Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Nevers Mumba addresses the House of Assembly in Cross River State, Nigeria

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MMD President Nevers Mumba
MMD President Nevers Sekwila Mumba

MMD President Dr Nevers Mumba on Monday addressed the House of Assembly in Calabar, Cross River State in Nigeria where he was in invited by Bishop Dr Emma Isong to be the main Preacher at the Promotion Oil Conference hosted by his Ministry.

Dr Mumba said the House of Assembly was convened for this Special Address, a first in the history of this distinguished Legislative institution.

Below is his full speech 

ADDRESS TO THE MEMBERS OF CROSS RIVER STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY BY THE FORMER VICE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, AND PRESIDENT OF THE MOVEMENT FOR MULTIPARTY DEMOCRACY, HIS EXCELLENCY REV. DR. NEVERS SEKWILA MUMBA ON 13TH MAY 2019. CALABAR, NIGERIA

INTRODUCTION

Mr. Speaker,

It is my distinguished honor to address such an illustrious assembly of Lawmakers.

I bring you tidings of goodwill from my nation of Zambia. The two peoples of Zambia and Nigeria share wonderful relations from their inception. We both fought shoulder to shoulder to demand for the release of Nelson Mandela and the subsequent independence of South Africa. It is for this reason that within weeks of his release from prison, Nelson Mandela made Zambia and Nigeria as the first ports of call to say thank you.

Unfortunately, twenty-five years later, the young South Africans have missed their history classes and have decided to start killing the so-called foreigners from other African nations upon whose shoulders their independence was secured. Mr. Speaker, the xenophobia that has gripped South Africa has left a huge scar on the conscience of a continent that needs to unite and not to disintegrate.

I am aware that your presence in this house represents more than your individual desire to serve, but falls within God’s mandate for each one of you. A mandate which must be pursued with morality, integrity and great courage.

Mr. Speaker,

In 2003, I stepped into Zambia’s National Assembly for the first time, not only as a Member of Parliament but also as Leader of Government Business having held the office of Vice President of the Republic of Zambia. While it was my greatest joy to serve, I was also aware that I was under the watchful eye of the Lord, God who saw it fit to clothe me with that honor. Today, I have continued to serve my country in the opposition as Leader of the former ruling party, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, MMD.

I pray and hope that all of us in this distinguished house are alive to the fact that God has a divine purpose for your presence here. It remains your responsibility to uncover that purpose.
You represent a wing of government which does not only legislate but also holds the two other arms of government to account, the Judiciary and the Executive.

Until and unless you succeed in moral legislation and as an effective watchdog to the other two wings of government, you would have come short of your mandate. To legislate with integrity and to challenge the excesses of the other two wings of government in Africa can sometimes be a nightmare. It demands for great courage.

The international community, African Scholars and commentators have constantly reminded us of the hopeless state of our continent. They have painted the dark and gloomy picture of failure of leadership on the continent. The unprecedented corruption levels, the abuse of democratic tenets, including blatant rigging of elections, the absence of freedom of speech, assembly and association. They have rightly identified endemic poverty, disease and exploitation of the poor. It is with shame that I concede that these observations are unfortunately true. But this is our Continent, we cannot just become analysts of our own doom. We must find a way to turn our mess into a success story. My policy as an opposition leader in Zambia is to fight and differ, sometimes bitterly with the party in government, but when I step outside the boundaries of my country, I put on honorable robes of an ambassador. I speak well of my country and invite investors to come to my country. I have stretched this same policy to Africa. While on the continent, I raise serious concerns of our collective failures but when I visit other continents, I become a defender of my continent.

Africa has been abused. It has been exploited. It has been impoverished by both colonial powers and now, our own ruling class, whom we have entrusted with power to get us out of poverty.

In 2003, not only did I become the Leader of Government Business in Parliament but I was also the first Full Gospel Pastor to become Vice President of Zambia. My ethos is that, “the equitable delivery of goods and services to any people depends on the morality and integrity of its leaders.”

NEW HOPE FOR AFRICA:

Mr. Speaker,

Africa shall become the world’s leader not far from now. We are already classified as the world’s richest continent and rightly so. We are already credited with the fastest growing church in the world. We are already credited with the fastest growing youth population. All the fundamental pillars that make a people to succeed are in place. The greatest deposits of minerals and precious stones are here in Africa. Africa has abundance of water, great landmass for agriculture and a vibrant workforce hungry for work. All this resource is surrounded by fauna, beauty and priceless tourism attractions.

