By Wesley Ngwenya
“Ze President is clearly in his speech zat we wants development in dis country. Ze PF Party need to unclench zeir fist. Zey need to work wis us. UPND and us are in ze same boat.” (laughter, cheering, and clapping follows). Such are statements being made every day in our parliament. Often times they are the usual government crap about committed to this or that.
Since I don’t watch television, I am a keen radio listener especially BBC. However, a week or so ago, I turned my radio dial to Parliament Radio which I never knew existed. It is interesting to hear the Parliamentarians debate. It is actually scary. The debates, in parliament, reminded me of high school debate which I really liked to take part in. Like the high school debates, our parliament debates lack substance; they are about showing off your limited vocabulary and putting off your colleagues.
Our Parliament lacks direction and vision. A lot of time is wasted on attacking each other, asking childish questions and getting the same childish answers. I listened to a whole session one afternoon and after the session was over I asked myself what was achieved. I couldn’t come up with anything of substance. It was more like entertainment—back to high school debate club. How does Parliament spend two weeks talking about the President’s Speech? Debating on what he meant by saying what, why it was not good, how it was so great, etcetera. Why not contact the President himself and ask him to clarify himself?
When Parliamentarians in a small and poor country such as Zambia spend many hours debating on Mayuka and football then you know we are in big trouble. These guys need to interact with other Parliamentarians in the region and even outside Africa and taste how government business is done. Tackle the issues and provide solutions with time frames. Remember the SMART goals? Our Parliament seems to revolve around the ministers. The MPs ask questions and the ministers give the same answers. Their answers are often vague, too general and sound rehearsed.
The budget for this year just came out. In the next few weeks the members of parliament will be consumed in why is so much allocated to so and so. Give me a break, those numbers don’t mean anything to us Zambians because after all the money is never used for its intended purpose. The budgeted money for education, for instance, ends up being used to cover presidential administration costs and pay allowances for the presidential entourage.
If our lawmakers are to come up with good laws that shall stand the test of time a lot has to be done. They need to utilize the various committees to come up thorough bills. After they have thoroughly analyzed and critiqued the bill in their committees then the bill comes on the floor of the house for some more scrutiny. This will ensure effective delivery of service to the Zambian people. Each MP needs to come up with their core interests and therefore belong to relevant committees. Looking at some of our MPs, I fear that their lack of adequate education and vision makes it impossible for them to think about sponsoring bills they don’t understand.
For many of us, Zambia is the only place we have ever lived and have no desire to evacuate anytime soon. We have to make use of the meager resources our country has to offer. Therefore, our lawmakers have a duty to make this place as habitable as possible for all of us. After all we are all in ze same boat–politicians, women, children, teachers, bankers, miners, farmers, etcetera. We all clench to the edge of the boat hoping the captain and his crew know what they are doing.
Yes
Lets look first
Exactly.
Ya True !!
2. 3RqU
morning. let me read first
Jamaco shani man? What`s with that OGB? 😮
Wesley say that to a Zambian who`s never been outside the borders of our sorry country and they will tell you muleumfwa.
Totally agree. Ubututu!
Observer yashani? Thought I will be icipendo cimo! :d
Well done man for beingl-)
6. 3RqU
Original Good Boy!! 🙂
I want LT to remove me from their Blacklist!!
I was Number One on all the threads that came in last night but this morning it was history mune.
Nomba ine ni [-o<[-o< that will help! Ala nafishupa pa LT!!
Pa Zed Deliberation yamu Parliament leaves much to be desired. Same applies to NCC. You wonder wheather they will give us a paper that will show that credible men and women sat and come up with this document. No wonder why you can have people like Munkombwe, Teta, Mulongoti, Shikapwasha who, when ever they say anything they say it “wrongly”.
Jamaco which blacklist? 😮
You mean they wont let you be numbalal-)
:o:o
10. 3RqU
Just as clear as that!!
Its a pity,Debates by our MPs in parliament likened to High School ones. Well this whole thing is self inflicting pain. Why do we insist on using the Queen’s language. Some MPs are knowledgeable but are limited to debate fully due usage of English. In South Africa and Botswana, debates are conducted in local languages and this allows MPs to articulate issues. We have 7 major languages on air why not allow thses to be used during debates. Its high time we are proud of our own languages.There are chaps like Given Mulato, Mtongolo,Shakas who speak fluently in Chizungu but given a chance in local language Solwezi West MP could perform wonders. Due language limitations 90% of MPS are MUTE and Doz
U r right, we always hear childish questions and same from so called minister. And some MPs its like they gone for honeymoon they have never spoken, is it because of lack of eduction.
#12 Chips I do notthink it`s the language. There are a lot of countries in Africa which use local languages but are not any better than Zed.
This is very true. Our leaders lack substance in their debates. Even a high school debate class can beat them to the ground. :-??
wasting tax payer’s money with malabissh [-x
Somehow #12 you are right on language issue. But the truth is our MPs are just good at seconding a motion not because they want to but because they dont know debate(in short they are blank).Its about time we put in minimun education qualifications for our lawmakers so that they originate and not second motions.
I did know I was number 3. Maybe its my ilomba
People of Zambia since we dont have the guts to throw shoes at people talking rubbish, let us import shoe-throwers
You have to train to throw shoes. Its important that you aim for the mouth thats yapping. I can assure you that mouth will not yap again. Any volunteers?
:-?:d/:((Thats zambia the real africa what do you expect with pipo lik teta and ka mulongoti:-\”
Good observation Wesley,
the quality of our parliamentarians has been reduced to that of cadres esp by MMD. You have mps who cannot support sensible proposals as long as they are coming from the opposition. shame
am reliably informed that there are mps today in the house who have been debating for the last thirty five years or so. i think their time has already passed.
Even the kids in the play ground speak better english than our so called leaders.
What a shame.
No.12.You are right!But do you realise that we have too many local languages in zambia unlike Botswana and SA?What criteria will be used on selecting the local language that should be used during these debates. If for example Nyanja is chosen, some these MPs dont know Nyanja,if Bemba, the Lozi’s will not accept.This can actually bring about a civil war. Believe me, the Lozi’s will say they dont understand Bemba and vice vesa.The best i believe is for us to introduce a minimum qualification for these people to file in their nomination.Let it state that an MP should be able to speak and write in English. Finito
#23 Chashine. Well spoken
The debate shold be televised live so that we can see escorts among mps. **==
Some of these pipo dont even know what they are talking about.
They talk giblish like.
Hi Bloggers, I meant the 7 major languages spoken on irritating and useless ZNBC Radio 1.Lozi, Tonga, Bemba,Nyanja, Lunda, Luvale,and Kaonde. Setting minimum educcation standards will not pass test in parliament coz the same Honourables will protect their interests. Look what happened during elections in 2006 & 2008 PF had majority in urban areas but our brothers in villages did the opposite with the aid state machinery. The only way out to have lively debates the elites should take up the challenge in 2011 to go stand in rural areas. The other task we have is trhe old guards from 60’s to date are ruling us the RBs, VJs and ever vicious St. Daniel and new chaps like Tetamulomo list endless.
Isukulu bane!! How many MPs have Form 5/Grade 12 Certificates not to talk about a degree?
It is not supprising.
Thats why we need first degree BSc,BEng, BA, etc as the minimum qualification for our MPS. I am sure things can improve…Dont think its not possible in villages…where did you come from?