By Chanda Mwenya
It is often said that politics are a dirty game. In Zambia it can also be described as a fool’s game.
While the country is experiencing serious economical and social challenges with the recent ‘infamous’ fuel shortage worsening the situation, Rupiah and Sata have been carelessly calling each other foolish names. Sata recently charged that RB was so unattractive that he would win an ugly competition- I am inclined to believe that, many Zambians who have seen the president would agree to Sata’s crude opinion.
In response, Rupiah described Sata an ugly-liar and a son of Satan. It is not long ago when Rupiah also referred to the newly elected Kasama MP Godfrey Mwamba Bwalya A.K.A GBM as a bag of mealie meal. But again those who are acquainted with the honorable would agree with RB´s sense of humor. However, the truth is neither Rupiah nor Sata, not to mention Shikapwasha could make it to State house if Zambians were to seek a ‘Handsome’ man for a President.
Perhaps the most offensive sentiment of all time came from Lusaka lawyer Ludwig Sondashi, who charged that Rupiah Banda is the most useless President, Zambia has ever had. Sondashi qualified his assertion that President Banda is trying to use the Post as a scapegoat in his bid to regulate the media and bury the corruption that has become rampant in the country.
Judging by this level of shameless name calling and offensive sentiments revealed by the media, it is clear to perceive the mediocrity and foolishness that our so called ‘leaders’ are exhibiting. I believe our country has overwhelming challenges that need immediate and undivided attention. Our name-calling leaders do not need to be reminded that people are dying of preventable diseases, mothers are giving birth on the street, unemployment and corruption are on the rise, investment and donor confidence has diminished, the judicial system has lost its credibility. Political violence and crime are also on the rise and that the abuse of alcohol has reached alarming levels-With Utujilijili on the cutting edge.
45 years after Independence, Zambia looks worse than a country at war. If you drive through any of the compounds not to mention the slums and villages abject poverty, disbelief and uncertainty is evident on the face of every household.
If this irrational leadership continue to prevail Zambia will soon go down the drain. The late Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa once described Zimbabwe as a sinking Titanic. I am afraid that would soon become true about Zambia.
The only way to serve the country is for you and me to rise, speak and work for Mother Zambia and say no mediocre leaders who have no clear objective for the country. Zambia can not triumph with corruption or survive on begging. We need to build a proud Zambia.
Well said Mr Chanda Mwenya,well said!
Yes that they are so may issues to talk about, but instead they are talking about personal issues that does not help Zed development at all.
Please can the older people than these two guys advise
your analysis is mere rhetoric and will remain that as long as you are not in the corridors to make meanigfull change/influence.As of now, the only power you have is the vote and you sill have to wait for 2011 to exercise it. There is nothing wrong with a little chimbuya humor from our politicians.
True well sai though i think this is some of our leader so called humour which is pretty bad if i may add, To them its probably funny but as they say the truth hurts and some times they react out of anger.
yayaya…. these faces can scare children
This is funny indeed, but guess Sata was handsome when he was young as for my Uncle Mr Bwezani Banda i dont know. But name calling is not what we need what we want to see is tangible results coming from the current Leader.
And i think its about time the Its about time World started training Leaders on how they have to gorvern their Countries, have to be taught what it means to be a leader, how you carry yourself, how to you respond to criticism, as a leader am i supposed to answer to respond to whatever the opposition say, When am i suppossed to repond to opposition critisim?? Please Leaders know what it takes & means to be a Leader !!!!
Yes, agreed the 72 year old foools at it again and again. Who shall redeem Zambia from this impudence?
Hahahhahah those pictures speak louder than the article… Thanks Chanda, I hope a few bloggers wil pick a thing or two from politics of insults and name calling.
But these guys are ugly, especially the one on the left!
Anyway, getting to the issue at hand: Chanda Mwenya this a shallow and mediocre article that does a very good job of stating the obvious!
Even though our politics continue to be filled with name-calling and other vices, it its not so much different from other democratic countries. As long as the political rhetoric does not diverge attention from the issues at hand!
