According to the Bible (1 Kings 3:16-28) one day, two women presented themselves before King Solomon. They were in dispute over a baby. One of them claimed it was her baby, while the other insisted it was hers. They argued back and forth in front of the King until he finally interjected.
“Someone, bring me a sword,” he ordered. “Cut the baby in half! That way each of you can have part of him.”
While the first woman professed her love for the child and pleaded for him not to be killed, the other woman consented to the decree so that neither of them will have the child.
“Don’t kill the baby,” King Solomon exclaimed. He pointed at the first woman and said, “She is his real mother. Give the baby to her.”
Everyone in Israel was impressed when they heard about the decision Solomon had made. What do we make of this decision, in particular reference to the current political logjam we find ourselves in as a nation?
Last year, the electorates trooped to the polls to elect a new leader expected to preside upon the affairs of the land, and of course steer the nation to economic prosperity for the next 5 years. Votes were laboriously compiled as frustration and pressure mounted at the rate it was taking to unveil the victor. Lungu was eventually declared winner amidst a cloud of vehement protest from UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema. The later immediately jumped on his skates and dashed to court alleging vote rigging! However, due to some technicalities and legal gymnastics, the matter couldn’t be exhaustively concluded and remains pendulous……..well, according to my humble knowledge at least. To this day, Hakainde and his ardent followers refuse to recognize Lungu as President.
There’s no need to bury our heads in sand and pretend all well; the previous elections have left the nation more polarized than before! Even President Lungu himself is on record having confirmed this. Speaking in Chinsali during a church service in honour of freedom fighter Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe’ s wife Salome not so long ago, Lungu observed that the country was no longer one and that the one Zambia, one nation motto was only on the lips of others.
We seem to be having some dangerous tribal zealots in the nation that strongly feel that only, and only folks they share ethnic affinity with deserve to be President! Former Katuba Member of Parliament Jonas Shakafuswa couldn’t have put it in a better context when he wrote the following on his Facebook page: “Who is actually running tribal politics in Zambia. It is very interesting in PF circles to hear some quarters advocating for a Bemba President for the Party. I find this interesting especially that some Bemba leaders went home calling UPND a tribal party for its insistence that a Tonga should run the Party as President.”
This actually presents us a vivid picture of the way our politics have degenerated to levels that constantly threaten the very fragile strands that still hold us together as a nation. What happened to the church of 1990s that brought the ruling party and opposition to the negotiating table when the nation was on the brink of civil strife? What about civil society, LAZ and students movement?
Anyway we don’t intend to reminisce about the good old days with nostalgia; rather the thrust of this article is to promote dialogue between President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and leader of the main opposition political party in the nation Hakainde Hichilema. To put it more succinctly I’ll borrow the words of one Emmanuel Chilekwa,
“Both HH and Lungu shall one day not be there; Zambia shall be there. Before these two men, there were other leaders in their political parties.”
How would you want posterity to judge you? The power lies within you to save this nation from total collapse. Salute!
By Bill M. Kaping’a
Freelance writer/social activist
There is only one F00L who is misleading himself and the masses. That is (HH). Everyone else is fine. Lungu is fine, the international community is fine with our nation. But (HH) wants to wreak havoc.
The comparison of Solomon and the two mothers fighting for legitimacy over the baby (Zambia) is just brilliant! I love it. Here is my advice to HH and UPND; please let go. Let PF celebrate for now. The Lord above knows everything that took place during those elections. We, the ordinary people, also know the injustices that took place.
By letting go, we are not saying that you are losers, but be the mature ones and lets save the baby. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. Nothing more to add.
honestly I feel this article is lucking some content. it was started nicely but has solutions.
Who is playing a role of a bad woman among the two (HH an Lungu)? I was thinking you will clarify that.
but if i have to give my opinion, I think HH is!! how can he claim he won when he only won in 3 provinces and that if we consider his parliament members they are less than that of President Lungu.. But did we expect him to agree when Even before we went for elections he clearly stated that he will not accept if he loses. for me I love Zambia and all i can say is let HH save himself against the impact of the law.
honestly I feel this article is lucking some content. it was started nicely but has no solutions.