Besides all these gifts from God, we have endured pain, depravation, hunger, poverty, disease and lack of equitable development. We have paid our price. The prison sentence of pain must now come to an end. Scripture says, “Weeping may endure for a night but joy comes in the morning.” Africa, our morning is at hand.

PREMIUM ON AFRICAN LEADERSHIP:

To answer the problems that surround us, we must DECIDE to place a premium on LEADERSHIP.

  •  Leadership that thinks outside the box.
  •  Leadership that thinks the future of the continent.
  •  Leadership with morality and integrity.
  •  Leadership that invests in our youth and inspires them to take our continent to heights unknown before.

We need a new leadership all around us. The healing of Africa depends on the quality of leaders we choose for ourselves. There is no magic to the rising of the African continent. All the basics are in place, but we must now invest in a strong moral leadership.

But I am also here to raise a serious objection to the assumption that the problems of Africa can be mitigated simply by asking African leaders to implement the right policies.

The current problem of Africa is not a lack of good policies or a lack of funding to implement those policies, but a consistent carelessness in the choice of its leaders. Africa has continued to use flawed electoral processes that keep away the competent, disciplined and honorable candidates from ascending to positions of power. Until Africa places a premium on leadership, all the grand ideas of mitigating the challenges of the continent will only be a pipe dream. I am convinced that, the equitable delivery of goods and services to any people depends on the morality and integrity of its leaders. Until we achieve this, our many good efforts shall continue to be in vain.

THE CHOICE OF LEADERS

Mr. Speaker,

The choice of leaders of morality and integrity is threatened by the alien system of choosing leaders in most of our nations. Democracy operates more effectively in an environment where the voters are educated and enlightened. In most of Africa, the electoral processes serve the interests of the powerful few who manipulate the outcome of elections using money and riding on both the poverty and ignorance of the electorate. I am of the view that in order for my continent to encourage leaders of morality and integrity to lead, we must interrogate and challenge the current electoral processes, which continue to bar those who wish to play by the rules. The question we must not be afraid to answer is whether Democracy in its current shape is helping our quest for a moral leadership on the continent of Africa. To make Africa great, we must invest in great leaders of morality and integrity. We must change the rules of electing our leaders and create new systems, which are not hostile to men and women of integrity. Most electoral systems in Africa favor the corrupt, who are morally bankrupt and have no passion nor heart for their nations. Such politicians forget that rigging elections is rigging the very future of their own children.

Africa is no longer a child. She has now matured at age sixty after birth at independence. We must now choose our own systems as opposed to those systems we inherited from our colonisers. We must be bold enough to choose our own clothes, food and type of education we give to our children. We must make our own laws away from those of the British Crown. We should not be carbon copies of the British. Some of the laws they left with us have caused us more harm than good, because they were meant to serve their interests only. In most former British colonies we have been left to deal with laws like the public order act whose original intention was to stop Africans from gathering and plan their struggle for independence. Today, this piece of legislation has become the darling of Africa’s oppressive regimes. It is now used to deny the opposition permission to hold meetings. African dictators are using it more effectively than the colonizers themselves.

Yes, some practices of the colonizers can still linger on until we find our own paths, but I personally don’t see the wisdom of us still wearing the heavy, hot white wigs our judges and speakers wear in the hot weather of Africa. If we don’t mind the heat, at least we can change the color of the wigs to reflect the color of our hair. It is called growth. It is called maturity. It is called being weaned off the British breast. At sixty, I think we are ready to let go of the British breast. Time to beat our own path is here. We are looking to the African Parliament to deliver us from the shackles of post colonization hang over. But I must confess that Nigeria continues to make Africa proud in many ways. You wear your own clothes, you eat your own food, you watch your own movies and continue to lead the race of Pan-Africanism. Please do not relent.

Mr. Speaker,

I subscribe to the notion that to strengthen democracy in Africa, we need to strengthen institutions of governance and insist on the principle of separation of powers: The Judiciary, Legislature and the Executive. I however hold the view that Africa is in dire need of leaders of morality and integrity. Institutions in Africa are only as sacred as the quality of leaders in charge of nations. Mr. Speaker, I wish to submit that the key to Africa’s healing and prosperity lies in a new moral leadership.

