By Fred M’membe President of the Socialist Party
On August 12, Zambians will face a stark choice: a choice between the future and the past. Today the case I put before the Zambian people is that if we are to secure the future for our children, for our communities and for our nation – the government of Zambia must now change in the real and revolutionary sense. The neoliberal capitalist policies being pursued and advanced by our opponents belong to the past. Socialism is the future and we must build it now.
After a decade in power, the PF has lost touch with the poor and working people. They no longer understand what fairness, justice, equity and peace actually mean. They simply don’t understand the new challenges that we face now and in the future.
The challenge is to revolutionarise our hospitals and make health services free and socialised. And above all, the challenge to transform our education system and make it free and socialised.
The PF has no plans for the future because it’s not going to be there to deal with the challenges of the future. They are being sent to the wire on August 12. The way forward for Zambia is to elect a revolutionary party and President with progressive ideas to meet the challenges of the future.
A new President and a new government who understand and respect the values upon which our independence struggle was fought. Values of honesty, equity, humility and solidarity. We need to build a Zambia anchored on justice, equity and peace. We need a nation where there’s decency, fairness and respect. You can’t have a plan for Zambia’s future if you have lost sight of such basic values.
For us Socialists, these values are in our DNA.
Zambia needs new leadership with fresh ideas for the future. With barely three months to go of this election campaign, the PF government has put forward no really new ideas for the future. It has run out ideas. It has clearly run out of energy. And it has run out of time.
The Socialist Party is offering new leadership with a plan for the future. And whatever amount of words and money the PF may yet throw at these long standing challenges over the next eleven weeks, it is just not going to be real. The truth is, it’s all just too late to be believable.
Nation building requires vision. And the cornerstone of our vision for Zambia’s future is an education revolution. We believe passionately in the power of education. We believe education is the engine room of equity. And the engine room of the economy. I would not be standing as a presidential candidate today were it not for the encouragement, instruction provided to me by the teachers who shaped my life. They made it possible for a child like me from Lubemba and Bulozi to finish school, go to university and be here today seeking to lead our nation into the future. I know the difference a great education can make.
Our vision for Zambia is to build a very good education system – so that we produce an innovative, skilled and well trained workforce.
The economies we are competing against are making huge new investments in education. They know that knowledge intensive economies will be the wealthiest economies of the future. We must take decisive action now.
We need nothing less than an education revolution now to improve radically the performance of the education system.
Universities are critical to the education revolution that Zambia so urgently needs.
Undoing the damage which this government has done to our universities will not be easy. But this challenge begins today. Zambia cannot be put on the path of a knowledge economy if we do not help our universities attract and retain our best scientists, innovators and researchers into the future.
I approach this election with a passionate commitment to Zambia’s future. The values I bring to leadership are the values instilled in me by my strong Bemba royal upbringing. They are also the values that are intrinsic to this revolutionary party. I understand that life is sometimes harsh. But I believe that as a people we have a responsibility when one of us falls down, we must help to lift them back up. That’s what decency and fairness is all about.
Another thing I have learnt is the absolute value of hard work. Of not being wasteful. And the importance of planning for the future. For me, these are enduring values. And these are the values that as President I would bring to our nation’s challenges.
The nation now needs new leadership for the future. The nation now wants new leadership for the future. And today, I am ready to deliver that new leadership for Zambia’s future.
Nkalani chabe imwe. You can’t even find 150 MPs ati I’m ready. Just wait for your time. We all feel ready but it’s not our time or your time.
Mr Mmembe try maybe as a mayor
First as Zambians are not ready for you.You do not have that following as of now.Zambians have been following your history.
I can always predict what kind of leader leader bo fred would make.
An insulting one: going by how you left no stone unturned when you malice managed to tarnish the images of all those who questioned your editorial section in your Post New paper.
A vindictive one: going by how you trampled on the toes of those you thought were smarter than your acts and challenged you.
A lethal, selfish and blackmailing one: going by how you managed to survive and make Government leadership play by your book plan.
A heartless one: just analyse how you conducted yourself behind you paper, I used to call it a Lucifer’s file.Others called it a paper that dug deeper.
I can always predict what kind of leader leader bo fred would make.
A scorning one: going by how you left no stone unturned when you with malice managed to tarnish the images of all those who questioned your editorial section in your Post New paper.
A vindictive one: going by how you trampled on the toes of those you thought were smarter than your acts and challenged you.
