A consortium of Civil Society Organisations have expressed concern at the wellbeing of president Micheal Sata and the continued mishandling of his absence from public life by cabinet.
In state of the nation statement read by ZCSID Executive Secretary Lewis Mwape , the CSOs said they were disturbed by the appearance and demeanour of the president when officially opened parliament and wondered why the head of state was subjected to such as ordeal by government.
The Consortium questioned the sensitivity and sincerity of the cabinet further noting that the trip to New York was unnecessary and a disaster as the negative publicity from foreign media can attest.
The Consortium has since suggested that president take leave of absence from official duty so as to deal with his health challenges.
“We suggest that the President immediately takes leave of absence from official duty for a specified period of time to address whatever challenges have inhibited his public appearance. Our President was not his usual vibrant and energetic self and so it may well be that the Head of State needs to regroup so that he is back to his usual vibrant self,” Mr. Mwape explained.
The consortium further challenged government to come clean on the prevailing situation with the president as doing so will not only allow government to operate without pressure from the public but also restore the dignity that the Presidency seems to have lost due to speculations both at home and abroad.
[pullquote]We suggest that the President immediately takes leave of absence from official duty for a specified period of time to address whatever challenges have inhibited his public appearance.[/pullquote]
On the continued debate concerning VAT rule No. 18 the Consortium has advised government to treat the matter seriously and with the urgency it deserves without any political or personal interest.
“We call on government to firstly treat this matter with the the seriousness and urgency it deserves devoid of any political and personal interest. The mining firms in-turn should demonstrate on a case by case basis the challenges they are facing in meeting the requirements as required by the rule. Where there is justification for Zero rating their exports, this should be done in a transparent manner through ZRA publishing the justification.”
The Consortium further called for a wider consultative process which will bring on board all relevant stakeholders if government is indeed considering amending the rule.
On Education the CSOs have called on government and other stakeholders to ensure it creates an enabling environment for the public to access tertiary education as well as ensure that it meets the primary responsibility of supporting the development of rights of citizens which the right to education is one of them.
The Consortium also expressed sadness that the education system is being manipulated to deny ordinary citizens the right to education and development a tool which can be used to break the cycle of poverty.
Meanwhile Mr. Mwape siad the COSs remain resolved in pressing for a New People Driven Constitution which said can not only be a legal process but a process which that determines how Zambians live and develop going forward.
On Zambia’s 50th celebrations Mr. Mwape said there is need to take stock of the challenges that continue to besiege the country such as rampant corruption and misappropriation of public resources.
He noted that successive government including the PF have promised but failed to decisively deal with corruption as it continues to escalate and has become entrenched as part of the Zambian culture and has become acceptable as a survival initiative and motive for political offices.
The CSOs included NGOCC, JCTR, CSPR and Action Aid Zambia among others.
Just do your own work you, CSO. What is wrong with you? You just want to see the president caravanting everywhere like RB. Our presido is a working president and not playful like Rupiah used to do. He is at State House working and that is why there is unprecedentdevelopment everywhere in Zambia today. Rupiah Banda is missing travelling around the global.
Ba Sata balipola. He was just sick between May – August. It takes time to gain weight after such serious attack. Bonse twalilwalapo malaria.
The word is ‘galavanting’ and NOT ‘caravanting’.
Sata will never take leave on health grounds for obvious reasons.
He would rather die from state house than heeding to such advice.
The only thing that can get rid of the cobra whilst alive is a vote in 2016 or citizens demonstrations against his continued ‘absence’.
