By Chilekwa M. Mumba
It has been over a year since the unfortunate passing of our third President, Mr. Levy Mwanawasa. Since then, we have seen an assiduous defense of his Presidency, most of which I daresay is misconceived. I will avoid playing judge of the late Levy Mwanawasa’s Presidency, as it is both dishonorable and contemptible to fustigate a person unable to defend him/herself. However, it is equally important that we lend ourselves some level of skepticism when discussing the legacy of President Mwanawasa. This allows for a provocative and necessary assessment of how this “Legacy” has been converted to mere political currency, by both an inadequate government, as well as an inadequate opposition. Indeed, thanks to the cheap and unproductive politics preferred by our main political players, the late President’s reign has turned from legacy to stuff of legend. Underline the word legend.[quote]
Allow me to first respectfully and briefly school ourselves on the science of politics. One of the paramount contributions to any failed political system is the very conscious resolve made by both the politicians and electorate to prefer wish-wash over fact. Politics are fundamentally classified in two ways; productive or non-productive. Let us choose to be bold and candid with ourselves to class ourselves in the “productive” bracket. Here we identify Zambia’s political Achilles heel, shrouded in the unyielding subject of the “Mwanawasa Legacy”-a term which apparently rolls off any Zambian politicians’ tongue with pleasant ease. There is a very comical, yet shameful and pointless wrestle of who exudes the legacy of the late President the most. Underline the word pointless.
On one hand, we have the current opposition claiming that their calling is to restore the lost vision of the late President. This is despite the unvarnished reality that there are notable shortcomings in this “legacy”. We should not mince words, therefore allow me to proclaim that it is a sham and pretentious that today the major opposition, so vehemently “once upon a time” opposed to the Late President’s policies, has today wholesomely endorsed his Administration with warlike vigor. Who can forget the unproductive and politically vicious attacks of the opposition leaders on President Mwanawasa? This shameless abuse of President Mwanawasa’s tenure serves as testimony to the deficient and desultory opposition with which we Zambians are burdened with. Underline the word “burdened”.
Then on the other hand, the ruling MMD is collapsing within itself, on the basis that the Mwanawasa Vision has been lost by President Banda. The notable MMD Member Mr.George Mpombo has coined quite a few remarkable political terms as reference to the “sinners” against the Legacy. Yet at the same time, we see the MMD clamoring to seem to be upholding the Mwanawasa Vision, according to the silly and illogical MMD dictum “continuity with change”. The President and his advisors are ever referring to how they are upholding the Mwanawasa Vision in the hope of converting Zambian sympathy for this tragedy, to sheer political capital. President Banda today largely find himself criticized as aloof and directionless due to the fact that instead of forging his own legacy, he is trying to duplicate a legacy which in hindsight, may not have been actual reality but due to surrounding circumstances, is mere affordable fantasy. In this case please underline “affordable fantasy”.
You see, the truth is President Mwanawasa’s Legacy, is now mere stuff of legend, due to the cheapness of Zambian politics. Legend, because it is wrongly deemed as the climax of Zambian progress. The majority of our politicians who worship this wish-wash will continue to be prime text-book examples of non-productive politicians. Bottom line is that the discussion of the Mwanawasa Legacy has become an enigma, which is not helping the nation to advance politically, socially or economically. The past belongs to the past.Zambians have more urgent needs our politicians need to attend to. Now for the underlined words; the Mwanawasa Legacy is now officially “Legend”, whose discussion is “Pointless”, thus Zambians can do without this “Burden”, and actually need real solutions to turn the “Affordable fantasy” into a reality of prosperity. LT Bloggers speak on it.
This author is brilliant. LT please give us more of this. Very intelligent review.
This is the circus we talk about.Chilekwa mwaiche # 1 you find it normal to praise yourself?
Reply to Numba2—???. I do not get it. ???
We have ourselves to blame for this nonsense. When RB campaigned, ‘upholding the legacy’ was one of his trademarks. I was quite cross with many friends and relatives who voted for him simply on this score. Many of them are now very ashamed of their decision. In future, let’s avoid simpathy votes
‘The leagacy’ as I have come to understand it now eptomises the questionable deeds of the Mwanawasa administration, spiced up by the opposition’s oppotunism. If you look the major proponents of this legacy, its the pipo who found themselves in postions they didnt qualify to hold but were appointed on the basis of their association with the Presisdent. Main point of assicaiation were tribe and proffession. Its not a secret that the Lambas. the Lenjes and the Lawyers got a disproportianate share of appointments from the Mwanawasa administration.
