Africa needs billion dollars to mitigate post conflict challenges-AU

1. I have said it many times here that the once voice of the people “Oasis Forum” is, and has lost it flat at the hands of the MMD too crafty on dialogue and none violent politics. While Sata is heavy on violent dreams and insults, MMD is evidently using the power of the brain against PF. Rapidly through Musa Mwenya the Forum has become too irrelevant to this Country since the latter delivered it to Sata as a PF auxiliary pseudo NGO. The Catholics have seen through the evil and opportunism of Sata under orders of the Chiluba plunders bankrolling PF. They have lost it again and irrelevant they have become. Chimbwis no plan. Oasis must kick Mwenya out so that there could be a clear divide between the Oasis Forum and PF. People want the old Oasis forum that existed under Rev. Japhet Njobvu back not this PF cadre taking instructions from Chishimba, willie Nsanda and Sata.

2. BISHOPS ‘DISOWN’ NGOS

   CATHOLIC bishops have said they will not be part of the non-governmental organisation (NGOs) regarding their position on the constitution-making process but remain independent since they have the capacity to handle matters on their own.The bishops have also appreciated the formation of the Zambia Centre for Inter-Party (ZCID), Chief Government spokesperson, Mike Mulongoti, announced at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday.The bishops indicated during their meeting with President Mwanawasa on Thursday night that they would remain independent on the constitution-making process since they had the capacity to do so.“The bishops under the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) indicated that they will not be subjected to any NGO and will not accept any influence by NGOs,” Mr Mulongoti said.Mr Mulongoti, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said Government agreed with the bishops’ remarks of standing on their own because the development would result in having many voices being heard.The minister said several other issues that were vexing on either party’s side were also attended to during Thursday’s meeting.He said the bishops led by Lusaka archbishop, Telesphore Mpundu, also suggested that Government should continue consulting various stakeholders over the constitution-making process. Mr Mulongoti said the bishops also suggested that as much as it would consult stakeholders, Government should continue to provide leadership in spearheading the process.He said the bishops’ views on leadership provision in the constitution-making process, were in line with what Government had all along been insisting on. Mr Mulongoti said the bishops were also of the view that Government should continue to dialogue with them and other stakeholders over the constitution.He said Minister of Justice, George Kunda, also explained to the bishops the difference between a constitutional conference and a constituent assembly. Mr Kunda told the bishops that a constituent assembly as recommended by the Mung’mba Review Commission needed legally binding authority while a constitutional conference would only have powers to recommend to Parliament. He said the bishops appreciated Government’s concerns. Mr Mulongoti said Government assured the bishops that the recommendations that the constitutional conference would make to Parliament would be respected.The minister said President Mwanawasa also explained to the bishops about the steps the ZCID had taken to facilitate the enactment of a new constitution.And Mr Mulongoti said the bishops talked about the issue of funding to hospitals and schools of which Government should cater for 70 per cent. It was agreed that a partnership between the two parties should be enhanced and that Government was now sending funds to hospitals and clinics through the district director of health.The bishops also raised the issue of standards in schools to which Government explained that they would recruit teachers and address any other deficiencies in the education system. And in a statement yesterday, State House announced that President Mwanawasa held a closed-door meeting with Catholic bishops at State House on Thursday evening to discuss the constitution and other pressing national issues.The President’s Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, John Musukuma, said in a statement that the meeting, which was held in a cordial atmosphere, also discussed the plight of the poor, health and education.“The ZEC delegation raised specific issues to which the government delegation responded.The constitution review process was among issues discussed in detail including the background, developments and the way forward,” Mr Musukuma said.The ZEC delegation that met President Mwanawasa comprised Archbishop Mpundu, George Zumaile of Chipata, James Spaita of Kasama, Raymond Mpezele of Livingstone and Aaron Chisha from Mansa. Others were Noel O’Regan of Ndola, Paul Duffy of Mongu, Emilio Patriarca of Monze, Alick Banda, the Bishop-elect of Solwezi and Father Joe Komakoma, secretary-general of ZEC.The government delegation included Mr Mulongoti, Mr Kunda, Brian Chituwo (Health), Mrs Sylvia Masebo (Local Government and Housing) and Professor Geoffrey Lungwangwa (Education). And speaking in an interview yesterday, ZEC spokesperson Father. Paul Samasumo, said the bishops would issue a statement later.“I can confirm that the meeting took place at State House but the bishops will issue a statement maybe over the weekend,” Fr Samasumo said.In another development President Mwanawasa sent a message of congratulations to the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (UK) Gordon Brown. Mr Musukuma said in a statement that President Mwanawasa also congratulated Mr Brown for being elected leader of the Labour Party.“As you embark on your new tour of duty I trust that your Government will maintain the warm relations that exist between our two countries both at bilateral and multilateral levels,” he said.“On my part I want to assure you of my Government’s commitment to maintaining these good relations.”The President also sent a message of goodwill to former UK Prime Minister, Tony Blair, who he said did a lot to uplift the cause of Africa.He said Zambia was one of the beneficiaries of the causes the former Prime Minister championed during his tenure as Prime Minister.“On the occasion of your exit from office, I write to register on behalf of the Government and people of Zambia our appreciation for your role in alleviating the challenges facing Africa and poverty in particular.”As Prime Minister of the UK as well as during UK’s presidency of the European Union and the G8, Mr Blair helped Zambia to benefit from the causes he championed.

3. It sounds to me like we can do with more pre-emptive measures.

   We need to prevent conflict instead of waiting for them to happen.

4. Countries are in no short of machinery for your desired pre-emptive measures. Often gamblers try their luck beyond tolerance levels while brainwashed troll blindly ranting hopeless songs are left with rivers of tears above and beyond imaginations. It all takes a verified list of who is who among dreamers of anarchy then professional shadowing skills are intensified before helping historians have some incidence to document. Alternatively, it could be systematically in a one by one over time till the damage is measured colossal to recover from

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