President Sata has responded to UPND President Hakainde Hichilema’s letter in which the UPND leader raised concerns about the constitution.
In his response President Sata told Mr.Hichilema that he refuses to be dragged to his lower levels of petty discourse.He advised UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to take advantage of his open-door policy and engage the Government with sobriety and maturity.President Sata advised Mr. Hichilema to instead utilize his facebook page and other Government communication platforms to insulate himself from reckless rumour mongering and speculative claims about the economy and the general growth of this country.”
In his letter to the President,Mr.Hichilema questioned why the constitution making process lacked a legal framework to protect it.
Mr.Hichilema also asked how the PF was going to deliver a people driven constitution when the PF President was in the fore front of violating the terms of reference under which the Technical Committee was appointed.He said the terms of reference clearly stated that the final draft was to be released to the executive and the people simultaneously.
‘Now the ‘hijackers’ have changed the rules by insisting that only ten (10) copies should be delivered to the President,’Mr Hichilema said.
The UPND leader proposed the following:
- Immediately release the final draft constitution to all stakeholders and the people electronically and in print.
- Table a bill at the next sitting of Parliament to create a legal framework to protect the constitution making process.
- Immediately constitute the referendum commission to prepare for the referendum.
Below is the Full Press Release from Statehouse
LUSAKA, Friday, January 24, 2014 – His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, President of the Republic of Zambia, has advised UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to take advantage of his open-door policy and engage the Government with sobriety and maturity.
The Head of State’s remarks follow Mr. Hichilema’s claims that the PF Government was mismanaging the affairs of the state.
President Sata urged the UPND leader to always seek positive and objective dialogue with the Government on various matters of national interest.
“Zambians are fatigued with his bitter, repetitive and empty rhetoric and as custodians of the people’s interests we refuse to be dragged to his lower levels of petty discourse. Our focus or preoccupation is to discuss policy, achievements and challenges so far and projections for the future growth of this country,” President Sata said.
“To this effect, I have recently endeavoured to inform the nation on several issues ranging from infrastructure development, industrialisation, job creation, the economy [the real GDP growth, inflation, Commercial Bank’s lending rates and the country’s debt],rural development, achievements in the health sector as well as an update on the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP).
“Lastly, I would encourage Mr. Hichilema to utilize my facebook page and other Government communication platforms to insulate himself from reckless rumour mongering and speculative claims about the economy and the general growth of this country.”
Issued by:
GEORGE CHELLAH
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT
PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
He clearly isn’t the sharpest President to grace the face of the earth. Am I watching a late night stand up comedy or is this really how Sata interprets presidency?
Imagine if sata was not president
Zambia would be worse off
God bless sata forever.
Best president zambia could ever have bane
Thank you Mr President for your response.
the boy is so full of nothing but hot stinky stream all the time.
Let him utilize your facebook page as you have more serious matters and challenges to attend to that smelling the hot stinky stream from the looter
I have a strong feeling this is not coming from the president. This is being done by George Chellah and his master Fred Mmembe. I think the big man is incapable of making decisions etc. This is the reason we are seeing such waywardness even in his Ministers. GBM resigned for a reason. Its not just the Bemba issues. There are bigger problems in PF than we can see. Thats why everyone is busy fighting each other. 2014 by elections will be interesting hence Fred Mmembes massive efforts to push a personal agenda. When was the last time we saw the President?
the man can read but can not understand,so even this childish response is coming from bwiijimfumu,they pass a note to that young boy to release it as a press statement coming from him.HH tulubuleko ku buteko ubu ubwachifontini.president no press conference , where in the world?
What proof is there that its Ukwa’s Facebook page…? Anyone can create a page with his name
Sata must have farted, look at the Shushushu behind, trying to cover his nose.
Its like the the OP chap is saying .. Bosses this is too much, I cannot handle this and if I resign then I am still in deep sh***t
Interesting that Sata has invited HH to join him on his “petty” Facebook to discuss “petty” issues.