Well thoughtful Mr Chanda Mwenya Mwazi keep the line open
Chanda I hereby differ with you on your adage that politics are a dirty game.To the contrary,Politics are a very clean game,its the politicians who are damn dirty hence depicting a wrong picture of Politics.
LT that’s not Michael Sata. Its RB’s uncle! Chanda, you are using defective tools of analysis. Just bull —shiFting.
Perceptions of leadership quality depend upon personality traits. In modern days, the most important personality attributes are those that contribute to the belief that a leader can govern in a business-like fashion. I don’t believe in a boss who calls colleagues bad names publicly.
Mr Sata is the most hundsome guy in God’s image and creation, so is Mr Rupiah Banda. All they need is improve on the qualities as leaders and show us their capabilities as our leaders not to tell us how well they can insult each other. Chiipila achaje, amake akuti ni mwana.
This govt has a vision and policies that will move the nation forward. The problem is Zambians concentrate more on politics and not economic activities taking place in the nation. There is a construction boom in Lusaka and industries are flocking into the country because of the sound investment climate in the nation.
A lot of economic activities are taking place in the nation but we would rather concentrate on what Sata said about RB.
Heee…hmmm really these are smart faces ??????
This is nonsense. Stop concentrating too much on politics and concentrate on the economy. Then you will see how things are set to improve with the policies being enacted.
People would rather concentrate on the Chiluba acquittal when the Lusaka Economic Zone is to take off next year. Chongwe is to be turned into a modern sub city.
If you would rather be a cadre and have nothing to do, I would give you this advice. Go and bid for space at the new Soweto Market and sell vitenge’s. Zambian women love wearing vitenge’s so you are assured of making a profit and maybe contributing to the Zambian economy by helping bring Mulungushi textiles back to life.
Good analysis chanda mwenya.You are right it is high time these politicians stopped calling each other names in public though i still think RB and cycle mata do the name calling thing due to chimbuya ,no wonder you see them calling each other names today and hug each other like lovers the following day.Those guys definately will pretend to be at each others throats in the day but share a glass of chibuku in the night.So probabbly it is typical of politicians ,damn hypocrites
Some Bloggers can be silly at times. Instead of addressingm Mr. Chanda Mwenya’s message, they start insulting the man. What Mr. Chand Mwenya is saying is very true.The only problem is the people from the PF camp have got no morals nor respect. I would call them Kaponya’s but even Kaponya’s have got better respect for the senior citizens than these PF thungs. Thug would be the correct term to use for these cadres in the PF. These PF thugs resort to insulting the person instead of addressing the message. A dull tactic in my opinion
Why choose the worst of Sata’s photos and the best of RB. LT please try to be impartial in the selection of photos.
Truthfully speaking Bwezani & Sata are wrong characters for our 21st centuary politics.Problem Zambians think comedy is synonymous with Politics
I agree with Dr Sondashi,RB is the most useless president Zambia has ever had. On name calling,75% of Zambian politicians are ugly,it a shame to say that one is our leader!
I guess this is what democracy is all about? I do not think the picture of the situation the author paints on current life in Zambia is completely accurate. Yes, there is still a lot of poverty but I also see things changing for the better. People are building houses and opening businesses. Crime might be high but it is not as high as in some other African countries. We need to be able to highlight the positives as this becomes a spur to do even better. Zambia is not Somalia or the Congo.
Yes the fact is even if you put another leader in power in 2011 it will not make any difference it will take 20 yrs to bring this economy back on track because our leaders spent much of their time insulting each instead of offering meaningful solutions.What is Sata going to do with his little cv.You cant use the newspaper to insult other leaders on daily basis.Wy cant the opposition come up with a blue print on how they want to improve the economy it is not just money in the pocket as a campaign tool or reducing tax it is about an overhaul whole of the economic activities of zambia.We need a new blood.where is Crispin Milupi, Dr Bwalya Ngandu, Mangande, Silvia Masebo, fundanga,Mutati, Kabinga Mpande, just to mention few.These guys can make a difference.These guys are not like Mabengas guys
VERY TRUE. ZAMBIA NEEDS US THE YOUTHS AND NOT THE OLD TIMERS NO. THESE PEOPLE WILL DESTROY THIS NATION COMPLETELY. THIS IS VERY GOOD CHANDA KEEP IT UP.
