By Gray Soko
Songs of Solomon 2:15
Like a beautiful and ripe vineyard Zambia is set for harvest on its fifth general election under the multiparty dispensation. The 2001 , 2006 and 2008 election outcomes were not without controversy though but the country held together and Zambia continues to be a bastion of peace on our troubled continent.
The 2001 election outcome had to be “settled” through a three year legal battle in the Supreme Court, the 2006 and 2008 election outcomes were “close to call’ with the losing parties crying foul and disappointed that their grievances were not handled well. Poll predictions for the 20 September elections also indicate a close election and President Banda has stated that if MMD lose, he will accede defeat, nothing so categorical from Winter Kabimba but one hopes that is also the spirit. It is not inconceivable that what has been dubbed the dark horse in the race, UPND, could spring a surprise and win despite their apparent media blackout of late.
Who are the little foxes that could ruin the Zambian vineyard? There have unfortunately been incidents of political violence, perhaps not of the intensity predicted by Colonel Panji a few months back, but nonetheless worrying. There are overzealous cadres who cannot stand opponents’ campaign material or meetings and we still witness negative campaign messages and misinformation by some organizations or personalities acting as proxy for certain parties. Then there is the perception that the Police despite their good words have a soft spot for certain cadres. Politicians should also desist from using intimidating or threatening language where their power of persuasion seems to have failed. These are the little foxes we should watch out for .
We all look forward to a good harvest on 20 September and a fruitful future .
When I saw the title I thought fya mano mulelandapo ba Soko, kanshi fya kucita erich a few individuals at the expense poor masses. People voted in 2001,2006 na mu 2008, now tell me is there anything that those voting changed to them except for securing salaries and allowances to the elected? what would u say is a good harvest? taking the ‘elite few’ to parliament/plot one while suffering continues to the rest? Give me a brake, ifi ifyaku vota fyabupuba fye!
thats so true ba Soko..UPND will definitely pull a surprise..when the pf went to bed with the post with very sexy headlines..UPND was with the people campaigning..
@ Nambala 1. Give you BRAKE FUEL olo “a break” Mune Simu Nyo la, kwati tawikala ku america naiwe, ichisungu chansala!?
No way UPND can win elections. Infact they will do very badly tis time around. But hey you are allowed to dream you mug.
If you have listened to the president of late, he speaks like one who knows he has already won. Why are Africans so thick? He is on record as having said I will accept defeat and then goes on to say I will deal with those who will cause chaos after elections.
Does this make sense to you? Doesn`t this smack of something dodgy? I bet you won`t know seeing how thick you are!
Non omnes possumus omnia (We cannot all do everything), but we can start. Indeed, ‘the journey of a thousand miles begins with one step’ (Chinese proverb). The MMD may lose power on Tuesday, but they have set a good standard from which future governments will be judged. UNIP ruined the economy and sent us into a $7 billion debt we could never pay back, run down the mines, brought us yellow maize, mealie coupons, long queus for essentials and an intolerant dictatorship. MMD brought the economy back on tract, but with it came greed and corruption, the mines have been recapitalised, maize is everywhere and anyone can start a paper and insult the President. We have startedon a good journey. Thank God.
Until people move on from seeing presidents as little gods, we can never talk about development and democracy. Once one choses to become president they have to accept all the nonsense that goes with becoming one.
A president is a public figure. He is open to plaudits and slaggng off whether he wants it or not. If you can`t put up with it lump it.
Why do Zambians claim to be learned and democratic they indeed are not? Reminds me of people jumping on the young LPM jr because he said the president was stubborn!
And, yes maize can be everywhere, just like there is rice everywhere in India! But is life all about maize? How about unemployment? Street children?
Ba Soko, your analysis is a dollop of muck!
#7 Italian Bunga Bunga
The case of street children is due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic my friend. Many bread winning family members died and the remaining ones could not look after the children, sending them off into the streets to beg. No government, and especially a debt ridden government like ours was at the start of this epidermic could have handled this situation. As for un-employment; only a growing economy can absorb a work force. Thousands of jobs have been created in various sectors of the economy. You would be stupid to expect that EVERYONE will be employed at any one time in the world. There is no country that has 100% employment except city-states like Vatican!
What happened to social services then? And, I never said I expected everyone to be employed. It`s not true, not even in big economies like the western world do you find everyone employed. But it`s the ratio.
So we are not a growing economy right? Why do people get told the opposite then?
You would be stupid not to see that there are more people unemployed now than there were in 1991. Corruption! Sort it out but is it doable in Zambia let alone Africa? I guess you will start telling me people are engaging in business. Yes just like the Kapokos! Pathetic.
When I was growing up, if a working parent died, the other was “deliberately” employed so that they continued supporting the family. As for AIDS unfortunately it is here to stay with us and the fear is it might only get worse. What with learned people not wanting to change, what with leaders being in the forefront?
Street kids will be there and you would be stupid to think we can`t do anything about it. Got to go now. Take care and all the best. May the government change on Wednesday! Just changing! Peace to all Zambians.
@9 the Saint, though your contribution is partly true, I don’t entirely agree with your reason for such a high number of street kids in Zambia. I’ve worked with street children in Zambia and I can tell you that the majority of them even up to 70% have both parents leaving in abject poverty somewhere in Garden compound, Chawama, Kanyama, Misisi and such other places and this is only in Lusaka but there are also many other places on the Copperbelt and now Livingstone.
Coming to the article, I would think that the word of God has been taken a little out of context here, the context in which Solomon wrote the song signified a love affair not only between humans but that of God and man, its a sermon , I can’t go in it on the blog but I hope that media houses and all that concerned can level the playing ground of all political leaders irrespective of wether they are incumbent, longtime politicians or just beginners.
Timely message Mr Soko.We indeed hope for a peaceful election.I’m sure PF as usual will have a hard time conceding defeat but they shouldn’t destroy the peace Zambia enjoys.UPND I hope you emerge as Zambias largest opposition party.MMD you are doing better than anytime in your 20yr history but please pull up your socks when you form the next government.
HH, thank you for helping to relegate the Kaponya party to third place..
Just a final report: we who were on the ground have enjpyed the campaign massively, telling people the truth produced amazing results. Don’t worry about violence, it’s just hallucinations by tiny pockets of disgruntled people. Such people speak loudest but they are also the best cowards you have ever seen or heard about. The mention of the word “jail” makes them piss in their pants. By now the security organs have all the intelligence and know exactly where to pounce if anyone were foolish enough to test their orders from the Commander in Chief. By the way for the benefit of those who are ignorant, there is still a government and a Commander-in-Chief in place until a new one is sworn in. Let’s vote, relax and wait patiently for the results, and enjoy a cool one too, if you can.
Tonga Tribal Party will never come into power as long as under5 HH is the leader…….Let us get rid of this tribal party once and for all
Dont use certain titles like # 17 above. that is misleading if if u r a staunch adventist u shud use another identity bcos u r not sent by the church to say what u have said
Change is already taking place.But it is eerie. Elvis Nkandu, the Chairperson of Zanama in Kitwe (a marketeers’ association), a notable supporter of the outgoing regime, is in police custody. His offices have been taken over by a rival Zatma sympathethic to the PF. Authorities have picked Nkandu in connection with the K2 Billion loan his organisation got for members from CEEC. The whole things smarks of political scores being settled…One wonders; so early days…
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