By Wesley Ngwenya
It has always bothered me why ministers, deputy ministers, permanent secretaries, the vice president, police chiefs, air force chiefs, army chiefs, and other government officials go to the airport to wave their hands as the presidents gets on the plane to head somewhere. Every time the president leaves town government literally comes to a standstill for a couple of hours because every head of something heads to the airport. Is this really necessary or it is part of the job descriptions for these people?
Every time I personally drive to the airport I spend about K40,000 on gas in a small Toyota car. I wonder how much money is spent each time the president jets in or jets out at Lusaka International Airport. For 
arguments sake, lets say only about a hundred people, on average, go to welcome or say bye to the president and each of these “important” people drive their huge Toyota SUVs consuming about K80,000 worth of gas. That is K8 million spent on gas alone.
For some, K8 million may not seem to be a lot of money but this is money that could easily be saved and channeled to more deserving causes such as fire services, or ambulance services. Gas is not the only thing wasted when the president is escorted. There is probably cell phone usage and hundreds of government hours wasted. There are literally more than a hundred police men and women who parade the streets from Plot One to Lusaka International Airport several hours before the presidential motorcade drives by. That’s a lot of idle time for a poor country like ours.
Instead of all these ministers and government officials going to the airport to be part of the presidential cheerleading team I suggest that each time the president is leaving or coming–let them have mini-brainstorming sessions. It’s okay you can send one or two ministers to carry the president’s luggage but the rest of you need to be locked up in a meeting to brainstorm on real national issues. If you have never been in a brainstorming session please don’t worry just bring a pen and paper or your laptop. Brainstorm on how to revamp agriculture and use cost effective but efficient methods. Brainstorm about how you want to bring unemployment rate to maybe 30%. You do not have to admit this but, consider some of the opposition parties’ ideas and if you think they are brilliant then implement them. You will unlikely hear Sata or HH say, “hey wait a minute that was my idea, stop!” Instead they will work with you.
By the time the president comes back from Neverland, you would have come up not only with exciting proposals on these important issues but you would also have come up with implementation strategies. This, I hope, would excite the president and issue a decree that no more escorts to the airport.
Honestly, our leaders reduce themselves to be bootlickers to the appointing authority. If they know their job descriptions and capabilities vey well they do not have to parade the airport just to be recognized. During my years in the United States I really don’t remember seeing Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfield, Colin Powell or Condoleezza Rice parading to shake hands before George Bush boarded Air Force One. Although Bush would probably have loved it but there were better things to do. Can our leaders too find better things to do instead of being on the cheerleading team of the president?
Wesley, you have written better stories than this. It’s quite trivial.
i am vice
number 2
OK ba LT naya kanshi. :-??
whats all this
3RqU, where did our first entries go?:-?
Nine Chale nafileka kwati ine. Ala ba LT. I bet this man on today has no humour. :d
even if he has just flown on a sugar misson even the defence chiefs are there. is this really nec. it wastes money, blocks traffix, disturbs airport passengers and pisses Ba Maureen and other bloggers off
Wesley I love reading your articles.They are both humorous and enlightening.Indeed our govt wastes time and money on such useless ventures like going to wave to the president. i think the should spare the ministers and all heads of govt organisations from this cheerleading event.If they really must increase Zambias carbon foot print let them go get streetkids or any other kids who have never been to the airport let alone seen a plane up close.These kids will gladly dance and wave to the president.Why do poor people waste so much money?
Just a watse of amn hours. If the ministers were realy serious about doing their work, there would be no time for these useless escort
Hello everyone. Hows the weekend so far?
:d/
:d/
Hi Pumpy, the weekend is fine here in southern Germany, how comes yesterday you had a different flag?
The most annoyingthing is that you hear of people being robbed, assaulted in kamwala South and the Police complain that they are understaffed but when the Presido is moving even when LPM was around going to visit his farm you can count about 200 police guys loned up from Celtel main branch right up to the airport. Is the police for the Presido alone. We also need them in Chibolya where crime is rampant even during the day !
The write has raised a very vital point here. Too much money is wasted on such trips. Come to UK and see how the Prime Minister travels. On top of flying with everyone on BA, he doesnt move around wit the entire cabinet on his tail – and remember that UK is richer than Zambia
I honestly don’t see what is wrong with escorting the president to and from the airport. What I know is sometimes the president makes statements at the airport before he leaves.
Wouldn’t it be better to lets say, the president makes a statement on agriculture and a few statements here and there on how he plans to invest in the industry and ministers are present to hear the statement so as to then go and brainstorm on how to go about this instead of not knowing what the president has talked about and brainstorming on chalk when the president has talked about something else.
Unless someone has got more juice on this, I feel there is nothing wrong with escorting the president.
Well done Wesley, our leaders do seem to see or think beyond their noses. How can they not see that they are wasting alot of resources that could be used for the better good of our nation especially we are faced with alot of developmental issues.This is the reason why i have decided to run for Presidency in 2011 and change some of these things. We need fresh blood in our countrys leadership and i am taking the challenge of providing such much needed leadership instead of just looking at things go from bad to worse each time we let these tired old men and their puppets take office.May i also challenge my fellow young men and wemen to raise to the challenge of leadership in our beloved nation.
There is absolutely no beef in the story. SORRY!
