By: Anthony Bwalya – UPND Member
At this moment, the Zambian public is entitled to treat with the highest contempt and distrust the infection figures thus far given by the PF administration – the culture of lying and deceit under the PF regime must be dealt with now.
The fight against COVID19 cannot and must never be anchored on lies and deceit.
The fight to beat COVID19 is a battle of honest conversation and open disclosure so that the public must identifiably know where the primary risks are.
The revelations today by Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, that some high ranking government officials and permanent secretaries are currently under quarantine for COVID19 and yet clear attempts are being made by the PF administration to lie about this vital information, and patently looking to keep this information a secret, is not only an injury to the integrity of the fight against COVID19, but also an indictment of the culture of lies and deception upon which this government is founded and now thrives.
Zambians have known for a very long time, that the PF governments is addicted to lying about important matters to the Zambian people. This is the same government that has lied on the record about the cost of Fire Tenders, Ambulances, failed to account for over $1.5bn of Mukula revenue, failed to account for close to $4m of social cash transfer funds and allowed government officials to extract close to K5bn out of this economy through corruption and money laundering – as per FIC report of 2018.
It is disgraceful, that at a time when the country is looking for unity and honesty around the fight against COVID19, the PF administration is in the forefront to peddle lies about who actually has fallen victim to COVID19.
They are happy to disclose the nationalities of other individuals and almost peddle hatred and dissent against these individuals all for contracting a disease. We have seen individuals of Indian origin being ridiculed, as has been Chinese nationals, after being branded as the primary carriers of COVID19 in Zambia. What Zambians may not know is that COVID19 may actually have been brought to Zambia by our own indisciplined government officials whose lack of sound judgment is now an existential threat to all of us.
The biggest enemy Zambia and Zambians have now is not even COVID19.
Our biggest enemy is a PF regime that thinks it can survive and thrive on lies.
How can we trust that all the monetary donations we are receiving for COVID19 will be accounted for when the PF regime cannot be trusted with giving very basic information about who is infected? These high ranking officials had contact with their PAs, drivers etc. Have these individuals been tested for COVID19? Have their families been tested?
Dr. Chitalu Chilufya must be given 24 hrs to disclose the identities of the government officials under quarantine or he must resign his position as Health Minister for lying to the Zambian people.
Please note Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom, his closest officials, Prince Charles among prominent officials, were honest enough about their health status on view of COVID19. What is so incredibly special about some pampered, overpaid Ministers and Permanent Secretaries in Zambia?
Thank goodness none of these individuals will be evacuated anywhere for treatment.
What a disgrace of a government.
Let’s put politics aside in this trying moment. Let us encouraged each other on prayer which is very important for our country right now.such information may cause panic to the public. so let the government do there job and let us follow the measures.
#staysafe COVID-19 is real
Where is Edgar Lungu? Does he have coronavirus? Disclose names of PS and high ranking government officials with coronavirus. Why hide their names? After all, none of them will be evacuated to anywhere. Just so you know, coronavirus is an EQUALIZER. It does not care whether you’re a king, president, minister, permanent secretary, a cadre, rich , poor or a pastor.
All people are special and we are not interested in individuals who are positive with COVID-19 but rather how we are going to fight this common enemy.
So stop wasting time trying to blame the govt by not reviewing the names of govt officials who are positive,all we looking for is the number to show us the way to go.
Please fellow country men and women COVID-19 is real and time of finger pointing is should not be entertained ,politics aside.This is the time to bring our heads together and fight this common enemy we have in our midst.
The request to review government official has no substance. COVID-19 is not a choose pandemic. Let us be serious with certain matters. Put politics aside. Why politicising every issue you Zambians. Give reasonable comments not just appearing on social media by issue unwarranted and half baked comments. We need no politics now. Take it or leave. Here civility is cardinal.
COVID-19 as no barrier, it knows no person let us fight this pandemic with the same spirit.4get about knowing who is sick because next time it will be yourself.If USA alone the figures that are coming are conflicting what about us.Are you telling me as at now there are only 3 cases of COVID-19 in Botswana, and this country as gone on lockdown? Come on let us be real.So the most important thing is how we gona fight this pandemic stop talking any how yapping yapping yapping .
This man is useless.
Anthony Bwalya I know even your fellow UPND members are laughing, You ask for the names of quarantined PSs and Directors, You never asked the names of other people. Let’s be fair disease does not choose. Next time if will you will be you would you like your name to be published you’re in newspaper. I will not be surprised if you suggested to have a list of all people who are HIV positive. LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOUR AS YOU LOVE YOURSELF
We don’t need the names of the sick , but we need the real numbers and its alot higher than what PF tell us, and forget all this rubbish of prayers we need to take action.