Pipo like Namulambe, with only a certificate from Chalimbana and virtually no experience to talk about found himself at the summit of the civil service as Permanet secretary for of all the provinces, ‘the Copperbelt”.
A very good article by Chilekwa and hope our politicians will read this to have their eyes opened.
I have equally failed to understand this “Mwanawasa Legacy” without real improvement in people’s lives. I still do not see Mwanawasa’s vision apart from the prosecution of FJT Chiluba and his tandem of thieves. And who does not still believe that Mwanawasa was just a cabbage anyway?
So, on this score, how can right thinking Zambians cling to a “vision” which never was?
Please Zambian politicians, like Chilekwa has put it, forget this “Mwanawasa Legacy” s.s.hh.i.i.t and move on to the vision of the living. Forget the manda mandas.
This legacy thing is now sickening…cant we simply find something to talk about than this ‘legacy thing’.? Individually, we all are unique in the way we are…NALEKA..!!!
# 5 Kibakimani its not right to make generalizations over one example. You say late Mwanawasa gave disproportionate share of appointments to Lenjes and Lambas- give stats to back your claim i..e cabinet ministers, perm secs, diplomats, directors etc in relation to other provinces and the practices of past presidents eg Chiluba in apportioning appointments then make conclusions. You live in the US man show it!
The article has not addressed the context of the Mwanawsa legacy adequately. Remember the Mwanawasa admin had 5 yrs so the successor had to carry on with the 5 legacy that Mwanawasa set. RB will be judged on how well he will have managed the transition. In 2011 let RB come up with his own legacy package and voters will make decision on how well he managed the transition.
There is no legacy…mwanawasa took things personal and employed his own relatives in government, some of who had/have No respect for women!, he also ‘Protected’ indians who killed black children for ‘business magic’ in livingstone .As much as he did some good, he was not saint!.
Hi Zambia, i 8 am is 5am in California. Its practically impossible for Zambians on the west coast participate. I would really love to engage our Vice -President on the media bill but i doubt if i will make it becoz i will switch off the alarm when it goes. I guess you know what i am talking about, right? Next time i suggest you consider 4pm or 5pm Zambian time. All the best!
THE Forum for Leadership Search says political parties that are reluctant to hold national conventions before the 2011 presidential and parliamentary elections should not be taken seriously.
Executive director Edwin Lifwekelo said it is undemocratic for some political parties to forego conventions despite their constitutions providing for that.
Lifwekeke is back again! This little ball-headed fella doesn’t even have an office. He operates from Chicken Licken just occupying space for genuine diners. How much were given by your friend George “Red Lips Pelican” Kunda for you to come up with such an ill-advised statement? Little wonder serious publications like the Post don’t give you space. You are a TWAZ (Time Wasters Association of Zambia).
The Mwanawasa legacy,the way it has been visioned,by others is a matter of individual perception.It would be unjust to all for individuals to judge that Mwanawasa never left anything for the Zambians to talk about.”Naturaly, a legacy comes into being when there was another Legacy to compare to”Mwanawasa found the country on its worst,politically and economically.The DIASPORAS, Tomato and Cabbages on our markets was coming from South Africa as Agriculture was nowhere near recognition a single example that makes our village relatives to appreciate the Mwanawasa legancy.Those who see mad in the legacy, do so because you were enermies even before and shose who see stars emulate them and encourage those in power.
Kwandangala: MAGANDE, MPOMBO, NAMAKANDO, NAMULAMBE, YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE- Edwin Lifwekelo is Executive director for Forum for Foolish Leadership Search. Enjoy the day!
#13 What is wrong with holding conventions for any party that claims to uphold democratic principls and wants to be ELECTED in high office?
Was it not Mwanawasa who appointed RB as vice-president? Given his health status he was very much aware that RB might become the next president of Zambia if he (Mwanawasa) was to expire whilst in office. So to a certain extent, the fact that RB is vice president is part of the Mwanawasa legacy.However, to expect RB to second guess what LPM would have done in any given situation is simply ridiculous and he should be allowed to develop his own style of governing the country. For the opposition to claim that they uphold the Mwanawasa legacy is simply ridiculous especially given the vitriol that they threw at him when he was in office.
If the legacy did not exist, they there would not be any talk of it. LPM legacy or is it hard work is politcal capital which every politician would be willing to expend. RB came on it and rode the crest.. In the descent he is failing to max the crest because the man has negatively expenses the legacy or capital..