How long will it be before he starts using twitter??
Iwe Chella who told you that face book is for conducting serious government business? Are telling us that if Zambia was to be attacked the president will be commanding the armed forces using facebook?
It seem you PF guys are jokers and backwards. Don’t you know that face book is for socialising and gathering people’s opinions on wide range of subjects not for conducting serious government business.
I can’t imagine a serious man like HH conduction his serious financial business transactions on facebook.
You have really made Zambia a laughing stock. The world is amazed that Sata is afraid of holding press conferences in preference for informing the nation about government agenda through facebook.
PF is a shameful government!
And have you noticed that this cheap annoying response from State House is in line with foolish comments we are getting from from PF bloggers on this site.
The Facebook is so informative absolutely genius by the president
Thanks
@ Jo and Mushota, all I can say is MAVUZI Yanu. Do not raise people´s emotions.
@zondwa;
who cares if you commit suicide.
If your family won’t lose anything, what about the entire nation?
NOW DOES ANYONE STILL DOUBTS THAT THE SO CALLED PRESIDENT’S FACEBOOK ACCOUNT WAS OPENED AND IS OPERATED BY CHELLAH. PLEASEEEEEE.
@mushota- do not be deliberately provocative, playing on other peoples emotions.
@zondwa- no matter how annoyed, do not insult. “Mavuzi” is something hidden behind 2 or 3 layers of clothes, don’t bring it pamwela!
This site is visited by respectable elderly people like me who feel shy to visit LT for fear of young people who contribute unprintables! Thank you.
This one is real what do you think people Likey?!
Cindy you are tired.. thank God its Friday.
@Nostradamus
what do you mean cindy is tired??… dont make my temper raise becuase i can send you akalumba uko kwine ku USA
truth!!!. this HH is a pain in the ass. how on earth does he think he is an expert of everything. HH just hijacked UPND. if he thinks he will do the same to zambia, he must be dreaming. how does he expect any sensible government to deliver everything in 2 yrs? he needs to understand that real development takes time. the increase in mealie meal, fuel etc are just reflecting the real performance of the economy. MMD’s economic performance was cosmetic as a number of things were subsidised. lets us suffer now as we correct the wrongs that were done in the 20 yrs of MMD misrule. zambia is in capable hands. HH should take a break. TOnganyoko.
Silozi, why insult in bemba and not lozi your mother tongue?
Stop barking! Situpiditi and rabid tribalist! 20 years of MMD? And where was your Sata in those 20 years? Yes Secretary General of MMD for 10 years . And campaigning hard for his criminal friend Chiluba’s third term. My dear take your foolish selective memory to your fellow uneducated PF cadres! You and your illiterate President are destroying our country with your incompetence!
because bemba is soon to be the official language in zambia
Silozi is not Lozi. Just like the other PF cadre who goes by the name MundiaM. These are PF cadres given free laptops to post nonsense. They have a penchant for using names from other ethnicities to make the PF appear non-tribal!
Gonclaves u need a laptop?
Goncalves, do you know why I never bother anymore about pea-brains like Silozi? I look at the number of bloggers who are not PF and like always, they dwarf chaps like Silozi into oblivion. That is why you can actually list down pro-PF chaps while it is an impossibility to list down the intelligent bloggers who are objective and non-tribal and see the hopelessness of this govt i.e. us guys. So take heart my friend.
