Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night. My mind takes me to the political landscape that is shaping the current economic woes and societal despondency in Zambia. My heart bleeds for my beloved country. What have we done to deserve what we are going through? Life is hard. The cost of living is skyrocketing and beyond the reach of many. Industries are closing down and workers are thrown into the cold. Jobs for many graduates from our education institutions are non- existent. Those who hack out a living through self-help entrepreneurship are bearing the brunt of power load shading. The political scene is no better. Violence has become the order of the day. We have seen the kind of political violence never experienced in Zambia before. Gun toting and use of live bullets to threaten political opponents is slowly becoming part of Zambia’s political culture. Lawlessness is getting entrenched. Those entrusted with maintaining law and order have sometimes been in the forefront, breaking the law. The very process of electing our leaders is fraught with impunity. The lawless and powerful are registering under aged children as voters. The list of woes continues so you can fill the gaps.
Although the misery Zambians are going through is caused by a few, the rest of citizens are watching, powerless to do anything. Paralyzed, they become tools in the very hands of the few. Confused as to the way things ought to be, they become cheerers of the cause of their own death. The leaders they looked to for better life are caught up into the frenzy of making hay while the sun shines. The thought of life outside government is unbearable. So, everything must be done to maintain the status quo. Those who gather courage to question illegality must be brutalized and silenced. With the national elections coming in a few months from now the gag machinery is going into full throttle. This is why I am worried. I am not worried for myself but for the millions of Zambians for what await us. There is writing on the wall. Are Zambians seeing it? Have you heard of children in Zambia and other nationals from neighboring countries that are being registered as voters in Zambia? Have you heard of what has happened to gallant Zambians that wanted to investigate these happenings? The writing is on the wall and if we ignore it more misery will visit us.
If we merely watch and do not organize ourselves to counter the rot going on right now in the political arena we should not cry when the worst hits us.
Here is my humble suggestion. Every institution and individual Zambians desiring peace and prosperity of our land must unite and protect legitimate processes of electing our leaders into councils, parliament, and the presidency. NGOCC, FODEP, Women’s Lobby, Oasis, Transparency International, the Church, chiefs, LAZ, and many others hear this clarion call. The sign is on the wall. If we merely watch and do not organize ourselves to counter the rot going on right now in the political arena we should not cry when the worst hits us. We must protect the will and choices of Zambians against partisan interests.
Elections are not rigged on the voting day only. Summoning all our energies to monitor actual voting even with international elections observers is too little too late. There is need to get organized now, creating mechanisms to document and report violence and malpractices taking place from issuing of registration and voters cards up to the day of elections. What we need is a body of evidence to fall on if and when our systems fail us because they choose to side with political parties and not the people. Many Zambians want to collect evidence of wrong-doing but have nowhere reliable to report it to for documentation and use. Sometimes they have no skill in collecting evidence that could be used in courts of law and international human rights institutions.
I call upon all civil society organizations in Zambia to take the challenge and save the country from sliding into chaos. Mobilize us for action against electoral lawlessness. I do not want to wake up some day, in the middle of the night and say, “The writing was on the wall but Zambians ignored it.”
By Mapanza H Nkwilimba
The author was among the founding members of the Zambia Elections Monitoring Coordinating Committee (ZEMEC) now Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP).
Chagwa Azagwa Lungu and his Panga Family are the major culprits and problem in this country. They are using state machinery to rig elections and are busy campaigning when they have stopped the opposition from mobilizing their parties. The problem is not with the opposition and the Zambian people, the problem is clueless and visionless Lungu and the lawless Panga Family.
“The Writing was on the Wall but Zambians Ignored It” already in Sept 2011 & secondly in Jan 2015!
2011 they voted for Sata, somebody with appetite for economic recklessness (Merzaf flats & demolishing of poor peoples houses ) & violence (Chawama where instead he was soundly beaten/hacked for pushing Chiluba’s 3rd term with a view to usurp power when Chiluba’s 3rd term bid failed) & appetite for lies (proclaiming of hiding of guns by Kaunda at Sindamisale in Chinsali).
2015 Zambians had a chance to try somebody else after PF mercilessly messed up the economy. But alas! What do they do? They preferred a candidate with dented legal record (LAZ has records of his suspension that cannot be swept under the carpet) & had run down a once legal firm, Andre Masiye & used Kabova violence…
They preferred a candidate with dented legal record (LAZ has records of his suspension that cannot be swept under the carpet) & had run down a once legal firm, Andre Masiye & used Kabova violence to usurp PF presidency in Kabwe.
