Friday, March 29, 2024

Eradicating poverty is not practical-Davies Chama

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PF Secretary General Davies Chama with his Deputy Mumbi Phiri
PF Secretary General Davies Chama with his Deputy Mumbi Phiri

PF Secretary General Davies Chama said Zambia will never eradicate poverty because it is impossible to do so.
Featuring on 5 FM’s Burning Issue program, Mr. Chama said eradicating poverty will always remain a pipe dream because no nation can wipe out poverty.

Mr. Chama said even developing nations such as the United States of America have failed to eradicate poverty.

‘This is just a fallacy, there is no way we can eradicate poverty, I just came back from South Africa last evening and I saw poor people there beginning on the streets. America still has a lot of poor people living on the streets, this goes to show that poverty eradication is just for the books of NGOs,’ Mr. Chama said.

He said the PF Government has done a lot to improve the standards of living of majority Zambians since taking over power four years ago.

Mr. Chama said some sections of the media have been criticizing the performance of the PF government unfairly.

‘This is something that we have come to accept as the PF. Some media houses are just malicious in their criticism of the PF government. We have done a lot of good since taking over government,’ he said

And Mr Chama has described President Lungu as a forgiving leader who was called names by some individuals prior to his election, but he has never sought or taken revenge after assuming office.

“President Lungu is a forgiving man. He has extended his reconciliatory message to everyone, even those who called him names,” Mr Chama said.

Mr Chama said Mr Lungu has no grudge against former Vice-President Guy Scott because as far as the President is concerned, he has reconciled with everyone who called him names.

Mr Chama said politics of scandalising, innuendos, lies and name-calling among politicians should be rejected by all well-meaning Zambians.

He said that there is so much hate speech among the citizenry and it is important to forgive each other.
Mr Chama said forgiveness is a sign of good leadership and should not be politicised because it is cardinal in ensuring peace.

He said the national day of repentance, prayer and fasting that President Lungu has called for is not aimed at the PF but for all citizens.

He said criticism of the re-alignment of government ministries is unfortunate because this was done to propel efficiency in service delivery.

Mr Chama also said President Lungu has not diverted from the PF manifesto of infrastructure development, which includes improving roads.

He said the challenges that the country is facing should not be politicised because they are not unique to Zambia.
On tribal remarks he allegedly made against the Tongas, Mr Chama said that his remarks were specifically directed at United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema and not the Tonga people.

Mr Chama said that he respects all tribes and that he holds no grudge against any tribe.

He also condemned violent party cadres, including those masquerading as PF cadres.

26 COMMENTS

  1. This is very worrying and depressing for this Mr Chama to even utter such words. This simply proves that the current regime is clueless and will not even attempt to eradicate poverty in the country. Many countries around the world have experienced poverty especially after wars. But they worked hard and put in policies that helped to eradicate poverty and today we run to them for financial help. It is really a pity that PF rose to power in the pretext of alleviating poverty and today ba Chama can openly say it is impossible. If PF have no means and capacity to eradicate poverty, then they must leave govt because there is nothing they are doing. Poverty is looming in the country and the govt needs to assure people that they working towards that aspect. Indeed were there is no vision people…

    • I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHAT MR CHAMA IS LIKE WHEN HE STILL HAS HATE FOR UPND AND ESPECIALLY HH WHEN HE STATED AS IT IS IN THE STATEMENT THAT,
      “his remarks were specifically directed at United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema and not the Tonga people”.
      BUT THEN HOW DO YOU CALL FOR GOD’S FORGIVENESS WHEN YOU CREATE HATE ON YOUR POLITICAL OPPONENTS WHO ARE YOU BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN POLITICS?
      THIS IS A MOCKERY TO GOD AND IT IS LIKE BA CHAMA DON’T KNOW GOD.

    • On the other hand, Mr. Chama is conveniently mum about proposal contained in “PF driven Constitution” to appoint further 94 Members of Parliament. That is the answer why poverty cannot be eradicated. Shameless fat and overweight Chama enjoys trapping and benefits of power whilst people suffer hunger caused by him and his party.