If one can not see any wrong in escorting the president then they need to have their head checked. :d
LT and Wesley Ngwenya, good stuff. It does make one wonder where our leader’s priorities lie. Is it in delivering to the people or bootlicking indeed? The cost of K40,000 per trip is an underestimate of what the treasury incurrs. There is police on the street, business is disrupted because the President needs an open road so business has to stop that does not matter. Flights are delayed and staff in ministeries that are close to these errands are never there to do thier jobs but are paid. So what is the bill to all this. Lets save that over 12months and see what we could do with these funds. We could have technology, better schools, better roads and increase investments the country needs.
Hie! ba zambia lets forget about this coz it will naver stop, even way back when peoplez wifes used to go danceing up to the airport
just for one person
ne goo go fwd follow the leader
ok guys stay well
Mwape kuno ku ozzi
#19 Maybe ebalya abali tu baby on some dancing marketeer’s back in the KK days. Thats why they dont see anything wrong now that they have grown. Dont blame them dear.
#16
Why make such statements at the airport? Are there no offices to make such statements?
Morning ba Maureen. Nimfulwa icinecine lelo. Ba LT nabanchinga. Yashani aini!
Nine Chale
When am at work i use a different computer from the one at home. So am using different fimofimo.
In the early ’80s I spent good one month in New Zealand. I lodged in some house arranged by my host. On the day of departure my host asked me if I knew who my next door neighbour was. I shook my head because the next door to me was a house with a short wire fence and a rickety gate. I couldnt believe it when he told me that my neighbour was the most powerful man in NZ – the prime minister. But how come I was never disturbed by sirens and policemen? Can you believe it? Yes, poor people (especially Africans) know how to waste their meagre resources. Go to the bar and check out who buys more beer. It is most likely a guy with nothing to be proud of, not the Kavindeles of this world.
# 16. You may need to know that our President has an office and a press aide who can make all kinds of annoucements on his behalf thus he does not need to come out and say everything by himself. Secondly, let us not promote the last word mentality as this is a lack of confidence and wanting to be seen to be the one who said this and that. Thirdly, all these people who run away from their offices can safely stay and work their lungs out because there is what is called conference calls and knowing the kind of phones these guys have this is a simple thing for them to do instead of wasting money on fuel and man hours which could be translated into vital production hours.
Go to the bar and check out who buys more beer. It is most likely a guy with nothing to be proud of, not the Kavindeles of this world. Ever heard of anyone offered a beer by Bill Gates? I bet you would all be happy to buy a pint for him? Ever heard of any one offered an old designer shoe by Chiluba? I bet I would be happy to give Kafupi one of my tattered pata-pata when those designer shoes and underpants are taken away by Nkole of Task Force. What a life!!!:((:d
#23. Gluco
What is wrong with making statements at the airport??
The author of this article pointed out brainstorming. Maybe it is to brainstorm while the president is away so that when he returns, the policy is discussed and implemented with all the ideas ready.
Imwe our ministers are blind followers, few priciples ones who shun the airport are dropped as soon as the president comes back from a trip. The other thing is that they have nothing to do so airpot keeps them busy, they take time talking to journalists about projects that dont exists.
:o:o:o
#27. FUTURE
Yes the president does have an office where he can make announcements but should that stop him from making STATEMENTS at the airport???
Please tell me, what is wrong with the president making STATEMENTS at the airport??
The other thing I want to point out is that a policy to be passed in parliament takes a couple of HOURS. Now they can spend K40,000 to K60,000 on a trip to the airport or spend millions on a conference call. Which one outweighs the other???? you decide…o:-)
Ba LT nga flag iyo? Oh sole ndimu internet cafe.Hw r u all?
:-h:-h:-h:-h Impiya shapwa.Nashako isha bwalwa.
[-(
Ba bob doe, what you have said is true, if they can also give the little to the U T H can be ok then going through the great east rd
to west little time to see the big man off’
some poeple hv nathing to eat at all
I thank my lord i made a stap here aven if im not an office worker iv managed to luk after myself and food everyday
Than i packed my degrees b4
Ok i know therez no plase like home
Later guys going for a shift soon
:-w:-?
I see comlpetely nothing wrong in escorting the President, surely you want the President to be escorted by his relatives, you will be the first one to complain if that happened. :((:d:((:-?
This story is boring.bring stories thst will make US BRAINTORM on our personak affairs. :)]
#32 what is wrong is your shallow reasoning that the ministers etc should all flock to the airport in their numbers just because the president makes statements there ! There is nothing wrong making statements there but if you calculate how much money is spent on this ‘circus’ per year then you will realise why there is no panado in UTH for example. concede man
Imwe, why waste your breaths? Its part of their job description, afterall each Country has a way of doing things. You dont expect what goes on in Libya to happen here!
%38 IS KISWA .This story is boring.bring stories that will make US BRAINSTORM on our personal affairs THAT MAY MAKE US GROW
I bet its a beatiful sunny day in Zambia today. enjoy the he sunshine Ba Telesi Pili. :d
#39. Ba Maureen
Maybe you should read my comments again. I said SOMETIMES the president makes statements at the airport. I also said I do not see anything wrong with the president being escorted.
Maybe you don’t know this yet but he is the PRESIDENT.
“There is nothing wrong making statements there but if you calculate how much money is spent on this ‘circus’ per year then you will realise why there is no panado in UTH for example”
Good point. Maybe you should give us these numbers so we can see for ourselves. Are you telling me ALL the money directed to health care goes to the presidential escort??
