When Wynter Kabimba got implicated in the oil scandal in 2012, we called upon President Sata to suspend him so that the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) could freely investigate the matter. Sata said no! In 2013, when Wynter stated that the PF would rule for over 100 years, we expressed our concerns at the dictatorial and undemocratic tendencies that started to develop in him. Sata looked the other way. When Wynter stated that Zambians wanted to return to a one party state we gave our opinion. We stated that Wynter was getting it wrong on democracy. We again called upon Sata to fire him. But Sata instead, promoted Wynter and left him to act as President. When in June 2014, Wynter claimed that he had smuggled Kenyans through Nakonde to rig the 2011 elections in Sata’s favour, we said his statement was a falsehood and absolute nonsense. By this time, Sata was nowhere to be seen. He had gone AWOL. We said what we said and we still do believe that Wynter Kabimba’s politics were repugnant to democracy. We stand by what we said about Wynter, but there is more that must be added:
Wynter was only but a minute symptom of a grander disease. Firing him does not heal the disease; it only postpones it to another day.
Sata’s tolerance to corruption
Kabimba has been fired not as a way to stump out corruption in Sata’s crooked government, but rather to entrench corruption. Ever since President Sata assumed power, he has never acted, not even once, to stump-out corruption. Instead, Sata has both tolerated and exacerbated corruption. Sata has not acted on several allegations of corruption involving his officials.
Examples of corrupt practices in by PF leadership
- A publication has shown us evidence of questionable deposits into the bank account of one of Sata’s many sons.
- Sata has not acted to stop the rampant corrupt dealings involving the Road Development Agency (RDA) that operates from State House. Several ruling party stalwarts have illicit RDA contracts.
- GBM is alleged to have been a principal supplier of goods and services to the Ministry of Defence, the same ministry he served as minister.
- In 2011, at the onset of the don’t kubeba government, Apollo Enterprises, a company belonging to Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda was, without tender, given the contract to rehabilitate State House. Chikwanda never declared interest. Chikwanda is also alleged to have shares in a company supplying Zambian mines in 2014. While these allegations have not been proven in court, it is prudent to have police investigate them. Nevertheless, when the allegations were revealed about Chikwanda’s involvement in these illicit contracts, the result was a witch-hunt that led to the dismissal of Kabimba. Sata acted against Kabimba to protect the corruption of one against that of the other corrupt. This makes the sacking of Kabimba to be an activity of the corrupt against the other corrupt. It is not a fight between good and evil but rather a fight between one set of evil against another set of evil.
Why President Sata must Resign
President Sata must resign for the same reasons that he has fired Wynter Kabimba. The problem with Wynter is not his alone. President Sata himself created them. What is even more painful is that in firing Kabimba the president has not moved to change the corrupt system that breeds the Kabimbas of this world. The president has gone on to unilaterally choose a new Secretary-General in a way that is repugnant to democracy. Wynter has gone the same way that he came.
Without changing the system, we have no guarantee that Edgar Lungu will do anything different from what Wynter did.
President Sata has changed the personnel, but he has not changed the system that is responsible for breeding the mayhem. I cannot celebrate the dismissal of Wynter simply because, his replacement comes with the same platform and template that gives way for undemocratic tendencies. The firing of Wynter removes a person called Wynter but retains the same corrupt template in its place.
[pullquote]Firing Wynter does not solve the problem of President Sata’s own inefficiency and unsuitability to hold office.[/pullquote]
Sata should resign because, in neglecting to give reasons why he fired Wynter, he has created an avenue for gossip and wanton political recklessness. Under the Sata presidency, State House has been reduced to an orgy of gossip, misinformation and “chilande lande” with no one seeming to be in control. I am surprised that the President chose to fire Wynter through a press statement without caring to let the nation know reasons why he was fired in the first place. Wynter was the Chief Executive of the ruling party. He was a senior cabinet member. He has acted as President of our republic. Surely, for a person of such stature, the president owes a duty to explain to the nation why he decided to drop him.
President Sata should not be running our country as if it is his own village or household. He needs to know that Zambians want to get answers from him. He needs to talk to us. He needs to answer questions from the press. He cannot just wake up one day, fire Wynter through a press statement and hibernate back into oblivion.
