Friday, March 29, 2024

It’s illogical for government to continue lying about Sata’s absence-Father Chiti

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Zambia Episcopal Coneference representative Father Chiti makes a speech
Zambia Episcopal Coneference representative Father Chiti makes a speech

It is illogical for government officials to continue lying about President Michael Sata’s absence from the public eye when Zambians know him as an extrovert who loves the limelight and the media, says Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) national coordinator Father Leonard Chiti.

And former secretary to the cabinet Skechley Sachika has said cabinet ministers must be held responsible for failing to clear the air on the withdrawal of the head of state from the public domain.

Father Chiti said if President Sata was fit and was working hard, he did not understand the reasons why ministers were going to extremes in shielding the Head of State.

“Officially, he is fit and working hard, but should he not be showing us his works, the fruits of his labour? We know that politicians have perfected the art of lying and so we do not believe his state of health from the statements,” he said.

Father Chiti said whatever was happening to the Republican President could not be so ugly that the Zambian people would have difficulty in knowing about it or accepting it.

He said government should look at this from the perspective of Christianity, and from a moral perspective that people should be told what exactly was happening to the President regardless of its unpleasant nature.

“What is happening to our beloved President? As JCTR we appeal to our government leaders to show charity and be honest to the nation no matter how ugly this could be, we want to know what is going on,” he said.

And Fr Chiti complained that the current leadership vacuum caused by the unexplained withdrawal from the public of President Sata had the potential to discourage would be foreign investment into the economy.

“Surely if you are an investor, you would be worried about whether to place your investments in an economy with an ‘AWOL’ leadership. Economically, this situation has the potential to scare away new investments,” he said.

And Dr Sachika said cabinet ministers must be hold responsible for failing to clear the air on the withdrawal of the head of state from public.

He said there was no harm for the government to clear the nation on the President’s absence from the public figure.

Dr Sachika said the route government had taken to defend the absence of the President from the public compromised state security.

He said Government should have used the correct procedure to address the ongoing rumours.

“I see no reason why the government is not following protocol. It is the duty of every government to inform its people about what was happening if they are to put to rest all the rumors surrounding the disappearance of the head of state,” he said.

Dr Sachika said it was unprecedented for cabinet to operate without the head of state, adding that if the President was unable to administer his duties, Cabinet, on behalf of the people must follow constitutional procedure.

63 COMMENTS

  1. Just how long can they continue lying for? Have the government paused to ponder about this? Nature is nature, you cant fight it with lies. Lying wont cure Sata. They should just come clean

    • The person lying here is father bwalya , that the Prescient is ill.

      Him and HH are a nuisance to this country, we are better off not having people like these 2, why don’t the government arrest them?

      I am shocked, like all of you .

      Thanks

    • Zain Paul, lets not bury our heads in the sand. Its is unprecedented and out-rightly bizarre for a president to disappear from the public eye for so long. Even when the president is on leave we are supposed to be given snippets of what or how he is doing. That’s why you see in other countries pics of their leaders even when they are out on holiday. Its basically to let the public know that their leaders are still around somewhere….

    • @The London Eye

      Coming on the sense and pinpointing a minuscule error by my high
      Standards is unforgivable by you, but clearly it is an error you do
      not expect me to make, and I commend you for upholding my undisputable
      high standards, being the pinnacle and messiah of the L times contributors
      Thank you.

      Would you care to talk about what father Bwalya is insinuating at, and hopefully
      Condemn him with the utmost contempt he deserves?

      I am impatiently waiting

      Thanks

    • Bottom line is Zambia knows the president is sick.Our current laws render the voice of the citizens redundant, the current leadership in government,the army,police force,ruling party are all covering their asses by keeping quiet.Nothing is coming out of complaining on online blogs.So whats the next course of action? Any Ideas?

    • THE just ended Mangango by election is a wakeup call for the opposition political parties and have given some people in the political arena a picture that even if the General elections were to be held today the Ruling Party will still have bright chances of bouncing back to power and has also shown that our Republican President Michael Sata can even win an election without stepping a foot out of State House.

    • Ba Mushota; your ignorance is scary. Fr Bwalya and Fr Chiti are two different people. You associate any priest that mentions a thing about Sata to be Fr Bwalya and any lay man who speaks against Sata to you, thats HH. Mushota, you are the spawn of the devil

    • The PF are savages who have no heart for the people of Zambia and the interest of this country. All they want is to continue looting the resources once their leader is seriously sick and incapacitated to govern. What a group of hyenas, snakes, vultures and jackals.

