Government has condemned opposition political parties for their refusal to attend the 48th Independence Day Celebrations. Speaking during the celebrations in Ndola yesterday, Foreign Affairs Minister Given Lubinda described the opposition’s absence as a refusal to acknowledge that Zambia was an independent state.
“This is a day when we honour our freedom fighters as well as celebrate freedom from bondage so refusal to attend the celebration on the pretext of poverty is means refusal to acknowledge that we are an Independent state,” said Lubinda.
“Whether poor or rich we should all come out to celebrate our day,” he said.
Lubinda further stated that missing the Independence Day Celebrations with an excuse that other people were starving was the same as being a Christian who did not accept the birth of Jesus Christ.
Lubinda said such political leaders had rendered themselves irrelevant and were not fit to aspire for leadership.
“You should not aspire to lead Zambia because you cannot lead a country when you have declared yourself irrelevant by not attending national events.
Lubinda reiterated Government’s commitment to empower Zambians especially women and the youth through social and economic driven initiatives which are evident in the recently released K32.2 trillion national budget.
He said everyone in the Patriotic Front Government will work with transparency and accountability so that the budget works to the benefit of all Zambians.
Lubinda urged the people of Ndola to unite and pray for the nation as well as for President Michael Sata.
“Let us put aside our differences and continue praying for unity in our country so that we can build a proud future and let us also pray for our Republican President so that God can guide him in his heavy task of working for this country,” he said.
And -Kazungula District Commissioner Pascalina Musokotwane has expressed disappointment that some opposition political party members are shunning national events such as independence day.
Ms Musotwane said that every well meaning Zambian regardless of their political affiliation should commemorate independence day as some people sacrificed their lives for the country to be independent.
She further added that it was unfortunate that some leaders are advising their members to stay away from state functions.
She was speaking during the commemoration of the country’s 48 years of independence in Kazungula
ZANIS
let me try to follow this man’s reasoning….. your satan consistently refused to attend independence celebrations when he was in opposition, and he IS the president now. you say quote’.. you cannot lead a country if you declare yourself irrelevant by not attending national event….. so it follows that your satan cannot lead a country. if A=B, and B=C; then A=C.
OH MY GOD! everything is clear to me now!!
LOL. Spot on.
PF is just kitschy in its approach to everything.Don’t condemn anybody for their principled stand against “celebrations” because there’s nothing to celebrate for the poor and hungry zambian.That wasn’t a zambian celebration but a PF celebration leading zed into oblivion.
He’s forgotten his president did the same.
Iwe lubinda even Ukwa was doing the same so wat’s wrong now
We are not independent
Headline should read.
People call Given fool for not remembering what his boss done in previous years.
Lolest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You can’t be doing the same thing for 48 years naimwe! It is time to put a new twist to the way independence day is celebrated. Why do you want people to listen to speeches every year aggravating the already unacceptable levels of non-delivery?
Bo Lubida,ever heard of Karma?
Given, uletusebanya. Dont think we are kinds who can easily forget. Your president and you in particular never ever attend any celebration when you where in the opposition. What is so special now that you want others to attend when it is clear on the wall that you are proven failures. The men who refused to come to state house are more principled than 90% of your team in government. Viva HH and the team
“…is means refusal…”
MORE GRAMMATICAL JUST IN THE SECOND PARAGRAPH OF THIS ARTICLE- POINTING TO THE FACT THAT THE ONE WHO WRITES THESE ARTICLES IS MOSTLY A GRADE 7 FAILURE. REALLY, IN PARAGRAPH 2- HE WASN’T EVEN TIRED.
Ba teacher, menso yabili!! It boggles my mind as to why you keep checking all these errors. Its the last thing we look for; most importantly, s/he has communicated.
It is the content that matters
I WAS REALLY SHOCKED WITH YESTERDAY’S INDEPENDENCE CELEBRATIONS.IT WAS ALL ABOUT PF AND SATA.I THOT INDEPENDENCE IS 4 ALL ZAMBIANS,WHETHER U ARE IN OPPOSITION OR RULIN PARTY.I NOW UNDERSTAND Y NEVERS AND HH DECLINED THE INVITATIONS.RB’S GOVT WAS BETTER THAN WHAT WE HAV NOW.SATA CLEARLY DECEIVED THE PIPO OF ZAMBIA.
Iwe chi Given, your so called president used to shun all celebrations that Mwanawasa SC and RB used to invite him and how do you expect the opposition to attend. just be realistic and chew your bitter pill. Mind you the bible is clear in proverbs that a crown is not forever, your time to be out will come and it will be so sudden than you expect, so be mindful that what you are sowing now you will reap a hundred folds. take it or leave it, so dont think that by being in power you are better than any zambian, NO, if anything you are the worst government that zambia has and will ever have. so watch your footsteps and mind your big smelling mouth
Is independence day just celebrated at State House? How about me and my neighbor who are never invited, are we not Zambians? Are we not independent when we are at home on 24th October? Is it a sin for opposition party leaders to join 99% of Zambians who are not invited at some government organised function?
