Can President HH Listen to a Toddler’s Call to Lungu on the Cost of Ubunga?
If KK came from the grave and had some words for President HH, it would be, “Ubunga! Ubunga! Ubunga! Waikatako, wafwa!”
In the late 1980s, President Kaunda survived a coup because of the price of ubunga–the culprits were the same players embraced by President Hichilema, the World Bank and IMF. They forced him to remove subsidies and increase the price of ubunga. The results were catastrophic–riots and an attempted military coup that almost cost him his Presidency. He reduced the price, and saved his neck, but not his Presidency!
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1328605767740413?s=yWDuG2&fs=e&mibextid=Nif5oz
A beautiful toddler’s classical call to former President Edgar Lungu on social media highlights this point. “Ba Lungu bweleni pamupando,” the adorable girl says with angelic eyes rolling, “ubunga nabudula. Tubwesesheniko ubunga. Tatulilepo ifilifyonse. BaDad tabalafola.”
( Mr. Lungu, please come back to the Chair.
The cost of mealie meal is too unbearable,
Come and reduce it for us.
We haven’t eaten anything.
My dad has not been paid).
When I reposted the video on my Facebook, two UPND members saw it differently. One argued that Lungu is responsible for the high cost of ubunga while the other contended that such an argument is parroted by HH’s cadres.
Regardless, the girl’s call is a classical political messaging that would pose a big challenge to President HH. The girl’s natural setting is a common neighborhood and she is definitely not from a well to do family. She represents the common starving child on the streets stating the undeniable fact–“we haven’t eaten anything.” Her voice is authentic, and she is not scripted in her plea to President Lungu to consider returning to active politics so that he can reduce the cost of ubunga!
Unlike other African nations, ubunga is central to Zambian politics–no wonder President HH campaigned on reducing the price of ubunga to K50. The centrality of ubunga in Zambian politics is something we don’t see in other African nations–ubunga is Zambia and Zambia is ubunga. In fact, ubunga played a role in our return to multi-party politics. P.K. Chishala’s “Common Man” spoke to this aspect–you can increase the price of anything, Zambians will forgive. But not ubunga! The prosperity of Zambia is linked to the price of ubunga–something one expects President HH to know. Unfortunately, the man is robbed of memory.
President HH made countless lies, but the lie about reducing the price of ubunga is unforgivable and is likely to sink his Presidency. His minions insult those pointing to this issue as lazy people used to PF handouts. This is bizarre. The majority of Zambians work long hours–they wake up early in the morning to go to the markets and return home very late. They don’t have the luxury to spend a day without work–every single Kwacha counts. Many of them can’t afford bread but only nshima once, or twice a day if really blessed. Some of them need at least two 25kg bags of ubunga a month. Hence spending over K600 on ubunga alone on top of other basic needs is torturous.
But there’s something more.The little girl is speaking for the nation–the majority is eating less while HH lives in two State houses and globe trots at will. Moreover, ubunga has made Lungu a darling to many Zambians. People don’t eat “Lungu this and that no matter how many time Mr. Hichilema says it,” they want food on the table. This is the fact that the girl brings out–Mr. Lungu provided ubunga to Zambians. Under HH, our children are starving. The song of “Free Education” does not feed children–our children need to eat too. By making ubunga too expensive, the HH administration is abusing them. Worse still, parents are spending more on a bag of ubunga than they spent on School fees during the Lungu administration. What a shame!
As for UPND cronies, ubunga is the spark that may end HH’s Presidency. Arrogance blinds one into thinking that he is a god–both Kaunda and Chiluba were humbled when some military officers attempted to overthrow them. One day, such attempts may be successful–for when people are hungry, they are willing to risk it all. Mark my words: it won’t be long before HH arrests opposition leaders and military officers for treason. Ambitious military officers read the mood of the nation. What is happening in other African nations can happen in Zambia also.
Mr. President time is of essence–save yourself. REDUCE the price of ubunga. The IMF and World Bank won’t save you from the wrath that awaits you!
By Kapya Kaoma
Yes Lungu has the right to stand in the next election BUT Do not use children to enforce your opinions. KIDS are not eligible to vote. Never mention deceased persons that have nothing to do with present situation. Encourage farms to grow MORE food, the prices will automatically fall. Be part of those contributing for the growth of mother Zambia.
Jesus said it is better to put a rope to someone’s neck and cast them in the sea than to allow them to make a child to sin, you dull cretins who post videos of your kids asking people who had an opportunity to develop this nation and yet fail miserably whilst enriching themselves beyond measure to return to power are terrible human beings and God will judge you accordingly.
