By Field Ruwe
Sata on a path of self-destruction
The Constitution; Paramount Chief Chitimukulu; Mining in Lower Zambezi; “Useless PF MPs:” We are watching perhaps the voluntary self-destruction of President Michael Sata. Mark my words; if Sata falls from grace his confidants, including Guy Scott, Wynter Kabimba, Willie Nsanda, Chisimba Kambwili, and other legatees will lather and wash their hands in the usual turncoat style and describe him as the deaf and dumb red emperor who listened only to his voice.
“He treated us like sheep,” they will say. “He took us to the pasture in a rocky and barren land and left us there. Like sheep there was absolutely nothing we could do about it, even if we bleated.”
Others will say that his cabinet meetings were a sheer waste of time. “We were the butt of his ridicule. He subjected us to his abrasive comments, and forced us to listen to his archaic ideas. Those who dare voice a conflicting opinion left the room without clothing. In as far as he was concerned we were all chaff.”
The learned like Scott will be on television: “He was a megalomaniac,” they will decry. “A stone deaf despotic, dictatorial leader…completely allergic to advice…”
“Why didn’t you stop him, he’s your friend.”
“I tried,” Scott will say. “Like I said, you can’t teach an old dog new tricks. When I made an effort, he grabbed the leash and flogged me with it. So I said what the heck, nivutikilanji.”
And “Innocent Chimfuntumba” will add: “He behaves that way because he’s a Tanzanian. He has nothing to lose. Like he told me, he will simply run away to his country of origin and never set a foot here.”
In a political party of apostates and renegades the above narration is not far-fetched—it is not fiction. It is very easy to throw Sata under the bus if he blows his reign, and it is possible he could do just that because he carries with him symptoms of self-destruction that are manifested in his egoistical trait and are evidenced in outrageous comments like “show me an animal-driven constitution.” Such an irresponsible comment can only come from a person who is so benighted he does not understand the importance of a constitution and its ramifications if fractured. He does not know or chooses to ignore the fact that the constitution has been the downfall of tyrants and dictators.
Why is Sata in the habit of undermining our intelligence?
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Why does he tell us falsehoods? Why is he at liberty to cause us so much pain, stress, and anxiety? Why would a head of state urge his people to ignore the constitution debate? “Zambia does not need a new constitution,” he said. “We already have one.” This was after vowing a new constitution would be ready within the shortest period if he became president. While constitutional rhetoric in an election campaign is an important component of the candidate’s strategy to winning, failing to carry out the campaign promise on such a sensitive issue, and meddling with it like Sata is doing, is a recipe for self-destruction.
“Doctors must examine his mental state,” Nevers Mumba said.
[pullquote]Did you notice how rationally he responded to calls by the diplomatic corps and NGOs to resolve the constitution impasse? [/pullquote]
All those like Mumba who believe that Sata’s mind is so unsound he could take the country over the cusp of the abyss may not be far from the truth. But they also need to understand who he really is. The entire nation must be aware of what seems to provoke, attract, or trigger an element of recklessness in him. We have the right to thoroughly know him because his far-reaching actions like debasing the constitution, disrespecting the Bemba chiefdom, demeaning his own MPs, affect our emotions, thoughts, and activities.
President Sata may be perfectly normal, all I know. It is possible his outrageous acts are intentional. He could be using them to confuse potential usurpers. Did you notice how rationally he responded to calls by the diplomatic corps and NGOs to resolve the constitution impasse? “Government will consider the recommendations [of the constitution], because we have to factor the logistical and financial repercussions in order not to derail other pressing developmental projects,” he said in an urgent matter-of-fact. Clearly a lie, but it is all the same a statement far removed from his absurd “animal-driven constitution” ranting meant for us. So, why does he choose to sound erratic and obnoxious to us and perfectly logical to the nonpareil?
Answer: Because we have allowed him to.
Intellectuals empowered King Cobra
Let me put it crudely; our lackluster intellectuals, the so-called professors and doctors in our corporate and higher institutions of learning like the University of Zambia have helped him to elevate his erratic behavior to an art form. They have lamentably failed to be the country’s cognitive elite that protects the vulnerable, the hopeless, and the defenseless. They have failed to cleverly and intellectually identify and expose the incumbent’s psychological manipulative tactics. Because in their fraternity they don’t see eye-to-eye they have failed to create counter strategies aimed at watering down Sata’s maneuvers, some that could lead to a revolution.
