Vice President George Kunda today told parliament that government would not render any material assistance to freedom fighters who became handicapped as a result of the struggle for Zambia’s independence.
Mr. Kunda was responding to a question raised by Choma central Member of Parliament, George Chazangwe in parliament today.
Mr. Chazangwe asked whether the government would consider offering material assistance to people who became handicapped as a result of the struggle for independence.
The Vice President, who is the leader of government business in parliament, said it was not necessary to render material to freedom fighters that were injured because they were receiving awards with Zambian honours on Independence day and African freedom day respectively.
He said the freedom fighters that were detained or tortured during the struggle should have made such claims immediately after attaining independence.
Mr. Kunda further said it was not possible to set aside a day other than independence and African freedom day to commemorate Zambians who died in the struggle for independence.
ZANIS/AC/KSH/ENDS
holly molly
Nomba chaba shani ba Kunda?
Ninshi pantu?
Why do they always give excuses when it comes to funds?:-?
Awe Jam@co finally waba nambala 1.Ulisani mune?
Too bad! but these are the people who struggled for the peace we are currently enjoying.
It looks unfair to me,the US has the Veterans Dept and our govt can as well set up a committee that will look into their welfare untill the last freedom fighter dies.They wont be there for good after all.
The question raised by Mr Chazangwe concerned material assistance as opposed to “awards with Zambian honours on Independence day and African freedom day respectively”. I don’t think Mr Kunda expects them to survive on these awards. It is embarassing for our government to avoid assisting such people when our country gained independence almost 45 years ago. Anyone with common sense will note that most of these freedom fighters have since died and so it cannot be so expensive to subsidise the lives of the few who are still alive.
Too bad but its the duty of government to look after the aged……..
I think they deserve compensation
What you must know Mr Kunda you are now enjoying yourself because of some galant zambian freedom fighters who lost their lives during the struggle for independence.Besides how many are they?Your government is busy buying expensive cars for its so called mministers.Lets learn to share whatever little is in the government busket.
These men and women need support as well.
Kunda’s reasoning should be HIGHLY questioned by any normal person
Our freedom fighters need the support of the Government as much as the support grz would extend to any retired civil servant.
Feel sorry for my grand dad with his 12 wives with the price if ubunga never going down [-([-( .He spent his childhood in the bush fighting for our feedom and now this is what he gets **==**==~o)~o)~o)**==
Kunda Mumwelele mulwelwe !
What about ARV”s for ministers?
Chacine ba Kunda as if you are not a lawyer to start thinking so low.How do you compare awards to day to day living benefits? What a government!
Kunda, Kunda, kunda, Kunda, PLEASE!!! All along I have been feeling peaceful in the hope that you would be the intelligent logical side-kick to Rupiah ‘Bwezani-Kumbuyo’ Banda. But now, if you ask me, I have no hope for this country. This is the Vice President speaking like this…hello?? In fact, what Kunda has just done is insult all our freedom fighters. How can he equate an award to social security? Is he that dull, or he is just taking the mickey? Was any member of his family involved in the struggle?—because I know now that HIMSELF was busy cowering under a table all throughout that time!!!
I am not surprised that service chiefs absconded yesterday’s swearing-in ceremony of Morgan Tsvangirai as PM, arguing that they cannot salute to someone who never participated in Zimbabwe’s liberation. Mr. kunda does not appreciate the enormous sacrifice our freedom fighters had to endure in order to liberate us from colonialism.
Is RB a freedom fighter ? They have run out of money transporting RB from country to country .POOR F.F :((:((:((
Credit cunch yabekata bamposa mabwe !
Maybe Mr. Kunda thinks the fight for freedom was an easy game. A lot of blood was shed and real men & women had to sacrifice their lives.
These patriots need to be honoured without excuses. Every explanation in the story is just unacceptable.
[-(
:Mr kunda if those people never sacrified they life ans time to fight for the freedom of vour mother zambia,you could not even be favoured by Banda to be a vice president.So how could you not consider the freedom fighters on merits of their injuries.your response shows that you were not even ready to be in the office of V.P.
The true freedom fighters died fighting. Not these who just claim meanwhile bali bakaboyi babasungu elo babikila umusungu ‘sepe’ Lelo ati freedom fighter ?