Ooops! The last option is not feasible in Zambia because of the Public Order Act
I think this is a sensible suggestion and as MMD Chief Bootlicker, I fully endorse it. We are all entitled to medical leave and the president should get one. This will indeed relieve the pressure from all those LOW LIFE elements in our society who :
1) want the President to be the first item on every news bulletin
2) want the president open every event in the country every day
3) want the president to visit every road construction every day
4) still want the president to feature on let the people talk on radio phoenix
5) show up at KCM or Mopani and show solidality with the mines
6) ..you can add the rest of the events where you will see and hear the president talk
medical leave is the best. whether you agree or not with PF policies the fact is that Sata is human and needs medical attention.
the only problem is that Sata is soconized and would not want this. he still believes he is the strongman of zambia but he has become the weak man of zambia.
take a rest mr. president
@bootlicker
36 sick leave days per three year cycle. This has been overspent. In other words, he needs to pay back what he owes for the days overspent and the salary erroneously drawn as he was/is still absent without official leave.
By the way, my humble opinion is that you licking the wrong ass… Just saying
Let him work till he drops DEAD. If he doesnt want to work let him resign. He was on SICK LEAVE SINCE June and he wants more LEAVE…!!
Lazy Grandpa ! We cant be paying you for hibernating at State House !!!
Absolutely spot on…the deadwood should learn from the young man in Kenya; that’s democracy there!
This advice has been offered free and may or may not be taken. At least some concern has been shown by a cross section of citizens on an issue which is yet to be officially accepted as a valid reality. Well placed or misplaced, it is up to the recipients to make the best judgement for the benefit of all. From this vintage point, it sounds well meaning.
Cant agree with you more! This one of the most sensible advices so far! But the people around him, eish!
Sata should learn to “say out” his problems. Let him clear the air and tell the NATION THAT HE IS SICK. Then from there the citizenry will kno how to handle his sickness.
Its very painful that most governt portifolios r just mute like goons. I am feeling for my GRANDPA ! Lets respect the elderly and those at the brink of the grave.
MY TEARS are TOO MUCH in my eyes. Ths issue is NO LONGER A LAUGHING ISSUE. We r troubling the CREATION OF GOD. Let the man rest !! There r no qualms about.
GIVE SATA REST !!
NO LEAVE …He is “fit” after all let him work..Look at how sympathetic gerry Chanda’s face???
Zambia you’re paying heavily to feed,house and train this Sata horse that’s unable to run in the kalingalinga sweepstakes .Retire this horse for Christ’s sake
That’s if he has been working at all. What’s evidence of that? Only swearing in pipo and ‘opening’ Parly?
The President is working hard.we ,in the PF can attest to that.
Let the old madala rest. Its people around him giving wrong advice
NGO with small minds. What’s the big picture?
Sata needs to be forced out not gently asked to step aside. He won’t do that. He is too obstinate. He and those around him will never admit he is sick, but the citizens know better. He needs to prodded and not gently, to step down for his own and our sake too.
The president cant go on leave because he knows how many people want to take over his place………put your self in his shoes. Its not easy to rule a country
if the man is sick,let him tall the nation.Then the nation will understand and see the way forward.am wishing the presidient a quick recoverly.
may the good lord reachly bless and heal him.
@chankalle,
I DONT THINK YOUR WAY OF SEEING THINGS IS RIGHT.STOP BEING SELFISH AND THINK OF MANY ZAMBIANS WHO ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE ABSENCE OF THE PRESIDENT.IF YOU ARE SCHOOLED ENOUGH YOU WILL KNOW THAT DEVELOPMENT CAN TAKE PLACE EVEN WITHOUT A PRESIDENT AT STATE HOUSE,BECAUSE IT IS THE CIVIL SERVICE THROUGH MINISTRIES AND DEVELOPMENT AGENCIES THAT FOSTER DEVPT. YOU CANNOT SAY BECAUSE PROJECTS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED,THEREFORE THE PRESIDENT IS WORKING,NO. WE ALL LOVE THE PRESIDENT BUT THE COUNTRY IS BIGGER THAN INDIVIDUALS,AND WE DO NOT ONLY NEED THE PRESIDENT FOR DEV.PROJECT BUT ALSO FOR MANY OTHER THINGS THAT MAKES US EXIST AS A NATION AMONG NATIONS. SO PLEASE THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX/CAGE.