In the absence of an effective intellectual watchdog, Sata has turned erratic behavior into a weapon; a scythe with which to mow the same intellectuals and keep them trimmed down to subservience. In fact he noticed the intellectual laissez-faire attitude back in 1985 when Kaunda extolled him as the “genius” who fixed Lusaka. He saw that Zambian intellectuals were not woven together and shared no causal entities that would transform the country into a power house; that they have failed to do what he did for Lusaka.
When some of the so-called intellectuals attempted to bar him from participating in the presidential elections because he did not have a degree, he retorted: “A degree or piece of paper written or signed by someone…some kama wigged or capped chap will not stand in my political way, it will not stand in my aspirations.” Sata’s comments stemmed from the fact that Zambian intellectuals had absolutely nothing to show off, not an invention or innovation. They were not as creative as he. And when he saw that they had failed to navigate through the minds of the poor, come out with great ideas, and benefit from their support, he created a mystical bond with them [the poor], pitched his themes to their desires, and pledged to be their savior.
He dribbled and dazzled the intellectuals they called him “King Cobra,” and he loved it. He was so excited he bought an effigy of the adder and displayed it in his office. Not a day passed without looking at it. To him, it projected his daily might; his feelings, thoughts, and experiences. It helped to quip his neural circuitry with proper defense appliances. He felt impregnable, untouchable, dangerous, and unpredictable. To him “King Cobra” was more than a tag for his ruggedness and insolence. It provided security and concealed who he really was. It made it possible for us to know him only tangentially; only as Lusaka’s superman. Yes, the title “King Cobra” conveyed symbolic ideas beyond meaning and consolidated his political integrity. With it he was able to apply emotional manipulation to intimidate, alarm, or put intellectuals in a temporary paralysis.
It is therefore with the help of the Zambian intelligentsia that King Cobra, with a humble education (Form 2), and with little understanding of the principles and fundamentals of democracy, and the power of the constitution, won the election and was elevated to demi-godly status. Zambian intellectuals accorded him untrammeled executive powers. He is now in a position to delay or kill the draft constitution or insist on one in which he is both kin-pin and eternal emperor of the nation. He can use his executive powers to dethrone Paramount Chief Chitimukulu and appoint a chief of his liking right in the face of the “brave” Bembas. He is now the head of state and commander-in-chief. In the ambit of the so-called democracy we have given Michael Chilufya Sata the red button to do with it whatever he likes.
Why future presidents should have a degree
With Sata at the helm, it has become clear why future presidents should have a degree of some sort. Going by his handling of the draft constitution and his utterances on the matter, he does not have the academic clout on which to exercise his faculties. There is no intellectual dialogue going on between him and the citizenry, a clear indication that with his humble education he is not naturally inclined to intellectual debate. He is unable to use his knowledge to validate his concerns and offer some reflective listening and thinking. Often learned presidents, question, challenge, and empower the populace. Sata does the opposite because he does not know how. This should perhaps explain why he is not so enthusiastic about press conferences. Facebook is his comfort zone because he can engage ghost writers and respondents.
It also explains why his erratic behavior has become idiosyncratic. He uses it to mask his inadequacies, and insufficiencies. Often when he finds himself in the presence of people he perceives as smarter than him, he consciously or unconsciously applies the “roll over” tactic as a utility for self-empowerment. Those familiar with such semantics know that he is using erratic behavior to defy accurate judgment of his abilities, capabilities, and intellectual assessment. In all his media appearances we have watched him disengage the interviewer and take over the show. We saw him do that to Charles Mando and Goretti Mapulanga [both departed] and turn a serious interview into a “reality TV” show. He did so because he was afraid they could expose his intellectual deficiency. You only need to replay his interviews to see how he fails to articulate issues perceptively.
I know I am being hard on the president. He entered State House for this very reason; to be held responsible for his shortfalls. Those who support him may find it repugnant and inappropriate to attack him when they believe he is doing his best. But at the same time, it will be utterly irresponsible, timidly and outright wrong to watch him rule with such recklessness. We shall not bury our heads in the sand and allow him to rule by hook or crook, by trial and error, or learn as he rules. First and foremost as president he bears personal moral responsibility to secure a protected democracy. His office demands honesty, integrity, and dedication, and not lies and shenanigans. Most importantly, a man of his status must be a professional politician who understands both legislative and executive responsibilities. He must carry on the system of government with all the seriousness it deserves. He must always be reminded that we, the people of Zambia are not fools, we can tell a sweet potato when we see one.