Who is playing a role of a bad woman among the two (HH an Lungu)? I was thinking you will clarify that.
but if i have to give my opinion, I think HH is!! how can he claim he won when he only won in 3 provinces and that if we consider his parliament members they are less than that of President Lungu.. But did we expect him to agree when Even before we went for elections he clearly stated that he will not accept if he loses. for me I love Zambia and all i can say is let HH save himself against the impact of the law.
A good question related to the King Solomon analogy is:
“Why has Edgar C Lungu not offered to give up the baby to the other mother?”
That giving up can happen in so many ways and I just mention one of calling
for fresh elections as a compromise …
It is only HH for now who can “save baby Zambia” Mr Bill M. Kaping’a & not visionless Lungu’s PF of bandits.
PF has put the country into the abyss of shame at international level. Worse off, the unlawfully persecution of HH who has employed millions of Zambians & incarcerating him for “tree~zone” on a traffic offense is disgustingly shameful.
By the way Bill M. Kaping’a, how much is mealie meal in your area code?
The Skeleton Key
~206~
@Nsindi do you have money for fresh elections because the international community will not fund them because to them it was game over when they said 2016 elections were free and fair.
@Kudos, you sound like those who wears utupata on their chests. I feel sorry for you brothers, who collect you with blooms.
And do you think lungu is in your wisdom.
You so called Kudos are very stupid. I doubt if you were born out of a woman
The Bible Story carries the wrong sentiment. The author used the wrong teaching in the case of Lungu and HH. The comparison should be of Jesus and Barabus. And the story starts are follows:
Jesus was standing before Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who had already declared Jesus innocent of anything worthy of death (Luke 23:15). Pilate knew that Jesus was being railroaded and it was “out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him” (Mark 15:10), so he looked for a way to release Jesus and still keep the peace. Pilate offered the mob a choice: the release of Jesus or the release of Barabbas, a well-known criminal who had been imprisoned “for an insurrection in the city, and for murder” (Luke 23:19).
Mr Kudos,you’re a total disgrace to be called Zambian for you to assume that everything is going well for you and your hommie Edgar Lungu.who the hell do you think you are to say HH is causing problems.if you have been living in a cave for years, I would suggest that you go back to where you came from, oh wait, take Lungu with you. Dammit.
The release of a Jewish prisoner was customary before the feast of Passover (Mark 15:6). The Roman governor granted clemency to one criminal as an act of goodwill toward the Jews whom he governed. The choice Pilate set before them could not have been more clear-cut: a high-profile killer and rabble-rouser who was unquestionably guilty, or a teacher and miracle-worker who was demonstrably innocent. The crowd chose Barabbas to be released.
Pilate seems to have been surprised at the crowd’s insistence that Barabbas be set free instead of Jesus. The governor stated that the charges against Jesus were baseless (Luke 23:14) and appealed to the crowd three times to choose sensibly (verses 18–22). “But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed”…
You write well, and thought provoking, but never heard of any social activist by that name in this country.
Don’t misquote and misinterpret the Bible. The only problem that there is is hh and UPND. Let the chap realise that he lost the elections. Did we ask him to borrow using Zambia as collateral? Let him just pay what he owes those he cheated.
@ Malinso, you are asking the WRONG PERSON!
“Did we ask him to borrow using Zambia as collateral? “…….
Lungu and his PF have BORROWED more than TEN BILLION US DOLLARS – US$ 10,000,000,000!!! using Zambias future as collateral. Generations will be left with this debt to repay through their hard earned cash, AND the massive INTEREST on this KALOBA!
While him and his friends take $300,000 trips to New York, and he puts TWO and a HALF MILLION – US$ 2,300,000!!! into his own personal bank account!!!
That is not even BORROWING!!! That is simply THEFT of Zambians future earnings!
The Bible is full of wisdom, but it is often misquoted and misunderstood. Readers and carriers of the message often hear particular verses and passages in ways they were not intended to be heard. While the Bible is often quoted, it is just as often misquoted. The problem comes when people turn God’s word into a collection of quotes and one-liners without paying attention to the context of the verse, or the history behind the text. Nothing’s wrong with connecting with a specific line of Scripture, but it’s important that you know what the verse really means, particularly if you are living by the Word and professing it to others.