    • Poverty cannot be eradicated but can be reduced. In USA today there is about 27million people living in poverty according one presidential candidate and for a developing country like ours to even say we can eradicate poverty is wishful thinking. That’s why I feel cheated by opposition leaders who claim that they can eradicate poverty. I like people who take high risk by being truthful in what they do. That’s a good one chama.

    • S.bob,
      there are different levels of poverty. You can’t compare the type of poverty in the US to the one suffered by our citizens. Poverty in Zambia means starvation, child labour, Child prostitution, walking miles for drinking water and no school for children. In the West poverty means no playstations or no DSTV, those homeless pipo you see are mostly homeless by choice and are housed if they seek housing, the beggars you see are also by choice. Not in Zambia where we see real poverty.

    • Poverty cannot be eradicated, although it can be reduced.

      Yes, there are different levels of poverty, which is why one can say that poverty is relative.

      For instance, there is poverty in the UK today, to the extent of people depending on foodbanks strewn across the country.

      Our biggest poverty is poverty of mind that leads to poor policies that fail to provide basic necessities to meet the needs of people.

  2. BA CHAMA, IF THERE IS ONE PERSON WHO NEED TO KNEW DOWN BEFORE GOD AND ASK FOR HEALING IS YOU. YOU HAVE STATED THAT “his remarks were specifically directed at United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema and not the Tonga people”.
    BUT THEN HOW DO YOU CALL YOURSELF FOR GOD’S FAVOR WHEN YOU CREATE ENMITY WITH YOUR POLITICAL OPPONENTS WHO ARE YOU BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN POLITICS?
    THIS IS A MOCKERY TO GOD AND IT IS LIKE BA CHAMA YOU DON’T KNOW GOD.

  3. BA CHAMA, IF THERE IS ONE PERSON WHO NEED TO KNEW DOWN BEFORE GOD AND ASK FOR HEALING ARE PEOPLE LIKE YOU. YOU HAVE STATED THAT “his remarks were specifically directed at United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema and not the Tonga people”.
    BUT THEN HOW DO YOU CALL YOURSELF FOR GOD’S FAVOR WHEN YOU CREATE ENMITY WITH YOUR POLITICAL OPPONENTS WHO ARE YOU BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN POLITICS?
    THIS IS A MOCKERY TO GOD AND IT IS LIKE BA CHAMA YOU DON’T KNOW GOD.

  4. Words are relative, Mr. Chama. Also, the degree of poverty differs. Poverty stricken in Zambia means inability to feed and survive, whereas elsewhere in developed countries poverty stricken could be likened to our working class.

  5. eradicate poverty? No. As he rightly points out, that’s not realistic. That’s not the point of the work of GRZ and NGOs. Rather, the point is to get rid of extreme poverty. That is doable. Allow people a chance. Once surviving thanks to smart policies, targeted help with health and education and employment, then the thriving can take place. Poverty will always be among us but let’s not use that as an excuse for inaction.

    • Typical PF excuses for failed policies!

      Mr. PF Secretary General Davies Chama, just sit on your lazy backside in your comfortable chair with your Deputy Mumbi Phiri while you are living on hard-earned taxpayers money, and tell Zambians the job PF was elected to do, and PROMISED to do when campaigning, is impossible!

  6. The people who are called poverty stricken in America would be called rich people in Zambia. I don’t blame this BLACK GHOS SO CALLED CHAMA. The most stupid people are the Zambia who even lend a listening ear to the RUBBISH this man is vomiting. The poverty we are facing no is different from the one we faced under Mwanawasa, not even RB (Round Belly). This more than poverty

  7. All I want is for mr. Chama to own up to the scathing remarks he made against the tongas and apologise. It was very undiplomatic(lacking tactfulness) of him. Because even if he makes realistic statements like on the topic of poverty eradication, his analysis won’t be judged objectively as the only thing most people know about him is that he is an undiplomatic tribalist.