When you bring the figures then maybe we’ll have something to talk about
This is just ‘Muzungu anione’ attitude. why drive all the way to the airport to listen to the presido when you can hear the same on the evening news. as a matter of fact, the ministers are not even near the presido as he talks to the paparazzi because he is mobbed by the latter ! so where is the logic.
Never mind we can start our own thread.
I have gone.
Ba Maureen, I will be back later to see the figures you will provide on how much is spent on these escorts. I hope they will be from a credible source.
Toodles :-\”
ba mauren, ok will leave it here love mybe kk will know what to do or its is a zambian way of leaveing
What can i say about this article,uh,infact this is a very good observation bro you have hit the nail right on top of the head probably you even forgot to mention the tons of litres of apaque brew that is bought for the cadres to make them dance for the president at the airport without feeling shy,chibuku nayo cost money :d
#32 What is the point of having cabinet meetings if the the cabinet will learn of the president’s new ideas at the airport?? One or two ministers and a few of his staff from state house would be enough to meet or see him off, the statements at the airport are not meant for his cabinet but for the General public!!!
Didn`t know #43 was such a coward.
Ba Maureen UK well done.
I can see that there are various levels or reasoning as well as attachments to real issues tht affect zambians right now. NCZ is still down coz there is no money etc. every little amount that is saved and used in the needful areas all lead to prosperity. its like having pizza everyday at work or having lunch every often at Rhaps whilst your children are eating umulebwe ( keyboard scandal !). You dont need figures but the basic understanding of priorities period.
You are talking about men and women who would never run a corner shop, let alone a government department. Brainstorming you mention is too big a word, even for highly educated professors who end up as ministers, only wise men and women know the definition of brainstorming and thus put it to good use.
ya, this nonsense should come to a stop.We are not rich,no wonder any employee can do they own chores during working hours and get full pay at the end of day.There is no accountabilities in these offices.
#51 Ba Maureen
I said in #19 that if one can`t see any wrong in escorting the president, then they need to have their head checked.
I had respect for this Freemarket Captlist man but of late, I have started having reservations. He is very naive.
#51. just imagine he wants the totals of fuel, allowances ya finyau, drums of chibuku, airtime, cost equivelent in terms of man hours not including the hustle comuters go thru when the roads are blocked just for a bunch of Bozos to go to the airport. LPM had suggested using the big luxury bus for all those wishing to go and see aircraft at LIA. The idea was good but the issue of security came in so it was dropped. ka puba sana ka capitalist
No 16, you are seriously off the mark. If we had 1000 Zambians thinking like you, our country can never move forward.
Capitalist wants to behave like an eskimo trying to teach a bushman how to survive in the desert.
chintobentobe
same as me a man always pack his car next to me 1day said hello and gave me his bcars invited me for a meeting we tolked for a
well’ i went gee! was a permanent secretari of w.a.
can th permanent sereari come out of his car to invte or say hello to you in zambia how, when or where?
i don’t think so! tondolo
#57 Ba Maureen.
I know it`s ludicrous but seriously people like this coward Freemarket are the reason I feel the credit crunch should last a little longer. The world is looking at tightening up and he is still playing the culture card!
In #55 the list is actually endless. Look at how the cameras from ZNBC have to go and cover the man getting into an aircraft!
Yeah sugar mission he heee
#49. common man
You are right but who is to say the cabinet will not get a few ideas from the statements the president will make at the airport???
#50. 3RqU
In what way am I a coward?? Have you considered maybe I have things to do???
Do you know me personally to make a prejudged statement on my character??
#54. 3RqU
In what way am I naive??
I do not like baseless statements. Please explain how I am naive
Mrs banda,
Cheak out the post
There is still a lot of village mentality in our leaders and their followers. The president behaves likes a 12th century African chief. His appointees are so desperate to hang on to their jobs that they parade themselves like scared little children. I would like to say things would change if a more ‘educated’ man became president; but I can’t because even under Mwanawasa it was the same.
# 32. FREE-MARKET -CAPILST
The wrong i see with airport statements is that it takes away peoples valuable to do meaninhgful stuff in their respective offices. Govt and journalists have to run to the airport just because someone is going to make a statement. Why should he give statements at the airport when he can give press statements via smss and emails man even youtube, havent you seen Obama do it? My friend you do not need a crowd a make policy? Why do they buy phones they cannot use besides it is not that expensive compared to the loss we suffer when they all troupe to the airport. He is President fine! But does that mean we should all be dancing and waving instead of working?
#55. Ba Maureen
If the figures can be added then why is there a problem in providing them for all of us to see?? I don’t understand. You told me that if you had to calculate the figures, you would see that all the money that goes into health care is directed to the presidential escort.
I was baffled by this statement which is why I am asking for figures so as to verify your claim. Since you know the figures, why is it so hard to provide them. Or was that just one of your baseless statements?? 8-|
#56. AS
Thinking like me?? Maybe I should explain how I think. I believe there should be very little govt interference in private markets (e.g Zambian Airways) except when attempting to correct for market failure (when it is needed e.g Luanshya Copper Mine).
I believe the only way Zambia will develop is not through govt but through an effort by the private sector. I also believe the only way Zambia will develop is if all Zambians where business minded. Why must all villagers strive to be farmers. Why cant one of them be a baker, another a carpenter, etc. Was GM started by the US gov.?? Was Microsoft started by the US gov.