@Duno: it would be wise if you used that thing between your ears. What Malinso is saying is that hh was funded by someone else. It is very common in politics all over the world. The problem is he promised these funders something in return IF he becomes president, but as fate has it, it didn’t happen!!! THAT IS WHERE HIS PRESSURE SEEMS TO BE COMING FROM, do you understand politics, my guy????
HH never LOST the Elections. The Election was stolen from him. UNDERSTAND YOU DOG
HH has restrained himself from dividing the country on the basis of ethnicity because he is disciplined. Furthermore, HH is not tribal and allegations about regionalism which are always attached to the UPND, are manifestations of PF lies. Politics and winning elections in any society are subject to numbers. That said, HH and PF politicians all know that for anyone to win over the much needed majority, a concerned politician has to convince all potential voters across the breadth and length of Zambia. Thus, the biased PF leadership manufactured lies and accused HH of using tribalism in politics, yet, it is not true. In order for the PF hierarchy to strengthen their concoctions, they used UPND strong support in Southern Province as evidence.
1) HH, during the campaign of 2016, told the people of North Western Province that the Bembas (PF) are using money from here (N/W Province) to develop Muchinga Province.
2) When HH took over from Mazoka he fired Patrick Chisanga, Tiens Kahenya, Bashi Nono, Sakwiba Sikota, etc and replaced them with members of his tribe.
3) All lawyers for his presidential petition are his tribesmen.
4) 99.99% of his lawyers for the treason case are his tribesmen
5) All his drivers and body guards are his tribesmen.
Therefore, one wonders!!!
LEN JOE
ARE YOU IN ZAMBIA?BE HONEST TO YOUR SELF.GO AND ASK M’MEEMBE THE NEW FOUND FRIEND FOR HH.HE WILL TELL YOU THAT HH IS A TRIBALIST.
FOR FYI THE PERSON THAT HAS KILLED HH POLITICALLY IS THE FORMER POST NEWSPAPER AND M’MEEMBE.WHEN WE HAD PARLIAMENTARY BY-ELECTIONS IN KATUBA CONSTITUENCY,MOSES CHILANDO STOOD ON PF TICKET WHO COMES FROM LUAPULA.ASK ANY BODY WHAT HH SAID DURING THE CAMPAIGN OR GO AND ASK M’MEEBE.
HH SAID PEOPLE SHOULD NOT VOTE FOR CHILANDO MOSES BECAUSE HE DOES NOT COME FROM THE LENJE PEOPLE AND THAT MOSES SHOULD GO AND STAND IN LUAPULA WHERE HE COMES FROM.
IF THAT IS NOT TRIBALISM TO YOU?,THEN WHAT IS IT?
WHEN MAZOKA DIED AND TONGAS SAID ONLY A TONGA WILL TAKE OVER UPND,WHAT IS THAT TO YOU?
THERE WERE BRILLIANT MEN IN UPND NEXT TO MAZOKA,SAKWIBA,PATRICK…
Pilate asked his people: People of the land who do you want me to release to you, Jesus or Barabasa?
People Shouted Barabas Barabas Barabas and unto them Barabas was released and Jesus was crucified…! In short, he was given a death sentence
The release of a Jewish prisoner was customary before the feast of Passover (Mark 15:6). The Roman governor granted clemency to one criminal as an act of goodwill toward the Jews whom he governed. The choice Pilate set before them could not have been more clear-cut: a high-profile killer and rabble-rouser who was unquestionably guilty, or a teacher and miracle-worker who was demonstrably innocent. The crowd chose Barabbas to be released.
Pilate seems to have been surprised at the crowd’s insistence that Barabbas be set free instead of Jesus. The…
Lungu may not read this, or even if he does, it means nothing to him. All he wants is that HH must die at all cost. This is a man who nearly killed his old foe when he was merely 20 years old by planting his rat-like incisors (front teeth) into his enemy’s flesh (biting). This was revealed by one of his relatives a year ago. It seems there is nothing we as a country can do to stop him from persecution, killing, maiming others. Peace will only come after the demise of this despot. All we have to do now is wait for that day.
Len: which greater than the other; 6.5 and 3.5. It is common sense that the child belongs to Edgar Changwa Lungu. That petition is dead ba Dundumwezi fika..LA fy..enu
What happened is this: A lot of people voted for HH in Southern (where HH hails from), Western and N/Western provinces (bantu botatwe) and only two voted for PF, is that democracy Mr. Schulz? Whereas in the other provinces HH amassed quite a number particularly Eastern province where Lungu comes from. Surely you cannot say PF is tribal!
