced in awarding tenders. Iam just turning 30 and have my business which i hope will do well so that i employ my fellow youths and we reach our heights. But if we are just going to give blind loyalty as cadres even when we know our mothers in katete are suffering
# 7 – I do not know either! Can someone advise please?
This analysis only fails at the point the writer clearly reveals himself as a Sakwiba die-hard supporter who as a result harbours deep rooted hatred for HH.
Look Daimone,from the numbers of the presidential bye-elections,RB only beat Sata by 35,000 votes.Sata won lusaka,luapula,northern,copperbelt and central provinces.RB won Eastern,Western and North-western then HH won Southern.From this simple provincial distribution we can see that Sata won in bigger and more cosmopolitan provinces than RB and HH.Where is Sata’s tribalism and where is RB’s and the MMD’s national appeal.Practically and realistically so,we can’t be blind to rigging in Zambia,MMD’s perceived popularity in especially rural areas has only been used to rig elections in these areas coz these places are remote and do not have proper systems in place to avoid electoral irregularities.
If the status quo is anything to go by , then how much worse can it get.? One would think that it cannot get any worse !
…… HH speaks a lot about concern for the less well off . government corruption and mediocrity in our standards. As a prospective leader of the country , he says the right things. Out of the available options , I believe he’s the best qualified to move the country in a direction that would be desired by most . But, alas, the majority zambian electorate, it seems , is bought by gifts of sugar and blankets rather than sound judgement from a leader.!
it’s real agony.it is like reaching a T-junction but not knowing which direction to take.as much as we would like to change the government, we need to be mindful of this change. ’tisaone nkhanga mawanga kenaka nkutaya nkhwale’, chewa wisdom.
What we need to change is the opposition, not ruling party.
– An opposition free of wife batterers.
– An opposition free of fraudsters.
– An opposition free of tribalists.
#16 Ndi chichewatu chimenecho! Ife timati pabwino pakapedzeka poipa paitana!
chiluz: come on guyz there is the plane be resonable, i have just arrived..
RB: ah kanitundila, ahh uyu mwana no porno yonse iyi
WE WANT CHANGE OF GOVT,,,REAL CHANGE FOR CLEAN WATER TO US ALL,,MORE JOBS FOR MORE ZAMBIANS,,,GOOD HOUSES FOR CIVIL SERVANTS…BETTER PAY FOR WORKERS,,,QUALITY HEALTH SEVICE DELIVERY TO US ALL,,QUALITY AND AFFORDABLE EDUCATION TO ALL ZAMBIANS,,,HH IS READY TO DELIVER TO US ALL,,,VIVA HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH,,GOD BLESS.
come on gays be reasonble cant you see dog dog style
Well well well…..As long as we dont have trusted opposition parties, for know we shall keep MMD!
Any genuine zambian will know that, few chaps in towns vote and the majority of voters come from the rural areas, as a result, MMD to some extend got a deal with those people or rather a PACT with them.
So my advice the writer dream again. MMD will still be the in 2020 wetha u believe me or not. \:d/\:d/\:d/\:d/\:d/
# 15 you are actually blind to what is pertaining on the ground in terms or Regionalism. Sata wins in CB, Lusaka, north and Luapula seriously due to tribalism. You want to consol yourself to the fact that these places are cosmopolitan but blind to the fact that our bemba brothers have migrated to these areas and clearly dominate. This,plus the inborn xterists of bembas at being good “marketing officers”- maningi pakanwa- has helped sata gain popularity in these urban areas.
we are left with no choice but to choose from the worst. sata or hakainde. we must be doomed because if the cases raised above are anything to go by you dont want any of these guys in power. by the way why do you find it so hard to call a bemba person tribalist even when the likes of sata have been openly practicing tribalists? it has now become a cheap tag used by luapulans and northerners people to achieve their sworn intention never to have southerners or westerners become presidents of zambia. even this author could not completely avoid swaying readers towards such sad sentiments despite his efforts to appear as if he is balanced. even as they read this most of them are cursing ‘tribalist’. word of advice! we are not doomed. let us cast our nets wide. a leader can come from anywhere.
you are an agent of MMD Iwee.
Is it LT’s photoshoping that messed up this man’s mouth? Probably those that have had dinner with Banda can answer this. Can someone clarify the dental formula I am seeing in Mr Banda’s mouth on the front picture? The mouth and the teeth does not look propotional at all.