After the fall of Wynter several ruling party cadres are now claiming that life will be better for them. Some in Kaoma are even saying that it was Wynter that led to their poverty. GBM led a march in Kasama to celebrate the dismissal of Wynter and pledged unwavering support to President Michael Sata. What a reversal! Isn’t this the same gentleman who in 2013 claimed to have fallen out with Sata based not on Wynter but on Chitimukulu Kanyanta-Manga?
By the actions of the Patriotic Front cadres, it does seem as if Wynter was the President who made all the decisions. If indeed, even a portion of all these power-allegations against Wynter were true, then they are a damaging indictment against the judgment and leadership of President Sata.
How is it that President Sata allowed an unelected Kabimba to have so much sway over what is constitutionally supposed to be done by a president?
Surely, it cannot be Wynter’s problem alone. Could it be that the president is unfit to rule? From the Post editorials, it appears like they are willing to unleash the truth about the state of President Sata’s perceived “weaknesses and failings”. But Zambians of course know that there is something fundamentally problematic with the health and wellbeing of the President.
Firing Wynter does not solve the problem of President Sata’s own inefficiency and unsuitability to hold office. Firing Wynter has not resolved any problem. That which is a problem with Sata cannot be resolved by firing a person other than Sata. Sata has failed Zambia, and Wynter was only a symptom of the wider failing of the leadership of Zambia’s fifth president.
By Elias Munshya
At least there are some thinking Zambians around! As much as people are happy with Kabimba’s firing it’s being shallow minded to think Sata has corrected the evils in his party and government.The real evil is the system that allows the likes of Kabimba to reign in our country,the system that allows the head of state to disappear for 3 months without giving his voters an explanation,the system that allows the president to hire his relatives into strategic positions like the judiciary.Its true fring kabimba does not soleve the problem of Sata’s inefficiency
Sata served under UNIP, MMD, PF-all corrupt parties. There was no way he was going to transform Zambia. Add his sickness to the equation and u end up with a very weak leader who am sure has no say in his own home…the man can’t control his own children, what about other people’s children..in there millions?
Be analytical naimwe Ba @Maharaji. Kabimba ate from Sata’s palm. Cut yourself from that high castle. If Data was incapable of action, Winter would have opened a Pandora’s box. But that shall always remain your paradox. Just wait, Data is wrapping you around his little finger. His next action will leave your HH’s diaper exposed.
This is one of the best analysis I have read on the Kabimba issue. Well done Ba Mumshya,….exactly my thoughts, word for word.
Can you give the steps that one must follow in order to clear the entire problem? What system are you referring to? Kabimba was part of the system and one of the hindrance to the system. In my view the steps to re-organise the system is what the president did, to fire kabimba and late clean all the mess and they system. Think beyond and do not be narrow minded with one point. You must be Analytical and critical with governance.
Elias Munshya is a destroyer that he demands a revenge after Kabinba was fired. Man, this is enough and let it go.
Sata is the most boring and childish President that Zambia has ever had. Luckily, he is shielded by praise singers, violent cadres and his Bemba advantage. Otherwise Zambia would be on fire by now.
Learn to respect our President. Tomorrow you will be o this same position and with the help of others you will go on. If you spot a mistake why don’t you just talk to him, than putting fire on.
Annie Choongo, how do you expect Emmauel chenda to respect the president if he grow up insulting the entire family and he grow up in the culture where they do not respect elders, not even a president? Thats why they say “Zonda uza lema” six year term of a president is painful if you dont like the president and the cabinet, its zonda uzarema. Read some papers, how much anger people express through media, life goes on with the president and cabinet, LONG LIVE OUR PRESIDENT!!!
BaMwinsho Ba Munshya, mulikaaliile ukuipuntula mwibwe. You mean if Kabimba held a thousand positions out of appointed authority the, he must not be firrd.? Its actually all within the appointing authiroty’s right to act this was. You are free to speculate!!
@kakolwe…..labish. why fire kbimbya for what reason? to protect a thiefs. ala, we ndoshi we.
@Balljoint. Fire Kabimba & ensure to hold the house together. Recognise Sosala & reshuffle VP. Release the constitution after the 2015 budget. At that point, the entire opposition is naked. Iwe Phiri, Sata temunobe. Akuceneni natu Haka-behind. Mwendoshi nimwe who pronounce a living person dead.
Actually firing Kabimba is a strategic move to shift the spotlight away from the real culprit, Sata, the architect of Zambia’s ever escalating problems.