God bless Zambia and heal our President Sata Michael. There is only one Zambia and one President Michael Sata. If we all pray for him our God will surely heal him
In 2016 we the Nation prayed for peaciful elections and handover of power and God answered, we can also pray for the healing of our President so that he can execute his duties well and God shall surely answer, so why can’t we pray now ‘ I pray for the quick recovery of our dear President Michael Chilufya Sata, God we know that you gave us him as our leader as for every leadership is from You (GOD) and now its only the work of the enemy that our leader is being troubled, we Pray that your hand of healing which never fails be upon him ,every citizen and all the affairs of this Nation, May there be healing upon our President in Jesus Name AMEN’.
bakateka batushe please twa papata just hand over power without a bye election to HH. it shall be the most honourable thing you can ever do to the zambian pipo who dont think before voting.
HH is too tribal to be our president. Nevers is far much better than him. HH will never be president as no one from Luapula,Northern, Mchinga, Central, Copperbelt and Lusaka will give him enough votes to win the elections. This man hates other tribes especially Bembas, Ng’umbos, Aushis, Chishingas, Ungas, Namwangas, Lungus, Luapula Lundas, Chishingas, and many other Bembas ethinics. He willnever be president!!! Yes we love Andy Mazoka for him really loves people from other ethinic regions of Zambia.
Firs let those who are sick in CSO resign
Mr. Mwape himsef is HIV+ and every three he is lining for mankwala at Kalingalinga Hospice for ARVs. We do meet there and he kno what i am talking about for i am equally on ARVs. Therefore,let him resign first.
I believe that opposition leaders can trot countrywide 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. Purpose? to lure votes for 2016 presidential elections. But between now and 2016 Sata has to perform his duties as a republican president. If someone thinks otherwise he better convince us with wise reasons.
Let us graduate from old and outdated politics. Zambia has enough problems for a president to spend sleepless nights on edge. Campaign time is time for aspiring presidents to trot countrywide; ruling time is the time for the ruling president to spend time in office to work on Zambia’s problems.
Let those pushing for his resignation on health grounds tell us what Sata is not doing, that is negatively affecting us, and all people must agree on that. LET US NOT SHED CROCODILE TEARS HERE…
LT is not publishing my comments today, but i’ll say this:
Do you really believe in your heart of hearts that Sata is in charge of his faculties and this nation at large? If your answer is not an emphantic YES, then I rest my case.
Satan can never resign. Too much at stake: 1. Admitting that he is unwell is a big ask for this goon and his henchmen. 2. World class medical attention at his finger tips. Access to this will mos def be cutailed shud he leave office. Like everyone else, he is shit scared of death. 3. The kantemba called pf. Let’s face it Sata is ill and lonely. Real friends can be counted on one hand if not finger. He therefore constantly need validation from his ass lickers, GBM, Scot, Lungu etc. Hence the weird statements: the “president is fit and working hard at statehouse.” Such clowns these are. The souls of AM, LPM, GK and others that he mocked in their ill health have not rested…yet. Kama is such a bitch
You guys bushe what do you want from Sata? You wanted him to show himself to the public , a thing he did as per your want, now you have turned around and you don’t want him in public . What a nonsensical rant. Leave Sata alone alaa. All of us we fall sick and it takes time to regain the weight. LEAVE HIM ALONE.
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.
Sata happens to be the head of state. ..do you even know what that means? Sata is your servant you pay him to reside in State House, you buy his groceries every week, you pay for the foreign doctors that attend to him…the sooner you fox wake up the better for all.
Wake up!!
YOu believe that Sata is sick. Instead of advise him to resign, you are there brabling yourself to him alone. What is he doing? Where on Earth will you find a man being sick and force himself to work? Only the sata i have Never seen. Sure money is Joyful. Its Like Sata has No maney in His Acconts to feed himself while home instead of having to stay in the state with Sick Body.