Friday, March 29, 2024

MMD must help find solutions – Chanda

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Sunday Chanda
Sunday Chanda

THE opposition MMD should come out of “denial” and assist in finding solutions to the high unemployment levels in the country, Open Society Foundation executive director, Sunday Chanda has said.

Mr Chanda said the MMD needed to become progressive especially on matters of the unemployment it created rather than focus on unnecessarily attacking the PF.

He said the MMD had failed to innovate but was trying to be a “copycat” of what they thought the Patriotic Front (PF) used to be while in opposition.

He advised that if the MMD leaders wanted to take on President Michael Sata and the PF, they needed to be original and find bigger brains.

“MMD’s best brains must prevail because the former ruling party is exhausted and it will collapse entirely if they do not step in and reposition the party. It needs to renew itself and once more believe in a future they used to believe in between 1990 and 1991,” he said.

He said MMD’s denial that it never created today’s unemployment confirmed the fact that the leadership was full of deceit as it was plain for everyone to see that the former ruling party left millions of youth unemployed and without any form of empowerment.

“The MMD cannot be in a state of denial to this point. This is a crisis that they created.

“They must reach out to the unemployed youth and apologise. It must admit its wrongs and apologise for their failures. Let them own up on unemployment,” he said.

He advised the party to build a strong intra-peer review mechanism than continue to live in denial.

Mr Chanda further charged that MMD’s corruption was not a mere tag that could be done away with by good political statements and speeches.

70 COMMENTS

  1. Chanda is spot on. MMD does not want members who question their conduct. Let the MMD debate issues as part of its internal democracy than give chanda threats. MMD has a duty to come up with constructive proposals to a problem they share largely in and that is unemployment. Who can deny that MMD is corrupt, anyway?

  2. I like Sunday Chanda as one of the young thinkers the MMD has and should hold on to. His contributions as Open Society Foundation have been spot on. When he started the jobs agenda, the government machinery set its eyes on him and instead of being irresponsible, he has opted to remain constructive, offering solutions and making proposals to government. I wonder they listen at all. MMD must not be sensitive to criticism, they must debate the issues chanda is raising and prove if at all there be any substance in them. The economy under MMD registered growth at macro-level but meant nothing to the common man and the unemployed youth. MMD failed to allow the benefits to reach the youth, so why do they want to deny a fact?

  3. MMD created economic discontent among youths and are part of the problem. On that basis, MMD must be part of the solution. Chanda is right!

  4. Chanda is a courageous and lone voice in the MMD. All others would want to remain blind and loyal followers. MMD members must start asking questions and demand answers. PF members must start asking questions and demand answers. But political parties unfortunately do not embrace such people and soon, Chanda will be thrown out like Julius Malema. I thought Nevers Mumba was coming in to make a change? Keep up the spirit chanda, you have our support and we love your analysis on muvi TV!

  5. The former ruling MMD should even take the blame for its failure to create jobs for young people in the 20 years it was in office. Patriotic Front government inherited a jobless country hence the need for MMD to offer tangible solutions and not just words.

  6. This is really not good. If Sunday Chanda really wants to make the MMD tick, he should not rush to the press to issue statements that are demeaning of the party he belongs to. He is simply trying to create a profile for himself but he does not realise that the more enemies you create the harder it will be for you to make it. I do not think that Nevers Mumba and his MMD fellas are perfect and I also do not agree with their aggressive stance against Sata. But I feel their members should advise them in the background or should look for “more credible” leaders than them. Insults beget insults. Respect begets respect.

  7. @ Umumbulu, thats a very important question. It is PF’s responsibility to find solutions and all stakeholders must be in the fore-front as part of the solution, including MMD. There is no government that can single-handedly find solutions to unemployment and hence the need for a multi-sectoral involvement. MMD cannot just wash their hands and think its just PF’s issue. MMD gave us this unemployment and they must show responsibility by providing constructive input.