THE ROLE OF THE NEW LEADERSHIP

The new selfless leadership of Africa must courageously undo the lie that Africa is a God forsaken continent whose future is doomed to persistent poverty and subjugation. The new leadership must rebrand and renew Africa’s name. We must repaint the picture of Africa ourselves. Today’s picture of Africa demands that we depend on foreign powers to live our lives. We depend on Europe, the Americas and China to do for us, things we can do for ourselves. My message has nothing to do with minimizing our role in the global community. We must participate in the global debate and economy. We however must not only take from the global economy but we must contribute to it in real terms as equal partners.

MAKING AFRICA GREAT

Mr. Speaker,

It is time that Africa took charge of her economy. Africa is endowed with resources unmatched by any other continent on earth. We have vast reserves of gold, diamonds, copper, cobalt and emeralds of all shades. We must own these resources by adopting the unpopular policy of Donald Trump. Instead of America, we must say, AFRICA FIRST. This means that all our resources shall be managed by us. The London Metal Exchange has no business determining the cost of our minerals here in Africa. The United Kingdom does not even have a single copper mine. To put Africa first, we must be courageous enough to create a single economic market to determine how we value our products.

It is time that Africa wrote her own books. It is time that Africa printed her own business cards. It is time that Africa sang her own songs, and I must add that it is time Africa paid her own bills. The new leadership shall demand a proper place for our continent. That is in front of the line of the continents of the world.

The stories of overcoming all odds are painted across history. In a shocking upset, young David of the bible defeated Goliath. In the recent past, Liverpool football club stunned the world by beating Barcelona when all hope had been lost. Such is life. Africa’s looming upset of the status quo is at hand, but we must invest in a leadership of morality and integrity for this to happen.

PARTNERSHIP

Mr. Speaker,

I wish to express my deepest gratitude to you for the honor you have bestowed upon me and through me, to my party the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) and my nation Zambia to be the first Zambian to address this House of Assembly. I wish to extend an open invitation to you Mr. Speaker, other Members of Cross River State House of Assembly and the people of Cross River State to visit Zambia and explore ways in which we can do business together. I have been informed that your state is a leader in rubber, rice and cocoa production. We have similar weather pattern to yours in the Luapula Province of Zambia. It would be to our mutual benefit to explore possibilities of partnership in the production of rubber, rice and cocoa in Zambia. We would benefit from your expertise and hopefully, you shall benefit from ours as well.

CONCLUSION

Mr. Speaker,

I do not take this honor to address this House of Assembly lightly. I wish to place this honor on my party the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, the Government of the Republic Zambia and the people of Zambia. May the Lord our God strengthen the bonds of friendship between our two peoples.
God bless you and may God bless our two Republics.

I THANK YOU

 

 

33 COMMENTS

    • @Anonymous … Give him some respect as once Vice President of the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise.

      @NSM … thank you very much for your speech. Spot on!!! But much more thank for highlighting my home province’s potential, Luapula.

      Liverpool is the best place business among the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise. It’s Mediterranean Climate in the middle of the tropics is an unexplainable phenomenon but more so a prerequisite for any agricultural enterprise to thrive in.

      On top of that he has a complex of deposits second to none in the country ranging from oil, to gold, copper, cobalt, amethysts all of which are still unexplored. It’s houses 7 of the 9 waterfalls in Zambia, the list is endless.

      Sancho … epo mpelele,

      BRM

    • Meant to say “… It houses not It’s houses” autocorrect sucks sometimes.

      Anywhere, Liverpool is great for mining, tourism, agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry (especially sheep, goat and cattle in the far north – the south is tsetse fly infected).

      In short whatever economic activity you choose, Liverpool is the place for it … kwesu kwa liwamisho uko tulye minofu ya mbowa!!

      Kalombo mwane,

      BRM

    • @Gay Gay … convicting crimes land you in jail; without a conviction or nolle proseque you are scot free.

      Misdemeanors put you on probation and sins are God to judge. Which criteria are you basing your adjudication on???

      That’s our current legal system … please advise under the circumstances NSM needs to be in jail.

