An Independence Message from the Citizens Democratic Party
Today we mark 46 years of self-rule. We say self rule as it is clear that true independence does not wholly apply to our potentially great nation’s current situation. We are still fighting for our independence- indeed the struggle continues. In 1964, many of our great sons of Africa and particularly Zambia fought hard to abolish an unjust system designed to benefit a few on the backs of the majority. The fight of 1964 was not and will never be in vain, thus on this day we will do well to honor these great sons and daughters of Zambia. Imagine the irony and sacrifice of being imprisoned to ensure freedom for others. From their hurt and pain we gained a nation you and I call Zambia to which we all now belong to as Zambians. Freedom is now in our possession, yet true independence is still our purpose.
When our nation’s founding fathers and mothers fought for our freedom, it did not mean then, nor does it mean now in 2010 that the work was completed. As already stated true independence is still lacking. Citizens we inherited this freedom not just to correct the absurdity of colonialism, but most importantly to take responsibility for the direction our nation should go. Today, you and I right at this moment can never make claim to the hard-fought struggle of the past and get credit for it. But we can make great claim to our future and get credit for it. And despite the difference of time, there is one thing and one thing only that will forever bind us who are living today with our freedom fighters. Citizens there can be no doubt that on that victorious Saturday on October 24th 1964, there was and still is a Zambia that we still want. And on this day that we are reflecting on 46 years of self-rule we are still wanting this Zambia that was envisioned on Saturday October 24th 1964. Indeed, if we could sit down and chat with Dr. Kenneth Kaunda, or Mama Kankasa, or Simon Kapwepwe, and the Chachacha freedom fighters, they will tell us we are not yet truly independent. They will tell you and me that they have played their part, and this generation has the responsibility of getting to the Zambia we wanted on Independence Day of 1964.
There is a Zambia we wanted then, and a Zambia we want now. And the Zambia we want will begin with abolishing this system of rule that has been carried over from colonialism, where power lies in the hands of a few people, for their own benefit. The freedom that was fought for was not supposed to be a freedom that replaced the colonialists with a small group of Zambians in Lusaka continuing to rule with the same impunity of colonialists. No and no again! Unfortunately, the design of the current system of our self-rule is as such. Again this is our Zambia, and you and me should be given a proper chance to contribute to our nation’s discourse that was not available during colonialism. The Citizens Democratic Party insists that by proper and immediate decentralization power will be brought closer to the right ful owners- the people. The very communities you and I live in should be empowered to move our country forward- after all isn’t that what true independence entails?
Unfortunately, Zambia today is being ruled in the same fashion of colonialist tactics, under the guise of a heavily centralized de facto one party governance system, as was the case with colonialism. Our governance system has resulted in decision making that does not benefit the majority. This fellow citizens, explains why today the majority of our people live as an oppressed people in their own country. This is why today foreign conglomerates are able to wantonly rape our country of its resources, and shoot Zambian workers whilst they are at it. This is why today Zambians cannot possess the great wealth of this land themselves. We are bearing the fruit of a governance system that has never and will never be what our freedom fighters fought for. This is not the Zambia we wanted.
As the Citizens Democratic Party, we are very much alive to the dreams and aspirations of independence, and the Zambia we wanted. We are going to have to start somewhere; otherwise our true independence will not come. The Zambia we want lies in making bold solid changes to the governance system that will free up the great potential of communities who are empowered to make the best out of their situation- that is proper decentralization. We urge every Zambian not to abdicate their responsibility to our nation that was borne out of our successful freedom struggle. On this 46th anniversary of self-rule, we encourage each and every shareholder to this land of ours to work towards the Zambia we want! The independence struggle continues.
Editors note: Feel free to send in your Independence day celebration pictures to Webmaster AT Lusakatimes DOTcom
God bless you
Happy Independece day. We appreciate and recon the efforts of our forefathers and great men like doctor KK. We may be behind in term of development but I have a strong belief that one day things will change for the better. Once more Happy Independence Zambia.