Chick–colour we know about photoshop.you tried to make RB light? you opinion is based on looks…bull crap!
Mr &Mrs Capitalist whichever country. Your gvt have made qualified G12 to be Kaponya because of unemployed, nepotism, tribelist and not forget corruption and nowander you are very proud to co them like that because you are benefiting from your party and no heart for kaponyas. We need pipo with heart for every Zambia including Kaponyas. Pipo will not stop insulting you coz you even support wrong thing. Now since your MMD party has no Kaponyas which pipo are attacking opposition in Solwezi, beating up journalist?
Atleast someone thinks in the same way as i do…………its too much of these politics of personal attacks.What the zambians are in dire need of are policies that will propel the nation to prosperity not these selfish and useless attacks our so called leaders are embarking on.The truth is zambia has never had a handsome president,so sata and RB shouldnt dwell much on that.WHATEVER HAPPENED TO POLICIES,does anybody know?
As long as CADRES are in control you will never have an issue oriented President in Zambia. This one I can assure you 100%
The media needs to organise public debates like in the western world to question what these leaders have in mind for Zambia. In a class people write tests…when applying for a job people have interviews…why doesn’t the media hold debates on different topics that give people an informed choice on whom they are choosing.
but zoona are these human beings or gorillas!?????kwena bane mulibabii pamenso…….bakoluwe basekana ifipato!
Mr. Chanda something I trully think that your article is very empty. It does not add any value to our knowledge. You just stating the obvious and I do not know why LT even gave you space!
# Bashi Mutale mwansekesha!! Ifi fibantu fibi saana!
Someone pliz tell me :is it a requirement to be ugly in politics?
Look at also Shikapwasha,Mpombo,Sondashi,Kaunda…. ifiinso ububii…..maybe thats Y even their hearts are hard as stones!
#33 mind typo error. The media needs to organise public debates , do their homework on candidates performance records …similar to the western world to get the best effective leaders. If Zambia continues focusing on old school grandfathers ONLY to lead…Zambia has a problem moving forward.
Mulenga mwapola mune?ku Newcastle kuli shani uko?bushe kwaliba nakwena tu-nachisotwe?inkeseko?kuno tunafisungu tule papawula fye amalwa imagine!!!!!
# Bash Mutale ndifye bwino. Ku Newcastle Upon Tyne kulifye bwino nomba fye imfula.Tu-nachisotwe twingi sana kuno.Tunachisungu uko mwaba tatwakwata ifyakuchita thats why tunwinafye ubwalwa.
Nati nanebo mulenga ndipushe mune.Bushe gordon brown naumumonapo ilelo ? Bushe mwachiposhanya ?
#38,Lelo nshimumwenepo ndifye panganda nalaya kusukulu ichungulo kuti naine nabako nga ba Prof. Chirwa.
Awe chishinka ba Mulenga wesu chaumfwika ndemona mailo kuti mwakumana,ala mulesambilila umutende.Ipepo lwandi lwakweba ati lesa alelundapo amano ulekalafye naku group one.Nakalebalika
mulenga and shi mutale you are funny characters, dont let peole at home tink Gordon brown aba ku Newcaslte. Its nice to just laugh and express yourselves than get involoved in the debates of the teletubbies.
I strongly agree with # 21, 24 & 25’s views and those in line. People, it’s time for a change! ‘Old’ people are need in the leadership system because they have the experience but we need someone younger and mature who is up to date with the world to lead us. Look at Obama, Kevin Rudd, etc and the developments they are making in their countries. With all due respect to RB n Sata, I wonder if they are even able to surf the net. Just as there used to be tribal wars in the old days, these two are causing a leadership war and the whole country is following, and we expect development? what a pity, God see us through.
The Rupiah Banda government is nothing but a joke. Sata is just a angry zambian senior citizen hungry for power.