Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Leslie Mbula has appealed to local authorities in the country to reserve pieces of land for officers serving in foreign missions to build houses once recalled back home.
Mr. Mbula said it had become a trend for councils to forget about diplomats, a situation which had led to many recalled officers becoming destitute once they were recalled from Foreign Service.
Mr. Mbula said this in statement signed by Second Secretary for press at the Zambian High Commission in South Africa Philip Chirwa and made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
“I appeal to our councils in Zambia to reserve some pieces of land for which our men and women serving in Foreign Service can apply so that when they return home, they will have a roof over their heads,” he said.
Mr. Mbula made the appeal when Ndola mayor Charles Chiwalu paid a courtesy call on him at the Pretoria Chancery on Friday.
The Ndola Mayor together with his Town Clerk, Charity Mpande-Nanda, Director of Finance Victor Mazimba and three Councilors are attending a workshop on local government in Johannesburg.
Mr. Mbula however noted that there is no point in someone having money in their pockets when they have no shelter over their head.
“I appeal to my officers to prepare for their recall by ensuring that they take advantage of their presence here to build a house or two back home. The problem some of them have been facing is acquiring land. If the land was available, they would build these houses.” Mr. Mbula added.
And in reply the Ndola Mayor Charles Chiwalu said his council was reserving land for Foreign Service men and women.
“Before the late President Levy Mwanawasa, died, he directed the Council to set aside some land for diplomats. We did that and I am happy today that a number of diplomats have benefited from this arrangement,” Mr. Chiwalu added.
ZANIS
IF it is hard to buy land when you are in the country, do you think it can be easier for the people in foreign countries. FIRST OF ALL isnt it your government that is in charge? at home
Mbula and the rest of you guyz in those home offices couldnt even manage the passport renewal job, do not think the councilor in chongwe can do a thing
Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country.
others dont want to build.whats so special about u that land should be reserved for?anybody have money shud buy land,why reserving it for diplomats who work for themselves?
Zambians need to kick the MMD where it hurts, in the bu.tt and out of office.
I think he wants land for his son who is in the embassy in Washington. At his age he is not thinking of building a house. It is for his son.
Diplomats should just follow the same procedure in acquring land as all other Zambians.
They do not merit any special dispensation. After all the majority of Zambian diplomats did not even get their diplomatic jobs on merit but through connections. That is why most are of low calibre and believe in serious bootlicking, not to mention that they have attitudes to fellow Zambians abroad.
baphycolour aba bali itemwa. they are serving themselves in foreign missions, he wants to be served even at home. boosheeters.
mbula ulelandila ku moosewler?
Great stuff, but if a list is published for all embassy staff in all offices, it is 90 percent likely that few families can benefit. Appointments made via neptism, tribalism, and friendship cannot be supported. In other words, BIG NO mr. mbula of Fibale.
This is Madness…… this Man should be retired he’s way over age. Was he not a part of the Scrabble for Houses even during FTJ’s Administration?… Go to Hell!
So six members of Ndola city council all come to attend the same training? How dull can they be? Could the not send one or two only who could in turn train the others upon returning home? How wise!!!
Daddy, if you don’t prepare for your future and where to go and live after, its not anyones responsibility. You do your official duties and what comes after that is none of our business. You have access to reaources and you are talking about people keeping land for you, muletontonkaya, i don’t even know why we have people who are so slow in thinking leading us. Its not the governments responsibility to help you plan for your retirement and keep land for you, you have not been in the diplomatic sector all your life so what is tis crap. No wonder our politicians die as poppers. No nzelu!! 2011 kuyabebele, we need change pa Zed.
Actually, the son is in the embassy working in Washington, interesting hiring process indeed?????????
Goodmorning all
Most of the comments above are just powered by malice. Even those serving in the foreign missions are Zambians too and they deserve a piece of land to live on but how do they secure it when they’re abroad all the time? This is where the government needs to help and that’s all the old man is asking- I see nothing wrong with it. Please leave your own personal misery & frustrations outside the blogg….and I ain’t calling no names because you know yourselves very well.
the problem with our leaders is the feel the should always say something, even when they’ve nothing to say. if land is reserved for diplomats, the same chaps will sell of that land soon as they return. people should learn to save and plan for their retirement like the rest of us
But you pipo get paid and you also go on leave, so u have every opportunity to purchase land while still working in missions abroad there is nothing special about you just like other expatriate Zambians also mangage to hustle and buy land you can also do the same. so if you experience the difficulties then help to influence policy change so that ALL ZAMBIANS benefit diplomat or not.
#15. It is true the deserve land but the earn inocme much enough for them buy land anywhere the want. For your infor, even an average Zambian finds it diffcult to get land from the council hence buying from those that fail/can not develop theirs. Lets treat all equally.
Too much bullshit this guy sucks
This Mbula mano is talking nonsense as usual.People in the diplomatic service who do nothing but serve themselves do not deserve preferential treatment.They have all the damn previledges afforded by the corrupt government that sent them there.Why not just close the missions abroad as they serve no purpose,RB does all the globe trotting.I think its cheaper to have one RB trotting around than maintaining embassies and high commissions.
8/9. Peter. You are funny. It took a few seconds for me to read and understand what you wrote. thats is a nice piece od bembanglish. The benefits for thse guys are too much. At this time they are enjoying mu foreign service and again kubasungila impanga, awe takwabafye, people at home nabena balefwaya impanga. ni first come and first serve.
These suckers have already drained the country dry!
Viva nine chale, though you go again. These pipo are also Zambians and deserve land. But in their perculiar case they are sent abroad to represent the countr so it is order for such a request.
This Mbula is past his retirement age. He needs to pack his bags and go back to whereever he hails from. What crap, we are still been ruled by the independence generation.
Viva nine chale, though you go again. These pipo are also Zambians and deserve land. But in their perculiar case they are sent abroad to represent the country so it is order for such a request. Their performance is not the issue at hand. \i would not be suprised to hear the South African, American, or even EThiopian diplomat have such priveleges.
What about ba common man in diaspora
So it means only those working for embassies deserve land according to this mad man. Why advocate for corruption so openly? Is this the level we getting to now? This man is another Nyirongo. Next he will say more land for his Lamba/Lenje gang. What type of nonsense is this?
Rubbish, they should be treated like any other person in diaspora.They are working a like any other civil servant and it is wholly there responsibility to plan for their future.It shame, especially these words are being uttered by the most senior citizen, who at one time was the secretary to the cabinet.Is he saying he never acquired land when he was holding such a high post.? Extend this gesture to all living abroad………
#3, #7 and # 13.
I agree with you entirely. These people already have good conditions of service which some of us can only dream of. They will never be satisfied with what they have and to reserve land for them is asking for too much. At his age and after holding senior GRZ positions such as Secretary to the Cabinet, one must expect that he should already have planned his future and by now own enough land. Unless he is unfocussed and a dunder head. As Zambians lets mind the levels of showing gratitude to our leaders lest we end up making them small gods.
Its Scramble for Africa ! I wonder why this old bally is still in RSA. These are the family tree fellas that benefitted greatly from LPMs nepotism !