A let.hal, sel.fish and black.mailing one: going by how you managed to survive and make Government leadership play by your book plan.
A heart.less one: just analyse how you conducted yourself behind your paper, I used to call it a Lucifer’s file. Others called it a paper that dug deeper.
Be good to the people on your way up.
I can always predict what kind of leader bo fred would make.
A scorning one: going by how you left no stone unturned when you with ma.li.ce managed to tarnish the images of all those who questioned your editorial section in your Post New paper.
A vin.dict.ive one: going by how you trampled on the toes of those you thought were smarter than your acts and challenged you.
A let.hal, sel.fish and black.mailing one: going by how you managed to survive and make Government leadership play by your book plan.
A heart.less one: just analyse how you conducted yourself behind your paper, I used to call it a Luci.fer’s file. Others called it a paper that dug deeper.
Be good to the people on your way up.
Fred M’membe is a false Socialist Party Leader. What kind of Opposition Party Leader who attacks other Opposition Parties and their Leaders? He steals UPND Alliance Colours and puts up Billboards attacking HH and UPND Alliance. Fred M’membe is a PF Surrogate so don’t waste your vote on him and his psuedo Socialist Party. Corrupt, incompetent, thuggish and Visionless ECL has failed. Vote 4 your life. Vote for HH , UPND Alliance and the Zambia we want. Our hope is HH aka Bally will fix it.
Collective farms, Hugo Chavez, Fidel Castro? Not in this century.
Are you ready to tell the Zambians the truth about the lies your told in your past tabloid? The lies you fashioned against others that helped the current unforgiving regime to win power.
Other than that, then, you are still an unrepentant liar and that your judgement can’t be trusted.
SOCIALISM DONT WORK
IF YOU HANG IN A BROWN PAPER ENVELOPE WILL BE OFFERED YOU NO DOUBT BY PF
Sorry Fred, only ECL and HH have got a realistic chance of winning. You could’ve spared yourself the nomination fees.
One of the architects of tribal politics in Zambia, calling Southern Province a Bantustan. Supporting a very murky programme of taking away Chirundu and Itezhi-itezhi. Poor leadership qualities all around, used the post to intimidate and control others! Very toxic personality.
After the fall of USSR Block in the 80s its folly for Fred M’membe to preach about Socialism. Fred M’membe was running the Post Newspaper and other businesses so he is a Capitalist of Note. Zambians cannot be fooled by Fred M’membe’s sugar coated Socialism. For all we know Fred M’membe is a PF Surrogate and that is why he is attacking other Opposition Parties. No votes for this PF Surrogate. Period.
Wishiful thinking Ba Mmembe.
In my ward for instance, no MP, no councillor is standing on your party and you call it new leadership.
However, Zambia is NOT ready for you. There is the boomerang problem for you.
We are far much better to HH in state House, than you.
However, Zambia is NOT ready for you. There is the boomerang problem for you.
We are far much better to have HH in state House, than you. !!
I can never trust Bo Fred Meembe, just look at how he run Post Newspaper milked it out completely and invested in haulage stopped paying them their salaries; was not paying tax as he was good friends with Michael as he called the President. This man has no socialism in his DNA its all a stunt as for his loyal wife who has been with him through thick and thin in business which doesnt support him in his party…Fred does not add up.
I can never trust Bo Fred Meembe, just look at how he run Post Newspaper milked it out completely and invested in haulage stopped paying them their salaries; was not paying tax as he was good friends with Michael as he called the President. This man has no socialism in his DNA its all a stunt…as for his loyal wi-fe who has been with him through thick and thin in business why doesnt she support him in his party…Fred does not add up.
His Royal Highness of the Bemba kingdom. Please stick to your monarch. Leave our republic alone.
When did he abandon capitalism . He is still an evil genius ..a good for nothing mother faka.
Be wise. Don’t waste your vote. Be smart.
Vote ECL?
First pay the taxes you owe poor zambian before standing for any public office, you crazy donkey gay fred. You can f00I your family and friends but not all zambian are gullible
The proof of the pudding…After everything eternal struggles of privatisation, maybe socialism…
‘my strong Bemba royal upbringing’
Royalty is class and it cannot be mentioned in the same breath as socialist. Mmembe, you are lying through your teeth. What socialism is in your DNA?
Membe if you had any leadership material in yourself , you should have reconciled with other opposition parties by now.
But you can’t because you destroyed and tried to destroy alot of politicians with your post newspaper……..
Well try you and see
Alewelelapo