  8. This Sunday Chanda ***** is just a job seeker. He contested on MMD ticket and lost. What would have been the *****’s comment if he was MMD MP today or if the same MMD won. These hungry bed bugs sponsored to make senseless statements will do well to save their embarrassment before we start exposing them. 

    • You are not very Smart Chimbwili are, Sunday makes more sense than the Sh$t you are talking about,if someoen loses an election, does that mean they cant be constructive in their thinking…time up dude, go mop your floors

  9. Multi partism is about competition to rule through ideas and its not about telling your competitors what they must do. A political party must operate on a platform of principles for its policies as a govt in waiting. I dont agree with the sentiment expressed that one political party must tell the otherhwhat they must do unless they are in a coalition. The competititon among political parties is what will bring quality to the citizens not giving ideas it breeds laziness and lack of innovation. when it comes to common issues like enacting laws it fine the political parties collaborate. we need to get over this idea of thing servant master relastionship with the ruling party. if PF have no idea what to do kick the out and bring in somebody.

    • Well articulated! PF promised to solve all these problems in 90 days and I believe some of these promises blinded people into voting for them. If they can’t deliver, they should step aside and allow others with truthful and realistic pledges to lead the nation. Their lies are at the root of many problems we now face as a nation.

  10. I just don’t respect people who run away from their responsibility. Can MMD show responsibility and start behaving like a former ruling party? You are a large part of the unemployment problem, can you also form part of the solution. Is that too much to ask for??? Does MMD still care about the unemployed youths languishing on the streets and are youths so unimportant that MMD cannot admit it put them into that crisis and ask for their forgiveness?

  11. @ Umumbulu – exactly. Great question. What is this Sunday Chanda talking about? First, PF should publicly admit that they do not have enough thinking capacity to run this country. Then MMD will help. Sata should also acknowledge that him and his party are CNP. However, it is nice to know that MMD is now being seen as the best party to solve the economic situation. When MMD was in power, there was never a time that they chased after Sata or HH asking them to contribute solutions to the country’s economic problems. PF you are CNP, just admit it.

  12. MMD failed to create adequate jobs for the youth. PF promised to create jobs not for old people only (above 50 years) and the voters gave it the mandate. Is this PF acknowledgement of having no plan for the youth? Its their your time, please ask PF show us that they are in charge and able, not a party in the opposition bent on blaming others

  13. If a political party overstays in power through election even when its not performing then its the voters fault not the party nad must bear the blame because voters have the ultimate say on the fate of a political party. There is a gap between patrotism and responsibility of the party. # 5 if a party cannot deal with the country’s challenges and are paid for being in govt let hem leave it to others. Its strange, how do ask for solutions from some one you have kicked out office.

  14. @Chitapi-meno-ngwe-mutu…u are missing the point here! MMD is not being acknowledged as a party of brains here & PF as a party with no brains NO! what is being said here is that MMD in its 20 years of rule have created this problem of unemployment & therefore, they should be part of the solution. There is nothing for PF to admit here, in fact, i think they have more thinking capacity than the MMD coz they are serving the masses out there that have long suffered under the MMD

  15. #9…Opposition parties form part of the solution, especially if they created the problem like MMD did. UPND and other parties can attack PF on unemployment but MMD has no mora; justification to do so. The reasonable thing they can do is to start offering solutions as a way of making-up for their misdeeds. You cannot entirely blame the voter because you know that elections over a period of 20 years were rigged. 2001 is evident that Mazoka had won that election. 2006 was probably Sata’s. The voters can do what they do but governments try by all means to hold on to power.

  16. Looks to me like Sata and his group are stranded and want the opposition to find solutions for them. Why should MMD or UPND which is not in power tell PF what to do?? These are all in a competition and for PF to fight to get to the high office must have a plan of action. Failures indeed. Why look from without, look within PF, are all their brains frozen considering the average age.

  17. #8, the UPND of Anderson Mazoka would provide alternatives to what Mwanawasa was doing, including an alternative national budget. That is the class we need. Its not about PF chasing MMD for solutions but MMD showing responsibility for a crisis it created.