Daimone, this article is really stimulating and keep up the analysis of situations. Indeed as #24 pointed out am a Norterner myself and it is a fact that my brother SATA is a tribalist himself. He confessed this Himself when he said “It is me a bemba againgst the Bantu botatwe” in reference to our Late LPM and Sunny Hakainde Hichilema, in the last but one General elections. I would like to give you(Daimone) a benefit of doubt that you will correct this oversight on your part. Otherwise we need originators of debate on issues of national importance. Watuomba mukombe.
In politics there’s no permanent friends nor permanent enemies,just permanent interests.
Mr Daimone Siulapwa, I have read one or two articles from you and I would say your contributions are honest and effective. I must say I had stopped reading the LT but for your sake I find myself reading it, again. I like your articles. Because, they are factual and not biased. I 100% agree with you and other people that there’s greater need to change govt as this will effect checks and balances. The change of govt in 1991 by Zambians forcing KK out of power wasn’t a mistake at all. The mistake lie in Zambians’ domicility and inertia of lating one particular govt over-stay in power…
Well, well. I do not think there is a single President in Zambia who has achieved so much in such a short time as President Rupiah Bwezani Banda. We should give credit to where credit is due.
In 10 years Chiluba built not a single hospital, in 7 years Mwanawasa 1 and 1 CT scanner, in under 3 years, Banda 1 CT and 1 MRI scanner, several hospitals and schools, massive central bank reserves, single digit inflation, stable currency, billions of dollars inward investment, food security! Labour relations have improved with a public salaries review permanent commission. Surely you must be deliberately blind to criticise such work in so short a time! Perhaps some have buried their thinking parts in the sand and being upside down, are now using their butts!
Ba Saints,
With due respect please mention three of these new hospitals. Help me, what is the unemployment rate in Zambia again?
The second issue is that we may have had MMD i power for 20 plus years, but it is not the same people at all. The colour of the cabinet today is very different from that of 10 years ago and totally different from that of Chiluba! So, changing the government as Siulapwa is suggesting may actually bring back some old guards from the MMD. Just look at the leaders of the opposition and you can see that they all have been part and parcel of previous governments in one way or another. Even Milupi, was a senior manager in the parastatal ZCCM and CPC. He participated in the breaking up of ZCCM and so did HH. It is not change for change’s sake we need. It is to scrutinise manifestos and decide on the basis of that what programmes we want.
Kalos2121
My pleasure. There is lots of private participation in the health service that has taken away a great burden from state and missionary institutions. That is because of government policy. If Kaunda had allowed private hospitals in the early years, by now, Zambia would have been topsin private health care. Upgrading a clinic to a hospital may be dismissed by some as nothing but there is a lot that goes into a hospital compared to a clinic. Food, boarding, ;aundry, nursing care, security, drugs, operating theater, diagnostic imaging etc, all that is as good as building another. The Livingstone General hospital started as a 5 bed hospital for whites in 1906! Look now!
As for unemployment, I will ask you first of all how do you define it?
#32 You are very correct. How can voting in Sata be change? If you say change to backwardness, dictatorship and kaponyaness then yes it is change but that is not the kind of change I want. Up till now we have not had any sort of policy on anything. What is the opposition’s stand on agriculture and how to improve food security, or instead of crying foul about the mobile clinics, why dont they give us their ideas on how they will improve and fund health care in the rural areas. What guarantee is there that when Sata comes to office he wont want to change the constitution to suit himself? I cant trust somebody who was staunchly behind the third-term bid and who was the one who came up with the phrase ‘panshi Kaunda, kumulu lesa’.
Ba Saints,
Please, the question is very simple. Presume this is an exam question and you answered it the way you just did, what grade do you assume you would get?
Probably I have to repeat.
With due respect please mention three of these new hospitals. Help me, what is the unemployment rate in Zambia again?
In Africa to change the ruling party is not easy otherwise. so a new person rightup now in zambia can not come up and be popular in the whole country becuase the government contorls the media. the Solution to these is the pact or alredy know party to work hard. Advertage of Sata if wins now by age he will not rule manys years. let face realities i love mmd but it has become so corrupt and has no fear of it citizens. Have worked in rurals the governement and NGOs are geeting lot of money in name of helping rurals which there are not doing. so we need a govt which will fear it citizens and end this vice of manuplating election.