With such background can you really expect anything from such Presidencies? No! Their Presidential records are synonymous with their past (Pre-Presidential) lives.
Sata – violence with Kabimba as SG similar to Chawama pangas & abuse of national resources thru Nsanda & RDA similar to Merzaf flats & lied about the unfulfilled 90 days (synonymous with his Sindamisale lies).
Lungu has raped constitution making process by adopting thru parliament selected clauses that favor him – synonymous with his LAZ suspension case & continued violence (setting cadres on HH in…
Lungu has raped constitution making process by adopting thru parliament selected clauses that favor him – synonymous with his LAZ suspension case & continued violence (setting cadres on HH in Kitwe, Gun culture by Chama etc all synonymous with his fraudulent election to PF Presidency.
So The Writing has always been on the Wall but Zambians continue to Ignore to it – They prefer misery to hope of prosperity or hope of moving out of misery! The only problem is even those that vote wisely suffer because of Kaponyas voting carelessly. That is the stupidity of democracy – go along with the minority majority (1%).
The Demagogues are already responding!! Zambians, we shouldn’t let things slide any further, this is as far as it gets!! It is time we woke up – they are dividing us by going tribal – if they succeed, IT WON’T BE ONE TRIBE SUFFERING – we will ALL CONTINUE SUFFERING, examples such as Rwanda, Congo are NOT VERY FAR AWAY!!
Continued!
They preferred a candidate with dented legal record (LAZ has records of his suspension that cannot be swept under the carpet) & had run down a once legal firm, Andre Masiye & used Kabova violence to usurp PF presidency in Kabwe.
With such background can you really expect anything from such Presidencies? No! Their Presidential records are synonymous with their past (Pre-Presidential) lives.
Sata – violence with Kabimba as SG similar to Chawama pangas & abuse of national resources thru Nsanda & RDA similar to Merzaf flats & lied about the unfulfilled 90 days (synonymous with his Sindamisale lies).
Second continuation-
Lungu has raped constitution making process by adopting thru parliament selected clauses that favor him – synonymous with his LAZ suspension case & continued violence (setting cadres on HH in Kitwe, Gun culture by Chama etc all synonymous with his fraudulent election to PF Presidency.
So The Writing has always been on the Wall but Zambians continue to Ignore to it – They prefer misery to hope of prosperity or hope of moving out of misery! The only problem is even those that vote wisely suffer because of Kaponyas voting carelessly. That is the stupidity of democracy – go along with the minority majority (1%).
Read on from above!
Lungu has raped constitution making process by adopting thru parliament selected clauses that favor him – synonymous with his LAZ suspension case & continued violence (setting cadres on HH in Kitwe, Gun culture by Chama etc all synonymous with his fraudulent election to PF Presidency.
So The Writing has always been on the Wall but Zambians continue to Ignore to it – They prefer misery to hope of prosperity or hope of moving out of misery! The only problem is even those that vote wisely suffer because of Kaponyas voting carelessly. That is the stupidity of democracy – go along with the minority majority (1%).
In August,2016, President Edgar C Lungu will win presidential elections without any shadow of doubt
and President HH will be second ,whether those who hate him like it or not.
This election is as simple as Barcelona Vs Real Madrid in Laliga.
You called us names when we advocated not to give mandate to Mr Sata (MHSRIP) and his PF. I was so disappointed to see some people, who seem to have some education, being fooled by Mr Sata’s lies of putting food on their tables in 90 days..
Why should Sata rest in peace? He should NOT rest, never! His sins should dog him that wicked tribalist.
You called us names when we advocated not to give mandate to Mr Sata (MHSRIP) and his PF. I was so disappointed to see some people, who seem to have some education, being fooled by Mr Sata’s lies of putting food on their tables in 90 days.
The name only tells you that the analysis will take a usaul biase towads ethinicity. shame on you!
Tribalists only looking at names.
lawlesness and despondency are in your head and not Zambia. Mr mapanza sir!
Tell us about the brutaliseing of journalists then…
Patrick – You mean the characters who are agitating for civil strife due to their unprofessional writings? Are those you are referring to as journalists?
Problem in Zambia is the extreme high levels of illiteracy, & lack of analytical thought processing by some of our educated citizens.
Throw in Corrupt minds, & tribal blind loyalties, & you get a powder keg of destruction, & national failure.
