Bill M. Kaping’a Political/Social Analyst
When credible news of the passing on of 3rd Republican President Dr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa finally came filtering through August 19, 2008, I found myself rushing to Chingola to confer with my late father-in-law, a senior figure in ruling MMD at the time.
“Fellow countrymen, with deep sorrow and grief, I would like to inform the people of Zambia that our president Dr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa died this morning at 1030 hours,” I recalled the solemn announcement from then vice-president, Rupiah Banda, as I dexterously navigated the perilous Kitwe/Chingola road. “I also wish to inform the nation that national mourning starts today and will be for seven days.”
The pronouncement had obviously finally managed to clear the air after weeks of speculation regarding the death of the former President. Central to this was a news item from Johannesburg-based 702 Talk Radio which seemed to confirm Mwanawasa’s demise on July 3, 2008, citing a Malone Zaza, who claimed to be head of protocol at Zambia’s High Commission in Pretoria, South Africa.
Huddled in a corner at my father in-law’s Motel with some two other men, theorizing what would follow next, in hushed tones of course, we suddenly saw a brand-new SUV pull up and whip into the parking lot!
This was the first time a President would die in office; shocked at the sad turn of events, many citizens elected to discuss the issue in whispers fearing the unknown.
The driver of the SUV briskly walked to the bar and ordered a cold beer……I watched him swig at the bottle unceasingly until he slammed the bottle on the counter. There was nothing left in the bottle! As I further studied the man, I realized it was someone I knew from Kitwe, a senior civil servant and head of the government department on the Copperbelt.
The man gingerly walked to where we were sited. I rose to greet him as per custom.
“At least the one we were fearing is gone!” he pronounced gleefully. “Now we can do our businesses freely….”
Now this came as a shock to us! The nation was grieving over the loss of a President that many people thought was in a hurry to stabilize the economy and there comes a man seemingly having no qualms about his passing on?
Apparently, the man was in business as a contractor even as he was in active government service. Once in a while, he would secure contracts from government to build infrastructure and he would willfully abscond from work to run his business.
And to think that he was doing private jobs using government resources is heart wrenching!
This now elicits the question……..what sort of a President are citizens yearning for come August 12, 2021?
Someone who is going to let them do their thing or a disciplinarian as Mwanawasa was……a no-nonsense man!
Is it because we are essentially lazy as citizens and are afraid that a serious President may easily show us the exit, or we are simply corrupt chaps afraid of being sent to prison for stealing from the state?
Fellow citizens let’s discuss……….
Very great article indeed
The 20% of Tanzanians who hated magufuli fall in the category of the aforementioned.
The majority of people on the African continent want a dictator who is allergic to corruption.
Rubbish! Under 5 article.
Yes Levy Mwanawasa was a non nosense man who always stood his ground. I remember how he resigned from the FTJ govt citing high levels of corruption among senior govt officials. HH will fit into that shoes which Levy left behind. We need who can safeguard the scarce public resources and distribute them evenly to all corners of the country. Those that are scared of HH getting into high office the public thieves and corrupt elements.
Makes sad reading especially that LPM was a close associate, despite some of his mistakes because he was human but I never imagined that anybody would celebrate his demise. Indeed there are many even now that want the ineligible candidate to continue because he has allowed them a lot of space to do as they wish at the expense of the masses. The reason they’re not standing up to him is that their hands are dirty. This scenerio has blinded them so much that they can’t notice that the titanic is sinking. Stay safe, a desperate hyena can be very dangerous at times
Thank you for sharing you experience and agreed each system works for different people, and depending on the majority of those in leadership or luck of, it trickles down to the population.
It takes fearless opposition towards what might be a norm to change especially if its wrong.
The people decide who rules them not you or your tribal party. The author is a fraud and is no political analyst. I am a real political strategist and political engineer.i have won elections. What has the author achieved?
Strategy of insulting diasporans and politically engineering your political opponents? Po.or stu.pi.d Zambians, that they even believe and follow the nonsense spewed here.
