FINANCE Minister Alexander Chikwanda has called for an end to politicking as this is taking a toll on the pace of development.
Mr Chikwanda said the culture of political bickering was highly pronounced among Zambians, a trend he said negated development.
Mr Chikwanda said this in Chilubi District in Northern Province where, together with his Community Development, Mother and Child Health counterpart, Joseph Katema were commissioning the Kambashe Bream Fisheries pilot project on Thursday.
During a church service at Santa Maria Catholic Church, Mr Chikwanda said Zambia had continued to lag behind in terms of development compared to just one company in countries such as the United States of America.
“The backlogs of development arrears are huge. For 49 years of our independence, if you look at our Gross Domestic Product (GDP), US$22 billion, I mean that’s what an American chain-store like Walmart makes in three weeks. That’s our GDP. How can you walk with your heads up, Zambians, surely?” Mr Chikwanda wondered.
“We have got a long way to go and one of the things that retard us is politics. Politics is just too much in our place. Let us use more time, let’s spend more time on development tasks.”
He said it was imperative to unite for the sake of the country’s development and not engage in abstracts.
Mr Chikwanda said the country was grappling with a backlog of development which needed to be cleared before attending to new programmes, and assured that the Government was committed to developing every part of Zambia.
“PF is here to stay and to bring development to every place. No place in Zambia shall remain out of reach. We shall reach out to the remotest parts of Zambia because that is our major thrust,” he said.
It was in view of the developmental arrears which the PF Government inherited from previous administrations that the minister appealed to the citizenry to be patient and supportive to the Government as it strived to develop the country.
And Kasama Diocese Archbishop Ignatius Chama said the fish pilot project would improve the economic status of Chilubi, which had for a long time remained behind in terms of development.
Haha,Chikwanda you finally see the misguided focus on 24/7 electioneering brought on by Sata.At least in Rupiah Banda’s time we used to read of bumper harvests,record forex and investors.Small minds dwell on personalities (like PF) while great minds focus on ideas(like MMD)
And this is like the best PF have to offer?Instead of counselling his party he comes to tell us things we already know?Yes Mr Chikwanda there is too much politicking going on and the ones to blame is your party which has remaned in campaign mode 2 years after the last elections.
“Politics”. So who’s in the lead in this business?
“If it means PF getting all MPs to cross into Government, so be it”. Mr Chikwanda, who said this? Isn’t it politicking?
“Vote for a PF candidate so that development is brought into your area”. Isn’t that politicking?
I agree with you Sir, that politicking is the cause of under development. But I want you to agree with me that your Party is leading the way in politicking with people like Kabimba and the President. We are tired of by elections, we want development!
Good Point Mr Chikwanda. Look at Nawakwi, just politicking day and night. Nothing to show that given chance she can add value to this country. HH claims he is educated but what has he offered for the past 8 yrs or so in opposition? he just want to get to state house by any means. His focus is state house and not Zambia. Nevers has lost direction. Nothing promising from him so far. Ati opposition leaders. Ata seeee!!!!
HH has, through his bueinesses, created hundreds of jobs for Zambians. You must understand that we are in a multiparty democracy and HH, like the current Head of State and other politicians, are constitutionally allowed to participate in politics on political platforms of their choice.
We love the competition. Keeps our hardworking govt led by fellow Zambians on their toes. Those competing with them are also fellow Zambians. That is why we fought for independence. Imagine if there was no multiparty politics, our beloved MCS would probably not be President today. So HH, keep the pressure, and win in 2016, if PF goes to sleep or threatens peace through cares talk and ignores laws of the land. I love this.
Too early to complain. Just deliver what you promised us. May be we need to try a woman for president. May be Nawakwi will do. What do others think?
Ati, Try a Woman, Zambians are cursed to be *****s!!! Keep trying till you can’t try No more, Wise people don’t just go about Trying. They sit down and Think what it is, that is required. You wish Nawakwi could be made president by Virtue of that idea caled trying??? Serious Joker.
Edith refuses to answer questions concerning her marital status. What more will she hide if she became President? Of course, she is free to be single or married but why refuse to shed light on her actual status. Smacks of arrogance to me. I am married and I thank God for that.
A great piece of advise from a wise statesman! Zambians let’s take heed!
He should first start by advising his president and part cadre SG….
A government that has spent most of its time on by-elections should spent more time on self introspection . Its no use projecting your own behaviour on other people. Chikwanda you and your PF are the problem. We cannot wait to see the backs of you. You’re total failures. Recycled trash! From UNIP to MMD then to PF! And you still don’t have a clue how to run a government! Pathetic Failures!