The current President had failed to lift his constituency “Chawama” out of squalor, coupled with a history of embezzling clients money, was always going to be a very bad recipe.
DID ZAMBIANS REALLY EXPECT A POSITIVE OUTCOME FROM SUCH A CANDIDATE??
It’s similar to building a Castle out of Sand, & expecting it to be of quality,& last for centuries. WAS NEVER GOING TO HAPPEN!
(Mapanza H Nkwilimba)we will go by the name and knw exactly what it means when an article of this kind is produced,when ECL is going by the promises he made.“Fifty slabs have been done in Eastern and Southern provinces and 60 in Northern and Muchinga provinces…Similar works are being done in Eastern, Luapula and Lusaka provinces and works will move to Central Province soon,” 2,000 housing units for the milling equipment were received last Monday.three units are currently operational in Solwezi, Luapula and Kasama.it is evident that ECL has sold himself clearly so now you have nothing to talk about come 2016 pabwatoooo,january dolar will be at k7.50
@ Gankata
32nd January 2016 dollar will be at k7.50 and your intelligence improved 100%?
I totally agree with you. Here are the facts
Lungu is a failed lawyer. No career achievement as a lawyer with the highlight of stealing client money
The highest achievement of his wife is being a marketeer.
None of Lungu’s children has ever gone beyond grade 12
What did you expect from such a failure?
Yaku @TheEngineer, is that why we cannot see a coherent first family up to now?? Mahweee!!! I am interested now to know more about the first family we currently have.
Look at lungus track record in chawama as MP, all he did was dig diches without cement lining on the sides of roads, calling them drains resulting in the collapse of roads through erosion and those drains becoming mosquito ponds. When he became home affaires minister he tryed with mulenga sata to swindle the country out of $230 million dollars by recommending a cctv system for lusaka. Only a public outcry stopped them.
Tribalist only checks names of Authors not content.
ataaaaa styopeti
Useless analogy, rigging is not the same as uneven political playing field.
“Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night” are you a witch? balance up you analysis this article is not worth posting ba LT.
you mean its a crime to wake up in the middle of the night? Ninshi umatundila pa bedi iwe?
this i.diot has all the fredom to writ crap and you call this country being in a state of lawlesness and despondency.
Sorry my dear on the contrary things are getting better in our country. we might have a chalenge with economic growth which didnt not affect common man but we are doing very well with economic development. This is every where to see.
and economic “development” has created how many jobs?
peters, why are you commenting by doing copy and paste without understanding a word of what have you written? Attempting to become intellectual like Kambwili?
Ati the most expensive roads paid for with borrowed money is economic development..
I did not know you are this shallow minded. If this is development in your eyes, our country has no future. Educated ???? people or is it literate people like you should have a better definition of development. We take what is happening as a joke while the future generation is being destroyed. Indeed it is cry my beloved country!!!! Development will only come when we have a leadership that has brains and is selfless.
Mr or Dr or is it Prof Mapanza, please let us be realistic. Anglo America has thrown 2/3 of the workforce in the cold. Is it due to PF recklessness? let us be objective in our debate. Your approach is what makes Zambians vote wisely. They will not vote for people who do not want to accept that there is an economic down turn in most countries including South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Angola and many more. Yes PF may not have done well especially where debt accumulation is concerned, but let us be truthful in our debate. HH is once more losing in 2016!
All those countries have manufacturing base….Zambia imports everything
Can’t wait for next years elections to come and go so that we read and lsiten to bitter people swallow their own words and complain like crazyyyyyyyyy! It will surely come to pass because they rarely appeal to the common man. They are a bunch of self lording and selfish men. They have done some very selfish acts in the past and they cannot be trusted by common Zambians. They are as difficult to sale as selling ice to an Eskimo. Zambians see them as preachers of doom and haters. We are going to give them a resounding denial to govern once and for all.
True, they are preachers of doom. When every thing in the country is going wrong, they celebrate instead of sympathizing with the situation. No wonder even connecting with a commoner to them is a nightmare because they simply do not make any sense to a common man and its good that even speaking the most commonly spoken language is a baggage to them otherwise they can best manage the economy of their cattle and not of Zambia.
All the negative, insulting dismissive comments to Mapanza’s well thought out article are based abroad. Just go through the comments and see for yourself. None of them had to endure a night without electricity as do our brothers and sisters back home. You must write with minimum sensitivity diaspora bloggers. As someone abroad, I should not write as if I am living the incredible challenges our fellow citizens back home endure. Just eat your bread where you are and shut up.