Mr D Siulapwa you should be straight forward when expressing your views. You cannot please everyone. What I see is that you are scared of the insults that some fools would throw at you.
Zambians will live to regret should they decide to put Sata at plot 1. Frankly, it is being very irresponsible to do that. If they were only two alternatives, Sata or HH, I would go for the latter. Though am not a supporter of HH. Moreover, irresponsible people, the rebles of society are calling for change of goverment when there is no NEED to do so. Such are motivated by selfish interest. Mr Siulapwa, your analysis is tinged with poison.
from#29…as this renders the checks and balances (Cs&Bs) you started by removing KK, null and void. Political parties anywhere on earth should/must be kicked out of power immediately they start showing signings of wanting. Because, doing so sends a clear message to the other govt/party people vote in. While, not doing so does the opposite. You can vote-in a party with an angel president, but rest assure yourselves that overstaying will create a devil out him/her. He will even start thinking that he’s a god himself and commit all sort of serious criminal offences because people are simply date-stamping and re-newing his mandate to commit those offences.
from#38…KK store a lot from Zambians in the name of the party and its govt- and he knew pretty well that he was stealing. The state funded and maintained his party machinery- UNIP vehicles were bought, fueled, maintained from govt coffers. The lavish life-style by unipists were funded by the state. Chiluba in his own style also repeated and even perfected the stealing. Levy wasn’t an exempt. Now, it RB who’s even worse than the afforementioned presidents as he’s even using another trickster in the name of former president as a consultant.
Much of what is written is history indeed…
What the writer is basically saying is that MMD should proceed…business as usual. However, i believe that we are back to 1991…Zambians dont care…WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF MMD…just like UNIP then, EVEN A FROG CAN WIN!
Sata is rewind…HH is a frog who apparently wont win…we shall indeed have a minority president (notice small letter ‘p’) for Plot One. NOW THE CAT IS OUT OF THE BAG…50+1% the denial explained!
This article is quite good and gives Zambians food for thought about who to elect. Clearly Sata is not an alternative and so we should start looking elsewhere, may be Magande. Or else Milupi or HH if he reincarnates himself. RB may benefit from our indecision here.
We must first come to terms that democracy is a process. Each Ruling Party has its priorities and omissions. The electorate simply get fade up of some unfulfiled/if not all priorities and priorities. Hence, the need to change and/or try another regime. Its not a crime. Nothing stays forever apart from GOD, so am taught to believe. MMD HAS JUST out-lived its usefulness. Personally am not against the Ruling Party. I just want to try another PARTY for the sake of making a deference. Dont be fooled, Zambia is a young democracy, she still has many more decades to achieve what can be termed ZAMBIAN DEMOCRACY. Our democracy is in its infancy. At the moment our democracy is pirated, an imitation, a gong-ga, salaula. West or Eastern democracy. I wonder. ‘Mwinshisha nshi lanya’ meaning let me…
from#39…Having talked about change of govt brings me to the fact that its mainly the villagers who have the numbers to change our govts. Villagers are mainly denied of education, food, descent housing, livelyhood, social services/security and any other thing one may think of. Therefore, without the above they remain vulnerable and easily susceptible to bribery during elections by corrupt politicians for their votes. Having this backdrop one can conclude that it is the unenlightened people who are responsible for choosing who should be our leaders in Zambia…
Siulapwa,
Where did you get the idea that “The UPND manifesto is more on the right while that of the PF leans to the left.”? I have a copy of the PF Manifesto as I am writing this blog. It is 46 pages long and is very detailed. Wading through this document, I do not see much that suggests that this is a left leaning manifesto. To me it reads more like a middle of the road document with a nationalistic touch rather than an ultra-left wing bent as you seem to suggest.
Instead of talking in vague generalities, can you quote or cite any section of the PF manifesto (including the page numbers) that can confirm your statement?
from#43…It will take civicly educating our entire population before we as a country start having meaningful elections. Most of Zambia’s population is just intimidated into votting for mostly the ruling party after being bribed and intimidated.
What is this article really? Who has heard of this chap Diamond Sakala? You cannot be a historian just by wanting to be a historian young man…
44, Your last question, I admit that I have not read the PF manifesto and the owners of the party do not advertise it for us to judge. The only thing I know is that they will put more money in people’s pockets. If any one does that when the resources do not allow, that has been my experience of left leaning politics. Unless PF uses its manifesto in its campaign, you cannot blame anyone for not knowing. As it is to me PF is policyless.