  18. Some of you guys are missing the point. The bottom line of the statement by Chanda is that if you are part of the problem, be part of the solution. Its called responsibility. MMD can talk about all the figures with regard to investment but truth is all that never translated into improved lives for the common man. MMD’s priorities where wrong in some instances. One does not need to categorize how MMD made serious blunders. The PF will make its blunders and if they fail, kick them out but the point is, all stakeholders must become a part of the solution-finding process, including MMD.

  19. Job creation needs a multi-sectoral approach, so what is wrong with calling on MMD and others to become part of the solution-finding process?

  20. Opposition parties must start challenging Government on ideas. Imagine if leading Opposition parties were debating the best approaches and interventions to job creation? Imagine how the process would be enriched. Imagine if each party, including the PF could produce a blue-print document on job creation and let ideas compete. This is a challenge to all Opposition parties, including PF.

  21. #10 PIXXY – then if PF have the brains why do they still need MMD to provide solutions? Running government is not like running a community development project. Don’t get into government if you can’t solve the problems. Sata promised to solve problems when he was campaining; he didn’t promise that he would solve the problem together with MMD. It is absolutely rubbish and daft to argue that MMD caused the problems…which problems did MMD cause? If you want the real source of the problems why don’t you ask Kaunda to help sort the issues out since he is the real origin of Zambia’s economic woes. Don’t argue like a politician and stop imitating what politicians say, think first at least. For the first time Zambia can feed itself without importing food, due to the MMD – 1 example. PF CNP.

  22. Its like the Democrats asking the Republican to find a solution to the financial crisis in the USA. The world does not just work like that. If you are in a driving seat of a car you are expected to have a drivers license and know how to drive.

    Its time Zambians acknowledged that the mad the biggest mistake of their lives in voting Ukwa into state house. I will help you count the loses in 2016.

    The reality is that he his not fit to govern and the emperor unfortunately has no clothes.

  23. TO PF CADRES. The responsibility to solve Zambia’s economic problems shifted to PF the moment they won the elections. It is therefore silly to start attacking MMD for not providing solutions. Even if MMD was willing to share ideas, how can they do that in the midst of being insulted by PF. Treat others with respect if you want their cooperation. PF should stop talking as if they are intelligent when in fact they are failing to run the country. Sata promised to put more money in your pockets. If Sata now has totally failed to perform in that office, how does that become MMD’s fault? MMD never harrassed Kaunda for solutions, despite the fact that they inherited an even worse economy which they built from scratch and Sata was part of that even though it seems he never learnt anything.

  24. Sata said he would solve the problems in 90 days. In fact his mouth could not utter any sentence without ’90 days’ featuring somewhere. So why should MMD help him now? As far as I am concerned, the MMD of the last ten years i.e. the MMD without Sata was actually making a big difference to the lives of ordinary Zambians, Ukwa thought he could do better and never gave MMD any kudos for the positive gains they were making, the problems we are seeing now in Zambia have got nothing to do with MMD but are the problems created by Ukwa and his henchmen. Why blame the opposition for failing to fulfil your 90 days promises?

  25. @ CHITAPI…You don’t know which problems MMD created and what is wrong by them being told to become part of the solution to the problems they created? Be real, whether sata has what it takes or not, the point is that MMD cannot run away from the fact that they failed to arrest the unemployment crisis in its budding stage…what gives them the morality to point fingers at others? If UPND was doing that, it would make more sense because they’ve never been in power. Imagine PF condemning another government for problems they may create while in office?

  26. # 20, when Chanda criticizes Government, nobody calls him PF. When he criticizes MMD, then he is PF and has been bought? Both the Government and the Opposition must be called to order. Chanda, you are doing a good job, keep it up! If PF is wrong, tell them that they are wrong. If its MMD, tell them. We are listening.

