African politicians perception of illness
This week, Lusaka Times reported that President Sata lashed “out at people peddling lies about his health.” Is King Cobra really sick? This seems to be a billion dollar question that many Zambians want answered. Some people are busy analyzing his pictures to answer this question, while others are busy speculating that the president has cancer. But my question is, so what? Being ill is not a crime—unless you are iron man. After all, even Cobras get sick.
Honestly, I have followed discussions on the health of African presidents with great disappointment. It seems that African politicians believe that illness means failure, which is not the case. To be human is to become sick; hence there is nothing wrong with the president seeking medical care—that’s what all humans do. Again, presidents are not iron men, but human beings with the same frailty we all carry. Unless we exist on planet Mars, I am still to find a person who has never been ill or who will never die. So why are African politicians afraid of revealing their health status? While I am disappointed with those who want to politick around King Cobra’s health, I am equally concerned with those who want to bury their heads in the sand.
African Presidents who concealed their illnesses and later died
Let me start with Nigeria—his cabinet knew that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua had health issues long before he took power in 2007. Until his death in 2010, his health records remained a state secret. Two years later, John Atta Mills, the president of Ghana, and President Bingu wa Mutharika of Malawi died. In both cases, those close to them knew about their health issues—but pretended as if all was fine. If you follow Zambian politics, you know that our own situation was not that different in 2008. President Mwanawasa’s health was a big concern during the 2006 election campaign. President Sata was among those who raised this concern, but we were told he was fine. President Mwanawasa, I submit, would be alive today had he being helped to resign on medical grounds.
The need for Independent medical Board to certify Zambia’s Presidents
This brings me back to the current debate over President Sata’s health. To me, whether the president is well or not is immaterial. We all have the right to choose who to believe, but only an independent medical team can reveal the truth. So what is the way forward?
It is time we humanize illness—old and young, we all get sick, and can die anytime. Some illnesses like cancer are terminal, while others are not. Knowing that we can all get sick should summon in us the spirit of our common humanity or ubuntu, so as to sympathetically relate to those with health challenges. Moreover, our constitution has a succession clause for that very reason—the president can die anytime. As for those who think being young means long life—think twice. Who thought President Robert Mugabe and President Kaunda would outlive Mwanawasa or Chiluba? Remember, in 1996, Chiluba teased Kaunda about his old age—saying that the “big man was finished. Today KK is alive, and Chiluba is gone.
That said, there is a danger to hide the President’s health status. Citizens deserve answers to the following questions: How healthy is our president? Is his illness terminal or not? Is the president’s mental capacity affected by the illness? If his illness is terminal and compromises his mental capacity, then we all have reasons to worry. Like it or not, his ministers will steal as much as possible—knowing too well that the president will be blamed after his demise.
To protect our nation from such dire situations, we need to demand a law that establishes annual public health records, certified by an independent medical team for the president and his cabinet. Likewise, we need health records for all aspiring presidential and parliamentary candidates. This situation will humanize illness as well as put to rest to some of the rumors that surround the president’s health.
My prayer is that if King Cobra is ill, PF must be open about it. Besides, the way the president handles his illness can inspire millions in similar situations. As for those politicking around his ill-health, I beg to differ. I am a very big critic of President Sata’s administration, but I will never celebrate his ill-health (even if it true)—he is a father, grandfather and husband. Unless his illness affects his mental capacity, our constitution does not penalize him from holding his office. Moreover, in the absence of an independent medical evaluation, only the president and his doctors know the truth—and he alone can make the final call. As for now, we can only speculate.
By Rev. Canon Dr. Kapya John Kaoma
Akaoma kalila fye ukwabula ukulanda nangu chimo!
The traditional drum (kaoma) was just played without delivering any message at all. Ba shimapepo nangu ba ‘mumpe’ ask Sata why he speculated so much about other people’s health …
You’re in denial.
KAOMA IS 100% RIGHT. WHATEVER HE HAS DISCUSSED IS A FACT WHETHER YOU LIKE HIM (KAOMA) OR NOT. THANKS Dr KAOMA FOR YOUR FRANK TALK.
Am still asking myself these questions about why a medically unfit President would be so secretive about their health:
1. Are their medical expenses still fully covered by the state in the event that they resigned on account of ill health?
2. Who would be our interim leader in the event of a presidential by-election given that the current Vice President doesn’t qualify for the highest office & the THIEF Justice also occupies the position of Chief Justice illegally
3. Could the 2 issues above explain why Mutembo Nchito and Mmembe are now
campaigning tirelessly to ensure that Kabimba positions himself to replace Sata? Quite frankly, Zambia would be a worse country under Kabimba than it is now.
I fail to understand the gist of this article. in one vein the author seems to be against those discussing the health of the President, in another, he seems to be castigating those who are hiding the Presidents health problems. This is a problem of trying to comment on issues when you hate the side which is right. This Reverend seems to have an issue with the opposition but he is in a dilema on how to remain neutral because they are right. Please clarify what you want to say. this article is largely vague. It is not bringing out what you want to say. I’m lost!