#35 Kalos2121
1. Lusaka General hospital. 2 Chawama hospital 3. Kanyama 4. Chilenje 5. Matero Hospitals.
Ask those who were medical students in the 1970s and they will tell you that these clinics were originally intended to be hospitals, but the govt of the day failed to upgrade them to that level. When Mr Sata was Minister of health he wanted to break up UTH into 2 hospitals, so that the present maternity wing and children dept, would be a separate hospital from the other parts. Paediatric dept was bazungu’s fee paying hospital while maternity was Lusaka central hospital for Bantus before the other parts were added to make one big UTH. Sata seems to be wanting to restore colonial logistics a lot. I digressed. Sorry.
NEXT: Unemployment.
Unemployment in Zambia is less than 1%.
#35 Kalos2121, Just to add to SAINT. Yesterday RB opened Chawama Hospital. This was a clinic before and there are four others. To me the items that SAINT has listed in the upgraded clinics e.g. theatre, boarding facilities etc makes these qualify as new hospitals. A test of qualification is to ask ourselves: were they, could they be, called hospitals before? Lusaka General Hospital is coming up at the site of Chainama Hills Hospital, do you call that a new hospital or not? Lastly, please answer SAINT’s request for you to define unemployment. Take this as an intellectual discussion where we first define the terms that we wish to discuss.
# 48 – 50, bane, fwaka yampanga ibi. Probably you have to find out the meaning of hospital and clinic. Not every building you see is a house, not every clinic is a hospital.
With regard to unemployment at less than 1%, that answers the type people we have in MMD cadres. 1% my foot. Did you mean employment rate to be 1%?
Imwe please let this man go and rest in Chipata. You will regret to see tourism for the next 5 years.
**==:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@:-@
51 Kalos2121, why are you complaining? You were asked to define your understanding of unemployment so that figures can be calculated from your formula. It can be defined in several ways, which will give answers like 1% from SAINT or 100% from people like you. Anyway, since you are unable to answer, I will not wait. I am already in bed, so good night my brother.
I did not know that I was complaining. What is the definition of complaining again?
#4 MPANDAMANO, ULALOTA BUKALAA BOBE. NO CHANGE OF GOVERMENT. SATA PRESIDENT? NOT EVEN IN SOBIBOR
#51 Kalos2121
I am grateful to Katie Good for the help.
Please do not be angry. I am not an MMD cadre, and I have never been. I am actually apolitical. In my analysis of all the heads of State we’ve had, RB has done better than all. I believe that it may be because of the incessant criticism that he has had. LPM did well too in the first term because he wanted to prove himself, but others had so much goodwill from the people that they ran rough shod over us and bulldozed their policies almost without opposition. Zambians only begun to oppose Chiluba in the last few months of his reign when he wanted to overstay. So, my friend, I am very objective.
A hospital is a clinic with dormiciliary facilities. Unemployment definitions are very varied.
Kalos2121
Take a hypothetical situation in a small town that has 50 households. Each household has 4 people in it who are older than 18 years of age. The potential workforce is 200 right? The town has a hospital with 50 staff. 25 CDEs, 15 nurses 5 admin staff and 5 doctors, but they need 10 more nurses. The town has a school with 10 teachers. !0 of the house holds would like to employ 20 domestic servants and garden boys. There are two shops and one butchery each with 2 employees. There is one post office with 5 employees and there is a police post manned by 5 police officers. There is 1 acountant in the town. Then there is the town council which employs 100 in various capacities. Now that leaves 25 people unemployed. What is the unemployment rate?
Daimone Siulapwa
I was enjoying reading your article and agreeing with until when I reached the passage that says:
‘On that basis, HH beat Sakwiba Sikota, who naturally should have been the President of the UPND.
In every sense of the word therefore, HH is tribal, and he has a huge task to prove otherwise. In the meantime he should not be considered for Plot One.’