  27. Being in government is not for show. If you can’t perform, then get the hell out and leave space for people who can. While Sata and his PF are operating like chimbwis-without-a -plan, children are dying from poverty and disease. These are the same children whose parents Sata lied to about providing solutions in 90 days. If Sata values MMD solutions so much, why didn’t he tell people to vote for MMD? MMD should not help Sata who seems to be good only at talking; we should let him be exposed for what he really is: a loud mouth without brains. This will help our people to make the right choice in 2016. How can you have a government in 2012 which thinks that kneeling infront of voters and begging for votes is the best way to be voted for? Even a real hyena is more intelligent than that!

  28. Sata will be judged by the problems he will create. For now, MMD created this unemployment. PF must honour its word and find solutions, no questions about it. MMD cannot pretend that it did not manufacture the joblessness in the country. They should take responsibility and be part of the solutions.

  29. # 27 MABVUTO – How old are you? Only 12 years ago, Sata was a Minister in MMD. THe best Sata can say loudly to people like you who seem not to know your history is that: “I was part of the group that created these problems”. The moment Sata left MMD, MMD started performing well: Zambia stopped importing food, industries opened up, roads were being built or repaired, civilised politics started, and they never pointed any fingers at Sata even though he had staunchily campained for chiluba’s third term and he was the last person to leave Kaunda in 1991. Stop pointing fingers at others as if you yourselves are always right; examine your backgrounds first. Right now, RB left $2billion dollars in foreign reserves last year; now there is less than a billion remaining. Where is the rest gone?

  30. # 29, you are missing the debate here. Its not about Sata valuing MMD solutions because if they had any, today’s unemployment would not stand at where it is. This is about MMD realizing that they are a big part of the problem, so they can migrate to becoming part of the solutions. Let them debate alternatives. Mazoka, M.H.S.R.I.P, offered policy options and in his grace, he still has a lot of respect from so many Zambians.

  31. When will the Opposition start offering solutions like alternative budgets and policy documents like Mazoka and UPND would do? Possibly because they are lazy to research!

  32. No 29

    I do not need to add anymore…  simply put the nation has a moron in state house. He needs to be exposed for a villager he his. More important i hope Zambians have now released that

    ” An empty tine makes a lot of noise”

  33. @#23 Chitapi-meno-ngwe-mutu…i think you are the one who should think here before you criticise! why are you all calling on government to involve the opposition & all other stakeholders if u do not want them to assist and be part of the developmental process in Zambia! jes because the government asks for input of ideas from the party that caused this problem does not make it vulnerable in any way! aren’t you the same people that are saying PF is a dictatorial party? but how is it that when they involve other stakeholders then they are weak and brainless?? In my opinion, you should be the one who should start thinking outside the box & think like an intellectual (if at all u r one) & not like a politician!

  34. None of the Opposition parties has any research units, no wonder they spend all their time just criticizing and fighting for media space. They always wait for government to make a mistake and then they jump on the problem with all sorts of attacks and not even a single solution. When will the Opposition start offering solutions like alternative budgets and policy documents like Mazoka and UPND would do? Possibly because they are too lazy to research! We need an opposition party that will do what UPND under mazoka was doing, if not more and that party will have respect of many Zambians.

  35. Still scratching my head, to find a time when Ukwa – while in opposition – was offering alternatives. It is your time PF – tiyeni nayo nchito!

  36. In fact your observation that the MMD started performing when all the crap i.e Sata, Scott etc left. They grouped to form what is now CNP. The result is there for all to see. Where have you seen a creation of districts every day? Was this in the budget?

    Less than a year in government and we have not even seen any policy on job creation. The Vice Chibwe Scott says PF has been restructuring the economy….   with a PhD i do not expect him to think like his boss a grade 7 

  37. U bloogers supporting CHANDA U ARE JUST BLIND FOLLOWER OF THIS *****S this maggot has been heavily paid by SATE HOUSE through GEORGE CHELLAH AND EMMANUEL MWAMBA TO be issue-wing these statements. Some of you guys are busy jst supporting blindly. Surely a normal person how do you blame MMD now when SATA chimbwi no plan cheated the Zambian people that he will do wonders in 90 days its stupid of CHANDA CHIMBWI to blame MMD on this one. This chap Chanda is most corrupt maggot, he has no house he is being kept by prostitutes he is jst a fool WAR DOG

  38. I dont know why Zambian political parties do not go for policy conferences to produce policy documents. Political parties have to wait for their party president to open his or her mouth for them to know what the party position is on a matter. Shame! MMD and other opposition parties must start to package solutions and present them to Zambia as alternatives.

