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OASIS Forum urge Zambians to unite resisting PF’s Government attempt to take the country backwards

By editor
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The OASIS Forum has urged Zambians to unite as they have done in the past to resist the new attempt by the current PF Government to take the country backwards. In a press statement where they have declared full support for the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), the OASIS Forum said that they were alarmed at the speed with which the PF Government was reversing the many hard-won democratic gains of the Zambian people.

They reminded the PF Government that as a nation, Zambians have come a long way and they will not sit and watch as the PF Government attempts to re-introduce a de-facto one party state in this country either through costly and unnecessary bye –elections or through intimidation of critics.

The OASIS Forum called for an end to detentions, arbitrary arrests, harassment and intimidation of all those critical of Government and of the PF.

Below is the full statement

For Immediate release.

14 December 2012.

The Oasis Forum Stands together with the Law Association of Zambia .There is no doubt that Zambia, today, is at a crossroads.

We, the undersigned, having consulted within our organisations, find it to be in bad taste the attempts by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government and State House officials to demonise and try to isolate the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ).

We are dismayed by statements aimed at LAZ as an organisation and in particular its president, Mr. James Banda. The President of LAZ, Mr. James Banda, speaks on behalf of the association and usually after wide consultation and deliberation by the various committees of LAZ. To vilify him in his individual capacity is therefore grossly unfair and highly divisive.

As the Oasis Forum, we wish it to be known that we stand solidly with LAZ and fully support the stance taken by the association on several issues that are of concern to all well-meaning Zambians.

We support wholeheartedly the position of LAZ on the Public Order Act and we commend them for taking, to the High Court of Zambia, this matter of the Public Order Act and Statutory Instrument No.33.

We agree with LAZ that the way the PF Government is going about implementing the Public Order Act is both high-handed and “unreasonable”. The PF Government is abusing the Zambia Police and infringing, with impunity, the freedoms of citizens.

The recent arrest of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) leadership, on the Copperbelt, is one such case in point.

Similarly, we are solidly behind other positions taken by the LAZ such as the need (among others) to interrogate the current practice on who can be acting president in the absence of the Republican President; the need to protect the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) from being intimidated as the Republican President attempted to do when he recently insisted that the ACC inform him if investigating senior Government officials.

We expected the Republican President to reprimand the Justice Minister, Hon. Wynter Kabimba, for his conduct at the ACC offices. We are equally concerned and join LAZ in condemning the unprecedented spate of deportations and revocations to remain in Zambia by the Government.

We believe these deportations are illegal and an abuse of the deportation Act by the current Minister of Home Affairs.

As key stakeholders in the affairs of this nation we are alarmed at the speed with which the PF Government is reversing the many hard-won democratic gains of the Zambian people. We wish to remind this Government that we have come a long way, as a nation, and we will not sit and watch as the PF Government attempts to re-introduce a de-facto one party state in this country either through costly and unnecessary bye –elections or through intimidation of critics.

We therefore call for an end to detentions, arbitrary arrests, harassment and intimidation of all those critical of Government and of the PF.

We wish to remind the Republican President, Mr. Michael Sata, that at his inauguration as President, he stood in front of the Supreme Court and before the whole nation and with his hand on the Bible swore to God and Zambia that he would preserve, protect and defend the Republican Constitution. Soon afterwards he personally proclaimed that he would rule this nation on Christian principles. We would like to see him do more of these things.

It is imperative that Zambians unite as we have done in the past to resist this new attempt to take us backwards. Governments are good only when citizens are vigilant.

OASIS FORM CONVENERS
Fr. Cleophas Lungu (Secretary General, Zambia Episcopal Conference – ZEC)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Rev. Suzanne Matale (General Secretary, Council of Churches in Zambia – CCZ)
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Ms. Beatrice Grillo (Chairperson, Non Governmental Organisations Coordinating Council – NGOCC)

editor
editorhttp://www.lusakatimes.com

76 COMMENTS

  1. More bitter characters joining the fold.Don`t hate the player hate the game.These are politics for you.They are not for the faint hearted.