This was an effort by the private sector and they
I not contributing today. LT where are your offices? nid to drop summons and some litigation papers
#65 That is what you get when all your appointees are looking for means of survival. What would make the difference is having a President with a different kind of leadership and one who does not like pomp and splendour!
cont from #68]
contributed more to the US gov. than vice versa.
If this does not lead to development then yes Zambia will never develop.
I am opposed to the PF regime simply because they have this Socialist/Communist agenda which is what I totally oppose.
comment
#57. Ba Maureen
is just an attack. I do not reply to comments which use slander as a form of debunking.
RB b-)
#66. FUTURE
Thank you for your mature comment and I will try to reply with the same respect you have shown me.
Well on the journalists issue, I could understand if majority of the journalists who do it are papers like the Times of Zambia and the Daily Mail and also ZNBC. If the post and MUVI TV had to go, they would be doing so out of their own free will. Journalists gather news information in order to publish them, increase paper sales and gain advertising bids. If you look even here on the LT, majority of the stories with large numbers of comments mostly have something to do with politics and gov.
Who looks great GK or RB
cont from #74]
On the issue of sms and youtube, how many people have got cellphones??
My other question is how many people have got computers and can watch youtube videos?? How many people can afford a broadband connection??
What we have to know is the USA is not Zambia and Zambia is not the USA. In the USA, large numbers of people have got access to a computer and can therefore check email easily and easily watch a statement from Obama on YOUTUBE. In Zambia, very few can watch youtube videos, check email and sometimes even watch TV (eg rural areas). Many rely on AM/FM radios.
Yes you don’t need a crowd to make policy but RB is not making policy at the airport. He is sometimes…
cont from #76]
making statements and sometimes just getting on the plane.
You also have to look at the issue of security. RB got most of his votes in the rural areas. Don’t you think his life is on the line seeing that most of the votes in LSK went to the opposition??
Just putting my two cents on it.
Now that I have replied to many comments, I will be going to sleep. And in case you are wondering, I am using Pacific time.
Guys there is nothing wrong with Zambia.
This is reason why we are in diaspora. Pa Zed fyonse filice:d
Filyafine bambi baleshana ku office of the president (airport) in return for icitenge na chibuku. Nothing wrong. After all we`ve done it for years.
Its a waste of time and money. Such honey times were necessary in the 60s after gaining independence, not now. There is a lot of work to do and therefore a need to use the little money available in a wise way. Can somebody come up with a way of stopping this habit please!
#26 I thought I was the only one who is finding it difficult to understand the reason for what our poor countrie’s leaders seem to enjoy doing repeatedly.In other words our governemnts ministers spend many days of their so called working lives doing nothing but waving to presidents when taking endless trips which are mainly of no benefit to humble citizens. I guess thats all you get in their job descriptions. Africans have a very long way to go, as you know we are all over other countries like flies, regardless of the fact that our continent is massive with everything one needs in this world.Africa desparately needs intelectuals and it seems they are not available/not given a chance.:o:o:o:o:o:o:o:o
Free Market this is what it means being a cadre. You have forgotten you were defending escorts.
In #77 you have nicely got yourself in a tangle. This statement “making statements and sometimes just getting on the plane” is just despicable.
Why has a president got to get all those people to just get in an aircraft?
let them gather at cabinet office and all get into one bus from now on
Absolute waste of resources and time, Zambia desparately needs leadership. **==**==
‘By the time the president comes back from Neverland’
Actually it could be a security risk for the country (putting all your eggs in one basket). Most african leaders follow tradition and therefore fall behind with modern times. One would assume these people go to the airport to lobby the president for assurance to keep their jobs.
The late president used the Airport escorts to announce people he was contemplating on sacking and by the looks of things Bwezani has maintained the tradition. People should be questioning the cost of these trips in comparison to the investment they are bringing in.
Yes we can! :((
FREE-MARKET-CAPITLST,
Well argued and very reasonable indeed. But tell me, what can we do to ensure that we maximise on our working hours and cut down considerably on politiking? Secondly how can we ensure that the private sector champion strategic developments operations in our nation as opposed to waiting for the Govt to do everything for us? Would it pay off if we left the politicians to themselves and focused on our little busineses, bare in mind they make policy which affect opur operations significantly? LATER!
“Brainstorming” by our ministers ! That will be the day.
This guy has hit the nail on the head but he has forgotten one thing. Each night before the President travels, he has a mini function which all these fat cats attend and one would have hoped that mini function is enough for them to say farewell. They still follow him to the Airport, still smelling of the booze they drunk the previous night, and pretend they can deliver. We need to have people around the president who know what they are doing and not just knowing how to bootlick. They are a shameful bunch I must admit. All learnt from one Kafupi, the autocrat of the highest level.
When using the jet, let him land and takeoff at mumbwa base then take a helicopter to state house. This will save people the traffic chaos when he goes to and fro LIA
i dont c anything wrong with escorting the president,
If my wife wants a “straight-away divorce”, let her go and dance at the airport.
When you meet these Ministers in London, they behave like thieves running away from the police – they are not themselves because they don’t want to be probed by people who knew them before. On the other hand, when you meet them in Zambia, they behave like they have never known you because either you have changed or they have just forgotten about you due their busy drinking and womanising sessions. A colleague of mine once rebuked a former classmate who had been appointed a D/Minister in Chiluba’s govt and said ‘Ala iwe, teiwe we walepona law practising iwe, nomba what are you?’. The Minister joked back and said ‘iwe mwana uli wafitala sana, you could be in it as well’. Animal farm politics:-
#82. It is dangerous for ministers to be in one bus as all can disappear at a go!