  8. All I want is for mr. Chama to own up to the scathing remarks he made against the tongas and apologise. It was very undiplomatic (lacking tactfulness) of him. Because even if he makes realistic statements like on the topic of poverty eradication, his analysis won’t be viewed objectively, as most people only know him for being an undiplomatic tribalist.

  9. Look at these thevies from PF cheering on this congolese called Chama who says even in the West there is poverty.
    Chama, poverty in the West means children have no DSTV, no playstations, or have junkies for parents. Those pipo you see on the streets is usually by choice.
    In Zambia, Mr Chama and your kaponya supporters poverty means starvation, no school, child prostitution, child labour, walking for miles for water or a clinic.

    • @patrick
      Don’t talk like you are the only Zambian living overseas or abroad. I see and donate to beggars here who are homless. They get their wardrobes in the charity bins in the streets and yet this is happening in the most expensive city in the world. Dstv or foxtel is still luxurious life even amongst the well to do families. Play station Xbox one or 360 they just hire or rent them. What are you talking about. Poverty is poverty regardless of where you are.

    • Those beggars some of them live in lauxuary, most of those homeless beggars you see have been given accommodation but chose to live as they live. Should any one them chose to seek help they are given shelter, what are talking about? You can’t compare what you think is poverty in the UK with the real poverty in Zambia which is a matter of life and death.

  10. Even in the US there is poverty …
    Even in South Africa there is poverty …
    Even in Malawi there is load shedding …
    Even in etc..
    What a shameless way to deal with serious problems!
    Well, let me tell you something. I don’t care how much poverty exists in the USA, South Africa or Malawi.
    I don’t give a damn how much load shedding goes on in Malawi, Tanzania or South Africa.
    You were elected to find solutions to these problems. I won’t accept to live in poverty in Zambia just because there is poverty in other countries too. If you can’t find solutions to problems, then let other competent and serious people take over! Let me remind you that, in Zambia, only the best is good enough!

    • @bulasa
      Politicians doesn’t improve your life or worsen it. They are only putting an enabling environment for you to tap the opportunities from and better your life. Fools like you are waiting for hh to bring food in your homes which is wishful thinking. It will never happen even if the best president was elected. If you are failing in your life blame yourself and stop casting it on pf or use pf as a scapegoat for being poor.

  11. Just in case Mr Chama did not know and this is a honest truth. On two occasions I have come across street beggars in South Africa speaking Zambian languages. The first pair I met were two women in hibro area who were speaking bemba, I couldn’t believe my ears. Then on another day in braamfortein I met two young boys probably arround 10 – 12 years begging and they were speaking Nyanja. The bottom line Mr Chama, not all beggars you see from foreign countries are from there. Others are just from you door step. We may call them migrated beggars.

  12. Poverty is by choice and its an individual, and family way of life. The Government is there but its the citizens to change their mind set. How much time have we worked faithfully, most are times when I visit mother Zambia to I see young men and women drinking bear as early as 07.00hrs in the morning. There is enough land in Zambia than South Africa or USA. Ba Chama the truth pains but its better to tell the truth than promising people an egg every day.

  13. @Kitwe giant, you have missed the point as the truth of the matter is LP Mwanawasa did nothing on the economy but FTJ. Chiluba moved the country forward and then the price of metals plus commodity market were extremely good, the weather pattern was excellent.

  14. Many of us have always known the corrupt and incompetent PF leaders as selfish characters who have never tried to organize poverty eradication projects.Davies Chama and his fellow crooks in PF are only interested in amassing wealth; they have no compassion for the poor.With this kind of of leadership the majority of Zambians will continue to wallow in poverty.

  15. This is one pathetic cretin . He travels to USA South Africa on tax payers money and all he noticed is that there poor people and beggars on the street.
    He doesn’t make an effort to study or find out what measures these countries have put in place to alleviate and eliminate poverty. He has given up before making the first step. Poverty eradication is a process of a lot of deliberate actions by the government of the day.

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