Hunt for Successor 36: My idol has failed me

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PF leader Michael Sata
PF leader Michael Sata

By Field Ruwe

Let me begin with Edgar Allan Poe’s words: “In criticism, I will be bold, and as sternly, absolutely just with friend and foe. From this purpose nothing shall turn me.”

I am encouraged by the amount of personal attacks on me by some foes and PF cadres. Some are deep. It’s good. There are those who ask me where I draw the courage to sometimes be indecorous.

“From my president, His Excellency Michael Sata,” I tell them. “He’s my idol. He calls a spade a spade. He is shrewd and often drives his opponents over the cliff. Above all, he’s the only one, who over the years has enjoyed freedom of expression. Like the King Cobra he is, he has spat in the eyes of too many-a-soul and gone back to embrace them, as blinded as they are. Gifted with fiery words, he has uttered whatever has come to his mind and is still adored. Today, he’s my president, and for the PF cadre, one to die for. That, my friends, is talent worth emulating. I don’t care what you say.”

Why Michael Sata was my hero

I began to observe Mr. Michael Sata back in the 1980s. Most of us did not know him until KK appointed him governor of Lusaka in 1985. Suddenly, there was this superman, acerbic in tongue. In his hoarse voice, with cigarette in hand, and blazing eyes, he was like Marlon Brando of the “Godfather” fame, portraying the character of Vito Corleone.Like Corleone, he had his own “personal code of honor” and identity. He was rough, licentious, tough, persistent, ambitious, and put his work where his mouth was. When he walked the corridors of power, he did so with a swagger unmatched. Some cabinet ministers scampered, forgetting they were senior to him.

Confrontational and boorish at best, he spoke with fire in his mouth and perfected, to the utmost, the tone of combat speech. He used it to rough up indolent workers at LUDC. Before we knew it, Lusaka was squeaky clean.KK showered him with panegyrics and anointed him “Lord” of Lusaka. He alone was a “free man of the city.” He would go anywhere without prior notice and without knocking. He would say anything to anyone. It was freedom of expression at its best.

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He calls a spade a spade. He is shrewd and often drives his opponents over the cliff. Above all, he’s the only one, who over the years has enjoyed freedom of expression. Like the King Cobra he is, he has spat in the eyes of too many-a-soul and gone back to embrace them, as blinded as they are.

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I said wow, where did KK find this rugged impetuous juggler. He was not a bon fide Lusakan like Dipak Patel. People who were born and bred in Lusaka were easily identifiable. We never saw Sata at Lotus Inn, Kalipinde, Woodpecker, Lusaka Hotel, Inter-continental, or at any of Lusaka’s watering holes. And yet, he would mold Lusaka to his whim. What do you call that? I said to myself “I wanna be like Mike.”

I mean no one, not even the late Charles Mando asked the questions: “Mr. Sata, where were you before you became governor? Give us a brief biography of yourself. Where were you born? Where did you go to school and what level of education did you attain?” “Who are some of your childhood friends?’
I bet Mando did not know that the then governor had served as constable in the colonial government. Knowing Mando, he would have asked; “Governor, what is this about you working as a cop for Roy Welensky?” Worse still, had Mando known that the governor had swept the Victoria Station platforms, he would have asked; “Governor, does the sweeping of the streets and collection of garbage in Lusaka have something to do with your experience in London?”

No, no one vetted the governor. No one dared. We were too gullible and mesmerized by him. He was fearless and dogmatic. Like former US Defense Secretary Donald Ramsfield, he bent conversations to his liking and answered his own questions on “Sunday Interview,” “Kabusha Takolele Bowa,” on the streets, and offices. And in all his answers he called a spade a spade. I asked myself, how does this man do it?Okay, some people may not understand what to “vet” means. Some of the “vet” synonyms include “examine” “scrutinize” and “investigate.” This is an important word in a democracy like ours. It means that every appointed and elected leader must be thoroughly cleansed.They must endure highly invasive background and criminal checks. Investigators must pull out all personal, educational, business, and health records, and put them under the microscope. They must visit the village or place where the person was born or grew up and interview his childhood pals. All the information must be made public so the aggrieved can table their sentiments. The governor was exempt by sheer arrogance. He was indispensable.

Did you know Michael Sata is one of the architects of Zambian Democracy?

File: Michael Sata and PF Cadres
File: Michael Sata and PF Cadres

Fast forward: September 22, 2011 is a historic day. The world watched as my “idol,” the 74-year old maverick, stood on the stairs of the Supreme Court with his right hand raised and took the oath of office. “I, Michael Chilufya Sata, having been duly elected to the…so help me God.”