Munshya. You ve indeed pierced it where it does. However, we will see the irritating, repulsive, useless (or useful idi-s) panga fighters (PF) minions like Mushota, Gen etc rubbishing your article.
Truth is SATA nafilwa. Period
its like we dont have real things to talk about. can this indicate that sata cant be beaten in the ballot box? if that is the case lets just join him!
Confucius, might have looked into this philosophy, before thinking twice about it!!
It will help a lot to be reductionist in order to understand the complexity of what is going on in Lusaka. Here is my take:
1. The presidential succession. Insiders vs the cartel.
2. Corruption. Self-enrichment by both the insiders and the cartelists. However the motivations driving the two camps appear to be very different. The insiders appear to want money for entrenchment, or for the future
3. Political/Power base preservation (tribal based) vs political power building (the cartel). The role of the cartel network (of mostly former/or still Post Newspapers staff members) that were “planted” in government and civil service positions is significant here. How much do they have on this government?
By the above scenario, I posit that the driver for kabimba’s firing was point 1…
THE WRITER IS DULL, DID SATA GIVE REASONS WHEN APPOINTING KABIMBA? YOU NEVER BOTHERED ASKING HIM WHY HE APPOINTED HIM, BUT NOW THAT HE HAS BEEN FIRED YOU WANT SATA TO GIVE REASONS JUST BECAUSE HE WAS A SENIOUR PARTY LEADERS… ITS JUST TIME FOR SEPARATIONS. THERE IS NO HONOUR AMONG THIEVES
Elias Munshya you are bitter man, your article shows that you were in love of Kabimba and you must have been very disappointed with his dismissal. Read the article of Given Lubinda no one is unmoved. Remember they are so many key and important people in politics who have been moved lofe goes on and government and the people will still go on. Sata has a president why should he resign because he has fired Wynter? Remember PF was know by four key persons (Sata, Guy Scot, Given Lubinda and Wynter). Given was out and three moved on and now what is the problem with Wynter? Political parties are bigger than individuals, wining election means taking a vote across the country. Cabinet reshuffle can be any time or even everyday, those are prologative of the president, he is not just ordinary person
Government to quickly start probing some Permanent Secretaries who were fraudulently employed by Kabimba. One of them is Mr. Augustine Seyuba, Angolian by birth. This man is corrupt and was dubiously employed by Wynter Kabimba. therefore, now that Wynter is normore, we want Seyuba to be fired.
I urge the investigative wings to start probing Seyuba and establish how he found himself in the Government. This man was actually the chief editor for Chanda Chimba on the stand up for Zambia articles.
Cocern Civil servant.
Dear Concerned Civil Servant @Yetuna,
How were you employed when you can hardly write? Your grammar is poor, very poor and your ideas incoherent.
Truth hurts. Truth haters are hurt by it. Otherwise, this is a mastery presentation of the facts by Elias Munshya.
Mr Ellias Munshya you raise issues that leave PF government and Michael Sata naked, hiding face down exposing the bare back for everyone to see. Translate in Bemba for many PF cadres to understand your profound truth about the recklessness and arrogance of these kolwes about the on going corruption in the nation.
Ba Munshya, while I follow your arguments, how do you explain the leaked classified document and the “For the eyes of the President only” documents found in Kabimba’s house? How do you explain that Wynter showed up at this house with Mmembe at 0200hrs as his house was being searched?
How do you explain the suspicion that Chellah has been a mole all along for the Cartel, as he sat in all confidential meetings, Cabinet meetings and had unfettered access to Mr. Sata’s office?
How do you explain the systematic removal of all of Wynter’s political threats? What is really President Sata suffering from? Can it be connected to what killed FTJ? Is Wynter free of corruption? What about Trafigura? A lot of issues will begin to unfold shortly.
Very probing and insightful questions, indeed. “NO” is the answer to the one and easiest of your questions: “Is Wynter free of corruption?” The irony though is that, neither are those who dared to cast the first stone at him free of corruption. Therefore, their fury and eagerness to eliminate Kabimba cannot be seen as being born out of a genuine desire to eliminate corruption in the PF government, a point Elias Munshya has so ably accentuated.