Unfortunately, the bare minimum mwanawasa did for our nations we started seeing results hence him becoming our benchmark of development. The man had shortcoming but he set the platform of observation.
The Challenge is to those who takeover or want to be presidents to beat this record and do better.. We are actually looking for leaders who should be better than Mwanawasa..Tell me how Rupiah Banda is better than LPM..Zero/diminishing returns..thats why ati Bweza kumbuyo.RB out!!!
Goodmorning
A very good piece of analogy by Chilekwa Mumba on the much talked about Legacy of the late president. He (or she?) has made quite an interesting observation: the Legacy has now become a Legend because nothing much has been built upon it apart from emty words.
I think that this is quite true to a large extent. The politics of image bashment and personal gain that we witness everyday have sadly suppressed the “Legacy” and have reduced it to a mere Legend. If there has ever been a legacy, we expect it to be beneficial to the entire nation and not just a few members of the high society. We expect no other than the successor of the late president to uphold and revive this legacy without mitigating his own personal authenticity and vision. We are still watching…
Same crap different authors!
The author of this story says this ”I will avoid playing judge of the late Levy Mwanawasa’s Presidency, as it is both dishonorable and contemptible ” & ”Bottom line is that the discussion of the Mwanawasa Legacy has become an enigma, which is not helping the nation to advance politically, socially or economically.” The author is trying to sound ”more intelligent” than others but instead of starting this discussion,the author could have laid down things the govt & civil society could be doing for us to develop but he’s done what everyone else is doing,making the term legacy sound like a big term,how daft! Levy was not an angel but he did well,let’s work towards finding someone even better than Levy because the trio of Banda,Kunda &…
Sata and HH are political hallots.Sata is a gun and HH is a bullet but the one to shoot has not yet been found.We need a leader who knows how to shoot at the target without missing.Zambia shud search for another leader just like Chiluba did when he brought Mwanawasa in the game.Mwanawasa is a hero and his legacy is known to every body.Mwanawasa turned the Zambian economy for better.For the first time in Zambian History Zambian Kwacha was being quated at international level.Mining industry were revitalised and new mines opened in Solwezi, Mazabuka and Kalulushi.Construction industry improved greatly and the agriculture sector grew.For the first time we saw small shops in villages like it was between 1964-1975.Under Mwanwasa a new brridge was contructed in Sesheke and Chembe in Luapula.
What exactly is “the Mwanawasa Legacy”? The ‘fight on corruption’? The non-taxation of the mines?
#18 Mr Chale I don’t know what criteria you use to define legacy. I think Levy’s legacy: transparency, accountability, fight against corruption and the fact that if you are in power and abuse authority people will come after you when you are out.Also, less government borrowing and banks now started making money the right way by availing credit to the masses. Disciplined expenditure as shown by low inflation rate. These are Levy’s legacies and they have continued and also the bolstering of the agricultural sector and this has continued, all these were started by Levy
By the way mr Chale congratulation on your award. have you received your talk time yet. Since you are in Allemagne and can’t use it there, can you send it to my people in Zambia. That is alot of SMSes to last a year!
Mwanawasa did a lot of things.He stood to fight corruption although this was a delicate matter in Zambia.As Zambia is a corrupt country.Mwanawas is the one who introduced ARV drugs to fight HIV/AIDS.He boght a lot of medical eqipments for the health sector.He initiated the construction of a tirred road from Kasama to luwingo.He bought roads machinery and equipemnt which are now helping to rehabiltate roads.Plz Mwanawasa di a lot within a short period.When he said let us tighten our belts we insulted him we managed to reach HIPC complition point as result a date of US 6b dollars was forgiven.Becuase of this the economy improved for the better.Plz let him rest in peace.
#22 MMD Bootlicker greetings,
My understanding of Legacy is based on the latin root term “legatius” or “legatia” – which signifies something handed down from an ancestor or a predecessor from the past – in our case not any tangible relic but ethical values and moral virtues like the ones you have mentioned in your post. Since these cannot be seen, it is very easy for those in power to decieve the masses by claiming that they are upholding these values when in actual fact they are not. That’s the way I look at it, I hope I’ve articulated myself clearer now.