I have always wondered why that still happens in Zambia. I really don’t think presidents of Zambia intend to pass statements at the airport because Zambia has a way of passing on important information. This is just a way of life leaders in Zambia have adopted over time and it will take politicians themselves to put that to a stop especially with the global econimic crisis we are in, leaders should be thinking of ways of spending money and man hours wisely. When we had the first president who was Zambian, that was acceptable to a degree but now we need to be a stable mature democracy and should put childsh wasteful habits away if we are going develop and move forward.Just a thought.
In zambia ministers don’t know their jobs.There are there to gain and praising the president.I agree with the writer of this story.i’ve also never seen this In USA ,not even here in Russia.
I hope internet will do a lot to zambians.We need to educate a lot of young people and provide them with internet and computers.
Hope the new wireless internet which gonna cover all parts of africa will help us.
What we need is to send more young people to school.Because some rulal people don’t undertsand whatever happens in this country.
#91 Zima Ndola go back to your country then.
#16 What are you doing in America?
The reason you are here is because you have run away from a poor country. It`s simple things like this which have made your country poor hence why you are here. No Zambian will tell me they are here by choice. Either you are here for education which your country should have sorted after 44yrs of being independent or you`ve come for a better life. Ask yourself why Brits don`t come to UNZA.
This is just a big Show!! ´There is really no need. There is a lot that the Govt should do to slim down.
This saves money and time!! They should fix their big heads in important matters.
Na Ba Kaunda was doing it!! These guys will never change their habits.
IF it was good for KK then it is good for RB!! This is Kindergarten at Govt level. If a child wakes up and is preparing for school, the mom also wakes up to make breakfast. RB is seen off with a Lunchbox at the Airport. LOL :d
Its a waste of money and a lot of man hours, but we have let it be since independence and now the crowd has even grown. If you check these govt accounts, you will probably find allowances too, for escorting the president late and early hours. This is ZED guys
Fellow bloggers check out out this small boy on utube as he sings for Obama.Search for “lil yani”
Funny story from Greek mythology. One guy pleased the Gods so they offered him a wish. He wanted to be like the Gods so he wished to be immortal. Well, the gods aren’t just immortal but also ever young which he didn’t wish for. So his body kept on decaying and he got older and weaker but just couldn’t die… does this sound like some African leader you know?:-?
:-u need to be prayed 4
You won’t see this crap in Botswana.Poor folks dancing for Tautona(President)at the airport.
One of the reasons why Botswana’s economy is far stable than in Zed.
Despite being under ‘Pacific Time’ Capitlst is just one pain in the……I am sure he is now dreaming that he is dancing at LIA ! LT Where do you get such guys from ? 😮
this article makes a lot of sense. :)>-:)>-:)>-:)>-
That very true mwana, I tood have not seen such nonesense happening in a rich country like US. its all about bootlicking and making yourself known. its my prayer that one day we’ll some young intelligent leader that will change the all political landscpe. this are fontini chaps!
#105 Yes, whats your comment on this issue
What we should be worried about are the large delegations that accompany the president on the trip because that’s what’s really costly, not those that just go to see the president off!
Wesley,
Have you ever heard about “bootlicking” and “yes bwana”….This is just that. Ideally it is “support” meant for job protection.
#108 Any which way mudala its just to cosmetic an expensive.
#108 Nine Chale
M’dala it all expensive. those chaps use GRZ convoys with fuel sponsored by you and me ( Oh! , your uncle and mine).
The road congestion they create or the Great East brings untold delays on people that pay tax for the luxury of those same chaps:-b
Awe nakana, this story needs not get any attention. Wesley you can write better stories. This we all know.
Wesley good article.I would like to believe that this tradition was probably born out of a fascination for flying.In the KK days it was such a big deal to fly but not any more.To our politicians perhaps it still is and it makes bamwine more powerful.
#111 Casey Khisho, that much I know my friend but that’s really peanuts compared to the expenses of flights + hotel + travelling allowance for the whole delegation! And that’s all in forex, mind you!
#111 Not only that mudala. Ba buju bonse balya lined up up to airport no raincoats and very hungry. From that task he cant even chase a suspect because of starvation……yali zanda
This snow is causing problems here….I am on UPS right now….see ya bloggers later ish ! x(
The biggest failure of all successive leaderships in Zambia is the failure to think outside the BOX of what Kaunda tried/did? It is ieither the extreme opposite or exactly the the same nonsense.No middle ground. No new well thought out strategies. Pure mismanagement by reaction or copying.
It is not only the ministers, what about those poor women who do the dancing!!! And the poor police men and women who have to line the whole route!!! Surely there must be a smarter way of doing certain things.
Dear Readers
I am surprised that none of you have ever reflected on the comments you made during the lections campaigns. Those who were supporting various camps, what is the results of your campiagns NOW.
#119 ZambiaProphet Let bygones be bygones. The world has moved on since the elections. We need to focus on the future now.
I suggest all the escorters should walk on foot for health benefit reasons and we will see who shall follow
Ba LT give us a new topic nomba…ama comments ine yapwa!:-??
Sorry Wesley, it is our ‘kaca.’
We can go through a million and one things that people all over the world in every country do that are pointless and costly but at the end of the day, tradition just goes on. The Queen goes to open the UK parliament in pomp and so did the representative in Northern Rhodesia and so did the successor after independence. I don’t mind government officials and ministers attending, but I mind the dancers and cadres. Government officials must, in case the President has a last word with them. Did you know that he may never be seen again? Like LPM?