Very du11 this Kapya Kaoma; a kid does not even qualify to rent a car or travel on her own, yet you’re latching onto her misdirected innocence. In fact, that’s child abuse. Love is natural; hate speech is taught. So be careful what you teach or encourage children to do.
Ba man of ‘god’ ba Kaoma; ikaleni fye.
Go to hell. Zambians are now past the politics of thugs and lazy dullards like lazy lungu. I would rather hh ruled for life or even to be rules by an AI generated computer than those criminals in pf. Continue dreaming
Good write up. I think the aunties above me don’t understand this writing. The author is not advocating for Lungu’s return (God forbid) but rather stressing that HH as compared to Lungu doesn’t seem to care about the price of ubunga. He draws a parallel between KK, Chiluba and HH and their approach to mealie meal.
Lastly, and I want to strongly condemn auntie Kaoma, his last paragraph seems to support a coup in Zambia.
The chap already caused enough damage. Only people who would want him back are PF lunatics and other mentally unstable people.
@uncle Spider Well written and the price of mealie meal have been acknowledged by the president to be high. I equally condemn the last paragraph and ask him to retract such statements because she is the one who is likely to be arrested first. Lawlessness in a democratic dispensation must not be tolerated, the ballot is the only way we should use to get rid of a government and we have done it in the past!
Do not put our learned military into your dullness. Our military is able to read between the lines and sober Political pronouncements from our bally. Just like energy, the staple food prices will gradually go down. Remember this is two years down lane as compared to PF rule. HH is the best President so far together with late PLM, he is actually surfing on the right trajectory.
Child abuse
Yes, thats child abuse Ka Kaoma.That innocent child can just start crying if asked to explain deeply.It seems Kapya Kaoma has some mental issues
Kwena even if we have to remove HH its not Lungu we should resort to. There are other competent leaders in Zambia who can lead us to development. Leaders whose wives didnt get rich suddenly and start owning flats in Lusaka from no salary. Leaders whose children do not suddenly own big businesses without starting capital that can be explained economically. We dont want to see first ladies running to america to receive fake gifts shamelessly when we vote for their husbands to end poverty here.
If PF had gone through, we would be in a worse situation than we are now.
Hahahahaha, ati abwelelepo. Meno meno and his collection of thugs better just GO BACK TO THE LAND. We the real Zambians ain’t going to live in the past. PF gassed Zambians, you got blood on your thug hands.
Ibwelele ilalya.
Kaunda resigned in 1968 because a lot of Zambians were drinking a lot of …. and what happened to those who begged him to come back to politics?
Remember that was the night without a president in Zambia.
Well, History in Zambia has taught us that ibwelele ala ilalya no kusheta, alo yanyinapo nameshi.
Even I and I can stand on PF, but of course I would arrest all those found wanted as fur back as possible including elephant etc .
STOP TELLING PEOPLE TO GROW MORE MAIZE FOR THAT WILL NOT MAKE THE PRICE TO COME DOWN,STOP LYING PLEASE WE ARE NOT KIDS.WHO HAS CAUSED ALL THIS MESS,FIRE AGRICULTURE MINISTER HE IS INCOMPETENT,HE WAS SAYING ZAMBIA IS SAFE INTERMS OF FOOD SECURITY HE SAID THE STOCKS THAT WAS THERE BY THEN CAN TAKE US ANOTHER 4 YEARS WITHOUT HAVING ANY SHORTAGE.WERE ARE WE NOW.SAME US FUEL INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE PIPE WILL NOT BRING THE PRICE OF FUEL DOWN. MMMM KKKK BUT WE HAVE PEOPLE WITH DULL THINKING WERE ARE WE GOING PLEASE GOD COME AND SAVE ZAMBIA.IF PF IS THE CAUSER BETTER TO BRING THE PRICES WHICH WAS IN PF BACK BECAUSE IT IS BETTER THAN IT WAS THAN TODAY SHAME SHAME SHAME ON YOU.
The only solution is to subsidize the cost of producing maize. Give more farmers inputs fertilizers not few farmers. Trying to phase out FISP you’re shooting yourselves in the leg.
A hungry citizen is a angry voter.
Regimes are removed from power because of hunger staple food maize regardless how good the economic growth rate & inflation rates rates are.
Happened in;
1991
2011
2021
It will be sad to see it happen soon in 2026
It’s not even Lungu to remove you in power when people are hungry angry
Elephant took advantage of his ailing uncle when they flew to Yisrael where he denied him to be on drip instead he wanted him to be operated as weak as he was; and decided to fly to London. Mid air we received sad news.