Now, listen to yourself!!! Honestly speaking, don’t you think a man of your age should think beyond tribe? If HH is the best person to rule Zambia are you going to deny him the opportunity simply because he is Tonga? Was the 2006 UPND convention attended by tongas only? Don’t you realise that you have a natural hatred for HH? In a democratic contest is there a person who can assume to be a natural choice?
kalos 2121 you try to sound clever but you are not. the only difference between a clinic and a hospital is simply the definition given by the saint. its not the size of the building that determines whether its a hospital or not. for example CFB Medical Centre on addis ababa road is a fully fledged hospital but when you look at it it is the same size as kanyama clinic. RB has made significant strides since taking over from LPM who had started many of these developments based on the FNDP which is an MMD product. MMD manifesto of 2001 proposed the re-established of five year development plans starting with FNDP. there is also they vision 2030 which has a clear path for zambia’s development. there is no way the kaponya’s of PF can manage a govt, esp. now there is no single economist in pf
Daimone Siulapwa
‘In every sense of the word therefore, HH is tribal’ what exactly do you mean by this phrase? Do you call someone tribal simply because someone else has said they prefer them because of their tribe? Why then don’t you call RB tribal since Mpenzeni said it openly that he wanted a VP from Eastern province? Why don’t you call RB tribal for telling Easterns to chase away people from other tribes in the 2008 elections? Why don’t you call Sata tribal for his statement in 2006 that he will champion the bemba cause? Why don’t you call Sata tribal for saying the 2001 elections were a battle between the Bembas and Bantu Botatwe in reference to Levy and Mazoka. If that is your creteria for chosing a president why are you biased? What exactly is your motive for your article?
Daimone Siulapwa
‘In the meantime he(HH) should not be considered for Plot One.’ Who are you to choose who should be presidentof Zambia? Are you God? Is it not obvious to you that of the three presidential contenders HH is the best symbol for change? Why don’t you just say it that you don’t prefer him because of his tribe? Don’t you think the issue of tribal biasness is taking Zambia backwards? I can’t believe that a young and educated person like you would habour tribal hatred towards the best presidential candidate to move Zambia forward. Shame on you! People like you are a let down to mother Zambia. You need salvation, pray to God to help you overcome your tribal hatred.
There would be no change in electing Sata. He sheds his skin when it suits him in an attempt to hoodwink Zambians. Just look at how he turned against KK, how he supported FTJ until he was passed over for MMD presidency, flip flopping on mining taxes, his attitude towards Chinese ‘investments’ in Zambia. If he becomes presido, ninshi capwa!
Daimone Siulapwa:
‘HH is tribal, and he has a huge task to prove otherwise’ HH is not tribal and he has nothing to prove. HH has proved beyond doubt in his 4 years in politics that he works freely with all tribes and Zambians are begining to know him better. What needs to change is the tribal biasness in people like you. If you want the best people to rule Zambia you will need to remove your tribal tinted glasses. If you want to campaign for MMD then please do so without promoting tribal hatred. Zambia belongs to all of us. No one choses to be born to any particular tribe.
Good observations by the author, one can draw a conclusion from this article that the people in Central, Eastern, Southern, Western, North-Western & Lusaka are well informed, clear minded and intelligent. On the other hand people from Luapula,Northern and Copperbelt lack in intellect based on their vision or perception of leadership qualities. As long as E,S,W,NW & Lusaka keep voting as a pact, Luapula,Northern & Copperbelt will always be on the losing end caught up in their tribal small mindedness. This is a personal objective intellectual observation and not a personal attack or vandetta, I am very aware people are very sensitive when tribal issues are discussed.
Dr Guy Scott is the intellect behind Sata. I have said this before that when you read the MMD manifesto of 2006 you will see his signature all over it. Dr Scott, like so many 2nd generation Zambians, believes that the colonial administration was better. They would like to go back in time and introduce Local Education Authorities (LEA), Town Management Boards (TMB) and Fee paying (European) hospitals and free (African) hospitals. They would bring back ba Kapaso and all that went with Welensky. I would not be surprised if fitupa would not make a come back. Scott wants to use Sata’s dictatorial traits for this end. Anyone disagreeing, should preserve this post. If come 2011 with PF in power, the script will unfold.
That is why Dr Scott is busy campaigning for Sata to be Presidential candidate for the Pact. He is the only one who has come out openly in support of Sata as the most suitable candidate for the pact. He is expecting to be Vice President and hope that he may, who knows just succeed the older man! But, Sata is a shrewd politician and he may be the one using Scott. Oneday, Scott may just be a speech writer!