‘Rev, canon, Dr’ Thats is exactly where the problem is with this writer. He can not decide on his own tittles and simialrly he discusses a subject but makes the opposite conclusion. He wants Zambians and PF to be ‘open’ about Sata’s illness but concludes that ‘it is not an issue’.
My dear that is the major problem we have with Church leaders in Zambia. They fail to make a clear stand on important issues.
There’s no need to speculate, it’s clear to all the president is not well. But the real culprits are the cabinet ministers who should have initiated investigations in Sata’s health through a medical review team. Why are they scared to stand up as one and begin the process. That way the might even save Sata’s life if he steps down now before it’s too late.
HERE IS THE TRUTH!!!
If Sata is well as he himself and his aides claim, there will be no problem for him to be examined by a Medical Board.
If he refuses, or if his Cabinet Ministers do not constitute an inquiry, WE KNOW HE IS LYING!
If he is LYING (again) then it is obvious he is incapable of doing the job of President and must be removed forthwith.
If these Cabinet ministers cannot do this they are GUILTY of TREASON against the CONSTITUTION they swore to uphold and people of Zambia, and must face the consequences.
I think the issue is no longer his health because he has already taken a swipe at his own ministers for being fat… Now that’s how you divert attention while on national TV.
But on a serious note, the author might secretly be soliciting for a PF job.
YOU SAID ATI “Unless his illness affects his mental capacity, our constitution does not penalize him from holding his office.” ?????????NO ITS NOT ONLY THE MENTAL CAPACITY EVEN THE PHYSICAL CAPACITY.
Uyu Rev Dr wabufi sana
His mental capacity was retarded even before he was elected!
How else can you explain his stupid 90 day promises? Clearly this IDI0T is not capable of using his brain, even if he actually has one! A cabbage would be able to do a better job!
Your article is indeed ambiguous reverend.I can`t get the gist of this article.As for making the health records for all aspiring presidential and parliamentary candidates available to the public I beg to differ,because at no point will the health records of any individual be available to the public without their consent.My humble health ethics background tells me that this is not practical.Neither have i heard of a crazy idea like this anywhere in the world.In the meantime you can continue sitting on the fence reverend.
Yet another confused, directless, Mumbwa-Mumbwa article.
From one of many spiritual misleaders who are abusing vulnerable people.
Why does one man need so many titles? Speaks volumes of this wolf in sheep’s clothing. The creator came and did not bear a single title. His followers will be recognized by the same humility, not by high sounding fictitious titles.
Stay clear of the author, a certified CNP looking to fill his belly by abusing the titles of the creator.
Hmmmn – How does one who has dementia or is mentally unwell assess his mental capacity? Bane lets be serious! It’s for this reason that people are talking about this. Zambians arewondering ALOUD and wish to know – who exactly is running the country while Sata is indisposed or seriously ill (whichever may be true).
The bottom line: Zambians deserve to be treated with respect by their leaders. If Sata is ill – tell the people!!!
This person must be an Anglican because they are the ones who canonise each other. Coming to his article, it is very confusing because he doesn’t seem to know where he stands. He is trying to talk about two sides of the story at the same time. The illness of the president is a national issue and people are mandated to discuss it, especially where the obvious is being denied. Sata is not well and his mental status does not befit a person holding the office of president. He will plunge this country into chaos while all of us are sitting waiting for a miracle to correct things. We must put pressure on him and his cabinet to tell us whether the man is alright as he claims. What we are seeing as citizens is totally different to the claims Sata is making. He is ill but refusing to admit. Ukafwa
Rev does not seem to know that the current constitution does not allow a terminally ill person to be or continue to be president. So does that answer your ask why the president can not just come out in the open to say he is sick
Ba Lt, I blame u for the time I have wasted reading thru this..there is totally nothing new in it..except breeding speculations of what the writer wanted to tell us.
For me, not only is he indecisive, there is some element of immaturity in his write up..
Let me quote afew statements to justify my claim..
First the title…instead of ‘WHY IS IT NOT AN ISSUE’?..it must be ..’WHY IS IT AN ISSUE’?
Paragragh 1:- people speculating that the president has cancer. BUT MY QUESTION IS SO WHAT?- Rev. can you settle on ‘SO WHAT” if the president is terminally sick..?
Par. 2-‘unless we exist on planet mars….I’m still to find a person who will…never die’
Par….’whether he is well or ill is inmaterial’..ha sure?
Last Par..’i will never celebrate his ill-health’..who does?
The major problem we have with Church leaders in Zambia is that they fail to make a clear stand on important issues.
Rev. Kaoma, you don’t even need such a long article. And stop pretending. Mr. Sata is unwell and there is nothing wrong discussing his illness, and also nothing wrong to remind Sata that he mocked Mazoka, Mwanawasa and Kunda when they were ill.
Pipo,u ar not God to jurge him jst Pray 4him. Not (ukubika icibi pacibi). Late us mak our Creator Jehovah to Rejoce,dan satan de devil.
This is tow much now. Please let us know the helth of our father. May our grand creator the one who Created Heven and erth give our leader good and long live.
let us pray to our almight hevenly father to bring back our dady president ,to come and continue is work to build zambia may GOD bless SATA,S ADMINISTRATION