When I first started reading your article Mr. Munshya, before I reached the end, I thought it was written by Brig General Miyanda. This shows I have alot of respect fro Miyanda. But I was surprised Miyanda was concerning himself with internal matters of the PF. The problem is between Sata and his party cadre Kabimba. But I have to give it to you, your paper flows very well. I am one of those who dont believe that Kabimba was so powerful that he could have done what he did without Sata’s say so. Kabimba has been discarded by Sata because Sata si a tribalist who can not abandon Chikwanda, his kith and kin. The Cartel’s undoing was because they touched Chikwanda. Chikwanda warned them that they would be hurt but Mmembe continued his onslaught on Chikwanda to Chikwanda’s and Sata’s…
Do you know, ……it’s really frustrating how opposition just jump from one anti-Sata idea to another. Points 1-4, in the article could be dealt with legally if we had proper evidence. Then we need a lawyer smarter than Kabimba (failed lawyer as he has been called by his detractors whom he manages to frustrate). It appears no one is able to prove these things yet, we make ourselves sick writing and reading them! Shall we just wait for elections 2016? In the mean time how about working together in recognition of the constitutional righteousness of PF to rule until 2016. It appears there is a wish to remove Sata before general election, and that is just as corrupt of the opposition as is Sata’s modus operandi in his current gov’t. Two wrongs do not make anything right.
You are right, in fact any attempt to remove Sata before 2016 could be treasonous even if conman Robert Amsterdam says it can be OK
Presidents in African countries NEVER resign. Just work hard and defeat them at the polls. Rupiah Banda’s wife and children had nothing, now they can boast of having this and that, within 2 years of Banda’s presidency. Thandiwe Banda was a primary school teacher and now she is a property owner of multi million Kwacha real estate. What does it mean to be politically connected? CORRUPTION. Sata has always been a corrupt fellow even before he became President. Rupiah Banda was one seriously corrupt individual together with his family. Chiluba was a common thief stealing from Zambians while they had closed their eyes to pray.
Now what is UPND going to offer? Let UPND demonstrate how they will tackle issues of corruption and nepotism.
In some way I am overjoyed by the move taken by “some people’s president” but also I know it could be planed koz that wynter character was spoted still living in a GRZcar less that 48 hours ago..how can your president explain that
Who is this joker Munshya? You can keep dreaming about the president resigning boyi, the rest of us have work to do and lives to live
Even Wynter I’m sure is going forward with a positive attitude to develop the country, unlike these lazy elitists (educated at Zambia’s expense) who find nothing positive to do except vomiting elaborate essays with the single aim of character assassination regardless of facts
Concur!
Verbosity
The truth is that verbosity and a lack of clarity have their advantages in the world of politics.
In short, this article is short sighted and covers its discrepancies with verbosity.
Funny that you are able to find time to read and respond to the “..vomited elaborate essays..”!
The author of this article,like Post newspaper seems obsessed that Kabimba lost his job while downplaying or ignoring the larger context of the story. Why did this gentleman lose his job? Leaking of a top secret government document linked to the cartel made him lose his job. Kabimba should have known better.
“..while downplaying or ignoring the larger context of the story.” Really? You seem to imply that the author of the article was privy to the “larger context of the story” you are hinting about. But how do you know that he was?
This is Munshya is a very bitter man hiding in pastoral position in South East of Calgary, Canada. We kno him even how he used Christians to attain a certain number to get papers in Canada. He has never liked the ascendancy of President Sata to that office. He is always critical of the PF. He supports HH as if he feeds from his table. Just respect yoself or else we shall strip u naked how u manipulated people in Calgary to be where u ar now. We know a lot abt you. So b4 u open that mouth of yoz, analyze yo own life in Calgary en how u found yoself as a pastor rather than practising law that u studies. Leave Sata alone to govern. Just continue lickn yo wounds and thanks God for the Zambian Community used to attain yo status there. We kno how u used to force pipo to come to yo Church.
Nelly! Spoken like a true gangster!
He who asks for a riddle becomes a riddle himself. Nelly, you are a bitter person yourself. At least that’s how you sound.
Ba munshya well written article with a lot of sense. .but trust these pf cadres can’t like this and will start ranting like rats all over. U are spot on n I agree with you point by point.
pf is the mistake zambians have ever made… everything is donch kubeba..
While I agree with some sentiments raised in your article. The general taste is that of an average Zambian – who refuses to see things beyond his/her party cap! The same goes for most comments in reply to your article. I think we’ll do our country a great favor if we began appreciating the contributions of others regardless of party affiliations….lets wake up guys, after all the old folks are going or dying soon we need to show a different approach to these issues PLEASE!!!!
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