    • It is clear that you are NOT a well meaning Zambian to condone or revel in the current state of affairs. Unfortunately, this world is also home to the “judas” mentality like betrayers and blind followers too…

    • Gentlemen take it easy.I am a mature man who is actually above the average life expectancy in Zambia.The only problem here is we don`t have the same political ideologies.Having different views is what sets apart us different as individuals.Please don`t let your opinion of things overcloud your sense of good judgement.Bola panshi

    • Gentlemen take it easy.I am a mature man who is actually above the average life expectancy in Zambia.The only problem here is we don`t have the same political ideologies.Having different views is what sets us apart as different individuals.Please don`t let your opinion of things overcloud your sense of good judgement.Bola panshi

    • Yes, I am sure you do…even Idi Amin in Uganda had one….
      It just wasn’t one shaped or is it driven by a desire to better his people. Hence my point, you are simply not a well meaning Zambian irrespective of your ideology. 

    • My dear brother-it’s a worry(tribal blogging is primitive blogging)-Thats what makes life ironic and leads to others to become philosophers.Life is and will never be a one sided affair.I know in your mind you are fully convinced that your ideology is the best.I bet thats the human in you giving you that conviction because no average sane human will over put the beliefs and principles of another human being before his.I understand your situation.My message to you is…respect other peoples opinion because no two individuals are the same.

    • Zebige,
      I haven’t even shared my idiologies here and I don’t not think that defending the indefensible is an ideology by any measure in politics. And politics should be about idiologies that will provide for the masses. Even a thief has idiologies that serve his interests (steal from those who work for what they accumulate without working for it) but you can’t just leave him alone if his actions are not serving the interests of the wider society. Comes back to that point again…( you are simply not a well meaning Zambian irrespective of idiologies).

    • What is an idiology in the first place ? I think i am fighting a unbalanced battle here because of your lack of analytical skills.We are simply not on the same page.Remember the old saying about arguing with….i rest my case.

    • @Zebige why not let it go ? You are debating with a retard who can’t see your well articulated points.You can use that energy for something else instead of wasting it on a loser with a false sense of reality.Lekeni tubonbeko

    • To the two of you ideologists 
      I belief “ideology” simply means “beliefs” which are borne out of principles. If I am right, then read the article and apply your idiologies and see what the reflect? A better Zambia for all or simply a better path for the few? Without insults, it comes back to the same point that your so called ideology is not “well intended for Zambia” at large. If I have missed the point, please articulate and I may just jump on the bandwagon or is it the boat? Intelligent debate does not stop at the first difference … You agree to differ when you articulate your “idiologies” and identify substantial differences that you can’t agree on….so what is your ideology in relation to politics as they impact on the subject…

  2. More bitter characters joining the fold.Don`t hate the player hate the game.These are politics for you.They are not for the faint hearted..

    • @Zebige, Politics are not a game. You are dealing with people’s lives and welfare. You can’t treat people as if they were merely pawns on a chess board. Thinking like yours is extremely dangerous to society. You need a conscience!

  3. I dont know why i have no more faith in LAZ/OASIS FORUM than i had in 2001. I feel that i was betrayed along the way. I need help because even these dtatements i just feel they are meant to hoodwink masses. I dont know why i dont feel that we are together with OASIS FORUM/Laz. Why???????? Please help.

  5. More bitter chaps crying wolf.Take it easy and cut this playing to the gallery crap.We all know you chaps have partisan issues

    • At first, they thought the pf govt had a teething problem but now they are seeing a trend in the wrong direction.

  8. Thats the spirit now our Forum, support LAZ before this government takes us so much backwards. The idea is just deliver like the way Kabwili is doing then all of us will eb singing praises, not what Kabimba is doing promoting one party state by all means and chasing friends from the party, please deliver fuel, inputs, mealie meal, kill army worms not MMD Please. Your energies be focused on delivering to the people then all the masses will be with you and there will be no need of fighting yo competitors because of yo failures.

  9. They are not attempting to take they country backwards they have just failed to improve and sort out challenges hence we are going backwards from where RB left. Chaps are busy chocking each other for power

  10. I only agreed with these guys during the Chiluba anti-third term fight.After that these guys have being compromised and diluted to the core.