    • Fr. Chiti, there is absolutely no reason to say “our beloved President”. It is not necessary. No one ever says our beloved David Cameron or our beloved Barak Obama. All these “beloved” business is a result of either cowardice or sycophancy. It is the reason we are unable to have a robust debate about the abnormal situation our country finds itself in. It is also the reason why those in Cabinet who are supposed to invoke the relevant Constitutional provisions to resolve the issue are frozen by cowardice and sycophancy.

    • Former President of Mozambique is in the country and no mention is being made that he will pay a courtesy call on President Michael Sata.Surely,is this a sign that President Sata is FIT AND WORKING?Madam Christine Kaseba Sata should confirm her statement that her dear husband who happens to be President of Zambia is indeed FIT AND WORKING!!!!!!!!

    • @Mushota, I usually never read your contributions as they are always stupidd and lack logic. Kwena you are such a dogg cunnt, when and where was father Bwalya mentioned in the above article?? Ati PHD, you are just mad. Always HH this HH that.

    • Truth be told here SATA IS NO MORE . I am 1000% absolutely sure about this. Its only the family members and some individuals in the red brick who really know what happened to SATA on 20 th June 2014.

    • The problem here is the ever docile Zambians who will do nothing no matter what. This cowardice will eat us alive… surely what will ever move Zambians to act and demand what’s theirs? Zambians fail to realise that in the 21st Century they are the bosses over these shrouded and selfish politicians. How could you expect them to tell the truth when they know the truth will spell their fall from grace?

      What we need is vigilant citizenry who would not be taken for a ride… look at our friends in the Arab world and their Arab springs. Look at the small number of our friends in Ferguson, America… they are demanding justice and what’s theirs.

      How could we have a non-existent President running the country and we accept the situation as normal? Wake up fellow Zambians!

  2. Trust me father he is fine. It is just a gimmick.You will understand when he comes back with a bang and embarks on a countrywide campaign tour.He is just saving up some energy for that moment and giving chance for under 5 politicians like HH to have their ahaha moment.

    • So in short, Sata was voted into office for the sole purpose of campaigning? In short, people voted for him so that he would not represent this country at international heads of states conferences all in the name of uku zimya ba opposition? And when we say logic from PF cadres always operates in the opposite direction of normality, you cry foul. smh.

    • We don’t need gimmicks, we need a ruler who will get out there and do the jobs he was hired for. We didn’t hire him for gimmickry….

    • The next couple of months will be interesting…….New Session of Parliament opening in September……..Golden Jubilee in October! Will the president keep working hard at plot 1 and delegate these duties yet again?

    • @ Mushota,
      I am deeply disappointed with your level of reasoning which shouldn’t be in the 21st century. Honestly, how do Fr Bwalya and HH come in? Your baseless hatred against these two Zambians leaves a lot much to be desired. I have been following your comments for sometime but today awe, I have decided to rebuke your ignorance and hatred. Surely, missing heaven because you don’t LIKE Fr Frank Bwalya or HH! Control your anger my dear. This kind of reasoning is verrrrrrrry primitive and backward. Behave like an intellectual naiwe,ninshi !!!!!!!!!!

    • So in short, you are saying all people in Zambia who have different professions should just stick to talking about their professions and nothing else? Is this the PF way of thinking? Does this seem like normal thinking to you? Was Wynter Kabimba right when he stated that PF supporters were the illiterate ones, in short dull and non schooled incapable of objective and logical thought? Would you blame me if i stated that your comment is shallow and devoid of any form of intelligence, granted you are free to express this opinion?

    • JFK..

      Remember that opposition leaders represent us. It is not only those who are in public politics that see wrong or right actions of politicians. All of us see them and expect those in public politics to speak out on our behalf. Tired of these childish comments.

  3. This can only happen in Africa. The cabinet ministers have a duty to break the ice but the question is who is going to be brave enough to discuss the withdraw of the Head of State from public life. I’m reliably informed that no cabinet minister is allowed to enter state house. I think in my view we will be asking too much from cabinet ministers to issue a statement on an issue they are equally not sure. To be honest cabinet ministers are blank on this issue. No one is allowed to enter state house unless few confidants connected to the state.