It`s ludicrous to compare England to Zambia.
They can afford it we can`t. If tradition is anything to go by we should be wearing imibinde upto now.
Ba LT next story please. :d
Vote Rigger the Queen doesn`t open the UK parliament but the English Parliament. :d
Oops! Vote Rigger #125 was just a slip! :d:d:d
Ba LT shani ilyashi lyabucende kaili.
Ba LT nshifwaya ukulanda sana :-@ … why delete that fair comment. are you afraid of bin laden? such groupings are targets if you dont know. ask Ba Maureen… she is one of them!
Wesley,nice story but too good to be true.
Ok shani ilyashi lyabuchende kaili.
Efyo nshishilapo nomba.
Politics everyday.
Ba Maureen
mwaya ichipyu nama capitalists who ve lost touch with ka reality
Ponyax
Are you fornicating?
Bane it is security to protect the pres, nothing wrong. Not all people pa Zed love our president.
46. Free-Market-Capitlst, I think today you are completely off line. When are you being appointed by the way? This article makes sense. Why waste time and money to follow a presido to and from the airport? Problem African leaders like to be pumpered like Kings when actually they do near to nothing for the people. Whats has RB done so far to deserve all those claps at the airport????????
#16 RUBBISH.
This is tax payers money.
one word ….Ba kamushi
LETS VOTE FOR CHIRWA or HH..tHESE ARE PIPO WHO ARE LEVEL HEADED like OBAMA OR VLADIMIR PUTIN. tHEY HAVE ALREADY AQUIRED ENOUGH PERSONALLY ( WEALTH) AND ACADEMICALLY AND THEREFORE THEIR MAIN PRIORITY WILL BE TO BETTER THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE AND MAKE THEM PROUD..AND EMPOWER THEM ..THIS IS ALL MOST CITIZENS WANT AND WHAT WE CAN BUILD ON TO ONCE AGAIN HAVE A SUCCESFUL COUNTRY ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY WHICH LEADS TO OTHER ISSUES LIKE ROADS, HOUSING AND SOCCER INFRASTUCTURE
#48,
uuuh, one sentence ka! /:)
This new govt sucks, am glad i don’t vote anymore coz politicians sucks
RB got too many miles, zed needs a young lender with low mileage. New thinking, new direction with passion for the great tax payers is what zed needs. RB, have a nice day.
leader
(Zambian political appointments for many today are but a conveyer belt to riches or a door opener to lots of opportunities )
Pu perts!!!!!!!!!1
#97 for shure some of us hv been studng 4meny years just not wantn to get back were we beong
then some of u saying natn wrong pleaseee zambians lets just face the truth think will nave change coz we belive in leaders chaek out what is going on with mugabe yaa
Its not wheather the story is boring or not, its a question of wheather its important or not. This is a very serious obervation. These guys are wasting Tax payers money.
cartoon leaders
That is a big point,especially with the economic climate so bad, it is worthy revisiting the big and flamboyant escorts to L.I.A. when our President is going out of the Country.I am sure the responsible people will take a look at this issue and come up with something.Do not push them though, they are our leaders.The point is taken and just wait.
#77
Yes go to sleep. I bet all you dream about are times you used to dance for your president at the airport. Can`t wait to go back can you?
Wow….I am being attacked for having a different opinion on this whole issue….what a shame. @-)
Zed tradition to have a bunch of Ministers, Ps’ and all escorting the President to Airport and this is a share wastage of time, CHANGE
:d
Hello Free-Market-Capitlst (FMC), Don’t be bothered by these attacks for it is just a clear indication that our colleagues have run out of reason and well placed ideas in this whole debate. Have a wonderful day!
#149
The crap you posted above says it all. What a wum you are! Like a few people have said, why are you in America? It`s simple things like a certain man taking the whole big guys in government like you put it just to see him board a plane why you are in US! What nonsense!
It may be K40 000 alright but that`s money. This is the problem with Africans. Despite being in America you are no different from those kabovas who are given chibuku to dance for your president.
Go back to your country and sing for your president at the airport then. Nshakaye! People like you are the reason why.
Look, all this escorting business is a waste of resources and goes to show our backwardness. The Veep can, and should see his boss off and the rest rest should be in their offices being productive. amano yamu 12th century yafwile yapwa bane. And the only one who ca stop these wasteful activities is the President himself by simply issuing a directive. But knowing our leaders, they enjoy that kind of “worship” and do not care about how much is being wasted.
Ba FUTURE naimye mulicipuba shuwa!
#152. Nshakaye
Everyone has opinions and there opinions are there’s and must be respected. If you disagree with someone’s opinion, you do so respectively. Have I called anyone names on this thread?? have I used slander as a form of rebuttal?? I simply stated my opinion the way I see it and brought up my points according to the context they where asked to me and also made my other points addressing some of the points that where brought up in this article (e.g the brainstorming part). I tailor my points in accordance with the article or the comments directed to me. What is there to misunderstand there.
cont from #155]
Maybe I should dumb it down for you this way. The president is the head of state and he must be respected. The way a president is respected and the culture of that society varies. If in Zambia, it is seen fit to have ministers escort the president and women see it fit to go and dance for the president (out of their own free will) then let them do so. This is a free country and people’s free will to do certain things must be respected.