KUNDA UCINDIKE
Bafyafye tabalanda sana tata!
This is a double standard at its best. Zambia is still paying pensions to white racist from the colonial days, why not extend the service to freedom fighters?
This ill-informed response came from the Vice President? As a previous blogger said, our hopes were that whatever shot comings RB may have are compensated by an intellingent and capable Veep. Now all hope is lost! They cant even compensate those who were injured? The question specifically asked about those injured and not all freedom fighters. And honestly how many are likely to still be alive. If govt cannot help this patriots then who will? Its is not even a case of rewarding them but compensating them for their losss and helping them attain a decent leaving. Im really disappointed and worried about the morality if the government. I truly hope he was expressing his personal position
Isn’t it awful that only we the younger generation are grateful to what these men and women did for our country? mr. Kunda, remember that had it not been for the freedom fighters, you wouldn’t be where you are. These guys fought their lungs out fighting for the very freedom you and your children are enjoying right now.
This govt does not care for zambians of any kind apart for themselves. SHAME Kunda 8-x, Shame on Bwezani:-b. just coz you will be dying soon doesnt mean others should suffer. Come 2011. Zambia shall be saved.
Fyabupuba ifyo ba Kunda. With out those guys you could have not been in that office. The govt should take care.
and they fly themselves to south africa for treatment, animal farm my friends.
if the government cant help a disabled freedom fighter,then do you think they can look after a civil servant well? these guyz they are jst after self interests!!!!!! GOD HELP US!!!!^:)^^:)^^:)^^:)^
Ba Kunda needs some mental examination… how many of these freedom fighters are now alive ? Please continue supporting them. My father is now 80years old. All his collegues who befitted are gone… dead. there is just a handful remaining #-o#-o#-o
Kunda is nothing but crazy. If he has got nothing to say, JUST SHUT UP!!
Kunda is right! There is no evidence of such casualties in our history. Why didnt they ask for compensation 45 years ago? These people are simply finding excuses of having the government of the day feed them. These so called freedom fighters are simply suffering from old age syndrome. When you are 80 years old and has a back pain, dont blame it on your having been a freedom fighter. Its due to old age, the body has stopped renewing itself at that age. Get over it people.
Yes, I think the veep went off side here. Can he be advised on how to respond to things that he never planned. This is a very bad response from a leader. Shame on him surely, doesn’t he render help to his grandparents if they are still alive? How different are his grandparents from those freedom fighters? Would he be Veep if Zambia had not won its independence through their struggle? I think at times, people need to sit back and think like people. Bushe ba veep, mwafumine kwisa imwe?
I am deeply sad to learn such details coming from the whole lot of our Zambian Vice President/Minister of Justice George Kunda. What a waste!
I believe that he should have asked form more time to consult former UNIP high ranking official now MMD Zambian President RB Banda for advice on this one. It is important for any government to render any material support to those fore-fathers of ours who fought hard for our Independence and also to liberate the rest of Southern Africa.
I really wonder what criteria is used to select our leaders by our President RB Banda.
I wish the the very best in discharging their solemn duties though as I hope thay will improve with time.
iwe ci Kunda uli chipuba sana
” Mr. Kunda further said it was not possible to set aside a day other than independence and African freedom day to commemorate Zambians who died in the struggle for independence. ”
These are the same shameless individuals who voted themselves a payrise.
Shame on him, and the MMD.
iwe kakunda nichani so. how many are they? if ever they are not even more 100 najala pa zed. please give these guys there due. respect the heros atase. please kakunda iwe without these people we would u be.mbwe mbweta destroyers…u re benefiting bazako ati yayi ok tuzaona. there cries mulungu avela Chiluba uyo…wait filiuko tuleya
Maestro Hhehhehhehhe at least u make sense. if only u could eat pork u would be greater than that. but u deprive ur self in the name of religion…kapoloni na anglian s/sage plus naka tea beside becon wow yabaza. but from the look of things u re not serious with ur woman EG White u eat meat. thats y uliko nanzelu…yes i c…ok che but tugelo che ndiwe bad ok nanama Maestro Hhehhehhehhe …waona chaseka ati Hhehhehhehhe chivela mushe nkhani ya tugelo ba sichikudya pork… thanx nice contribution.. :d:d:d:d:d:d:d
what a shame so ..ninshi disscusion closed!!! eh.. balanda ba vp!!!… shame on u Rupiah and kunda shame!!!! but its ok for government to buy u bright ugly suits yall be wearing…IM JUMPING OUT THE WINDOW WITH THIS ONE!!! /:)
Learn to respect elders Ba Mudala ba Kunda.