  39. Chanda, keep it up my boy! Let MMD assemble its best brains and package alternatives for the people to digest as part of the solution-seeking process. Zambia needs more answers to existing challenges. I think that MMD neglected the common man and its time they became constructive with solutions. This will be for the good of Zambians and not PF. Country first- let stakeholders generate viable options and challenge government policies with theirs. Let ideas contest for space, not just aimless arguments and criticisms.

  40. Is it true that MMD wants to expel Chanda for raising questions and reminding the party of its past deeds and present obligations to the Zambian people? Shame…Anyway, I think it would be a blessing in-disguise.

  41. @38 The Engineer…let me ask you something, this creation of districts…what do you think it will do? cause more financial problems for the nation, OR create employment for the many Zambians out there who are still unemployed, educated or not?

  42. MMD had no answers to the unemployment issue and from where I am standing there is not much point to asking them for solutions. PF promised (I want to think they had policies) to solves these problems but to date nothing: not even on paper has been put forward. But the question is: how do you create employment? Answers include inward investment (Govt responsibility), Govt investment in infra-structure (Govt responsibility), industry development (manufacturing, service, tourism etc) Govt and entrepreneur lead) where do MMD fit into this equations. Govt has majority of the responsibility and should implement enabling programmes for entrepreneurs, foreign investment (limiting skills import) and invest in infra structure. Stop pointing fingers you are in Govt and that’s the job for opposition

  43. If mmd had asked pf not re-nationalise Zamtel, which is loosing its customer base and money as we speak, would pf have listened? If mmd had asked for the money owed by Membe and Co to DBZ to be paid back would pf had listened? If MMD had said dont donate fuel to Malawi because it will cause shortages which will adversely affect the economy would pf had listened? PF is busy persecuting MMD members and you expect MMD to give them advice on job creation? Sata said he would create jobs in 90 days and people voted for him. If he has failed to deliver, he will have to answer to the electorate. Why bring in MMD into the problems he made himself? Today, Zambia would be a much better place in terms of social cohesion and economic development had MMD won period.

  44. Sylvia Masebo is now a minister of tourism and art. Ukwa has re-aligned ministries yet again just to confirm to all of us that he is truly a chimbwi without a plan whatsoever.

  45. @Pixxy. Chitapi-meno-ngwe-mutu and The Engineer have intellectual capabilities of pond life. The best you can do is ignore them before they subtract from your knowledge.

  46. @ Membe, you are a bitter fool with no facts at all. How do you claim that is being kept by prostitutes and at the same time claim that he has been heavily paid by State House to issue attacks? Your insults shows that you cannot engage in productive debate. Its the option of an empty mind to resort to character assassination like you are doing. Shame on you. Graduate and debate issues.

  47. #47 OCTOBER24 – Okay, may be you are right that I have intellectual capabilities of pond life, but my pond life makes sense. Let us agree that our current president has failed miserably, that is why he is asking for help. Opposition parties contribute ideas everyday serving on parliamentary committees, and you PF cadres read about these committees everyday when they send ministers and permanent secretaries away to go and bring back better explanations for what is going on. So what more do you still want from the opposition? PF and Sata must show leadership by solving problems. You don’t expect the opposition to start doing your work, otherwise then just leave. Fact is Sata and PF have failed and are now lost, they thought it was easy. Nafiba fulunganya!

  48. #39 If Chanda has no house as you claim (which is wrong of course), how about Nevers who has no house but talks. Has he been paid by Rupiah Banda to talk? Bring sensible issues than dwell on falsities and character assassination. Chanda is more sensible than you are, has worked for the university of pretoria dealing with program development and at south africa’s largest research institute called CSIR. He is presently studying law…what are you doing for yourself sir?