Ati, independence day, what a joke! I wonder how many zambians are still suffering today? As far as am concerned, hard working citizens are still getting peanut wages, get insulted by foreigners like the chinese and others.., Zedians are still wallowing in extreme poverty, and many today will go without any food. Poor things are ensalved by religon and inferiority complex
Happy Independence Anniversary Zambia!
It remains to be argued whether we are truly independent or not but on this day, let us not forget to commemorate our forefathers who resisted foreign rule by sacrificing their lives. It is because of them that we are able to blog freely today. We pay tribute to them and look forward for our country to gain full independence. None but ourselves can liberate our land. It’s a long journey to true liberation and there’s still a lot of work to be done but if we all put our shoulders to the wheel, we shall surely get there some day…
Happy Independence day……
TO ALL ZAMBIANS AROUND THE WORLD BE HAPPY TODAY ,LET US ALL CELEBRATE ZAMBIAS 46TH BIRTHDAY TODAY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU MOTHER ZAMBIA. AND THANKS TO THE FATHER OF THE NATION K.K WHO FOUGHT THE COLONIAL MASTERS TO GET RID OF NORTHERN RHODESIA AND CREATE ZAMBIA FOR US. THE PICTURE OF HE K.K IS REALY AWSOME, HE LOOKS VERY HANDSOME ZAMBIANS I LOVE YOU ALL..
I would rather be at home than accept an invite to go a loot with Judas at statehouse. This is in agreeing with the Post editorial of today.
46yrs on. We have become more divided and tribalistic.
HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY DEAR BELOVED FELLOW ZAMBIANS
IN 1967 ONE ZAMBIAN KWACHA WAS EQUIVALENT TO 1.1 US DOLLARS AND 46YEARS DOWN THE LINE 4,900 ZAMBIAN KWACHAS ARE EQUIVALENT TO ONE US DOLLAR
IS THIS PROGRESS OR RETEROGRESSIVENESS????? ZAMBIAN WE NEED TO WORK HARD..THIS IS A CALL OF CHANGE OF MIND SETS
Happy birthday mother zambia
People do not take for granted the freedom we now enjoy. Living in a society with classes (master & slaves) is the worst experience one can ever have. I remember the days of colonialism – very sad. A young child would call a big man with his little finger and the old man would oblige! This is why we should resists sacred cow investors and foreigners. . . . they must be allowed in our country on condition that they respect our laws, our people and our ways.
HAPPY 46TH BIRTHDAY ZAMBIA – TRULY WE OWE OUR GRATITUDE TO THE FOUNDING FATHERS WHO FOUGHT FOR WHAT REALLY WAS PURPOSEFUL. KK A MAN AMONG MEN – HE HAD HIS DREAMS AND VISION ABOUT OUR MOTHER ZAMBIA. UNFORTUATELY, TODAY WE HAVE GOT LEADERS WHO ARE JUST THERE TO SERVE THEIR SELFISH INTERESTS, LEADERS WITHOUT PURPOSE. ZAMBIA IS LOSING ITS WEALTH EVERYDAY AND THEY HAVE GOT NO EYES TO SEE WHAT IS HAPPENING. WE HAVE GOT A CROP OF INDIAN INVESTORS AT KCM WHO STEAL MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EVERYDAY AND IT’ S A JOY TO RUPIAH AND HIS MEMBERS OF THE ADMINISTRATION. WHAT A SHAME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE, KK TELL THEM.
stop wasting money on independence, when you are not independent. the first step in realising economic, political and social independence is by accepting that you are not independent.
I thought independence means among other things good governance and accounatbility, but what we see in our country today is corruption and selfishness amongst the leaders. Without credible leadership just forget about independence.
SHOULD WE ZAMBIANS ASK K.K.TO COME BACK TO BE OUR PRESIDENT AGAIN. THATS THE ONLY REAL SOLUTION LEFT IF WE WANT ZAMBIA TO BE FREE OF CORRUPTION AND THE BOGUS CHINESE INVESTERS WHO ENJOY KILLING THEIR ZAMBIAN EMPLOYEES. OUR FOUNDING FATHER WHERE ARE YOU. ? PLEASE COME BACK TO SAVE US FROM POVERTY DUE TO HIGH LEVEL CORRUPTION IN THE GOVT. .