Did you Know? That there is life away from lusakatimes.
Really? Like where – Watchdog?
Great piece Field! I have a quick question, why is it taking you so long to defend your thesis and earn that PhD?
No Mojo life like online shopping and playing candy crush saga.
I can’t agree more. Scratching hard to figure out where PF’s back-born is with all this mess.
What the PF bafoons need to know though is, everyone who has stolen will be JAILED, and all his little possessions confiscated from them. PF will be used as a lesson to all future leaders never to steal from the people.
With all the dagga he smoked at school in Chingola, how did Ruwe become an American? He he he he he!
Why cant he go back home in Zimbabwe and help Morgan liberate Zimbabwe?
The good thing about living in the USA is that you think everyone in Africa is dull.
I agree with the author particularly the first part of the article where mentioned that Sata is in self-destruction mode. Its true that if Sata falls from grace, his confidants will wash their hands in the usual turncoat style and describe him as the deaf and dumb red emperor who listened only to his voice.
This what is going to happen.
Great piece Field! I have a quick question, why is it taking you so long to defend your thesis and earn that PhD?
True, that is why no head of state has ever visited him as they are afraid of getting embarrassed, he will take over the whole conversation with his patronising jokes over serious business to cover up his intellectual inadequacies. In Ethipia one head of state or head of an international organisation said Sata is different from the rest and the Past newspaper interpreted it as a positive instead of the real meaning that he was a misfit amongst presidents. The Past Newspaper can sing praises of his intellect and vision but we already know who he is really just as we already know that he has no plan for Zambia’s development and progress. The sooner we get rid of him from state house, the better for Zambia.
Chamachakomboka could have done a slightly better job probably.
This is indeed a great Analysis. You ve kept us awake Ruwe.
I remember Chiluba warned about this Man Called Sata.
He is a destroyer
Spot on! This is a great piece of information very truthful,precise and eloquently true.
I fail to understand why this guy “Failed Ruwe” fails to correct the wrongs in MUGABE in Zimbabwe where he comes from but only attacks President Sata as if he is his man.
I have said it before that SATA is no supper human to correct the many mistakes previous Governments made the last 50 years of our Independence. For god’s sake lets join him in Government and correct the so much talked about ‘wrongs’ FROM WITHIN PF Government. Crying ‘Wolf’ and even breaking the Laws of Zambia carelessly as a way of protest and attracting attention from the outside Zambia will not help. Bushe tamumfwa?
I think you should analyse issues before you post anything. This is a very good advise to both the President and the people of Zambia. The president is surely on a self destruction mode. You dont run a country in this manner. He needs to listen and shape his administration around a clique of intellectuals instead of cadres. Look at the Minister of Justice. Surely if this is how a minister of Justice should be then we dont need one. Field Ruwe is a full Zambian. He has no business in Zimbabwe. He can therefore not advise Mugabe. If you question his Citizenship, then question Guy Scott’s as well. Why should we accept Guy Scott a white and reject our fellow black? This is timely advice to Sata and PF. STOP destroying yourselves and start ruling! Bembas rise against the Black Mamba. Thanks.
I have always thought Field Ruwe’s challenge to all sectors of Zambian society needs to be taken heed of for meaningful development in our country. The ideal of being ruled by politicians who do politics for the sake of politics is now long gone while Zambia still wallows in such an era. Our country is being led to distraction before our very own eyes. The pools of intellectuals, journalists, legal experts are all being consumed in the ‘game of politics’ while the country is driven into retardation.
Sata thrives on confusion, as has been said before. The ‘Chirwagate’ scandal and Zambia railways is Sata driven, all the professors on the board where played for fools . Chiluba used his own trickery to make all believe he was the prodigal son. Looking around there is no one left. We…
The president is evidently not a normal person, his irrational behaviour and lies alone is enough to classify him as such.
We need an intelligential driven change in our country, Am in!!!
