By Lee Elias Tembo
Zambia, like many other countries across the globe commemorated the international Labour Day which falls yearly on the 1st of May and underlines the importance of the worker’s rights, their hard work and remembering that labour is the backbone of any economy and life in general.
However, getting down to the nitty-gritty, the speech which was presented by his Excellency Mr. Michael C. Sata, president of the government of the Republic of Zambia can not go without sound debate and analysis. Having taken enough time to read part of his verbatim as reported in several online news tabloids, I have been subjected to critically digest his speech in the hope of finding its relevance vis-à-vis the international Labour Day commemoration.
By and large, his Excellency’s speech did not seem to rationally address the many challenges that the Zambian labourers are facing on a daily basis such as low incomes, dangerous working conditions, demotivation and ill-treatment by investors that himself once called “infesters” to name but a few.
Rather, his speech opened up a “Pandora’s box” of political bickering, mediocre comedy to some and demonization of his political opponents whom he alleged to be ashamed of the lies that they have been peddling about his health, hence shunned the commemoration. Why would his healthy become a subject matter at such an important international event? His Excellency has forgotten that while in opposition, he is the one who made endless and provocative fun at the health of his predecessor Mr. Levy P. Mwanawasa SC. (R.I.P) and always wanted it to be in the public domain.
The president should have been able to distinguish between an international commemoration and a political party event. In as much as he has got the prerogative to express his feelings, there are always better avenues where such matters could be addressed without attracting much debate and criticism from other political players. Your Excellency, this is not the time to irrationally scold your political opponents but rather fulfil a mammoth of promises you made prior to your election as the president of the Republic of Zambia as well as instil lost hope and confidence in your governance system.
People around the President seem to be feigning amusement at whatever rhetoric he was uttering
Sata is useless. Nothing good can ever come out of this man. Zambia made a huge mistake. What with his sidekick Guy Scott! Rumour is Chainama is looking for two patients who discharged themselves from the hospital on 20 September 2012!
How many comments did you get in 5 hours? 2. WHY? Because Sata is not popular. Go to Fr. Bwalya and Clive’s stories….. If those 2 guys where strikers in Chipolopolo we could have won world cup.
People aren’t commenting about this article because Sata’s labour day speech alone cannot bring down all his other positives. Complain about the speech all you want. He is better than the corruption we had under MMD.
@Zigolo
The author of the article is right to raise a genuine concern which should generate interest and debate. The lack of debate should raise serious questions among bloggers and the calibre thereof. Sata’s speeches lack…well they are simply empty and and uninspiring at any level. They luck leadership and will only cause laughter among empty tins as they focus on personality attacks rather than inspirational to the youth and those faithful.
What are you trying to say?
Either that people commenting are without any political “savvy” or Author its “Loony”?
It looks that you are part of that first group. Read again and without anger. And again, and again….
I wish you luck, bat from the strings of your daily comments, you might even end-up learning the whole of the article in memory, unfortunately it will be miracle for you to succeed in “reading between the lines”.
Sometimes, swearing, calling names, been tribalist and, why not, either absolute or useful *****, might be good to assure yourself and alike of your presumed political or economical knowledge, but in fact, what it shows it is shallowness of presumed knowledge.
Using language commonly used by the outcasts of the civil society to convey to the Head of State may…
who represent one and every Citizen of Zambia and thus represent State (Republic of Zambia) can be interpreted as the acknowledgment of “silent majority” which does not want “revolution” but instead its passing very loud and crystal message that unless the promises are met and rule of law restored, treats and more promises shall not result of successive mandate from the People.
I salute you, Lee Elias Tembo, for your clarity and courage.
Hopes for Zambia lies with the people like you. Well done.
Using language commonly used by the outcasts of the civil society to convey to the Head of State may be good for your ego and proverbial 15 minutes of fame, but will NOT contribute absolutely anything meanfull to eventual solution.
On the other hand, a luck of “acceptable” (?) numbers of comments to a well written and in a manner of due respect to the Head of State who represent one and every Citizen of Zambia and thus represent State (Republic of Zambia) can be interpreted as the acknowledgment of “silent majority” which does not want “revolution” but instead its passing very loud and crystal message that unless the promises are met and rule of law restored, treats and more promises shall not result of successive mandate from the People.
I salute you, Lee Elias Tembo, for your clarity…
This is why Lubinda got in trouble and got accused of being disloyal, because he had a way of distancing himself from mediocre statements and trying to redirect the drama into a more intellectual and rational expression…
Stop scolding my father Mr. Sata..my father doesn’t know when pliticking ends and serious developmental national talk starts. That’s what happens since he was in opposition for too long. I tell my father that this is absurd..people need to hear some serious developmental talks rather than talking about your oppositions 24/7 but he tells me that its the party policy to do so otherwise his veep or party secretary would have told him or advise him to change the vibe. I told him not to listen or pay attention to his veep or party secretary since both of them are dunderhead enough that they act and behave Ike party cadres themselves. He has promised to change the course and hope his next national speech will attract and earn some praises.
Zigolo…you are such a low life who fails to articulate issues.whether MMD was corrupt or not makes no difference to what is currently being discussed.Arrest them(MMD) if they are Guilty.we are talking about Sata’s useless speeches and conducts whenever he’s in public.By the way your Sata promised us more money in our pockets…fuel prices have been increased,zesco is also scheduled to increase it’s tariffs and for your own information this means that all commodities,services and products will have there prices adjusted upwards……please try to be rational when talking about national issues…..People didn’t vote for MCS to be embarrassing us to the world.
Using language commonly used by the outcasts of the civil society to convey to the Head of State may be good for your ego and proverbial 15 minutes of fame, but will NOT contribute absolutely anything meanfull to eventual solution.
On the other hand, a luck of “acceptable” (?) numbers of comments to a well written and in a manner of due respect to the Head of State who represent one and every Citizen of Zambia and thus represent State (Republic of Zambia) can be interpreted as the acknowledgment of “silent majority” which does not want “revolution” but instead its passing very loud and crystal message that unless the promises are met and rule of law restored, treats and more promises shall not result of successive mandate from the People.
I salute you, Lee Elias Tembo, for your clarity…
Lt is this sata’s speech?
idi amin dada! !!