  49. #39 You even have the energy to get so petty on a matter that is supposed to be for public consumption. If Chanda is being kept by prostitutes, is your mother one of them? The people supporting chanda dont expect him to be an angel but they respect the guy because he thinks unlike you. Of all things, you dwell on falsities and character assassination. You dont know Chanda. I met him when he worked for the university of pretoria responsible for program development with the centre for leadership development before he moved to the Afrika Leadership Development Institute at south africa’s largest research institute called CSIR. I know he is studying law, what are you doing for your living sir?

  50. # 50…Spot on. I know this guy worked for UP and the two institutions. It is MMD cadres like that Membe who think with their buts…what is membe doing for his living and what does he do for his living?

  51. Political parties are challenged to open up intra-party democracy because anyone who raises questions and seeks answers becomes an alien who must be expelled. We need to redefine politics going forward. Chanda has been highly critical of government, can MMD say that they paid him then? This guy was an ardent critic of the mwanawasa administration and raised the employment issues even under RB, this is not strange. He is a free thinker and one prays we could have as many young men like him. Any sensible political party would seek to make use of his exposure and experience. Chanda must be below or about 35 but has so much exposure. He is intelligent and gifted, like him or hate him.

  52. All you Chanda-haters, I pity you. Chanda stated a fact and you defend with hate and insults. I am sure he is laughing at you right now. Chanda, if you read this, I advise you to join PF and don’t waste your time with useless MMD. If I was Sata, I would call you and give you a job and keep you close. Those attacking Chanda are only scared of his potential. Chanda has a long way to go, politically…watch this space! I don’t need to be Prophet Joshua to tell. You find a guy as courageous as this one, just know he is going somewhere.

  53. #54 You are a sensible human being. This is reflective of the kind of society zambia is. What is there to insult a man who calls for solutions from all stakeholders? If the MMD have no solutions to add, why dont they just say that they ran out of ideas owing to the 20 year period. If PF ever runs out of ideas, zambians will judge them as such. @54, wise counsel, I hope we can adhere to it.

  54. I agree with anyone calling for substantive debate on issues chanda raised. Lets be a society that can disagree without becoming personally disagreeable. Chanda, keep it up!

  55. Whoever was part of the problem must be responsible to help correct it. Don’t just shout from your roof top!

  56. If Chanda was a genuine MMD member why the hell did he no criticise his Party when they were still in power like Mulongoti and Chitala did. To me he is nothing but either a PF plant or a poverty stricken job seeker period.

  57. It is a fact that MMD was responsible for this unemployment, is that a matter for debate? Ba Zambia, be real. Do we as a people forget so easily? MMD was corrupt because had they not been, they would have done far much better than they did.

  58. We could have done better, its a fact! My government became a leaking bucket and some holes were too big I could not seal them. You must understand that I also needed to run a successful campaign. You know I was not MMD, I was UNIP. Thank You!

  59. MMD bring back the money you stole! If PF steals, we shall demand the same! That should be the new commandment in Zambia

  60. #60 It is true that MMD are responsible for not only the unemployment levels but a lot of other things they messed up including corruption but I really can not buy a story from Chanda who was part of them when they were busy winning and dining the majority of Zambians were wallowing in povery. Let us just believe in the plans by the PF to ease the unemployment impasse. Rantings from people like Chanda are not in good faith but a smoke screen to find a job.

  61. Comrade Chanda is dead on with his remarks. We all seem to have short memory. When the MMD came into power they were swift at implementing FREE ENTERPRISE and selling off most Zambia’s national assets. At the time they did not seriously think of the high unemployment their actions were going to create. Today we are experiencing it, however, the majority of us can’t see it. This is a very unfortunate situation. All of us are in this together therefore it is necessary that we collectively as a nation do what is right to create jobs. Ideas should not just come from a few individuals but all of us. One Zambia One Nation.

  62. We all know that MMD created problems. We don’t need to be reminded. PF was voted in to solve those problems. That was the promise they made to the voters. They never said they would ask MMD for solutions. 

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