Dream on Dudelove. u think pf is will be ousted in 2016? there is no opposition in zambia as people are appreciating PF’s works. where and when did u ever witness this unprecedented and tangible development? the opposition is just a bunch of confused and hypocritical chaps. just reflect, had MMD meant serious business, where would zambia be? we would have more that 10 public universities, more than 1000 health posts, more than 10 university teaching hospitals. livdual carriage way would already have been done. we would have more than 6 ultra modern stadia. more industries under IDC. haters, wat is it u want kanshi?MMd chose to play. we booted them out. UPND are a bunch of Tonganyokos who can only comand popularity in monze. HH will never wiln any election. not even at councilor level
Silozi, take Greece as a case study. They have beautiful infrastructure, stadia and so on that where financed through debt. Where is Greece now with its nice buildings? Half the country is jobless. Your PF needs to assess the true human cost of these overly ambitious projects. MMD struck a balance between infrastructure development and ensuring the cost of living for ordinary people was low. We are a poor country and that is why the pace of infrastructure development was slow BUT it was steady. We are headed for doom, like it or not because the calibre of your government does not instil any confidence in most people that they might have some secret plan to mitigate the debt trap that is surely coming. Chikwanda has not convinced us of any revenue generating based ventures.
dudelove don’t venture into matters u don’t understand. do have a slightest clue why greece crumbled? its not entirely to do with debt. there was a global economic melt down at that time n found them in a bad state when they had just started servicing their loans. they are back on track now. MMD retarded things. over 200 companies folded during MMD rule. Corruption was rampant. health and education sectors stalled. we had jokers for investors. lets us be serious and support PF. without this unncessary pressure form opposition, PF would have done more than they have done. but u know, they have survive also
Silozi, it is extremely difficult to offer support to a government that is bent on NEVER listening to advice. You always complain that people like HH just oppose everything and never offer alternatives but I have seen statements where he has offered alternatives just like Chipimo and what has been sata’s response?? Do you mean to tell me that we are safe under Chikwanda? Can you confidently say Chikwanda has a place in modern economics? Sata would not have been facing this backlash, (and believe me, the backlash is real coz am from the copperbelt and people are not happy) if he had put the right people in the right positions! How do you put an ancient as a Minister of education and they bring out retrogressive policies of vernacular speaking in a country with 72 + tribes?
You need to acknowledge that sata is way over his hea. And also, more practically, am very sure it is the people surrounding him who are not giving him the real picture. He really is not in touch with reality and right now his members do not fear or respect him which explains why even small little boys like ward chairmen can tell off seniors. His goal was to get to state house and the rest would have to sort itself out. Tell me truly, do you support everything PF does?
Silozi must be out of his mind and needs an URGENT psychiatric assessment otherwise will very soon start making LOVE to his own mother!.
God forbid.
State House should have just kept quiet. Now we know who the idiyoti is. Honestly Sata is so childish! The Mampara of the week prizes must be piling up!
Sata and chellah are dunderheads……..lol i am sure they have a laugh when authoring these letters. As for HH, he is clearly our only hope for a sane president!!!
@6, pleas don’t be inclusive. Say HH is your hope for a UPND president, not Zambia.
This can’t be from the President. Chellah must have responded under the influence of drugs. Can people learn to be serious with life!
Yap. Power is the most powerful drug. So many power addicts this days.
This can’t be from the President. Chellah must have responded under the influence of drugs. Can people learn to be serious with life!
Yes, this rubbish can only come from a person under serious influence of ganja or heavy sedetion!
Yes. It is from from the high office. Do not be dreamer, what else did you expect from Sata?
Ha ha ha! Funny president!
Sure…. if you subscribe to the laugh or cry theory of life I guess that’s correct!
He really is a BIG SICK JOKE!
ITS YOU CHELLA,WHO IS IMMATURE,LOW AND PETTY.YOU MEAN CHELLA CANNOT COMPREHEND,EVEN A LITTLE OF WHAT HH IS SAYING,HE MUST BE VERY DULL
@silozi, if you cannot remove the pain, you have a better alternative, remove your Ass (arse)
Hallucinations.
Sata is just using Facebook as an excuse for failing to address the nation and expose his dullness.
Sata must realise that the BIG CHUNK of his PF Base are people that DO NOT use facebook and will by no means know what George Chella and Fred Mmembe are tediously ranting about on his behalf.
If he thinks by doing so, he is reaching out to the whole nation, then, he is FOOLING and CHEATING himself.