With these words the PF leader was a democratically elected head of state. This is what some PF tin heads planted online to discredit and haul insults at those with opposing views forget; that their leader is president for all, regardless of party affiliation. He’s my president. They also forget that their leader is one of the architects of Zambian democracy.[pullquote]

When he walked the corridors of power, he did so with a swagger unmatched. Some cabinet ministers scampered, forgetting they were senior to him.

 

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What they don’t know is that in 1970, Sata resigned from UNIP because of KK’s dictatorial tendencies and his desire to create a one-party state. Sata participated in the creation and consolidation of UPP. He was expressing his democratic right as enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political rights.

Again, on September 24, 1991, he resigned from UNIP after labeling KK a dictator and joined Aka, Chitala and others in the Movement for Multi-party Democracy. With bravado, he demanded equal say and participation in the politics of our country. He was raunchy, brusque, gruff, impertinent, and unapologetic about it. His contribution to the demise of UNIP and eventual defeat of KK is exceptional. KK knows it.

So, when he concluded his oath with “So help me God” we thought real democracy had come to Zambia. Barack Obama sent him a note: “The hard work of a living democracy does not end when the votes are tallied and the winners announced; instead it offers the chance to reconcile and to advance greater security and prosperity for its people.”

For ten years, from 2001 to 2011, opposition leader and presidential candidate Sata was a fearless and audacious “democrat.” Through cunning and devious methods, he captured the hearts of the Kaponyas and hid his desires in the slogan “Donchi Kubeba,” coined by Guy Scott.

Opposition leader Sata undermined his opponents and scared off his enemies. In the art of persuasion he was matchless; in haughtiness he was unequalled; and in verbal attacks unbeatable.

[pullquote]When Mwanawasa tried to frustrate him, he ripped apart a cabbage at a PF rally in reference to Mwanawasa’s poor state of mind. At the same rally he said that Mwanawasa’s brain was just picked from the tarmac after an accident and packed in his head.[/pullquote] I repeat: “he was the only politician in the country who enjoyed freedom of expression to the full.” His pervasive lack of respect for others was astounding. HH, Chipimo, Nawakwi, and others could not express themselves in the same combatant and vituperative manner.

When FTJ preferred Mwanawasa to him, Sata severed their friendship and called him a plunderer, whose thinking was “as tall as he was.” When Mwanawasa tried to frustrate him, he ripped apart a cabbage at a PF rally in reference to Mwanawasa’s poor state of mind. At the same rally he said that Mwanawasa’s brain was just picked from the tarmac after an accident and packed in his head. Come on now PF fellas, who says such stuff about an opponent? Is this how heartless and shameless some of you have become—just for the want of power?

Where Sata my idol failed me

The Late President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa

Let me add one more, because this is where my idol has failed me. When Mwanawasa suffered a stroke PF leader Sata called for the appointment of three doctors to investigate the president’s illness. He also requested vice president Kunda to convene the cabinet within three days to discuss Mwanawasa’s health.

Question: why can’t Nevers Mumba, or HH, or indeed any of the opposition leaders, comment on the president’s health? Why can’t they too request Zambian doctors to examine the president and tell us what really is going on? Why can’t vice president Guy Scott lead the discussion of Sata’s health in parliament?
Better still, why can’t the president himself address the rumors surrounding his health and bring the matter to a close? KK’s doctors often updated the nation on his health. Why can’t the incumbent do the same?

Further, my idol has lamentably failed at democracy. On October 14, 2011, president Sata assured the nation that he would respect human rights and fundamental freedoms both which are embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

During his maiden speech to parliament Sata made it categorically clear that the PF government would ensure “that democracy, good governance and the rule of law as well as an enabling environment are essential for national development.”

But after his speech, the president drove back to State House and began to work against his own pledge.

But after his speech, the president drove back to State House and began to work against his own pledge. Suddenly he didn’t want anyone to enjoy the same freedom of expression he had championed. Feigning to promote the common good, he adopted the mantra “what Sata does, no one should” and his supporters accepted his self-seeking stance. Just now he’s getting closer to wiping out the opposition and going beyond his two terms.

Worse still, frenzied loyalty bordering on lunacy is setting in. Beneficiaries like Frederick Chinsala have the audacity to propose crazy stuff like erecting statues of Sata around the country in the manner of Saddam Hussein. Don’t give people like Chinsala leadership roles, they are dangerous, destructive, and retrogressive. They are the breeders of dictatorship.