Great to see Katie Good back. Another blogger who can use their intellect to argue real issues and not base their opinions on the cult of Satan. Surely in all honesty how can voting for Sata be real change at the beginning of the 21st century? Dont Zambians realise that as a country we have been lucky not to suffer to the same extent as other countries such as Uganda under Amin or Ethiopia under Mengistu that they would vote for Satan? Some people here who are vehemently opposed to RB have by their own admissions stated on this forum that they only support because he is a member of their own ethnic group. Is that really a basis for choosing a national leader?
# 58 and # 60, I am still waiting for the hospitals that Banda has built. You are just jumping up and down but you have failed to mention one hospital Banda HAS BUILT. I don’t need explanations of what is the size of a hospital or clinic. I need names of Banda’s built hospitals, period. With regard to the unemployment rate, I have no time to argue at the known fact. Only fools in MMD have seen job rise in Zambia. Probably in their dream world.
Kalos2121
Walala?
Sweet dreams my friend. Talk to you tomorrow.
kalos2121 RB has seen the building of Chawama hospital and right now construction of Lusaka General Hospital is going on very well, what more do you want? if you are so blinded by hate that you cant see any progress? it boggles the mind. anyway continue your pessimism and see how far it takes you. go back to your burger joint job
When was Chawama hospital built? You see, you always have to characterize people with burgers. That shows how shallow minded you can be. When you fail to answer questions, please just keep quiet. Do not resort to stuff that injures others. It is a sign of uncivility. Failing to argue your point does not justify character attacks. So, ba The Truth, your shallowness is very showing here. If we were to use our true names here, we would know the truth about ourselves and some of you would not even be posting here. Our levels of achievement wont be the issue, here. It is our logic to toipc. So, burger joint, who cares? Afterall it is money they make at those burger joints. But those who know who I am are laughing at your characterization of other people. Sorry.
Saint,in sorry I am not sleeping. I was class.
Why would anyone want to remove the MMD of today. It is very different from the MMD of yesterday.
We are seeing development today like we have not seen before. Hospitals, schools, roads, railways, bumper harvest, cost of food declining, huge reserves, increased FDI, single digit inflation, falling interest rates and a stable currency to name a few.
How many clinics did Mr. Sata upgrade to hospitals when he was Minister of Health? How many hospitals did he build? What was his policy on rural health-care? And my biggest question of them all, what is the PF policy concerning mining taxation?
Sorry but looking at the current affairs in the country, I say we continue with MMD.
Kalos dont worry. When Sata is in power next year he will build 100 hospitals in Lusaka alone in 90 days. You are completely right. Not one thing has been done to better the lives of Zambians since Banda came into power but what do you expect from a Ngoni? You my fellow Bemba man know that we are the owners of this country and our people will really enjoy life when Ba tata ba Sata comes into power next year. Even this bumper harvest they keep talking about is not true. It is just propaganda by MMD. Banda has done nothing for this country, no roads, no schools. Nothing. I think even DRC is better than this stupid country. They spend time shouting about GBM and democracy in PF like these things are important. Dont worry my friend, this time next year tukalalya.
Good evening
This man called Daimone has written a very good article again. Zambians need to reflect on the need for real change. Democracy is all about change. It is the only inevitable thing that people can influence by a simple act of casting a vote. May God give our country peaceful change.
I am just reading the bloggers’ comments and if had to say ‘hats off’, it would be to #s 11 and 14. I think they have got valid points as far as I have read up to #14. Hats off to you # 11 and 14.
#15. “Action speaks louder than word”. Some people may have difficult in putting across what they will do for people. Bu, what they have done already may crown it all.
#44. I was coming to that but some how I had to cut my contribution short as I had to attend to some other business. Actually, people who condemn the PF manifesto are either they did not read it and are therefore just assuming that it may have some shortfalls, or they may just have an inclination to some other parties. I have read the PF manifesto in detail so many times because its contents are what Zambians in the true sense need. As you have put it, it would have been very helpful for the writer to cite the parts which he thinks are inclining to the left so that bloggers themselves could justify. I would advice the readership to take their time to read the PF manifesto whereever they chance it. It mostly, favours ZAmbians as investors, etc.
from 79…And the language used is so simple and straightforward- there’s no jargon. Anyone who reads and understands minimum English would understand it. People, lets not just assume.
#51, I THINK ABO BANTU MASHILU BALEKE FYE.
# 78 Peter…HH is the leader of an opposition party. He is not president , so he does not have the opportunity to put his words into action.
And Sata surely cannot have difficulty in putting across what he can do for the people if we go by the number of votes he has attracted in the past.