You have to be a real CAVEMAN – as long as Zed is our home, WE HAVE EVERY “F…ing” RIGHT TO COMMENT!!
The rigging argument is very weak in Zambia as facts on the ground suggest that when time is ripe governments do change from one political party to another. Just pray that your time comes instead of issuing baselessly alarming statements!
we haven’t seen noting yet, wait until we start paying back the loans. Remember Greece! the injuring of mismanagement shattered peoples lives and hope compare all the fundamentals before the fall to Zambia and imagine what will become of Zambia if we go through such. what will the poverty level be? level of malnutrition? saving in the bank? (if we have any) as most of us its from hand to mouth. what will happen when company’s receive their first full tariff reflective bill? what will happen when we start paying a cost reflective tariff on fuel? will those gen sets continue in use? Who will finally pay the price? the poor of the poor.
The ministers have 800 ltr of fuel from tax payers, free accommodation, free talk time and sate light phones, medical facilities outside Africa, children…
And intrested free loans to buy furniture…..
to universities abroad
@IQ138 I understand economic growth and economic development. Thats why I am not like you who suport HH becoz he is rich or a Tonga. Which country in Africa can challenge Zambia in infrustructural development for the period of 4 yrs PF has been in power?
Mr. Nkwilimba if you are suffering don’t think that everyone else is suffering. Please continue suffering peacefully as we also continue with our heaven on earth.
Actually you are the one who is suffering ka shadreck biemba, you think I don’t know you? I know you have nothing, no bank account, no house, no food just nothing!
With due respects to age, and also in appreciation to one taking time to share personal thoughts of national interest, I read Mr Mapanza H Nkwilimba’s article with utmost pleasure and pride. There are still citizens with a heart for our country. I hope his clarion call will be heeded by the relevant bodies we have. Thank you sir. For our part, we are traveling back to vote next August with eyes wide open:)
@TheEngineer when was the last time you were in chawama and which part of chawama are you talking about?is it kuomboka road or the ring road that connects to kamwala south,are aware that the two clinics are operational
bo nkwiliimba , keep having nightmares and possibly an heart attack whilest we the strong ones sleep and rest knowing 2016 nikolopa again. pabwatoooo//// epela.
Comment:@ Gankata little did i know that you are nothing but an empty tin. Please just shut up instead of displaying your stupidity in the public domain.
@Malnuscript ulitole fye you talk things that you are not seing am on the ground able to see and hear views of the pipo,so do not be cheated iwe cikala,your god hh has even failed to build a single classroom block from the village where he comes from,i guess it is the same naba mapanza coz in MAPANZA pipo right now are surviving on world roots and fruits like amasuku and today you r bragging ati when i wake up in the middle of the night i cry mulifipubafye bonse bafikala,ati we will change the lives of zambians bafikala mwanya mikongo shenu
HH pliz remember that its not u or any politician who votes for a particular leader (be it presidency level, MP or counselor) but its the general public. Just wait for 2016 elections u will be disappointed.
Iwe ka nye. You must b looking for a toilet.
Ignore this advice at your own risk.
This writer is an alarmist and I am not surprised he has managed to sway so many haters who will never appreciate Lungu in their lifetime.
Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night. My mind takes me to the political landscape that is shaping the current economic woes and societal despondency in Zambia. My heart bleeds for my beloved country. What have we done to deserve what we are going through? Life is hard.
Ba Lusaka Times. You’re back! Should bookmark you again. I unbookmarked you together with Zambia Reports because of your muselela kwa kaba behaviour when u saw a new government.
KALE NGAMBILE UKUMONA AKAMUTWE KA WHITE NATI LIMBI BAKU COURT KANSHI ALEMBELE IFYA BUPUBA,WASEBANYA ABANA NABE SHIKULU. U ARE SUPPOSE TO ADVICE AT YO AGE BUT U START YAPPING LIKE A FROG INSEKETE UFWILE ULI WACHIWAYA SANA. FODEP U CONSIDER THESE AS LEADERS THESE ARE HUNGER STRIKEN MEN / MONEY MONGERS LIST INCLUDE MULONGOTI,MIYANDA,MUMBA, ETC THESE ACT WHEN SOMEONE GIVES THEM CASH. THEY CAN EVEN INSULT THERE WIVES IF PAID TO DO IT
not true, mr nkwilimba balance your articles you sound like a frustrated UNPD cadre,
Continue in your blindness. What is not true?