As for me, I shall continue to exercise the same freedom of expression politician Sata imparted on me. I shall be as intrepid, daring, and as brash as he was. President Sata advocated for democracy, now it is his duty to protect all human rights and fundamental freedoms, and not disregard or abuse them.

Field Ruwe is a US-based Zambian media practitioner, historian, and author. He is a PhD candidate at George Fox University and serves as an adjunct professor (lecturer) in Boston. ©Ruwe2012

62 COMMENTS

  1. I`m happy that you have this time around detached your usual emotions from the article.I like the balance.Well done bro Field.

    • Ruwe, I can’t comment once more. I told you personally to stop posting your book transcripts on this LT, why did the kids at the dogspaper chess you?
      When is this book going to be published, did you find a publisher already? Try Richard Sakala, he is a good Editor too.

    • Mr Ruwe this statement is very miss leading ”He also requested vice president Kunda to convene the cabinet within three days to discuss Mwanawasa’s health”. During Mwanawasa’s term at no time did Kunda ever act as Vice-President, It was RB as Vice & President. Refer to facts! Not personal wisdom.

  3. Good write-up. I agree with you 100% I also have admired Sata and you forgot to mention his work under MMD (remember ministry of health?) So the only remaining thing for you now is to come back to Zambia and continue enjoying your freedom of expression to the full. Fred Meembe, the one you call a non-journalist has been emulating Sata over the years, but from within the country.

    • Your type of thinking has no place in the modern world.It is easier to help Zambia from abroad than within Zambia.Most Zambians abroad are very patriotic and spend most of their energies finding ways of helping improve Zambia.Most times it the bureaucracy in Zambia that hinders us people abroad from carrying out our projects.But we are relentless and will not stop till Zambia looks and functions like the countries we now live in.

    • While I like your post, it sounds shrewd, as if you have hidden motives (‘donchi kubeba’) which is vivd in your tone. Do you want Ruwe to come within the Cobra’s strike range or what?

      To Field, well done once again, you write from the standpoint of the well read. Your articles are always researched.

  4. For the first time, I habe read a bit of sense from this writer. Some of us saw it long ago that Sata was a dictator. It is amazing to see this writer now come back to his senses and see what we saw long ago.

    • @brilliant, I think you just haven’t been reading Field’s articles with an objective mind. He has been the same for a long time – objective. And he never sung praises to Sata. He just put facts as they were, albeit, in a satirical way sometimes which made reading long stories easier for some of us.

  5. Terrible article, I could have done a better job.

    One of the worst articles I have read this year, and trust me when I say this, I have read over 2000 articles this year alone, and you would understand being a PhD student

    But then again what would you expect from a ‘Field’ ?
    The name gives it away
    Bury your head in your hands, with shame.

    Thanks

  7. Totally refreshing thank you. Folotiyas and ANZAC Arms were my papas hang outs. FOE for all including trojan horses like me:}

  8. Time waster this article is clap, Ba Field MCS has never been your hero and will never be, we know that you are UPND cadre. So your are tolerating the the behaviour of political failures like HH and Mumba.

    • Its very funny how everyone claims to have voted for MCS and how they have been disappointed! MMD, UPND FDD and every Jim and Jack claim that the voted MCS. Then who the heck voted for the other candidadtes for MCS to get forty chakuti percent?

    • The problem with some of you readers is that you take things literally. The article is excellent and written in a manner that is attractive. HMCS may not have been a real hero to Field but he has put it in such a way that it is readable and flows and puts his point of let down clearly. I guess you will never be a writer and probably you don’t read as much.

    • field ruwe isn’t a sincere chap , everything he writes is for his personal gain , but he pretends that it is for Zambia

  9. You sound bitter Field and you seem to want to be relevant, you say, and I quote:
    “Better still, why can’t the president himself address the rumors surrounding his health and bring the matter to a close? KK’s doctors often updated the nation on his health. Why can’t the incumbent do the same?”

    During then I seem to be remember Mr Sata was condemned for asking Mr Mwanawasa’s health status and was ridiculed by the MMD , you lose it there after by talking of an update on mr Kaunda you are forgetting there was never an update and the country was kept in the dark until the president died. Wasn’t he jogging in London when he was in France in some hospital I seem to recall?

  10. The freedom of expression is evident Mr Sata has not stopped the opposition to question his health and it is only right that PF defend him

    Personally I think you are jumping at comparing a man who has been in the job for less than 2 years with people that ruled for 27, 10 and 7 years which is absurd and flawed
    I am not Mr Sata’s fan but your article is too early unnecessary and serves to only fool people who fall for your PhD research comment at the bottom of your article.
    You sound like one of those people that like t hear their own voice.