Mr kunda be considerate ,dont tell me that my grandfather lost his front teeth fighting for our independence for nothing,he needs compensation. :d
Cutey, maureen, lisa, sarah jones, you are mahules.
F##you Kunda, you don’t think, you son of a3333. F###and your family. Kunda F###K YOU
44 and 45 you are one person!!
41. your flag KING COBRA greetings and thanks mukhulu?
Definitely I still eat meat especially chicken and fish stuff, but not pork.
On Mrs E.G. White, I very much respect her work and I am glad she made it clear that the Holy Bible is the greater while her work was the lesser one. She also made mention that those who can’t understand her writings must use the Holy Bible to avoid being confused for THE HOLY BIBLE has everything that she was tasked to write as a special end time message to true worshippers of God, the Creator.
Keep well and have a blessed day.
Those who eat pork are abusing freedom fighters.
kunda i think you need special mental examination. You are sick [-([-([-([-([-(
Such comments are not surprising. What do we expect from such leaders anyway? They might as well be sleep talking.|-)
by the way how many freedom fighters do we have?
Danny in one of his songs sung that:”AMANO YONSE YAYA MWITOLOSHI”. Zedians, as we all know, when that disease reaches an advanced stage, thinking becomes tricky as it is usually over taken by tempers. In addition, pipo stop thinking using their brains but start using the heart. Thats the condition of GK.
It’s a shame that tha vp wud get so low in his reasoning.
Iwe Kunda, government is government it does not matter who is running it. You have compensete those people who have made it possible for you to speak in parley and in English and to be able to become alawyer and some VP. Identify them and pay up. You dont find it difficult to raise your so why are you biting the finger.
How many of these Freedom fighters are remaining? Very few. Kunda wake up and give a helping hand. Ala tashifula!
This is something the freedom fighters including former President Kaunda forgot to do PROBABLY due to the fact that at independence almost anybody worth recognising got a job somehow and so they forgot to set up a pension scheme for freedom fighters. My concern is on the definition of term FREEDOM FIGHTERS? Is it the politicians and cadres only? Or does it include every Zambian who was in Northern Rhodesia agitating for independence up to the time of independence? If we restrict ourselves to the well known names only then there are indeed very few veterans to take care of. This also means that relatives of those who have already died should somehow be rewarded.
#BM. I think lets narrow it to leadership otherwise you end payin 3m Zambians(census at independence). Any way Kunda should not be arrogant to the people who have made it possible for him to be able to be VP
Anyway, i suppose fighting for freedom is done at your own risk!! Chibi, Ka? [-(
Hello mwebantu!!! why are you so angry and surprised by ba honourable Vp’s statement??? were you expecting anything better when it comes to taking care of other people??? these are zedian politics gentlemen busy enriching themselves with abnormal pay rise hilest the police man who guards them is starving!!! atleat am not disappointed am getting used to these Leaders embaracing us day in day out,only time will tell!!!
There are no FREEDOM FIGHTERS IN ZAMBIA. We’ve never had a militia in Northern Rhodesia nor Zambia. Stop this nonsense. Stoning a white woman with her two children to death in a car is not FREEDOM fighting I want to be associated with! :((
Please its how war vets in Zim started, I am sure they benifited under Kaunda.
ba kunda chipuba sana , you think because you were not a freedom fighter you think all is well, muletponga fye mumutalalilo instaed of cutting welfare to these galanta men and women who had the courage to give us trge freedom we are now enjoying
these idots should be removed in power baya sana
come 2010, umo azalila
HEY WE HAVE NOT HEARD THE HEROBOY AUXECIO MAWELE FOR A LONG TIME ,NOW THAT THERE IS A NEW GOVT THIS BOY SHOULD BE SUPPORTED ,MR PRESIDENT SATA WHAT IS UR TAKE?