There is no need to cut the Baby in half. What is needed is to do a DNA Test to determine the paternity of the Child. What is needed is to do an Election DNA Test to determine who won the 2016 Election. The Winner of that Election should be declared duly elected after the Petition is heard and determined. The Winner of the Election will be given a DNA Certificate. SADC should facilitate the Election Petition Hearing Process thru an Independent and Impartial Court. That is the only way to Re-unite,Reconcile and Heal our People.
Listening to Edgar, he has said we forget about one Zambia one nation – in other words kill this baby called Zambia, after all he has looted his millions, why would he care? The truth as I see it is that Zambians were supposed to go for a rerun! Edgar and team hijacked the process. That is the reason why they have been dead-scared of the DNA test – Election petition.
Abrogating the CONSTITUTION and illegally allowing a petition which was given it’s due mandate, IS KILLING THE CHILD!!! UPND CRIED AND SHOUTED LOUDLY FOR THE CONSTITUTION AMMENDMENT TO BE ENACTED BEFORE ELECTIONS SO THAT EDGAR LUNGU CAN BE SUBJECTED TO 50+1%. From the Mwanawasa NCC to the Sata Technical Committee, upnd and hh and his team were part and parcel of the constitution making process; DIDN’T THEY APPROVE THE 14 DAY LIMIT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PETITION???? hh and his lawyers failed spectacularly to present evidence of electoral malpractice before the court in due time because they knew there was no evidence at all, even Maureen Mwanawasa REFUSED to stand for the “ballots in a bin” story!! It explains why the petitioners’ lawyers took almost 7 days to serve papers to the…
…respondents!!!!
Ladies and Gentlemen, the Hate messages against the person who rightly won last year’s election will not take you anywhere. When you have lost an election, the best way to do is to accept and move on. Who knows, may be it is not your time and you better wait until your time comes. Rumour has it that UPND were negotiating for a Government of National Unit, Why? How? Please, ba UPND, just humble yourselves and accept the reality. Zambia is bigger than the Political parties that we belong to. We had people like, Donald Siwale, Reuben Kamanga, Humphrey Mulemba, Harry Mwaanga Nkhumbula, Donald Simuchimba, etc. where are they? They are gone and for us that we think that one has to rule at all cost, we are making a mistake. Politics is a game of numbers and there is nothing like adjusting the…
Avoiding the petition is clear indication election was rigged.
HH’S ACTIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN JUSTIFIED IF THE COURTS RULED AGAINST LUNGU BUT AS IT IS THERE IS NO EVIDENCE,THE TRUTH IS NOT KNOWN.THEREFORE HE HAS NO RIGHT TO BEHAVE IN THIS MANNER. CAN HE GO UP AND STOP IRRITATING US.UPND TODATE HAS NOT PRODUCED ANY EVIDENCE WHY SO WHY BEHAVE THE INSANE BEHAVIOUR?
Ba Bwalya you were given time to do the DNA TEST. What happened? Surely were you not given the time? B be fair and stop irritating us.
What fellowship has light got to do with darkness? Can the two move together? I don’t think so. When you register foreigners to vote to inflate your numbers, should we just accept such treasonable acts and bury our heads in sand? Fair play is what convinces the alleged loser to concede defeat. It is actually Chagwa and team who have committed too many treasonable acts since the death of Mr Sata. Your sins will surely catch up with you! We know you are prematurely fighting for third term to escape justice. Live long to see your mistakes!
what a Christian nation? the language used here betrays you. I rather not take side than show that either HH is right or Lungu is right.
The bloggers amazes me… It is all about HH or Lungu.
What a people we are in Zambia.
The story is wrong it should be about Jesus and Barabas and not about two mothers, one infertile and barren and one fruitful and motherly.
He asked them; people of Israel who do you want me to release to you? Release Barabas, Barabas. (DUNUNA REVERSE). Zambians who did you vote for? Lungu
What happened to Barabbas after his release? The Bible gives no clue, and secular history does not help. Did he go back to his life of crime? Was he grateful? Did he eventually become a Christian? Was he affected at all by the prisoner exchange? No one knows. But the choices available to Barabbas are available to us all: surrender to God in grateful acknowledgment of what Christ has done for us, or spurn the gift and continue living apart from the Lord.