‘You are in’, just on internet
Even myself
This has nothing to do with his education or degree, president Sata is very stubborn and is using the power vested in the outdated constitution. This is the same constitution which our colonial masters used to suppress us, and is the same constitution freedom fighters fought against. It is either greed or selfish of a party in power to continue using outdated constitution which was biased towards the minority, colonial masters. Power engineers are diploma holders in the USA or Canada who run power stations far superior than Zambian engineers with degrees. “Knowledge is power in the area of specialization”. The educated ministers & educated PF MPs are a let down to Zambian people. Stop blaming Sata because if the educated MP voted for the draft constitution, we should be smiling by now.
Why Allow Mmembe confuse us through Chief Liar Nkomeshya? Nothing has changed but the post is trying to confuse chiefs that land has been taken away from them. Before, land was vested in the president. In the draft constitution, land is still vested in the president as follows:
2013 Draft
296. (1) Land is vested in the President and held by the President in trust for, and on behalf of, the people of Zambia.
(2) Land shall be administered and controlled for the common benefit of the people of Zambia.
297. (1) Land shall be delimited and classified as State land, customary land and such other classification, as prescribed.
(2) The President may, through the Lands Commission, alienate land to citizens and non-citizens, as prescribed.
(3) Land shall be held for a prescribed tenure…
Current Constitution (old)
The 1995 Land Act vests all Zambian land in the President and recognizes two tenure types: customary tenure and leasehold rights to state land.
Customary tenure can be converted into private leasehold tenure over state land at the election of the holder of the customary tenure. Once converted, customary rights are extinguished and the land cannot be converted back to customary tenure.
Zambia’s Water Act (1996) vests ownership of Zambia’s water resources (excluding those that form international boundaries) in the President.
‘Nothing to do with education or degrees’. But has Zambia tried it before? No. The closest we came was when we had Mwanawasa, and that’s when some real intelligent sons of Zambia like the Attorney general were brought into light. Di zambia do better? Yes. After all is said and done we will just think we should have done things differently. The current model with a political dunderhead at the top does not work. We initially tried with Kaunda and it ended in trears and queues for bread. Chiluba manipulated the Machungwas and the Mushota because of the powers vested in him by the people. we just have to try it for Zambia, forget what other countries have tried anf failed. Am in!!
Now he wants to ban our freedom of expression as stipulated in the Zambian Constitution by intemidating online news and blogs while he stands at the podium ‘preaching to us’ flanked by his learned wife. Freedom of expression is all we are left with and he wants to take it away using a manupulated Constitution. I believe this is my right which I have to fight for from start to finish, to use Mandela’s words, a right for which I am willing to die for if need be. Am in!!!
Mr field Ruwe, i always enjoy your articles very interesting but the only point i am not agree with you is a degree, what a president needs is wisdom not a degree how many fools do we see with degrees after all a president can appoint advisers who can help him but he can only appoint good ones with wisdom,sata is just useless.
Degree + Wisdom = Highest productivity
Wisdom alone = Average Productivity
….Field, we appreciate your logical contribution thru these postings….but please descend a few floors down from that skyscraper building u are operating from. U assume u are writing for your students only. Those ‘Pombostic’ kind of words and phrases are an impediment to otherwise a good articulated article. Try to simplify to accommodate all……
Probably a degree is asking for too much for the ‘old folks’ as we phase out. Don’t get me wrong Mr Sata, Kaunda and Chiluba are a geniuses for all they have achieved but they are not suitable for our setup. If atleast they had even some marginal education, they will have done. But to be fair they have gone past their best-by-date. Sata was good for then as Lusaka governor and probably even as Local government Minster and the very highest Minister without portiforlio to be kept under a watchful eye. Putting it bluntly giving him a job beyond has proved disasterous. There now has to be a ‘Hunt for a successor or a Hunt for a leader’ asap. Sata’s calibre and model won’t work in the current times. Things have gone pear-shaped and they will continue to heard in that downward trend…
Please please DO NOT MISUSE the word GENIUS! There is no genius in organising Panga fighters or stone throwers or MASS LOOTING of a country’s economy
Am in!!