PS. many thanks for the well-wishes. I have already made arrangements for a very good friend back home to recieve the prize of my award. Thanks to LT, we are both very happy…
Dawa, of the 20 or so full cabinet Ministers, 5 were Lamba or Lenje.(Shikapwasha, mpombo, Namulambe, Chituwo and Mulongoti). Not to demean pipo of these, numerically, these tribes combined are quite small, for them to have such a high representation at cabinet Ministerial level was quite suspicious. Let me hasten to also say these were not ordinary Lambas or Lenje, but they were direcly conected to Mwanawasa or Maureen. Its these acquitances of the Mwanawasas now feeling disempowered. You know which lawyers found themselves in govt, even when they never deserved it, eg Sondashi, Sikatana. You know who went into the diplomatic missions, even without qualification. of cause, someone was fast tracted to lead the OP, who was it????.
I have noticed that alot of things are wrongly attributed to Mwanawasa, and unfortunately, Magande and the Post seem hell bent to perpetuate such. For example , low borrowing- by the time Chiluba was leaving office, he had fulfilled most conditions to attain the famed HIPC but was remaing with 2. the moment these were done, less resources were spent on debt serving. Coupled with that, Copper prices reached their highest level under the period. The other thing is that, serve for the drought he inherited from Chiluba, Mwanawasa never experienced anyother drought in his term, hence the relative stability of the sector.
But remember his failed winter maize project? How about the power rehabiltation projects, how many times were they pushed back? thats the legacy some of us remember!!!!!!
Firstly I want to pay tribute to Mr Rupiah Banda’s government for ensuring a smooth transition from the “Legacy”. Secondly the way the Government blunted the daggers of recession was simply superb. It pays to have educated people in government. We all know this recession was unique because it was not caused by inflation like in the past, but this time major banking players caused the worst recession with immerse unsustainable debt. There is no point beating about the bush: certain people especially those from the lineage of the late President expect Mr Rupiah Banda to keep the dead “corpse” alive. They are asking the man to operate like the late President, but are these demands possible? An insurgent in the name of Mpombo can’t accept that change has come to the republic of…
chiluba could not have reached the HIPC point, the man was a right off by 2002..Governance and corruption fight was one of the key point too to be comfirmed..chiluba was a subject and reference of corruption by then,..thats why we were delayed to activate..The man was sliding into point of no return ..Thanks God, his third term bid flopped..some LPM, bingo HIPC reached…Just like that . It is time we kickout Rupiah before we slid back to Chiluba’s low point
First of all congratulations to Nine Chale and Lt for a wonderful blogyear 2009. We have all learnt quiet a lot in the past year and I hope Zambians have progressed due to the excellent contributions to the debates. On the subject at hand, I want to say that the late President did lead as a good leader but I don’t think there is any legacy indeed. He had his own style and there were good and bad things with it. All that any succeeding leader can do is to build on the good and minimise the bad. Here are the bads: 1. Short temper. 2. Selective prosecution of corrupt people. 3. Illegal use of power. 4. Corruptly annointed as successor to Chiluba. 5. Appointments based on clan and family. 6. Weakening of opposition parties by poaching their people. 6. Weak investment into infrastructure.
#28 You are against the fact that Chiluba went for a third-term. You also say we should kick out Banda. Who do you think we should replace Banda with, Sata who was very much behind Chiluba’s third-term bid? If so what guarantee do you have that Sata wont be up to his old tricks again?
The good: 1. Good foundation for a strong economy. 2. Fiscal discipline. 3. Nearly but not perfect, rule of law. 4. Care for the poor and under-privilledged. 5. Fearless criticism of Mugabe’s regime. 6. Seen to be fighting corruption.
Each leader should find his own pet task. It is unfair to make people wear other persons shoes. Every politician goes into politics to do one or two things. Those who try to do everything will always fail. The fight against corruption was Mwanawasa’s pet but it need not be Banda’s because the institutions have already been primed to continue with that. It is like, expecting Chiluba to continue fighting the British, or Zuma against apartheid! Colonialism or apartheid haven’t really gone away but they have been blunted and so has corruption in Zambia. Apart from Chiluba, no other person accused has so far been acquitted! And yet, because Chiluba was acquitted we hear silly remarks that the fight against corruption has been weakened!
What is Zambia’s greatest need today? That is the question I hope that we will all be addressing in 2010. Kaunda brought us independence and one nationhood. Chiluba brought us democracy and a liberalised economy. Mwanawasa led us out of stifling debt and waged war against corruption. I believe that Zambia needs food security more than anything else and Banda has seen that. Let us give him support to deliver. The world will be plunged in a food crisis soon and with the vagaries of weather, we must have enough food to feed us for SEVEN years! It does not matter if we did not have internet or cell phones, we MUST have F O O D !