Lubinda and his party are *****s, these fools have been refusing to attend independence for the past 10 years when they were in opposition and now they want others to go and be insulted by their cadres at their State house. Didn’t you hear that song the cadres were singing that the watch is broken? If Mumba was there how was he going to feel. That was a political party celebration and not a national celebration period.
Repeal the Public Order Act and allow opposition parties to hold their planned rallies then they will attend any national function.With the current status concerning the partisan police,opposition party leaders fear to arrested at such national events.Â
I like the short memory of politicians
lubinda, you cannot reap what you did not sow. Ask Sata, he is a christian and the Bible is very clear about the principle. You should have promoted that good spirit when in opposition and by now you could be reaping the fruit.
Sata never attended any functions but people never condemmed for Nevers and HH everyone poking
So the same bad behaviour should continue. if and if any of MMD or UPND get into office will thay want others boycotting? When will the madness stop. Sata did it so all oposition members should do it. Well, Sata did it and it got him into State House. Sata’s cup of tea may be HH’s or Mumba’s cup of poison. Why follow what you condamn.
No it should not, but why make a fuss if people refuse? Maybe next year they will attend. You can’t force people. They have a right to accept or not to accept an invitation.Â
SURELY, THIS IS THE CLEAREST EVIDENCE YET THAT POLITICIANS ARE FOOLS? PF officials/ministers have been taking turns in condemning the opposition for shunning Independence Day celebrations; have they already forgotten that Sata never attended any state function when he was in opposition? Or are they retrospectively condemning themselves and Sata for having shunned state events for the 10 years they were in opposition? Politicians have IQs of a wet chicken!!
Ok if an option was given between spending 10billion on independence celebrations and doing away with celebrations but use the money to build 20 rural modern clinics, which one would you pick?
The reasons are clear, the PF government has been hostile to the opposition so what is there to celebrate, why condemn something that is so obvious. If you worked in harmony respecting each others rights and not taking advantage just because you are in power than all will be happy to attend the ceremony.
PF group is providing a big lesson for zambians to learn what type of leadership should next assume the power of presiding over our nation. This is a group of people led by Mr Sata that raised untold number of issues (details in media) against the previous government upon assuming government. All cases have gone in thin air. Made numerous theft allegations on others and nothing has come out except Liato and a few others. Typical of how they hoodwinked Zambians with 90 day promises of milk and honey: alleging thefts of MMD, PF was busy strategising how they too, can steal and rob Zambians of much needed services by claiming to re coup their money spent in politics and rewards from Mr Sata. Same can be said on tribalism. Mr Sata is the most tribal president Zambia has ever had.
Yet he is on record alleging others to be tribal where his tribalism has been seen as a forest where his government and appointment are from Northern province. Including most acceptable opposition parties are from Northern province. Even honours conferred on individuals as freedom fighters are from Northern province. Today he allegies refusal by opposion parties to participate in independence cerebration is unpatriotic. He has forgotten in 10 years while in opposition he never attended any of indipendence cerebrations. Zambians have learnt lessons the hard way and hope will not fall prey to groups such as the PF group.
Madyelelo sakakamidza abale. That is why it is called an invitation and not a surmon. It means I can choose to attend or not to. Let kaunda who is overjoyed with dictatorial tendencies of the PF enjoy the chima styopeti green cake of theirs. Ati independence independence, malabishi ati when you are denying others freedom of expression and assembly. Matyepete yanu imwe alubinda.
A person with a name like Lubinda should have at least a very long memory as a result of eating a lot of fish aka Litapi corrupted to Tilapia!
“A Sata nalema”, 3rd avenue Nkana West.Haa! Haa! Haa! Today, we even have all the power from the people. Yaba!!!! Getrude wabwelapofye panchito wabombele.
bo lubinda u have short memory. there is nothing to celebrate in Zambia.
This is worst hypocrisy LUBINDA You were with SATA when he was boycotting all state functions during Dr. Mwanawasa and RB govts why did not advise him what you are saying now, you chaps u make me sick. SATA boycotted nearly everything in country apart from insulting Mwanawasa and RB so what is this noise from KAPONYAS its SATA who planted the seed he reaping now. That is how it is going to be on the revenge after SATA looses elections you chaps PF KAPONYAS will suffer bcoz you have let SATA plant this seed of revenge where he fires everyone who was employed by other leaders this is bad precedence SATA has set in this country bocz every President who will come after him will use it
You never attended celebrations when you were in opposition. What has changed now sir? I am suprised a cameleon behavior
Childish Childish…….2 wrong never make it right…..is Sata did it we also are diding it.rubish.
Awe Chapwa bana Mulenga nomba…ubufwashi bwakwana.
PF is BITTER to borrow their word, they did not enjoy the celebration as there were no opposition people to brag to….
An invitation is just that. An invitation, a request for one to attend a function. It is not an order or command. The invitee has the right to decline or accept the invitation. Can people stop fussing and spending sleepless nights over it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
not u also bo lubinda
I feel on top of the world, chawama ba mmd pakuti mumfweko naimwe ifyo chikalipa when you are in opposition, for HH,your time will definately come
God bless zm
When the shoe is on the other foot….