#3 icho walanda chinena cho, bushe efyo chikala ba mu MMD ifi.
Change
#3 icho walanda chinena cho, bushe efyo chikala ba mu MMD ifi. We need change and somebody need to look @ the salary desperities btn black employees and whites, the margine is close to 100 persent even when you’re doing the same job and a niger could be even more qualified, facts are there at ZRA paye. God help us what did we do to deserve this.
“Mum is in her 70s she fail on steps and fructured her leg. My sister said I should send money to pay for her X-Ray to be done before they could start treating her. Now, b4 the message was sent, something here happened on which I spent whole the money- in short I could not send it” end Peter.
Peter,
You and your mum mulifinangwa. Don’t tell us that the 1 year of Rupiah has made you poor to the level where you cannot afford your basic responsibility. At 70 years old your mother has nothing to her name to pay for a cheap X-Ray. As if not enough, you who has been preoccupied here with insults on Rupiah you mean your years in the Diaspora has no saving to folk out an emergency US $100.00 call bill? If you are that poor then why do you waste your time blogging insults around the…
If you are that poor then why do you waste your time blogging insults around the clock instead of chasing opportunities? Your family must be of ifiwelewele unless you believe insults will turn your misfortune.
Well written article. I must state that we will keep on recycling the same old guards and I have not read or heard about any meaningful policy around poverty eradication, unemployment, name them. Further I totally agree with he author on the position of UPND, to me its a tribal party and I dont see any reason why it should take over from MMD. I can foresee a political stalemate if political institutions fail to be organized.
.In this article Daimone Siulapwa has just exposed the steroe type thinking of some Zambians that a person has to come from certain tribes for him to be considered the best presidential candidate. This indeed is Zambia’s(or rather Africa’s) tragedy. Unless we change our mindset we will continue to be ruled by low calibre leaders. Cry the beloved country!!!
It’s a shame that some bloggers agree with such thinking as pointed out by #88. I am sure a lot more bloggers think like that and that is why they have not condemned him.
@ Peter # 11. Thanks for the encouragement. Its from serious talk that we shall redeem our nation.
Most people voted against Levy in 2001 and it is even believed that Mazoka won the elections. What did levy turn out to be? A better president and patriotic to the cause of moving Zambia ahead. We should never be tired of trying as Zambians just settling for mediocrity, when there are plenty of opportunity for progress. That kind of thinking is what has made the writer of this article just scrape through in life because he is afraid of trying new things. My brothers and sisters dont be afraid of trying new things because you will never know what GOD has in store for you. Dont be that servant in the bible who buried his talent! Even the bible dispute what this writer is saying!
malabishi
I am told Banda has started packing, in preparation for his departure to Chipata because 2011 is around the corner?????????
ADD Milupi and Mangande are our Hope…..These are better people than SATA and Willie Nsanda GBM Mumbi Phiri?
Maestro Hhehhehhehhe where are you? Can you please join us in condemning this tribalist (Daimone Siulapwa) masquerading himself as a political analyst. Is he part of the Lusaka Times team? Why is he always portraying UPND as a tribal party? I am challenging him to name the UPND executive members and compare them with the PF executive members by tribe and then he should name RB appointed MMD executive members and appointed ministers by tribe. This will enable us scrutinize and analyse who is a tribalist of the leading contenders. I am passionate about Zambia and I will continue exposing and fighting tribalist on this blog inj whatever for the come.
From your words On that basis, HH beat Sakwiba Sikota, who naturally should have been the President of the UPND This statement discredits the writer and reveals his low caliber in thincking.
First of all, what is natural in politics? I hope your answer will make sense to youself, certainly not to me or other intellectuals on this blog. Now if you thinck Sakwiba was to suceed Andy because he was close to him in leardership. Ask yourself this, Who was more senior b/n Sakwiba and Bob Sichinga ? It was Bob, but Andy chose Sakwiba, and to you that was tribal.
I strongly advise this Siulapwa to go back to school to learn and work hard to improve his thinking ability before he parades his ignorance in public.
Shame, shame, shame on you !
Daimone Siulapwa You are just an MMD vuvuzela period!!!