  4. Its very sad to note that we have a bunch of illiterate buffoons who are trying to lie to the general public even when they know that what they are saying is utter rubbish. this country has gone to the Dogs, how I jus wish EBOLA would come and eat us all the F$%K so that we can learn a lesson!!!!!! we need a change of government please…all these old cocoons must go to the village and rest….look at how tired they all look…damn….

  5. Rumors can derail government operations. Leave the presidency free to determine how, when and what the President will say and do. Dictating to the President is wrong. That is politicking.

    • On the contrary, it is our duty as citizens to make sure the president does our bidding. He is not a king that we should think of him as above us, in fact, he is our servant and we have every right to demand and dictate anything we want.
      That, my friend is democracy: by the people for the people.

      #OneZambia

  6. Bottom line is Zambia knows the president is sick.Our current laws render the voice of the citizens redundant, the current leadership in government,the army,police force,ruling party are all covering their asses by keeping quiet.Nothing is coming out of complaining on online blogs.So whats the next course of action? Any Ideas?

  7. This one will be remembered as the most useless president Zambia ever had. He has no respect for the people who him in that office what nonsense is that?

  8. “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.” Joseph Goebbels

  9. Father Chiti and Sachika are speaking the language of despondents. I’m surprised especially for father Chiti who is supposed to give a message of hope has become an alarmist. Who told him the investors are in doubt of what the government ministers and the first lady have said about the state of being of President Sata? The president has recently chaired a cabinet meeting and was off to South Africa to visit Kazimu in hospital, was that not public appearance? If Sata is indisposed, should the satelite cameras be focused on him and beamed to every jim and jack? Who doesn’t get sick? Respect privacy in certain situations. By making these alarming statements the priest is pandering to the whims of HH and other evil wishers. Please father Chiti don’t be unbelieving like Thomas.

    • Its primitive to attack Hh,father chiti and well right thinking Zambians.ABC said it clearly that within pf ,kabimba is position himself for the presidency at all cost,the fight is not much of a threat from outside but within pf.ABC is being attacked,then it will be kambwili,and kandu luo.the goal is to get rid of the bemba clique.

    • Umubemba inkonko or whatever your name is….I think the best thing u can do is to shut that trap of yours if you have nothing better to say….jus by reading thru your post one can tell that u are a useless PF cadre without any fore sight at all…We are talking about a country here and not someone running his company…Sata should come out in the open and shame those of us who are saying he is in a bad state….why should u keep lying to urself??????

      We all know that our President is of a vocal nature and loves the lime light….so are u telling us that all of a sudden this man changed and became something else?????

      You can hide sickness but u cant hide ………………… finish that sentence for me you silly moron…..

    • @ umubemba inkonko, that is the question,”Is the president indisposed or not?” not saying “if the president is indisposed….” he is the president of the country, why cant the president speak for himself? what is he working on that he cannot represent our country when he is required? if he is indisposed we should know because it affects the country and that is why the constitution includes the issue of the presidents capability to ” work hard”. Discussing the presidents health condition is therefore enshrined in the constitution and no one should ask anyone why are they questioning the disposition of the president.

  10. All! go back to work you docile Zambians! This is an old fart and it’s effect died a long time ago. Let Sata enjoy whether in bed or in a swimming pool. You deserve each other!

  11. …..science of nature has it that humans are more likely to transform from extrovert to introvert than the other way round…..I doubt if MCS is an exceptional…..most likely we may not see the same gregarious MCS again… that is if he ever re-surfaces. His voice and speech will have transformed….in the absence of a microphone, one will need to be very close to him to hear what he is trying to say….his speech will be slower….three words in 5 seconds…which is very normal considering his advanced age…
    All we need to do is pray and wish him well….. forget about the govt silence..

  12. It’s simple really. President Sata was/is unwell and recovering. It seems logical that he/they will want him to be on top form in 2016. It follows he may want to rest for the remainder of 2014 and perhaps return to more duties in 2015. He will then have a year to build up speed for the general elections. President Sata has presented in the past as a strong, ‘don’t mess with me,’ bad boy of Zambian politics. They sort of, don’t want him coming out lisping and wobbling about; that’s not powerful. However, YES, they could have told the nation that he had been unwell, as PF are the party of ‘honest,’ political gamesmanship!! YES it is a bit weird, for the president not to be in public, but we all know why. Opposition partys can’t help but jump on this, it would be remiss of…

  13. I have just taken a long look to late 80s and 90s and at UNZA. Please carry on with the priestly task of being the voice for the voiceless. We see that the mantle of the likes of Bishop De Jong and Paul Duffy is still active in the church. May God continue blessing you and giving you wisdom.