What we are getting are the official numbers as confirmed by those in charge. If you have other numbers publish them. It is insensitive to ask the govt to name those who are sick just because they are govt officials. They are not less human
They can only come out when they wish to do so own their own
How long can they hide?It will
Eventually come out.just give them time.They will slowly get
Admitted.
In Professional we have what we call confidential, the minister can not do that but it is up to the service user to disclose.
This guy so called Anthony Bwalya has completely shown how useless to humanity he is. Why does he want to know the names of the gov. officials who are sick? does he tell everyone what he is sick of? If UPND are not careful suck fools will make them loose even the little good will they have from the Zambian people. people will start to see how insensitive their party members are even when there is a serious situation at hand
The problem with upnd members is that their brain capacity is less than that of a village chicken. Non of those tested positive have been revealed because they have the right to privacy as enshrined in constitution. A minister has thr same right. Just because you watch British politicians revealing their status does not mean they are obliged to. They chose of their own accord to do so. No one can force you to reveal your medical condition. And this is a party that wants to rule one day. Fipuba fyeka fyeka fye
I hv covinvirus infection myself. I’m in self-quarantine effective ystdy. Wish me the best. I hope this helps PF govt officials to come in the open.
Feels like we are operating in a vacuum, cut off from the rest of the world. By that I mean where is the commander and chief. This is the time we need to see him with the men and the women in the Camouflage Uniforms.
Looks like PF as thrown in the towel, they cannot deal with coronavirus, the economy and now they are looking to the western World after stepping on too many toes.
“Zambia Seeks Advisers for Reorganization of Foreign Debt”March 27/20-Bloomberg
Zambia also plans to apply for emergency financing from lenders such as the IMF to help respond to the coronavirus pandemic, Ng’andu said March 27/20. “-Bloomberg
Its just a matter of time…. the emperor has no clothes
This article shows how incorrigible UPND/opposition is. There is no humanity in the premise put forward. Connecting long standing mediocre allegations against PF with Covid-19, is …… I am nonplussed. Shocked is an understatement.
Sickening, vile and proves the primitive savagery of UPND. Zambians need to cleanse themselves from such politics. Purge these haters who will do, say anything to drag Zambian govt in the mud. WE NEED UNITY, COMPASSION AND OBEDIENCE OF RULES SET TO DEFEAT THIS VIRUS. in any case WE SHOULD ALL BE IN LOCKDOWN.
Father in Heaven please hear our supplications before you.
Merciful Father speak favour over this land. Give us wisdom to fight this plague. Despatch Angels
Help us Father
We have Faith and we believe in your power even in the impossible, You are able.
We ask it all in Jesus name
Amen
Please help me understand this “the revelation by Minister of Health Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, that some high ranking government officials and Permanent Secretaries are currently under quarantine for Covid19”. On the other hand “the PF is hiding information and cant be trusted”. Is Chitalu Chilufya not PF? Has the Government been announcing the names of people in Quarantine? Is quarantine confirmation of sickness? Please someone correct me if am wrong by stating that Anthony Bwalya of UPND needs to be checked.
Naming, in this case helps in the fight against the Virus because the people whom this people were in contact with will be aware and distances themselves as well.
Its not everything in “naming” that is bad but love and care for the other 17 million Zambians!
Trump addresses his nation every day about coronavirus. Kapompwe kesu kena amano yanono nangula kalefwa na Corona.
Anthony Bwalya L!tole. The way writes strongly about PF he should have started by strongly asking his sponsor how he became rich, what does only a tonga can rule UPND mean. Does he know that Dr Chilufya has not even disclosed the identity of a sex worker who slept with a south african. Does !tole Bwalya know about confidentiality ethics that doctor practice. I keep telling Anthony Bwalya that UPND will spit you out when the are done using your. Anthony UPND is a party for tongas and other tribes are only a means to an end.
Covid-19 is not like elections you that you can rig any time, be honest!
Home Affairs Minister Steven Kapyongo and foreign affairs minister Malanji are some of the ministers quarantined for Coronavirus.
The two travelled to covid-19 epicentre countries in the past month.
Health minister Chitalu Chilufya is also supported to be quarantined because he traveled to an affected country in the same period but government resolved that it would send wrong signals.
Most people will remember how sickly minister Chilufya looked the day he announced the first confirmed cases of Coronavirus. If Chilufya is denying this, let him get a photo of the page in his passport showing the last country he visited and when.
Chilufya is using the publicity for his running mate if not actual PF presidential…
ifyalo tafilefisa, utufyalo tulefisa.
Kaiser. I think your brain needs checking, what the Zambians are saying is that Mr Chilufya categorically indicated the people that have been infected like the pakistan matrix, the maid the doctor etc, and he has indicated the number to be 36, now all he has to say is the number of permanent secretaries and ministers quarantined not the names just like he has not mentioned the names of these others, all what we need to know are the numbers and that will indicate to us the severity of the situation, hiding numbers does not help in this instance, any where PF is very very allergic to the truth as can be seen from your shallow response.
if LUSAKA TIMES can censor the word TONGA , i JUST WONDER WHAT AMPHIMBIANS LIKE kci would talk about.