As for me being in the states…this is just a temporary situation. Once I start a medium level investment firm in the states and run it for a few years, I will be on my way to LSK. I am just working out some logistics and this…
Aha! There you are being selective in the way you are answering.
Why are you in America mate?
global turn down is making my efforts difficult as investors are not thinking of investing.
#151. FUTURE
I have noticed certain trends on this blog.
Many who are not in support of PF and tend to have different views from those of PF are always attacked.
Some examples could be
-PRAGMATIST
-FINE
-MAESTRO
-FREE-MARKET-CAPITLST
-SAGE
-MMD BOOTLICKER
I don’t mind it though. I am just usually baffled.
Look ask yourself why you have to use America to set yourself up. Why don`t we see Americans coming to Zambia to set themselves up?
The question of tradition is really ridiculous. Has Zambia got the money for that? No!
Some of these traditions are rubbish. Go back to your country and perpetuate the suffering of people. I can not see you changing anything. Look Obama is closing Quantanamo bay why? It`s a waste of money and was used for personal gains. Stop being a wum. Obama has hinted about peace and you know he is talking about the middle east. No need to waste any more money. What tradition? :d:d
#160. Nshakaye
The reason I chose America is because Zambians are not business minded and innovative minded. Whenever you start spitting business Ideas in Zambia, many will say “you are dreaming”, “this is Zambia”, “stop lying to yourself”. Why choose to partner with people who think in such a manner. It is a disappointment. Here in America, the whites love it whenever you are discussing business ideas and they are more than willing to contribute.
Why has the “tradition” all of the sudden become too expensive when it has been going on since FTJ was in power?? Is it because RB is president??
cont from #161]
When Sata was rounding up vulnerable people and taking them to his court sessions which warranted large police presence and of which the noise from the people was disrupting the sessions, you guys where praising him and yet when women choose out of their own will to go show some form of respect to the president, all of the sudden they are embarrassing themselves. I hope you can see the double standard.
There is a difference with guatanamo bay and presidential escorts. Guatanamo is a fixed asset which drains the treasury. Comparing that with presidential escorts is like comparing apples and oranges.
FreeMarket you are not being realistic. You were a coaward by running away from being ridiculed. You couldn`t change things so you decided to run away like most of us have but still you wont admit it. You want to go back ba Mwine. If Americans run away like you did, you wouldn`t be there. Why didn`t you go to Malawi? It`s all becuase of the mind set of Africans. It`s alright all I have to do is go to America and come back ba Mwine!
As long as you and I don`t see any wrong in these things, be prepared for you children to do the same-run off to America. The story will always be the same. This is beyond politics. I am not PF
Get off your high horse.
Such actions are mere “hung-overs” international politics learnt from the Communism system.For sure, absence of an appointed official from such events like escorting, recieving, a nation’s president or international visitor, could cause loss of a job, or undergoing some kind of punishment. However, having considered the economic losses this practice may cause, even former staunch communist nations have done away with this.
We may consider this too.
You have a gem of an idea but you cannot compare US politics to Zambian politics. Loyalty to the Head of State in Zambia is measured in different ways. One of the ways is to put off/aside all official and personal business and see off the President or receive him at the airport to and from every international trip.Without this dear then you are out.
# 154 Nshakaye
You make alot of valid reasons and i agree with on some of them as this has been my position on this debate. However, i am taken aback with your name calling tendency for i believe that you can make your point based on reason without any form of rudeness at all. Mind you if you want to win over people to your side of view, don’t push it down their throats, explain to them and hear their arguments as opposed to throwing them away with a better than thou kind of attitude. The issue of seeing of the President at the LIA is not a new thing but it is a in a way a waste of meagre resources. We can do alot more with such kind of resources especially when you look at the kind of
contd from #166
the kind of problems our country is faced with. It maybe a good thing to do but shall we continue doing so just because we need to be favoured by the President? Absolutely not! Let us learn to discard of practices that are not profitable to the running of the nation. We have to make sacrifices and i think these are some of the things that need to change. We have the capacity to transform our society but it is going to take a lot of work. If something is not working out well let us accept that it is not and be bold enough to state that it is wrong and needs to be modified. If MMD women want to dance let them dance but the goverment officials better stay in and work!
T.I.A. (This Is Africa) is the problem. I hope we will beging to see a REAL transformation in our politics as the likes of exposed and educated Wesley Ngwenya roll out necessary articles with regard to our great Nation Zambia.
For a long time now, I have long been writing about his problem of a large entourage of even the Vice President accompanying the President to the airport even when the President is just going to Livingstone. Now I am glad that Wesley ha put everything in a well articulate article like this.
Sad indeed and I hope our 17 year old MMD GRZ people will read this!
===
LT 2008 Award Winner. =; for Zambia in 2011.
“Every time the president leaves town government literally comes to a standstill for a couple of hours because every head of something heads to the airport. Is this really necessary or it is part of the job descriptions for these people?”
True the whole MMD GRZ comes to a standstill not only for a couple (two) of hours, but probably the whole day (24 hours). This is certainly not necessary of desirable as a lot of man hours are lost in the process. Just consider the case of retirees who are waiting for the pension which they havent recived may be in the past 10 years just because someone has not yet signed the papers and their PENSION money is wasted in transport and other expenses.