Are we trying to say that we don’t need a President; all we need are advisors with degrees. Then we might as well let a group of advisors with degrees run the country without a dunderhead President. Or perharps an educated one, to a degree level or there about surrounded by educated advisors would even better, because they will be singing from the same hymn sheet. I feel the pain of advisors working with a dunderhead President. By the way a President is meant to make a judgement based on the expert information given to him. which is why an educated president is required to make proper judgment. Am in!!!
I for one, Mr. Sata is a genius, he has managed to manipulate people who are more educated and smarter than him to buy into his way of thinking. He is married to an educated woman. How many of you on here can do what he has done with the humble background and education he has? Mr. Sata has been the same from his UNIP days through the MMD days and the PF opposition days up to now, so to expect him to change is asking for the impossible. Get a life.
You have a good point. I also wonder why always this gloating down on his education standard when all those who are alledgedly “better educated” than him and degree holders had the same opportunity to challenge him when he was contesting for presidency. Is it not because they were all not able to match him in terms of consistency, political will and charisma? Or else their names would be here to represent them with an HE.
Keep on dreaming. If general elections were today, PF would still win. We are seeing more infrastructure and jobs developed than in MMD error. People living outside Zambia understand and contribute little to the country. Another 5 years, you will not recognise the office you left in Lusaka. Take time to come home and get stories from the people directly.
You’re the one who’s dreaming! Tell your Ukwa to dissolve parliament then and prove yourselves!
You are definitely dreaming yourself. Surely you believe statistics you cant verify? When people say we need to go to school, they just want to prevent such kind of logic. The Post has become the source of information for some you. You are unable to discern other logical authorities because your great leader is the only one with logical thinking and the rest of you have to follow. I’m sure if Sata said every Zambian has a Mansion you would believe it 100% without question despite the fact that you have none yourself. You must be one of those dull Kaponya type of PF supporters. You the type that believe in their own lies. You invent a lie and believe it is true because it is coming from you. Shame!
Zambia, is, indeed, a shining example of a democracy. You, Ruwe, couldn’t taste your next meal if you were from, say, Rwanda!
I agree with Ruwe. the president needs to be educated himself. Because Sata has surrounded himself with very educated people. in G Scott, WK, Nkandu luo, Dr Katema, Kasonde, even a medical doctor for a wife etc but all they have done is to start thinking like him – a form 2!!.
Indeed just like Field Ruwe I have often wondered why people like Scott, Kabimba, Mmembe, Chikwanda, Chenda and even Sichinga are doing with Sata. Do they honestly believe that Sata is doing a good job of ruling Zambia? You can understand possibly with hang-ons like Kapeya, Kambwili and Shamenda still tagging along with Sata because they do not know anything better. But you do not expect that from Chikwanda etal. Surely they are spoiling their reputations by sticking with Sata. Add Matibini Lombe , Dr. Solomon Jere ( And such useless intelectuals like Dr.Phiri and Kasonde) to the list and one can’t help shaking the head. What’s wrong with these people? Nangu kuti ni njala, nanga ni so? Absurd as it appears, our only hope may actually lie in mutiny in the ranks. But can that happen?
The world has changed so much since UNIP, a slight change by all would stir us fwd I guess.
I mean a slight change on our part
The Latest information is that the ass licker called the chancellor of Mulungushi University wants to award an hon PhD to Micheal Sata.God-knows in which philosophy.Very soon Micheal Sata will be Dr Sata.Zambia is a joke indeed.
Point of correction, my old former classmate Zambian by birth because he was born in Zambia, is of Malawian parentage, not the innocent Zimbabwean connection you are implying. His father last worker as Officer in Charge Public Works Department in Chingola in the late sixties and early seventies when we together at Chikola Secondary School up to 3rd December, 1973. About his analysis I am quite confused trying to grasp the motive of his write-ups!
Whilst agreeing with most of your analysis Field- I have great difficulty in accepting that a degree guarantees good leadership. We have despots like Mugabe who put out the most ludicrous outbursts with no hint of higher learning. The problem with most learned people. Is that their logic bloats their intellectualism whereby they assume they are supreme authority on everything from grass to the universe. Do not be that an example of that pitfall Ruwe.
The Peter Principle: “Everyone rises to his/her level of incompetence.” As Republican president Mr. Sata has risen beyond his level of functionality. We must congratulate him for trying. The reality, however, is that the altitude is too high for his aptitude. The sooner he comes down the better for him and for the country.