Speak for yourself.. As for me. I’ve just come from my commercial farming operation along the road PF are building from Chisamba-Kasisi-Chongwe-Luangwa-Chirundu. You don’t know how happy my truck shocks and tyres are. I can now reduce prices of my pigs slighly. Don’t jus yap about a country you don’t know. What’s $22biliion. For and economy? Pocket change!! Stop thinking about rubbish politics and come to zEd to fight for hetares of land in the now opening up rural areas suited for production.
Am happy with PF. A road is everything. No road? Means no power or production
@Digga, stop the lies. You’re not in Zambia. You’re in the UK!
You are the cause of this situation. These chaps really thing we are dumb? You cause this politicking by your induced bye-elections then come around and say there is too much politicking, what b.a.s.ta.r.d.s!!
kwekwe,u r so blind H.H. have created employment ,Manda Hill,Makeni Mall ,Pnp woodlands and Levy pnp just to mention few.
How many workers are empoloyed in Game stores,Seedico,his buildings,PnP C/belt and others farms.if ba kwekwe u r a pf cadre plse we zambian now we nid president not creating huge expenses on behalf of zambians for their personel gains.
STOP lying iwe! Thise are NOT his companies. Your guy is not rich. You thing running those companies is a joke. There is no way you can run large companies and have time for rubbish politics.
At last someone from Government sees what I think. Its too much, All talk and NO ACTION is what is happening in my country. Please lets put politics aside, lets come up with ways of development and lets have a year of politics during the election’s year like USA and the european countries are doing it. Its not a bad idea to copy what the wests are doing as long as it benefits us. I say its high time the youths of Zambia rose upto this challenge and stoped supporting these senseless politicians who do not care about their future but only care about their pockets. To the politicians, I call for you to become more diplomatic and start solving problems facing our societies instead of just calling yourselves names in the media of which even the 6th graders can do better. Sory,if i have…
The govt is to blame for the “politics”. Look at the court cases of RB, Brebner Changala, induced by-elections etc. In spite of the peace Zambia fails to progress because the people managing that country want it that way.
he is right politikolicking is taking over from development, those MPs instead of deleivring they are busy politikiolicking satas boots,
The next president after chilufya sata is gone,good observations.
This information is very important for both the opposition and ruling party. It is high time our honorable MPs added value to the issues concerning the country not evrytime political bickering day in day out. Like some other blogger has asked, what ha HH contributed to the development of the country since coming on the scene. Developing the country should be left only to the govt the opposition must stop criticizing only and start offering concrete solutions. Politicians should talk less and work period!
but uli chikopo. the govt alone cannot bring development. in the uk all the trains are private companies. british airways and all the airports do not belong to the govt but muli ichikopo. Zambians should be owning businesses now 50 years after independence. sata says hh has never worked in the govt where did he get the money.govt job does not make one rich unless you are stealing like what sata is doing now with his family and clan
This is a very sound observation originating a level-headed experienced politician. Chikwanda, a contemporary of RB and Vernon Mwanga, has had a vast knowledge of the political environments under UNIP and MMD regomes. Hence Hon. Minister Chikwanda’s comments are very timely. to the erring PF leaders.
just too old to be i tune with modernisation. Retired recycled but still expired mind
Mr Chikwanda you are right but your PF party must lead the way because PF is the most policking party!!!!
Yes HH has created jobs through stealing from people those campanies he he under valued to take money for his personal use
typical of losers blaming any successful person, oh satanists, thieves, etc. do you honestly think if MCS and his bufi (pf) wold have let HH free if they had a grain of evidence that he stole.
Laughable clearly the oldman Chikwanda does not know what Walmart sells and to how many people in the USA and that’s excluding its UK branch Asda Walmart next he will make comparisons with that takeaway called Mcdonalds. Chikwanda is right though he has picked the wrong audience for his message…please forward your message to your boss in State House who seems to come alive at by-election campaigns trips and your fellow cabinet ministers.
I think he was indirectly telling Kabimba, meembe, mutembo and sata. As a finance minister, he must be pissed off with their reckless spending
Its tru politcians jst politcking without ofering decisions or alternat recomendtions.Look HH always claimng very educted!Wht eduction does he hav whch we dont have.Zambians re educted not one felow yaping al the time to be educted bt loosng erections!Evn next erection wil be a miss.Pf get focused & implement so tht 2016 the chap wil ve no campaign.
I remember Mr Chikwanda telling these that boast they are rich,that what they had were just toys as compared to what he had yet he did not talk about it.That aside.lf u don’t want to work together what do u want?Ukutimbana?We shall bring it 2 u.
Truthfuly Mr Chikwanda! but be serious with taking note of the important issues raised by the oppositions parties. Politicking is every where in the world, akubombeni fye… bane pano chalo tapaba kuwamya fyonse.
Time to double my efforts to improve my life so i can be where i want to be,…….