He needs to go both on TV and Radio simultaneously and explain to the nation what his vision is about, where he is taking the nation and where his regime is failing so that we can understand the Nation’s Barometer. This also requires answering questions in real time.
Else, come 2016, they will wake up to some serious rude awaking, which is already under way anyway.
Very true, tables have already turned upside down and the boat is sinking.
Another useless response from head of state! What a shame!
That is not presidential language at all. Surely leadership has gone to the dogs. What state house forgets is that people are not dull and know who is wise between HH and whoever wrote this statement from state house with secondary school level mentality. That is not even university thinking.
zambia’s definitely need to have a think of who to lead the country next in the next election.How do you run a country via Facebook, the disturbing thing is that the PF doesn’t whatever it wants even if the majority of the country oppose them, a President is meant to be a servant of people not the other way round
people have been dribbled so easily. all sent to Facebook. and you agree to shut up and write your little comments.
Get this: NO ONE IS READING IT!!!
If you were to give Michael Sata just one ngwee for his thoughts, you would even get some change. How can a President conduct affairs of the nation through face book. Facebook is a social media network, not for making political decisions. Has he just dicovered facebook? Sorry, it is has been there for years and as a matter of fact its novelty has worn down and people are leaving it in drones. Please Sata show some leadership!
Brilliantly put!
Another cheap and careless response from state house,why not just address the issues raised than this type of responding as if its not coming from state house.
In this day and age, why speak to the people through press conference? Things have been made simple these. Through Facebook, you interact with a lot of people. So he president is right, of course he is a genius.
go to Facebook pliz. It’s what you deserve
Compared to your IQ, I do agree, he is genius.
Stop consoling yourself and face the truth that your President is a clueless leader. Who’s Sata not address the nation when Presidents of high calibre nations like the US gives state of the nation addresses on television and often face the media on important national matters?
But that is what we the people that elected him want. Hw many pipo visit FB? Did he campaign via FB and did we vote through Facebook? Which other leader uses FB exclusively and no Press Conference? Answer with a level head without insults please.
Is this guy sane or half-baked? You expect to launch policy on Facebook, really? What has this country come to? This guy cannot even hold a proper press conference in fear of whatever it is?
you know what, Zambians are a really stupid people.
You should have said some Zambians because some of us are not!!
If I were HH I would stop bothering the COBRA . Is HH in his normal state? I ask this because he is always given a very bad response by the COBRA and yet HH continues provoking the COBRA. I suggest that HH and the COBRA be put in a ring to fight. Who can be beaten , between the Privatization expert (HH) and the political charmer (the cobra). If that fight can be staged it could be the fight of the year….but from observation already the cobra has won coz he keeps on pounding HH.
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.
I REPEAT, I AN’T A PARTY CADRE NEITHER DO I ALIGN WITH ANY POLITICAL PARTY.
LUAPULA IS SUPPORTING THIS PRESIDENT BECAUSE OF HIS BURNING DESIRE TO INVEST SO MASSIVELY IN OUR INFRASTRUCTURE.
IF THE OPPOSITION IS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT & HIS APPROACH TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT VIA INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT AND UNEMPLOYMENT, HOW ARE THEY GOING TO APPROACH THESE ISSUES WITHOUT MASS BORROWING? LET US BE OBJECTIVE.
Simple minds in state house,they want to run a country through facebook,its a shame.
HH now firmly speaks for the people. What has gone wrong with President SATA? And just why facebook when when there is a state house website? A fascinating discovery? Leave it for juvenile users.
It really pains me to watch helplessly as our country is distroyed day after day by these reckless empty tins!!
What a sad comment coming from State House ? Kwena ibange lilakola, that’ s why the Bible makes it clear that if you have got nothing reasonable to say, it’ s better to keep quiet. Ba George Chella, he thinks by being Assistant for whatever to the president, then he is in heaven and indeed an angel. It’ s better for him to wake up and start advising the president on the serious concerns of the masses otherwise, he’ s working tirelessly towards the downfall of President Sata.
