By Venus N Msyani
President Hakainde Hichilema, nicknamed the modern Vasco da Gamma by the opposition PeP leader Sean Tembo, was in South Africa recently.
The purpose of the trip has left people confused. Initially, media had reported that the president was travelling to South Africa to meet the South African president, Cyril Ramaphosa. The current Chair of the SADC on matters of politics, defense and security cooperation.
It was reported that the president was travelling to go and discuss security and trade between the two nations and the region at large.
While the president was in South Africa, the opposition Socialist Party president Fred M’membe alleged that the main reason HH travelled to South Africa was to launch a book written by his friend named Greg Mills, the CEO of the Brenthurst Foundation.
Forgetting about the nature of the media, United Party for National Development (UPND) tried to refute the allegation.
After realizing that media is everywhere and will not hesitate to report HH presence at Greg Mills’s book launch event, the government changed its tone. Started arguing that there is nothing wrong with the president attending his friend’s book launch.
Whether the president travelled to meet president Ramaphosa or attend his friend’s book launch, it makes no difference. The trip was too long.
South Africa is a 45minutes travel from Lusaka. Meaning, in this modern world one can live in Zambia and go for work in South Africa every morning and return in the evening or vice versa.
In one day if not hours, president Hichilema could have met president Ramaphosa, attended his friend book launch, and returned back home.
Why did he choose to spend two days in South Africa? Could it be leisure! This is the person who continuously accused the previous government of overspending on unnecessary trips.
His trip to South Africa was necessary, but it should have been a day trip to save Zambia some money for medicine in hospitals and other country need. As an economist, the president knows better.
By the way, here is a little bit about the author. He is not affiliated with any political party. Some accuse him of being opposition sympathizer.
They are right, the author is called to promote fairness. He reflects on actions, decisions, language, and behavior of politicians in the country.
He is among the people who made sure that UPND was treated fairly when it was the main opposition party. Those who are now accusing him of being anti-UPND are invited to revisit the Author’s work from the beginning.
Hahahahahahaha………….no substance, please try another one next time.
45 min from LSK to South Africa-that must be a supersonic jet!. Which airline Sir?
There are new concorde jets that Zambian presidency has just bought. They are very fast.
Imwe, mulekeni umuntu ateke! There is so much loudness now! You were quiet when the ubomba mwibalas were at their peak with high impunity levels. You did not dare!
Can we please move forward?
This issue is dead and buried, have a life and talk about something else. In any case what’s your interest in this trip.
WHEN IN ROME DO AS THE ROMES DO
SO WHY DID ECL TRAVEL EXTENSIVELY AND BRING NOTHING TANGIBLE BACK
ITS CALLED TIT FOR TAT SORRY
Why indeed did president Hakainde Hichilema choose to spend two days in South Africa? He could have spent two weeks there.
Since when was Lusaka to South Africa became 45 minutes flight? Elo tamwenda, at least you can do a research.
African leaders are just the same. The west knows this very well even though they try to influence things towards their preffered candidates. HH is the same colour as all African presidents. The only difference is that he pronnounced that he was going to do things differently. Fate has it that so far the bar set by his predecessor is insumountable. So the conman will intensify his tricks, including ” it is not me in the video”, it is not me in the audio, we have to authenticate the voice. These are the same tricks used by craft politicians meanwhile the gullible employers’ memory lasts but for a short while so vasco continues to lie.
Let’s be honest, when you go to south Africa over night 99percent chance you are screwing someone. In this case , the gay funders were doing him
Sulking with jealous, hate comments, disparaging tantrums to the president, will just stress you to death. HH is still president for more years to come, its a lost cause. We have won in Kabwata agony additive to continue.
This last comment is very misplaced and extremely childish. Grow up and think like a mature person, pls. Respect the Head of State.
International collaboration is extremely necessary for every country. It’s not all meetings that the president discloses everything that was discussed. Even our own homes, we don’t disclose everything to other occupants of the household and family members
He decided to stay for those two days for the same reason that your mother instead of giving birth to an intelligent person, but gave birth to a stupid person like you. That’s why the president stayed in RSA for two days. I guess I e humbly answered your question.