    • we should have a group orgy in father cheater’s church. the ministers should rub each other with oil first and then penetrate my bottom and shout evand mfula of evaduco

  14. I have been informed by a ‘reliable source’ that Bana Kaseba is in charge of state house operations. The source said ‘she is also signing GRZ documents on behalf on the husband. The source said ‘ba mudala is too week to hold a pen’. As it is ba mudala can not even fire any minister because one needs to sign the source said.

    • PaAfricanist, only a fool like you will buy your nonsense. Go and write that on the imbwa site because only ma galu kani hear you.

  15. Zambians….too slow to react…..always talking, blogging, arguing, insulting…..but really doing nothing about the real problem. Government in the meantime know about this problem with Zambians and they take advantage. This government will continue to rule even without a President or even without cabinet, PF will rule! Zambians….too slow.

  16. We all seem to be missing the point. PF are on the go, with or without President Sata. As far as they are concerned, President Sata’s life is in God’s hands. They are not going to allow any commotion to arise because of his ill health. They are determined to stay focused on what they are doing.

    The recently ended Mangango by election is a case in point. They were neither disorganized nor disillusioned. That they were able to taste success without any help from their ailing leader is a testimony to their prudence. Those in the opposition who delude themselves by thinking that they are going to have it easy because of Mr. Sata’s ill health, are wallowing in the mire of their folly and at their own peril. PF are no push-overs, with or without President Sata.

  17. chawera u r very naive. Face the facts; Sata is sick and not capable of running the affairs on this nation. I still support PF but facts are facts.

  18. This unprecedented nonsense has gone on for too long. Firstly, those that ‘see nothing wrong’ with the state of affairs, or pretend not to, are a liability to the normal order of things in the 21st century. They should be ostracised from civilisation. Secondly, the passivity of Zambians on such an important issue says a lot about how far we still have to go. The country belongs to the people. If those they have entrusted with exercising power on their behalf fail, show gross impotence or lie to them pathetically, without any aorta of a conscience, they should in no uncertain firm terms or action, be asked to step down or be kicked out. Enough!

  19. If this Cabinet is operating illegally with an incapacitated President,
    1. All the bills for accension by the President are illegal.
    2. The whole Cabinet failing to request the CJ to constitute a medical board is negligence of duty and should be sanctioned.
    3. If ever there should have been a military coup in Zambia, this is the time. Where are men in uniform with backbone?
    4. The President must be impeached for abrogating the Constitution if he is medically unfit and continues to occupy office.
    5. The Secretary to the Cabinet should resign for failing to advise the government as the custodian of protocol and procedure.

  20. Sata is dead and all the stories is so that they continue to rip off the country and finish the looting…. as for the elections that was clearly rigged.

  21. What the SataN is afflicted with is a serious neurodegenerative disease, an irreversible progressive brain dementia affecting his brain’s ability to think, reason and remember clearly. As we blog now, Ukwa’s memory, visual-spatial, language, attention, and executive function (problem solving) are kaput. As we all know it, ubulwele bwakwa Ukwa te nomba bwayamba, kale. By the time the person shows signs of the disease, the process in the brain has been happening for a long time. It’s finished for Sata!

  22. My head spins like a turbo jet engine because of the mistriac agunture about the head of state’s anatomical state. I am so apotrastate with the comments by some nicked state of minds of some colleagues. Let the head of state canistraise to allow him limbo for the sake of his health. Nobody should be allowed to spit out any loblistic statements about him.

  23. I wish Honorable Tetamashimba was around to tell us an honorable truth. The black suited nun-Honorable Ministers that we have are a let down. Obviously we are not protected with such men around in the ruling. I personally hate to fail to tell the truth; I wonder how these people feel about their lies. What do they tell their children about integrity!

  24. My people perish for lack of knowledge.
    And even when someone wants to enlighten you, you stone him to death.
    Here are some facts for you …
    Sata has not been seen in over two months – fact.
    This government is not working at all – fact.
    This government is the worst so far, going by indicators – fact.
    Sata may be sick, kidnapped, in danger, or dead. Are we evil, when we ask to see our leader?

    May we forever remain poor.

    #ThisIsWhyWeArePoor
    #OneZambia

  25. Leave the president alone. The country is not ready fro apresidential by-election. What we know is that the President is alive and well. Let him rest. At least we all saw that he went to South Africa a few weeks ago. It was him not a vision.

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