Running government through Facebook. Quite fascinating. Unprecedented in the history of the modern world, in fact.
Is face book so latest to the President of of the Republic of Zambia such that he has forgotten the easiest and broadest way of communicating to the nation ? What is face book by the way and how Zambians have got access to it ?
I think I can now truly and honestly say we do indeed have either an I.d.i.0.t or a mad man, or both in state house. What leader of a nation would even think of saying such an absurd thing, let alone publicly? I think we have been short-changed, fellow Zambians. But then again, there is a saying that states that every nation deserves the leadership it puts into office. Let us throw these bums out next time around.
Anyone with any sense of dignity associated with this president and this government ought to be ashamed of themselves. How do you sleep at night being led by such a dunce.
Is that a UPND symbol I am seeing or am I dreaming! Bloggers please help.
Lolest…i saw that one as well…..Ukwa has defected….lolest. UPND has no use for you old thing!!!!
You raised the mobile subscription tariff rates at the start of the year yet you the selfsame empty tins are encouraging the masses to read posts via Facebook…another no brainer!!
zambias population is 14.08 million only 13.5% or just under 20% have access to the internet.so mr sata is saying that he will utilise his facebook page and encouraging other politicians to follow suit. where does that live the rest of the population to know what is hapening in the country if the president cant use the traditional means ie State of the Nation Address which even in developed countries like USA still use- i know some may say its different management sytle- i fully support the use of facebook but but any updates should be published on the statehouse website. presidential facebook page, zambia information service, radio and national news papers. all after information is a civil right of every zambian citizen.
ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION.
He is failing to unite and lead his crumbling party and instead hides behind his Facebook manipulated by George Chela in statehouse. How can any sane person expect him run the country? No wonder bemba chiefs have declared that GBM is their man.
And can someone please tell us George Chela’s true role, has he taken over?
How about press conference mr president! What are you scared of? HH is not a bitter man but smarter than both you mr president and your chola boy. Deep down your hearts you know you are not in his league.
UNDENIABLE FACTS…
THIS WEEK, THE CIVIL SOCIETY FOR POVERTY REDUCTION (CSPR) EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR MWILA MULUMBI SAID THAT, AN IMPROVED INFRASTUCTURE SUCH AS THE ROAD NETWORK IN THE COUNTRY WILL CREATE A LINK AND PATHWAY FOR CITIZENS TO GET OUT OF POVERTY. THE DIRECTOR SAID THERE IS NEED FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO TACKLE THE PRIMARY CAUSES OF POVERTY I.E. THE COUNTRY’S INFRASTRUCTURE. FACT 1.
LAST WEEKEND, THE PRESIDENT IS QUOTED AS SAYING THAT THE COUNTRY WILL “NEVER BE THE SAME” AFTER THE INFRASTRUCTURAL REVOLUTION. FACT 2.
@LUAPULA PREMIER before you post on a media like this try and understand how it works. Using CAPITALS on the Internet is SHOUTING, and is very rude!
Intelligent debate is encouraged and will be responded to. SHOUTING just shows you are an IDI0T that cannot have a reasonable discussion.
As for what the president said last weekend, prove it. No-one else heard him, he has not given a press conference since he was elected. Or do you have super ears?
Elo lyanya, fyonse ni face book…..
Mr president, people in lufwanyama have no water.
Sata : go and write that on facebook
citizen: Mr president, that’s causing a delay in releasing the draft constitution to the public
Sata: get anwers on FB
cITIZEN; introduction of zambian languages in school, did you do wide consultations
sata; check for the ans on FB
MY COUNTRY KAYA!!!!!!
It is with sadness that I note the lack of seriousness on the president’s part in delivering a people driven constitution for the people of Zambia. He could have certainly responded in a more comprehensive manner to Mr. Hichilema’s querries instead of being dismissive because the issues raised are real and have serious implications for future generations.
The cloak of secrecy surrounding the consititutional making process undermines the democratic process and the progress we have made as a nation. The burden rests squarely on the president’s shoulders to provide principle-driven leadership that include transparency and respect for the people that gave him the mandate to lead.