1946 Years of Total DEPENDANCY!! Zambians at Home and Abroad should start political movements to liberate such a beautiful Country. GOD save us from the Chinese INFESTOUS. This is abosolutely the worst independence year.
We Need THREE STRONG PARTIES AND STOP THE BICKERING. SCRAP ALL THE MMD, PF AND WHATEVER.
REFERENDUM PEOPLE.
It hurts to note that Zambia attained her Independece 46 years ago. How I wish whatever transpired on that masterial day happenned today. The likes of FTJ and RB were going to be a non starter. These two have destroyed our beloved country. We are actually 13 years behind countries like Namibia, Angola, Mozambique, including Zimbabwe. I dont think i have anything to celebrate for apart from guarding my voters card jealously.
The author unfortunately gives zambians a rope to hang themselves just like those he castigates.The lie is that once CDP is elected you’ll be “free” and able to control the wealth in zambia.China.vietnam & singapore made great strides under much less freedom and more centralisation.It takes great vision,focus and hard work to make great strides and not neccesarily freedom and decentralisation.That is the lie and the rope to continue hanging zambians under the same circumstances.
Happy Independence Zambia.
Though we have lived 46 years of pain and struggle, God has been faithfull to this nation. We have peace and we can only learn from the past and celebrate the present (Ebenezer). Then organise ourselves strategically to face the future with hope and wisdom. May the Lord bless you all. One Zambia One Nation.
Senior Citizen whither art thou?
Excellent message from the Citizens Democratic Party. It is wonderful to read articles void of hate but that bring out very good points. Having following the CDP I am very impressed with their manner of doing things. Kudos for this great message.
People of Zambeziland……Happy National Day!
I still hope that one day our country will be called by its real big name ‘ZAMBEZILAND’ because this is the origin of our country and it the river that best identifies us a people. What do other bloggers say?
The Time for Change is here, that time is 2011!! Change for progress!! We are purportedly celebrating a hollow independence – coz if the majority are sleeping with hunger, filth ,disease & in poverty, what is there to celebrate?? Who is RB celebrating with & at who’s expense?? This current presido has shown us where his heart lies – abroad!! Not at home! He sees no point in trying to save, for he has even been challenged to stand up & help univ students with their fees, but will he heed?? No!! His is to celebrate!!
Lets all give him & MMD – the movement hijacked from the people, the right message, which is a boot in their ***** in the forthcoming by-elections & 2011 – lets go with the Pact!!
On “We are still fighting for our independence- indeed the struggle continues” what is important is that I am now independent as an individual Zambian and my choices will help Zambians around me to be more independent in this era of our Zambian GRZ that is led by an incompetent man occupying the Presidency office.
I hope my fellow Zambian Citizens will see sense in the message from the mighty UPND group that we need economic independence so that we can have political and economic prosperity. At the end of it all, what will effect the economic independence that I hope to see in every Zambian’s life is the voting wisely that should occur in 2011 during the tripartite elections.
Having written the above, I wish you all a happy independence day and be blest.
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Matt 6:33 But…
happy 46th independence zambia,we are proud of our peaceful country,its not easy to have a very peaceful country like ours,this means that we are really united.
i have said it time and again, your future does not depend on any political party, you have it in your hands. Make use of life and get a life man. Stop complaining, God gave you brains, use them to change your life!
DEAR ZAMBIAN ,
I personally wish you all a happy independence day .i wrote because of my lovely classmate Florence.
Only China is celebrating Zambia’s Independence Day. Not Zambians!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Zambia is no longer being governed on the ground on which she was built. Big up my man KK. He’s the only man to whom I can give credit. To this day we’re able to see what he build. All these other fools just keep on renovating what was built by KK in the 60’s and 70’s. I’m tired of them…… Let them privatize the whole country to chinese investors. Ubukopo bwapitilila!