  13. So this ka forum has now decided to take the place of the clueless, visionless opposition. Bitter Grillo is failing to come to terms with the defeat of MMD and her contract ending at NGOCC so she is trying to justify an extension. The Oasis forum should have a genuine cause to champion and always side with the people but if all they want is publicity and being hell raisers well the PF is more than ready meet with them head on. This game called politics is not for the faint hearted and this issue the seem to parroting about LAZ President is nonsense at its best. James Banda knows very well that commenting on matters which are before the courts is contempt but because Grillo told him he will be a hero he gets excited and decides to forget the law. As they parrot we focus on delivery.

  14. The current OASIS Forum lacks the wherewithal of it’s forerunner in the days gone-by. All it can do today is issue limpid statements, and consequently, casts no shadow on Zambia’s political landscape. One would, for instance, expect them to denounce organizations and individuals that willfully break the law, but alas, OASIS Forum is in the fore- front championing and defending lawlessness.

    • Which law?
      Should the police determine who you talk to?
      As a public figure, wherever you go a crowd will gather around you. How do you get police permit in such circumstances?

  15. THE PF IS ACTING LIKE A YOUNG SHE HYENA WHO DANCED HERSELF LAME WITH EXCITEMENT BEFORE THE MAIN DANCE WHICH WAS TO BEGIN IN FOUR HOURS’ TIME.
    LET THEM ASK KK, THEY MAY NOT BE IN OFFICE TO  2016 IF THEY CONTINUE PUSHING US AGAINST THE WALL LIKE THIS.

    OASIS AND LAZ, WE ARE BEHIND YOU. SPEAK FOR US BECAUSE WHEN US ZAMBIANS AS A WHOLE DECIDE TO SPEAK, PF WILL REGRET  FOR TAKING US FOR GRANTED.

  16. This is pure politics.now the problem in zambia is ignorance on law and politics.any assembly like feneral,church overnight,etc needs permission from police.democracy is expensive hence let’s be ready and budget for more by-elections as that the norm

  17. ba OASIS  agree with on the other issues ,but not the deportations, if one is a threat to national peace I believe he should be deported.long are the MMD days where foreign were free to engage in all sort of  illegal activities just because he or she has connection to the those in power.

  19. Failure to listen to just institutions will lead the down fall of PF…churches are in directly contact with people on the ground who behave differently from ‘members of the party’ and speak more substance than the chitengi bearers dancing for the cabinet..listening to the chitengi bearers with their distorted view of progress is dangerous…ask UNIP and MMD.

  20. PF government has squandered all the goodwill they had from the masses. Only the criminals in post will dye with PF like ticks on a dead animal because they have taken an oath to support illigality for life. Mmembe the little fool is the lead satanist 

  21. African democracy is still in infamcy and our politicians are not for public service but for self service.zambians have already forgotten the arrests of sata during mmd rule.we know very much that its extremely rare for a former ruling part ot rule again in africa.as a zambian politian you need to foresee the future.where is sikvia masebo she is a minister probably upto 2016.

  22. COUNCIL OF CHURCHES LISTEN, SO MANY PEOPLE NEED TO HEAR THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST, REFOCUS YOUR LENSES. PREACH THE GOOD NEWS PERIOD!

  24. @No 11, PF ChiefBootlicker, the catholic church is represented through the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) and not Council of Churches

  26. Don’t complain just dance to the tune You voted PF once a thug always a thug . We told you the guy you are voting for can be a dictator . So mother Fakazz stop complaining dance to don chi ukubeba

  27. so chellah ena is now busy drafting a reply for his excelence. before you do that bwana, go through this press release again, digest its contents and then advise your boss accordingly cos what is contained in that release is “fatherly advise and timely warning.” only a fool will want to counter it. if you have ears……!!!

  29. I love my country Zambia. Zambia is in my heart even if I live in the diaspora. Atleast I am able to visit my country twice a year. I can also say that I have invested in Zambia heavily.
    But one thing that depresses me whenever I open the Zambian news websites is Zambian politicians. I can honestly admit that I hate Zambian politics and politicians. The reasons are all well known by Zambian, I presume.