No one is saying that EVERYTHING is ok. But, no one government in the world can do EVERYTHING AT ONCE! People like #11 chilifye bwino are right to suggest programmes, but one man’s priorities may not be another’s. If you are a poor peasant farmer in your 50s, you may not want a school but a hosptal and agricultural inputs. If you are unemployed with no skills at all, you may want a shopping mall where you can find a job to do one thing or another. If you are an investor you may want peace and security and no corruption. You see, everyone is different. I believe that government MUST do ONE thing well and ONE at a time. The people voting must choose WHAT that ONE thing is most important to them and elect on that basis.
# 65 Zambian Non Tribalist The Copperbelt is the most cosmopolitan province in this nation, in fact it should be called Zambia because every tribe is represented there. The fact that Bemba is used as a language of communication does not make it Bembaland. The indigenous people of the copperbelt are the Lambas and Limas. The people of the copperbelt cant be tribal or less intelligent as you put it my dear.
@ Kagwizi Mazoka was a satanist so whether he won the election it is by God’s grace that we got Levy Mwanawasa to lead the nation of Zambia.
If only Godfrey Miyanda had been alot more vocal and forceful then Zambia would be economically on a Botswana tip.
Should we change government or should we change ourselves? We need a complete upheaval from our education system, mental attitude attitude to life and relationship with each other…Change for change sake got us Kafupi but with it came something the whiteman calls ‘Lessons learnt’….Can RB for instance be trusted to put aside his personal interests aside and just govern? Can he pick men and women not based on politics but on ablity? These are but a few tests we need in deciding whether we RB one more time….
I visited my home area of western province far in the plain. The mode of transport I used was a banana boat. The owener of the boat informed us of what transpired during the 2008 bye election where the number of voters in some western province villages were more than the number of people in that area. Can someone kindly tell the MMD worn those election were more votes than the people in that area. Please the writer of this article should have researched first than to give an overview of the uncomfirmed data
# 2 MMD Chief Bootlicker You such a sourpuss, that when you such a lemon ********** the lemon makes a face, so dumb, you think “getting lucky” is finding a penny on the ground.
Yankie and Zed Patriot thanks and I will be giving a detailed comment after the Sabbath Day ends.
For now, “RECENTLY, a number of people including the clergy have been talking about the need for change of government in next year’s elections… when they talk of change, they mean not just the President, but the ruling party as well” is very ok although I do not like what the Catholic church clergy are doing.
Have a blessed day all.
_
Matt 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.
On “Also out at around the same time was Levy Mwanawasa and Ludwig Sondashi, who said certain ministers, particularly Michael Sata was being protected from corruption allegations by the President… [Mr former President Kenneth D.] Kaunda was vindicated; he had warned Zambians that the MMD should not be trusted, for they had within their ranks people with shady characters and backgrounds” this is true and no sane Zambian who knows our history can advocate for Mr PF/Serpintine SATA MC to be voted for as Zambian President.
On “The two possible candidates for change do not inspire confidence at all, and they do not pass-out as Statesmen or nationalists capable of taking this poor nation forward. Maybe, you can assist me find someone” Magande and Mpombo are interested…
In light of Kelvin D Mulanga‘s ““It is me a bemba againgst the Bantu botatwe”” and another who pointed out what Mr Serpentine Sata MC/PF said about Bantu Botatwes in his confusing the Bembas by speech, I would like to ask my fellow Zambians who a normal to take note that the writer D. Siulapwa, probably a Bemba northerner, is a dangerous tribalist whose writings are not worthy to read or make a commentary on. Further, it is interesting that Siulapwa chose to overlook the tribal statement by Mr President RB Banda where he said Easterners must not vote for people who do not hail from Eastern Province but chase them away.
Have a blessed day all.
_
Matt 6: 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.
Now that police become voilence who hear what RB wil say if the police will charged. We need pratical people do what you say.
It is complicated – we want change, but we don’t have much of a choice; where is NAREP or was it NRP?
Its sad that things not imroving in our country at all. Change of government will be a new start for better zambia. Level at which citizens leaving the country not encouraging at all.
:((
We need a”revolution” in our country to emancipate ourselves from economical slavery. It’s time we united like in 1991 and spoke with one voice and not individuals or tribes. One Zambia One Nation is what we to rid off these people from abusing our resources. We need a Party that will be formed by the people for the people and not by an individual for his/her family. After 2 months the office bearers should be elected and continue according the constitution that will be put in place..
#24, mafosis:
I come from the northern regions of Zambia, but if you gave me Magande as candidate for president, I would not have the slightest hesitation to vote for him because I know a man such as him would almost certainly be good for the country.