Free Market captalist I’ve enjoyed the debate you have stimulated.All I can say is rich people are rich because of the lifestyle and attitudes they adopt.Likewise Poor people are poor because of their attitudes and Lifestyle.To satisfy his ego, a poor man will go out of his way to show off wealth he doesn’t have.He spends money he doesn’t have.The poor always borrow money and a re in debt.A wealth man doesn’t indulge himself in useless expensive ventures to show off.Thats why he has more money.Face it Zambia is poor, has poor people, poor leaders with poor attitudes.We have a point to prove thus the pomp,style and wasteage of manhours and fuel will continue until attitudes change.
96. russia -moscow greetings. With your:
“I hope internet will do a lot to zambians.We need to educate a lot of young people and provide them with internet and computers.
Hope the new wireless internet which gonna cover all parts of africa will help us.
What we need is to send more young people to school.Because some rulal people don’t undertsand whatever happens in this country.”
I hope that finally your joining me in the advocation for our people to be educated will last lifetime. All the best though blogging on the Sabbath isnt desirable for a baptised SDA member.
===
LT 2008 Award Winner. =; for Zambia in 2011.
I am wondering since a long time why so many people have to travel to the airport to see off the president. You all have not mentioned in your blogs the money spend on food that one of the major hotels in Lusaka provides all the time the president is leaving or arriving.You forgot in your article all the people from the hotel carrying the food to the airport. Why does everyone has to be fed at the airport? Can they not eat at home? Why does the government have to pay for this?
172. Booze impressive. I would like to ask for some UNZA student doing Development Studies or Economics or Social Science including a combination of them to carry out a Masters Degree Dissertation work on this Zambian President airport escort and reception issue.
Such a would-be work can be followed up by a conversion of the MSc into a PhD Thesis. I think, we can seriously glean some useful information from such and may those that know lectures or students at UNZA pursuing such advise them to take this possible great study on.
===
LT 2008 Award Winner. =; for Zambia in 2011.
172. Booze impressive. I would like to ask for some UNZA student doing Development Studies or Economics or Social Science including a combination of them to carry out a Masters Degree Dissertation work on this Zambian President airport escort and reception issue.
Such a would-be work can be followed up by a conversion of the MSc into a PhD Thesis. I think, we can seriously glean some useful information from such and may those that know lectures or students at UNZA pursuing such advise them to take this possible great study on.
===
LT 2008 Award Winner. =; for Zambia in 2011.
FUTURE I do apologise. I shouldn`t have shouted. Sorry for that.
I have to make it clear that I have never supported a political party in Zambia. That`s why I never voted in Zambia and is reason I can never become a politician in Africa. May
The problem with Africans is-as long as everything is alright with me then why worry? If this thinking doesn`t change with you and I then expect it to go on and on. It`s not long when British women were not allowed to vote. It was right, it was tradition.
Nshakaye. :d
125. your flag 3RqU
History my dear, history.
It may be so now after devolution but she still does open the UK parliaments, whether in England, Scotland, Wales or NI.
#159 Free-Market
Maestro is against the idea you are supporting.:d
You thought he would be supporting you. Rise above political affiliations in certain situations. That`s the only way our country is going to develop.
Take those rose tinted glasses offb-). Only then will Zambia develop.:d:d
WESLEY NGWENYA, WHAT YOU HAVE DISCUSSED IS ONE SERIOUS USELESS, AND UNNECESSARY GRZ COST CENTRE. BUT, YOU ARE SIMPLY TALKING TO STIFF-NECKED FUULS WHO WILL NEVER STOP @$$-L!CK!NG BECAUSE THEIR PRESIDENTS ENJOY IT.
#1 CHALE. THIS STORY IS NOT TRIVIA. IN FACT IT HIGHLIGHTS THE LOAFING PART OF OUR MINISTERS, PERM-SECs, ETC. THIS IS VERY COSTLY IN TERMS OF BURNT GAS, MAN HOURS VEHICLE WEAR AND TEAR MAINTENANCE, CARBON EMMISSION-UNGREENING THE ENVIRONMENT. NOT LIST CONJESTING THE ROADS FOR MORE PRODUCTIVE MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE DOING REAL PRODUCTIVE WORK. THE LIST IS ENDLESS.
179 walikwata amano. Not even Obama is being escorted like that. Mano yaku mushi. These chaps do nothing in offices, they just make phone calls to their girl friends and take coffe. Shame on you!!
Really, can you imagine the whole cabinet at the airport and there are documents to be signed in their offices. I only have bootlickers in our governments, the only solution is to look for someone who is business minded because in business any minute lost is money, worse in our poverty stiken zed any minute wasted is lose of life through Cholera and hiv because the minister of health could not append his signature to procure drugs, he was on duty to see off the head of state. Zambians we need to change leadership in future for us to move our beloved country regardless of tribe, someone of substance.
We need someone who has already done something for himself, one who does not live on tax payers money for survival. These leaders we choose cannot do anything for themselves, not even farm to mention the least because if I say office work some are not educated it will be an insult. Someone who can be an example to some of our youths back home that posibilities are there in life, even if you are born poor. Many young ones in zed have a concept that to be rich you have to live on tax payers money.
Let us not get used to having a half glass of water when we are so thirsty but it is posible to have a full glass. Zed is for us and not for a certain tribe.
You dont wanna miss out. You know African Presidents are unpredictable. He can make appointments right there at the airport. ..so you dont wanna miss out man
if I had an award to give I would give the author of this article! Good stuff and exactly to the point!
These people surely dont think. They always use a lot and they dont have any feelings for anyone even themselves. How can such big shot always sink so low to be waving hand like little babies.