  30. I see that a lot PF followers are condemning the Oasis Forum for condemning the PF and its secretary general. Yes you may be a PF support, but that does not mean that you should support the idea of Zambia becoming a one Party State as Kabimba is suggesting. Only someone sick upstairs would subscribe to such backward ideas. Look at how these PF leaders are behaving even now that we are still in Multiparty politics. What will happen to Kabimba, GBM and Sata once we slide back to that era? They will start killing everyone who fails to raise the PF party symbol to salute them. These men are brutal. Can we please workup country men and women and rise above party affiliation. This is about Zambia and not MMD, PF, NAREP or UPND. 

  31. Lubinda***No one is supporting PF here. What we dont support are turncoats who today they will say this tomorow they will say this. And that is OASIS FORUM AND LAZ

  32. The issue here is that what the Oasis Forum and LAZ are saying in my view is the truth and their stand deserve support by all well meaning Zambian regardless of what they had said and stood for in the past. This behavior in this country were we think that if the wrong happening to your friend does not affect you directly then it is fine and you don’t stand with them, next time it will be you. We need to support all those who are treated unjustly whether they are in a party we do not like such as what happened to Nevers  Mumba and HH. In future it will be your president Sata once he leaves power or indeed any other person.

  33. Where were these Oasisi Forum and LAZ when HH was being Tear gassed by the Police!? They were sitted Ndwiiiiii if i may comment in a typical Zambian tone!!!

  34. #6 BLESSINGS. God advise. Be like the catholic church. They will attack when its necessary. They’re still watching and observing. Intelligent people do this. The right time will come for them to talk. Give people chance to prove themselves

  36. Oasis forum where are you from?i thought you went into oblivion.eeeeh!you need to come out vigorously,speak about the injustices of the country.

  37. Well done OASIS Forum. These PF thugs think they have held the country by its balls and they can do as they wish. They have taken the people’s patience for granted. Take this as timely advice.

  38. This so called forum for blah,blah,only worked twice for Zambian people anti third term for chiluba and the removal of his immunity period since there after you guys have been such a sleeping dog….

  39. It is of necessity that Zambians should suffer most and lament before they see the need to discard what they have embraced as UMUFUNGATILWA.

  41. Has some one stopped what Chiluba started, all we need are credible strong political parties, it is not sympath but strong parties who should challenge pf but of now i dont see that

  42. How can we really respect old men that can’t respect themselves? Just because some of our politicians are old doesn’t mean there wise. Sata preached through tear gas and dust as far as Kanyama telling the people that he would fight corruption, poverty, unemployment and have a small Government. Does he mean his funding the new unplanned districts, his championing corruption and taking away even what was suppose to be on poor people’s table just to have a stupid majority. The real fear is what does this old man want with a majority, why cant he work for that majority in the next election instead of bribing people and causing unnecesary tensions in the country, when Kabimba talks of one party state is he saying as PF or Government. The excitment and confusion of PF is staggering.

  43. Why are Zedians so averse to criticism and progressive ideas? We are so blinded by tribalism that any critical stand against ones’ tribal president or party is dismissed away without reasoning. Whatever your tribe or political stance, what Oasis said here is sensible and valid. Ignore it at your own peril. Remember the next president might be from another tribe, and Oasis should continue with its sensible criticism. Because it is constructive.

  44. This is like a nightmare coming true. Everyone knew the history of Sata in MMD and how he assisted Chiluba in dismantle the opposing voice in MMD. He engineered the hounding out of people like Miyanda and Nawakwi from the MMD convention and we still voted for him. We should have seen this coming. “Mumbwe aitile mpashi nokumububa shamububa”

  46. So far so good ba Kabimba and Co. Keep it up. The chaps complaining represent not even 0.000001% of the Zambian people. Infact they are the same ones that are usually broke becuase of too many concubines. Instead of investing money, they are buying “Chinese-Brazillian hair” for College girls; paying for nails; buying expensive phones, etc. Then once they are broke, they rant like useless pigs. We all know the usual suspects, Beleg, Goncalves, Umupondo, Voodoo, Octopus Paul Bwalya, Dojo Do and other silly small boys.

  47. Zambia has never experienced any coups but i do not think dictator Sata and his minions will survive any coup that comes if he continues this dangerous path of taking Zambians backwards.

    Honestly he can not survive this. No matter his IDI AMIN style of governance.

    Every Zambians is against Sata and his PF. Zambians hates Sata with a great passion of his dictatorship

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