    Thanks

    • At Mushota would you rather have another five or more years of bad governance just because you say it is too early to judge. Not calling these leaders out on their failings is what has put us in this whole mess along with our not taking responsibility in the day to day running of our country. I believe by now we should be seeing some changes for the better and if we are not we should start looking for ways to bring about the change that will take our country forward. We as a people have sat quiet for too long we need to remember that change starts with me…It’s disappointing to come to this site and find our “educated’ Zambian’s can’t even argue in a mature and constructive manner

    • @mumu some people had 10,7 & 3 years of bad governance , why not allow another 5 years of bad governance ? fact is HH will never rule Zambia , a tonga will one day rule Zambia but not HH the same applies to Nevers

  14. Tiyende Pamodzi Comedy Show! continues. Still remember your forage into being a comedian was by posing with mannequins in ZCBC. You should have probably stuck to that

    • Sorry Mwansa the only thing we have in common is that you are Bemba like me and that is very kind of me but you are a thick-headed trog. I have seen skeet with more sense than you have. You are a few bricks short of a full load, a few cards short of a full deck, a few bytes short of a full core dump, and a few chromosomes short of a full human.
      I don’t respond to trolls who get aroused by seeing my name. Crawl back to your hole you sewer rat.
      Count yourself fortuitous I even responded to you.
      Thanks

    • Mushota, at the rate you are going insulting others, soon we shall not be able to distinguish who is a fool between you and mwansa. If its true that u are a lady, then the amount of vile in ur mouth is unprecedented. Calm down and debate objectively. Further, don’t trash what field has written, we have never seen ur own articles, phd girl! Give us articles to read if you can write better than field.

  17. Very long part of the good side of his hero. Very brief on the wrong side which is very damaging. No mention of his involvement in Chiluba’s third term. No mention of feaces in Chadiza at Shart Banda’s funeral. No mention of billions of kwachas put in envelopes at state house for the MMD convention. Summary, either poorly researched (ignorance), or just lack of freedom (self censorship).

  20. Field Ruwe is some useful idiot and has been pursuing his Phd from some trademill university for the past 10 years because he is unable to even do his thesis. Shameeee.

  21. I do not buy an african story for that matter Zambian story been written by a European or an American. Who in Zambia has written about the lives that where lost in Iraq and Afhagan? Leave us to narrate our african problems in an african way. Field Ruwe, use yo experts on how USA and Britain are handling world affairs and leave our president alone. By the way, its not human rights violention HH, Nevers facing the legal charges run to commonwealth for rescue.

  25. Mushota…and your Phd…respect other people’s opinion…I think this guy( the writer ) has a point….it may not be the best article ever written but its indeed talking about something every progressive Zambia to reflect on….

  27. Mushota,
    This is a profound article, I wonder for your bitterness of Field Ruwe. Its shocking learning how bitter you’ve become, hence grow up and respect other people’s opinions.
    You’ve called your friends names. What makes you so special than others in God we trust? You are just a primitive person who wants everyone to see you as the “wise” one. You are a ghost in a shell. Your behaviour today in uncoth, losing my grip as your bickering is adamant.
    Respect others Mushota and don’t be self centred my friend, you’re just another individual. Shocked by your immaturity today.

  28. I am short of breath taking Micheal Sata as your role model that’s says alot about Field. The worst thing about Field is that he doesn’t know yourself. Get some identity , find talent and be a man of your own not someone’s shadow. You are just another attention seeker. Next time before you write go to Zambia and do your research there, I am sure Lusaka library and some museums will be of great help to do your research just a friendly advice.

  32. Give credit when due everything in this article is true. Some people say sturff without logic. For those that are still acting like you havent observed anything wake up from your slumber and smell the coffee. .Mr Ruwe you hit the nail on the point . @ Masala Market for the first time you have said some sensible.

  33. Ati my hero , that is indeed crap Lubansa Ruwe does not call a spade a spade he is an opposition’s mouth piece, the MMD and UPND’s useful idiot . You need no one to convince us that you are a paid UPND idiot to criticize His Excellency Michael Chilufya Sata. You are a cantankerous useless idiot with nothing to do writing slanderous articles to get money from HH & Co for your tuition to supplement what your wife gives you

  34. Field Ruwe is no different from the kind of brainwashed African intellectuals I see floating all over the place and flaunting their Ivy league credentials; all talk, no depth. Useful ediot , Most African journalists do not write good things about their country or their leaders they play a role of useful idiots for the west

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