The legacy is a myth! What exactly is it? I know one definite failure. A very expensive constitution making process that seems to be going to Perpetuity!
People like Gilbert Lubinda and a whole lot of others must be reeducated. You tend to forget the institutions that are in place to stir development in any given situation.
The legacy of acountry cannot be credited to an individual but rather to institutions.
politicians get their advice from proffessionals in government institutions though I see most people want the situation reversed.Politicians are a mouth piece of the people thuogh in the Zambian situation they want to get credit for things they have not done.
This is an interesting discussion. Nobody seems to know what this legacy really is. The fact is that legacies are not decided by a few people, especially those who were associated with the person in question (H.E L.P.M Mwanawasa). Let the people decide. Nobody defends or talks about Mandela’s legacy but we all know and respect what it is. It is seems some people want to use Mwanawasa’s name for their own political agendas. People like Mpombo and Nalmulaumbe should concentrate on creating their political clout and not live behind the shadow of the legacy. For God sake, can we let H.E LPM rest in peace?
Being the commentator, I woke up to bemusement by comment # 2 made by Mojo. I respect ALL feedback given as this is a learning center LusakaTimes has provided us with, and not a forum for self-praise/vanity. The disagreements to my opinion allow for us to learn, and indeed sharpen our views looking through the eyes of others. Of course I expect low-blows from some bloggers-it comes with the territory, but the nature of this one prompts my reply especially since I think I may know you. We are all learning from ourselves, and such unsubstantiated claims are unfair. Thank you Sir.
No serious legacy to talk about, the issues as rightly put by Chilekwa is mere political currency used mainly by the POST and their cohorts. if there was anyhting tangible the MMD would have been the major beneficiaries not the opposition.
#35 CM Mumba don’t let some silly comments here distract you from your good work. It is possible that especially the one blogger at #2 brought along with him/her some unknown personal frustrations and had the sinister motivation of arousing your anger by publicly attacking your integrity. Some don’t know they are trolls and therefore don’t deserve even the usual red herring.
It was quite interesting reading such a remarkable article today. I can’t speak for the other bloggers on LT but for my part am looking forward to your future contributions. Don’t let such incidents discourage you!
#27 The Saint, thanks a lot and nice to hear from you again. I have also enjoyed your deep insights and arguments to the lecture at hand, especially #30: every politician has his pet task indeed.
# 23 Kibakimani you lie Mpombo is neither Lenje nor Lamba, he is from Luapula. Becoz Lambas are not tribal Mpombo has been accepted as their son.
You seem to have very dangerous tribal attitudes. You are not supposed to be belittling other tribes. This is 2009 and which part of the USA do you live ? Because by now you should have appreciated how diversity has made the USA great. Sure, you live in the USA and you are still stack with your tribal attitudes from Zambia.Drop them off man! Come to the Silicon Valley California and you will appreciate diversity my dear. Diversity drives development. Zambia is struggling becoz people want to work with individuals from there provinces. its a pity!
This is a thought provoking topic and salutations to the author.Zambians have been burdened with very low caliber political players.The bar is set so low that anybody merely attempting to do anything will receive much praise.We respect the sense of public discipline that LPM instilled through the fight against corruption though selective in execution.We need to build on the positives but correct the negatives such as his choice for VP that is now costing the nation dearly.The main problem we have in Zambia is lack of serious alternative to the `visionless` ruling party.
I think the writer of the article does have some brains but i dont agree with him. Mwanawasa did not give Jobs to his relatives but gave jobs depending on people capabilities, giftedness and Qualications . I know a number of people who were appointed by the late president and they worked so hard and they were not even related to him. I observed the budget the whole time he was in power and each year it was the best budget ever presented by the minister of Finance during the tenure of the late president. There things like Taxes-the windfall taxes that helped improve the economy-look at Australia it builds its country with taxes, what we have now its a joke in zambia, visa fees-the reciprocal fee he introduced wher good. And there so many things he did like the fight against corruption etc.
Read all the comments. Can somebody propose a new leadership for our country. We are lost. All we have is old dogs and the latest comers like HH dont seem to propose any descent governance structure, strategies or resolutions to our crisis. Help out LT. Put up a proposal too. Who do we have?