Kaiser what education do you have and which elections have you not stolen. Tell us how you made your millions from a government salary and why late Sata fired you.
You can fool pipo but one day you time will vome
Kikikikikikijukija yaba!
Somebody: Mwanawasa is a cabbage.
LPM: ” I…Hi hii no….t a..e…e. cabbage, I……a….m. S…T…E..A…K, steak.
Me: damn you Mmembe how to you make fun of our stammering Commander in Chief?
Yaba, Zambia has seen thick and thin. I remember the first time I head about Impeachment in Zambian politics was when the FTJ loyalists wanted to move the motion in Parley. And what the writer is referring to “as no-nonsense man!” was actually fear that was running in LPM’s arteries and veins. Remember the adage – once beaten twice shy?
New deal Government, yeah! LPM did indeed tell Zambians to tighten their belts to earn us what I call an embarrassing status cooked by mediocre lenders IMF and World Bank, “heavily indebted poor country” for a chance of a…
Time has elaped indeed. If LPM would come back for a glimpse, he would be extremely shocked. Shocked to see that the party he beat twice hasn’t made it to plot one yet. Shocked to see that his number one sworn foe is now on the ballot for the first time 2021 in history. Mmembe would say, you know Cabbage, these youngsters you left did me bad.
I would say, Mmmmmh HIPC was so embarrassing, guess what; we have borrowed again.
You know staff.
Regardless fast forward to today, Zambians it’s PF100%, ECL100%, Zambia overdrive100%, Elite Zambians100%, Peace100%, Empowerment100%, More money in your pockets with hard work 100% and Prosperity100%
Time has elaped indeed. If LPM would come back for a glimpse, he would be extremely shocked. Shocked to see that the party he beat twice hasn’t made it to plot one yet. Shocked to see that his number one sworn f.o.e is now on the ballot for the first time 2021 in history. Mmembe would say, you know Cabbage, these youngsters you left did me bad.
I would say, Mmmmmh HIPC was so embarrassing, guess what; we have borrowed again.
You know staff.
Regardless fast forward to today, Zambians it’s PF100%, ECL100%, Zambia overdrive100%, Elite Zambians100%, Peace100%, Empowerment100%, More money in your pockets with hard work 100% and Prosperity100%
Please let’s be at least creative and employ a bit of sophistication when writing articles.
He temporary gave powers to relevant institutions to torment Chiluba, he did nothing to strengthen the institutions. Immediately he passed on, powers were taken away from the tormentors. We do not need a kachema whip as our institutions are getting stronger and firm.
The simple answer could be that we are a reflection of the calibre of leadership we allow to rule us. Rural Zambia is getting slightly sophisticated and the realisation that these MP are just using them as a pedal stool is slowly dating on them. The PF cartel has pushed the boundaries way too far. We need to nip it in the bud.
The simple answer could be that we are a reflection of the calibre of leadership we allow to rule us. Rural Zambia is getting slightly sophisticated and the realisation that these MP are just using them as a pedal stool is slowly dating on them. The PF karte1 has pushed the boundaries way too far. We need to nip it in the bud.
At least the one we were fearing is gone!” he pronounced gleefully. “Now we can do our businesses freely….”LIAR if you have nothing to do, try jogging.
LPM the best president zambia ever had.
Why are citizens seemingly afraid of a no-nonsense president? Because they want a humble President. Kikikikikikiki!
Why are citizens seemingly afraid of a no-nonsense president? Because they want a “HUMBLE” President. Kikikikikikiki!
I don’t understand how one can compare Levy to hh hahahaha yaba Levy had integrity if he was a consultant during privatization iam sure he was going to advise the then government to sell 50% share and the state would have remained with the other percentage, one stup.id boy because of his greedy and wanting to benefit mislead the then government…and today he is busy misleading people ati unemployment levels are hight. Where on do you expect government to employ a lot of youths when only have 26 parastatal companies are operating before privatization Zambia had over 350 parastatal companies..
If anything how many youths and women has HH employed in his companies before he start saying that Bally is going to fix it?