It is so irritating that some of us have even started vomiting.
Don’t vomit Mr Lemba… Do you have enough food to replenish .
Let us pray for one another for the days are evils are now with us …
Since when did Zambia become a baby! Zambia is full of mature adults! With a few immature adults, who think like babies!
Zambians were asked to vote for a lead and they did. They was asked to vote by ballot paper and they did. Zambians who did you vote for Lungu, Zambians who do you want to rule Zambia LUNGU and so Lungu it is. Just like in the bible the baby story came from we found a similar story about a criminal who people voted for to be released:
The release of a Jewish prisoner was customary before the feast of Passover (Mark 15:6). The Roman governor granted clemency to one criminal as an act of goodwill toward the Jews whom he governed. The choice Pilate set before them could not have been more clear-cut: a high-profile killer and rabble-rouser who was unquestionably guilty, or a teacher and miracle-worker who was demonstrably innocent. The crowd chose Barabbas to be released.
Pilate seems to…
LET HH AND THE UPND CONCEDE, LET ECL HEAR THAT THEY HAVE CONCEDED. HH WILL THEN BE RELEASED FROM PRISON, HE HAS BEEN HUMBLED, HE IS A NEW MAN. LET HIM PUT HIS EGO AWAY AND APPROACH ECL AND SAY “MWANA, LET US RUN THE COUNTRY TOGETHER”, HH WILL BE APPOINTED AS VICE PRESIDENT, IN A GOVT OF NATIONAL UNITY, THEN ALL THE TRIBAL TALK WILL FINISH, AND BINGO!!! ZAMBIA WILL BE SAVED FROM ALL THIS GREED, SELFISHNESS AND ANGER! ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION, ECL AND HH, HERE IS A CHALLENGE. NDAMANA.
Pilate seems to have been surprised at the crowd’s insistence that Barabbas be set free instead of Jesus. The governor stated that the charges against Jesus were baseless (Luke 23:14) and appealed to the crowd three times to choose sensibly (verses 18–22). “But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed” (verse 23). Pilate released Barabbas and handed over Jesus to be scourged and crucified (verse 25).The release of a Jewish prisoner was customary before the feast of Passover (Mark 15:6). The Roman governor granted clemency to one criminal as an act of goodwill toward the Jews whom he governed. The choice Pilate set before them could not have been more clear-cut: a high-profile killer and rabble-rouser who was unquestionably guilty, or a…
Zambians who do you want?
@Manga….I agree with you 100%….we the electorates are to blame ,neither lungu nor hh is to be blamed
Mwanawasa treated his opponents with care and respect .. when he heard that the Late Sata had fallen ill.Dispite Sata being a leader of the an Opposition party Pf. As a commander in Chief he Chartered a Plane for him to be flown to a South African hospital.This was practical about what Gods word the Bible say.. You must Love your Enemies. In turn Late President Sata had to go and meet President Levy Mwanawasa and Thanked him.Later he even named The Ndola Stadium i.e Levy Mwanawasa stadium and the Lusaka General Hospital …Levy Mwanawasa Hospital. weayet to see how President Edgar Lungu will show the same spirit regarding his opponents in a democratic Zambia.
Late Sata never insulted judges or the speaker. Late Sata never displayed the level of bu.f.f.o.o.nery hh displayed in Mongu. Late Sata despite being in opposition, even after winning Lusaka and the Copperbelt, always knew his limits and never allowed his supporters to insult late Mwanawasa. ECL has tolerated hh for too long now and it was about time he was reminded him who is the rightful plot one holder. Did the late Sata ever tell his supporters that the days of Mwanawasa in state house are getting shorter??? NEVER!!! hh got what he deserved, let his evil schemes keep him in that dungeon longer so that Zambia can have peace!!!!! THAT IS WHY MWANAWASA RESPECTED HIS MAIN RIVAL!!!!
There shall be peace in Zambia.
@govt.
If you want the truth let the petition be heard. stop just ukubwata. You thieves.!
What’s troubling you our neibour in any democratic process there must be a looser and a winner guyz let’s not forget tht don’t panic about election u guyz can’t have two president meaning one looses and the other wins its politics mwaana . Wabela.