Movement for Multiparty Democracy MMD National Chairman Kabinga Pande has charged that there is nothing new in President Micheal Sata’s speech during the official opening of Parliament.
Mr. Pande has told Qfm News that though there is nothing new in the speech, he will take time to look at it closely.
Mr. Pande points out that the directives to ministers as the president did today have been made before.
He adds that he will anxiously wait to see the outcome of the directives the president gave to his ministers including the directives to the minister of education to ensure that he finds solutions being faced at the higher learning institutions.
However, some opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) have welcomed the government’s focus on the improvement of the agriculture sector saying the development will reduce dependence on copper.
Reacting to president Sata’s speech when he opened Parliament yesterday, Mafinga MP (MMD) Catherine Namugala said the president spoke well on agriculture.
“He spoke well. Some of us who are from rural constituencies are interested in the PF government’s focus on agriculture,” she said.
Ms Namugala said the diversification of the agriculture sector had been talked about for a long time and there was now need for action.
She said she had been against over-dependence on copper because it was a finishing asset and agriculture had the potential to fill the gap. She said the president’s speech was encouraging although there was need for the budget to support the intentions as outlined by the president.
Kalomo MP (UPND) Request Muntanga said the president had touched on critical agricultural issues which required action.
Mr Muntanga said it was good that the president mentioned the challenges on crop marketing because the exercise needed attention. “He mentioned that the government has come up with a new crop marketing bill and we are waiting for it,” he said.
On irrigation, he said it was mentioned even in the last speech but little action had been taken.
He said there was need for the government to put up dams that could be used for irrigated farming.
And Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) president Edith Nawakwi said Mr Sata had given direction but the onus was on cabinet ministers to implement the pronouncements made in the speech.
Ms Nawakwi said the President was right when he said there were still many issues that related to sustenance that need to be handled such as corruption, poverty and poor quality of education .
She agreed with the president’s commitment on the fight against corruption but was quick to mention that FDD believed that the fight may never be won unless government took a bold step to decentralize political and economic power.
On decentralization, she advised that the PF government should not just be focusing on forming districts but also plan and make sure that the apportioning of resources was according to individual district needs.
you wanted Sata to tell more lies?
He was distracted by the bold heads. So had to leave parliament very urgently.
His points on agriculture made a lot of sense just like the idea of infrastructure development that has taken place in Livingstone being replicated in other towns/cities.
All that he said is not impossible to achieve but requires unflinching resolve not only by govt but by all stakeholders who include ordinary citizens.
Ordinary citizens need to understand their role in national development. The fact that they can choose who they want to govern the country, means they can also influence the rate at which developments takes place within their constituencies and the country as a whole.
Their role in national development agenda does not start and end on election day
That speech was full of unattainable goals and promises just like his 2011 campaigns of 90days and even less money in ya already empty pockets.
Iwe Pande there shouldnt be anything new. As PF we need to imlement what yu monisters failed to do. What new pronouncements do yu need that has never been said before
Pande c!pub@
Sour grapes. you always do not agree with PF. What do you want them to say?
That is why we voted PF into power because they are different from you.
Good speech. Lets say ‘Yes’ where things are good. We appreciate the speech Mr President.
Ba Pande, What more did you want the president to say?
This Pande how can he say there is nothing new and then say he will closely look at it ? He sounds like people those make comments before understanding something.I`m very disappointed.
There’s nothing new. Stop seeing visions from your tribal leader!
Pande Matter Call
Hihihihihihihiihi….. thats new, you Bembas are advanced even with insults sure…. my word you never cease to amaze me, why not come up with a Bemba English insults dictionary? That would deserve a Prize!
Muzo ulimukali hahahahaha @ Pande Matter Call Your Be
Bemba culture at its best. Every sentence has to be spiced with vulgarity. It runs from State House to the cadre!
Ms Namugala what dependence on copper? When the real story is that Zambians have not derived much benefit from copper.
I almost mistook Pande for Kaingu. The speach shoud have touched on phono, then it could have been some thing new.
Zambians lets reduce exposing our ignorance by simply not commenting, pande had to just say something even though his head was blank over president’s speech.Good intentions presido especially on agric it remainds me of the kapwepwe times when his emphasis was on agric not mining.finishing assets ??? no it’s waisting assets ba LT and Edith.
@Chambishi, you made my day.yah !!!!
Really? You are a useless lot!
Pardon ba Mpande niba Newlywed
Shame on you Pande, this is why i insist there is no opposition in Zambia… the country need wise opposition leaders bad…. of all that was pointed out in that speach you couldnt find anything positive to say the least? why would something new be included when we havent even seen half of what is supposed to be achieved? Can someone surely even give ear to this Mpande whatever? Sorry sir but in as much as i attacked the president last time he touched on not having opposition.. i can simply say, you have left me with no choice but to say he might have been right. Do you have to oppose to everything all the time? can someone teach these guys what opposition means… shaa!
There was no comedy? Disappointed mwe!
now i know pande is useless too. what new things did he want the president to say?…That zambia ll be manufacturing boeing 747s or that zambia has bought the USS Nimitz and 20 B2s stealth bombers from the US. or he wanted new things coz he has a new wife.
Of course we’ve heard those empty promises before. Why should Pande pretend that he found the speech refreshing and new? Don’t force everyone to worship your tribal leader!
Iwe Pande
Uli matter call sana ayi??? You are not making sense at all! How do you say that there is nothing new the President say, and in the same breadth go on to say that you will study the speech. I thot mwa li ba sharp kanshi muli chiphuba phye
Tone down on your Bembaness. Not everyone is comfortable with your vulgar Bemba culture!
PF WILL NEVER CHANGE,THEY KEEP ON SAYING THE SAME THINGS AGAIN AND AGAIN,AT THE END OF THE DAY ITS THEM THAT ARE BENEFITING.I FEEL SO BAD
Well Livingstone has seen a face lift ,keep up the good work PF.passing thru from Botswana .The opposition must commend where they see progress,mpande open ur eyes.