Well said Campbell.
Unfortunately his enthusiasm for a people driven Constitution vanished along with his allergy to Corruption and many other things WITH IMMEDIATE EFFECT on becoming President.
A miraculous change, was it not?
The man has no clue what answer to give. Facebook will do it for him.
Much as I would like the president to host a press conference, I think that it is better that he does not. My reasons are as follows; (1). Economic – He would cause untold economic harm if he is left to discuss any economic policy issue with his pronouncements; he will sink the kwacha with one careless comment as he is not capable of ‘thinking on his feet’ (2) National security – again, I am not sure that HE can seriously discuss any national issue without causing alarm and chaos. Remember, this is the person who makes inflamatory statements most of the time – by the time the press conference finishes, we will be at each others throats. Let us accept the autopilot presidency and make sure that 2016 is different.
I agree with you. It is a blessing that he does not speak; because the cobra my bite someone to death!
Sata is a big joke i rest my case a joke for a president shame
How many villagers in Zambia are able to access Facebook for this buffoon to think he can communicate to the people through Facebook?
Sometimes it is good to see sense of what one assumes to be nonsense. One opposition leader talked of uniform and accommodation for police officers and then the sitting president did not talk about bitterness but built the houses. Do not call people names but look at what they are talking about but not how they talk about. The one answering for the president should tone down and respond responsibly for the high off of the land. Please not this language.
Why is this president stuck and holed up in state house? He will not even spend an hour or so to have a walk-about in one or two residential areas around Lusaka. So detached to the people his world begins and ends with George Chela, the facebook wizard, not even the ‘first lady’ is heard of these days.
kodi kuli bwino ku state house mweo? Kodi ali moyo muntu wakaena?
Inde Mweo, kuonekalini bwino. Munthu aoneka niwakufwa nagu ayenda.
Chellah is making a BIG F.O.O.L of this this president and totally destroying him politically. He is turning out to be president Sata’s worst enemy. Unfortunately, the president is too much of an I.D.I.O.T to realize that he is heading down the drain politically! He needs some political paramedics to come to his rescue.
Meant to say “this president” and not “this this president”.
Upnd fo ols stop barking!U are indeed demons who can’t see anything good in a human being.l wish the response was even stronger.HEMCS,bravo!
Ako! Osmore the lone ranger! In a sea full of intelligent and objective people you just popped out of nowhere bakamba! Muli baume, ka lone staunch supporter! keep it up mwandi. When Sata or Wynter get their to or three votes mu 2016, you need to ensure that one of the is yours.
@Osmore
People like you shoulud have been aborted, still born or caught in a condom. You present a perfect argument for the “corpral punishment” lobby.
Your stupidity knows no bounds. If being a dunce and ignoramu was an olympic. Sport/challenge, you’d hold a record number of gold medals.
You sir, are MCS’s “wet dream”. An industrial level idiot! A snivelling sycophant, a mindless buffon, a waste of funtioning human organs (albeit without the brain)
Just tell us when, oh when did facebook become gazzetted as a form means of official communicatio of the office of the Republican president of Zambia?
When did the Republic get an email address?
Mmembe, Chellah and Sata: you will have a lot to answer for come 2016. Chellah, there will be no rock big enough for you to hide behind. Your press statements for and on behalf of the Presidency will be a milstone around your neck. MCS will try and claim he didn’t sign off any of this communication and will be force fed reality when the time comes. Emelda Marcos, (Dr Doolittle), your hot air and cancer work will be exposed as. Fronts for sihoning money and squirreling it away.
Mr. “Dig deeper” will have dug himself into a pit from which he will not be able to get out. Tick tock 2yrs…
So facebook has become our primary means of running the nation.
I was wondering where President Sata was until someone told me that he was spending most of his time On Facebook! I take it that is where his wife spends most of her time now as she also has not been seen in public in the last few weeks!
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