      Remember, even you, as a citizen, have the right to appeal if you can show cause for harm to your standing as a person or values.

      It’s called scienter … our system works, its just underutilized. Don’t just run your mouth, help me run this country.

      Epo mpelele,

      BRM

    • What he plead? He was found guilty…its his position as Veep that saved him..why are you defending him is he your colleague? Sit down JUNIOR

    • Please give him some respect. At the moment, he is the only credible man to aspire for the top job at State House in Zambia today.

  1. Sekwila, has nailed it well. Africa has solutions to her myriad problems. We just need a mindset change, stary to make good choices, manage wisely our priorities, and regain some conscienceness that has long been lost. Currently many have lost a sense of self worthness and co-existence.

  2. “I subscribe to the notion that to strengthen democracy in Africa, we need to strengthen institutions of governance and insist on the principle of separation of powers: The Judiciary, Legislature and the Executive. I however hold the view that Africa is in dire need of leaders of morality and integrity. Institutions in Africa are only as sacred as the quality of leaders in charge of nations”

    Great man..a man who speaks wisdom and good about his country.

  3. @1.2 BR Mumba Sr
    Please be part of the solution…just because he is “Mumba” just like you then he shouldn’t be singled out for chewing all the money at the Zambian mission in Canada….you should have visited the mission when he was ambassador…..too much nepotism

    • @Anonymous … the namesake thing is immaterial here (no blood relations either) and by God I have chewed him right here on LT when he did wrong.

      But we are not focusing on the bygones. His speech is commendable, patriotic and Pan-African. I am proud of its delivery, content and substance; he made all proud in Nigeria. Besides, I am a firm believer in people’s abilities to reform.

      Just yesterday I wrote platitudes for HH for providing a policy guideline that can help our enterprise even though much of it was plagiarized material but the tone and candor in which it was presented was laudable.

      Three weeks ago Sishuwa wrote a piece that showed that ECL’s acquiescence to lawlessness makes him an accomplice to the behavior and thus crimes and I was the first one to commend him for…

    • Continued…

      Three weeks ago Sishuwa wrote a piece that showed that ECL’s acquiescence to lawlessness makes him an accomplice to the behavior and thus crimes and I was the first one to commend him for that.

      As much as you have known me … you of all people should know that I am guided only by intellectual honesty not political and/or personal biases.

      Now, do I have favorites??? You betcha and I don’t mince my words about those facts.

      Epo mpelele,

      BRM

  4. The problem we have as Africans is character assassination. Instead of discussing the points the man raised you go for his cases at the embassy in Canada.

    • @AK … Endita!!! On top of that, people have the ability to reform and make better choices as they grow and mature.

      Talk to Iron Mike Tyson today and you would be shocked what ounces of wisdom ouster out of his mouth today compared to the jail ridden boxer he was 20 years ago.

      I once attended a prayer meeting where an older elder had been condemned by church members for his past sins.

      His prayer was so fascinating and he prayed to God. “Chanshi ku muntu Tata, we mwine nga naunjelela. Chanshi ku muntu mwe Yesu!”

      Meaning, why should it both a fellow human being that much, Lord; if you have forgiven me Jesus. Why should it be a bother of theirs?”.

      As young a Christian that I was then, I saw a sincere sinner wanting to make things right and live at peace not just with himself…

    • Continued…

      As young a Christian that I was then, I saw a sincere sinner wanting to make things right and live at peace not just with himself but those around him. It’s called Amazing Grace, it saves all wretches even me!!!

      To me Nevers’ sins if he’s got them like we all do are his business with his creator.

      Now is the MMD my cup of tea??? Nay!!! I have a grudge against them, especially how they sold all my birthright assets for a song and made the once rich country one of the poorest in the world.