Matenda you can hide but Death you can’t!
It takes true leaders to tell their People the truth!
There will be no national mourning for those hiding their illnesses!
What is important is that they are quarantined.One is asking for the names but why don’t you request for names of those who are HIV positive because if not known they also a threat to society,now that some one said some govt official are positive of COVID-19 some people have risen they want to know their names.Are we fighting for names? what about those in upnd we know who have gone self quarantined no one is asking for their names. Come on don’t be childish grow up.
At KZ, lol, you made me laugh with that insult, brain capacity like that of a village chicken!
In Britain, The Queen’s name was mentioned as they tried to establish the who may have interacted with Prince Charles.
To fight the spread, people who are in quarantine should be mentioned, especially high ranking officials. This will help all those they came into contact with to be aware and be tested. This is what happened with the owner of Olympiacos who played Arsenal, and by his infection being made public Asrenal players were quarantined and checked and Arsenal manager tested positive. So mu Zambia why are they hiding? The minister’s driver does not live in a big house in a low density area, but in a high density area. He can spread it even faster than the minister you are hiding can. Come on Zambias get serious if you want to fight the spread of corona
Stay calm, if this disease was killing in zambia we would all be dead by now, .How may deaths do we have from covid 19 upto date.How many deaths do we have from other diseases since covid 19. Do your maths, probably this covid 19 is not even our battle,
concentrate on your next meal.
your mental poverty is what you need to worry about, stay blessed
An indictment of culture of lies and deception upon which this government is founded and thriving….Waaaaahhhhhh …truism.
It is important to know them, what if you had lunch with him just a few days ago? He or she may not remember everyone they came in contact with themselves for the sake of tracing. Trust has to be build!
This hiding syndrome will shame you one day. Lessons have never been learnt over late president Sata sickness when Zambians were told president Sata was jogging in London on holiday. Really, people will claim they loved Sata when he was quite sick at that time. With today’s technology its self deception as some clowns claim its confidential to hide some one’s sickness. Relinquish public office Zambians wont bother you but you can not have both. Zambians deserve to know the status of those occupying our offices.
Lets debate in a sober manner, of course if one has a primitive polarized mind like Kaizar, there is very little the Zambians can do to help such a malfunctioning brain. These are factory settings issues. All, lets be civil
its against the medical ethics to review someone’s condition unless they themselves do it.Instead lets pray for them including ourselves, we can all be touched.
Learn to sue these government officials. Start with corrupt Lungu himself. Sue him and his minions for endangering the lives of Zambians by withholding vital information about their health status. What they’re doing is CRIMINAL. They need to disclose the names of government officials who are under quarantine and the infected ones. They also need to give correct statistics of Zambians who are infected. Clueless Lungu must be voted out next year, as he’s so unbelievably incompetent, clueless and corrupt. What a shame.
@GhostDog…are you one of the sick government officials? Or you’re just spouting ignorance? If you’ve nothing of substance to say, just zip it up. It’s important for these officials to disclose their health status as they interact with a lot of people, given the nature of their positions in society. If someone has a highly contagious disease, such as COVID-19, it can’t be kept private, as doing so would endanger the lives of other people. So be quiet, dummy.
I am supplied by the reactions of our many Zambians here. Anthony Bwalya maybe Upnd, also putting politics aside, we need to know who is infected by this virus so that we escalate preventive measures and put to end the spread.
Ministers, for example, are public officers who come into contact with many people.
And therefore, disclosure of who is infected will help the situation than hiding. There is nothing like a stigma as far as civic 19 spread is concerned.
*covid19
Can this chap and his UPND shut up for once. Join the fight instead of being antagonistic for once.
This is a missed call from Anthony.
What’s gonna change if the names of the govt officials are disclosed?
We fought for PF tooth and nail brother K,but now I surely remember the saying of the late President MCS(mhsrip) saying to one minister then that”PF NINSOKOLOBE TASHILYA WATEMENE”and true those flying all over were not even near Garden House where things were happening.
I am in agreement with everyone who acknowledges that these are public official who have come into contact with there constituents others by virtual of them being public figures and knowing who it is encourages those who might have some how come into contact to be checked. There is this thought on the street this is a diseases for the white people, disclosing names would encourage all those that think otherwise to think twice… there is a very big community of street vendors and kids out there and holding that thought would increase the spread exponentially whence has it, think twice as a public figure everything can be of national interest.
Anthony haBwalya I personally hate you.
I do not care much about revealing the names. What I want to know is whether these are included in the 36 confirmed cases. If not then we have a problem and the Minister is revealing incorrect numbers to the public.
Then give the correct number