      Epo mpelele,

      BRM

  5. In a grand scheme of things, assuming all things equal, Nevers should be President ahead of Lungu. Why do I say so? He took over leadership of a party that had done well for Zambia. Good economic policies – growing economy in free market space, near-nought debt stock, excellent credit rating on all reputable rating agency books. Chiluba had inserted all tools in their place, it was a matter of time before benefits could yield. As an individual Nevers had desirable leadership background with moral underpinnings most political parties could only dream of. He’s smart, intelligent, a good speaker, wonderful personality and excellent family man. Yes MMD may have been in power for a while but it hit all the right notes. Change of party leadership was all it needed to keep doing the right…

  6. @Anonymous- Do you know how difficult it is to steal money at an embassy/High commission? It is virtually impossible. Secondly, what nepotism at the Mission in Canada, please share if you understand what nepotism is. Now as a Zambian in Canada who who was part of Zambian organization that Dr. Mumba helped raise money for the Independence celebration, mind you this is the issue at hand and what Sata accused him of. The Auditors came to Canada twice, I was one of those interviewed. The Auditir Generals report for Munba’s Tenure is as clean as they come, no irregularities at all, go check for yourself. The issue was that the Zambian government didn’t have funds for the Zambian independence function, when we approached Dr. Mumba he commmited himself to assist in raising funds for the said…

    • @Gay Gay … found guilty by who and where is the conviction dossier???

      It’s okay to disagree with anyone on principle but it’s not okay to smear anyone with falsehoods.

  7. Continued…..The issue was that the Zambian government didn’t have funds for the Zambian independence function, when we approached Dr. Mumba he commmited himself to assist in raising funds for the said event.Where other High Commisioners in the past said they couldn’t do anything, Dr. Mumba went and arranged funding for us and together with the Zambian Mission we had a very successful independence that year, Barrick Gold sponsored the event, we kept all records/receipts because Barrick wanted to ensure the money was spent accordingly. It’s this money that Sata heard about and obviously thinking Mumba got money personally too. But this is Canada even Barricks Audit was satisfied. If anything the real concern was whether Mumba was in order to solicit funds for an organization other than…

  8. It’s this money that Sata heard about and obviously thinking Mumba got money personally too, which there was no evidence to support with Barrick or Zambian auditors. But this is Canada even Barricks Audit was satisfied. If anything the real concern was whether Mumba was in order to solicit funds for an organization other than his government. There was no theft, sorry to disappoint you. If you don’t have facts, ask, those that we’re privy will share. On the other hand if you have a personal dislike for the man, that’s another issue, you are entitled. But let facts be facts.

  9. Nevers actually has a degree in Theology and another in Political Science for your information. He is a great leader, Zambia is just not ready for a moral society.

  10. Mweo Nevers akalipo? If he means what he says, why cant he reconcile with Mutati and reorganize the once great party of MMD? Why does he want to kill MMD just like Tilwenji and his Vice have killed UNIP? Because there’s something wrong with his head, thats why! Should parties die immediately they are out of office? It is very bad precedence. Any how this thing about Nevers addressing this House in bla bla bla, people should not applaud. Nevers is making noise out of nothing. It is like saying Bushiri addressed a council meeting in Chadiza or Shangombo, that is how significant this is. If Bushiri addressed the national Assemby in Lusaka that would be significant. But really Chadiza Council? Who cares? That is Nevers for you!

    • Mutati is the antagonist in MMD. Obviously sponsored to cause confusion. Mumba was properly elected as MMD president at a convention. Then came Mutati to claim leadership before the term for Nevers even expired. Mutati was able to do all this using the same dubious methods Africans have embraced in assuming leadership.

      Courts have ruled, Mutati has appealed and lost, confirming NSM as the legitimate leader if MMD. Now, why don’t we dissect what Nevers said in Nigeria instead of these fruitless pursuits of peddling innuendo.

      NSM can be a better leader than balya bambi abapala….. But of course we have blinkers and can only see those who corrupt us with chibuku and chitenje plus boostele songs and dance as the real deal.

      What a lost people…

  11. Great speech for Mother Africa….Great minds discuss???….and small minds??.The more reason we are were we are as the poorest continent

  12. Dr. Mumba I wish you remained at the pulpit to disseminate God’s word. I still wonder how you have missed it. You were a very good preacher who pulled a flock and every time you preached on TV people glued to their TV sets to hear each and every word you said. This speech that you gave is one of those Iam referring to. Can you withdraw from politics for your blessings to revive? The way the situation is now you can even be demeaned by a simple cadre. Get back to the pulpit its not yet late. God is calling you. Don’t continue to deny His calling and continue with earthly titles!!!

    • AVIVYO KWENE….How we love to put people in a box that suits us….I am sure you are doing what you love to do and going about your business. Let NSM do what he feels he has been called to do!

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