Leadership is not mere luck that economies of the country improve or that During Mwanawasa’s rule it was luck for six years and for Chiluba it was bad luck and bad luck for Rupiah Banda. Why should it be just good circumstances the whole of the six years and immediately after he died the circumstances went bad. Thats the problem we have with many of Zambians they want to say …may be its the will of God to suffer. or bad circumstances. that is refusing responsibility in many Western countries and some African countries they know that if things dont go right its not that things just happened, its must be someones fault, someone has to accept responsibilty. In Zambia people dont want to accept responsibilty like our writer of the article & say the circumstances where good that time not…
Only in Zambia can you talk highly about failed politicians. The term or phrase “Mwanawasa legacy,” is now synonymous to development in the Zambian political circles. Not to be disrespectful to the dead, Mwanawasa was playing politics of vindictiveness. He hated Chiluba passionately and did not feel comfortable being surrounded by politicians who showed open-mindedness like his former Vice-President Nevers Mumba.
The corruption drive was not only hypocritical but selective in its application. Mwanawasa embraced nepotism the waste kind of corruption. Is this the legacy you want to uphold? Poverty levels were at all time high during Mwanawasa presidency. Zambians we can do much better than turning eulogies into ‘Affordable fantasy.’
This is a very interesting article and many of you have valid opinions about Mwanawasa and his legacy and as such a i respect all opinions. Your article just touches the word legacy and does not seem to lay out the actual work. We all know that under Levy’s reign there was positive growth in our economy, agriculture was doing well, corruption was being fought on all fronts, remember also that we he fostered the debt relief drive for the country. This is not to forget that he had other weaknesses like the ‘family tree’ etc
What i do not respect is the author trying to reduce Levy’s work to nothing, this man gave his life for the country you all know that. Whether RB or the positions ride on the legacy, that should not reduce his legacy to being a legend. He did what he could for us.
#2 Mojo, spot on,this Chilekwa chap writes an article and praises himself,what a loser,this article is confusing and misplaced to say the least
Regular Reader says:
January 1, 2010 at 7:15 amI don’t ever comment on LT but today I have to. Obviously, Kyambelesa won his award due to FREQUENCY and QUANTITY. Let us differentiate between QUANTITY and QUALITY. Otherwise I think that person Chilekwa Mumba deserves the LT Contribution Award because of his QUALITY with his articles, This man/woman has only written 3 articles which I have seen and reread all the time and I always wonder who he or she is because of the intelligence and candor of his/her style. That Judiciary article should win an award by itself. Otherwise keep it up LT
What I consider as Levy’s legacy was his efforts at changing public attitudes towards govt property. Levy wanted Zambians to understand that public funds or property were not personal no matter how high you thought you were. Brilliant ideas that saw the fight against corruption change attitudes. The second bit of his legacy which I truelly respect was the hard work culture. He emphasised the need for hard work and restoration of personal dignity which was lacking in Chiluba’s govt. So to belittle him simply because he is dead is a deservice to ourselves. Let us learn from his efforts and hope others can improve on it. MHSRIP.
#46, have you read Dr. Chiyaba Njovu’s articles on LT? I think no one beats his logic on the subjects he has written about and the very factual information he highlights.
Thats Chilekwa, aka Regular Reader for you people,always trying to blow his own trumpet…thank God for Cisco systems and IPv6,packet sniffers and all the tech out there,otherwise there’s a lot of Bull.sh.it on this LT blog…i personally never participated in that LT survey,but some people voted for themselves using different IDs from the same PC or IP address,you just need to sit on your PC the whole day and vote for yoself as much as you want and win,SIMPLES!!!!
It’s easy 2 be great after u re gone,Mwanawasa did a lot just admit it.I witnesd a dollar gettin 2 K2300.
Chiluba was one of the most corrupt presidents in Africa and today stands shouting as if he did anything useful for zambia. Why not cage that thug and send him to Chimbokaila? But with useless ministers like Mulongoti hovering state house, you cannot get any sensible thing going for the cOUNTRY AND i HOPE rb FIRES THE LITTLE UGLY MONKEY mULONGOTI SOONER ATHAN LATER. 2010 IS A YEAR OF ACTION.
Seems like everyone has a different perspective on what the Mwanawasa legacy is. The writer of the article did not define his terms either – so there is discussion on something that is nebulous and undefined. Tell us Mr. Mumba, what does the Legacy refer to?
#48, on the comment @ #46,i just copied and pasted Chilekwa’s (Regular Reader) comments ,he blogs as Regular Reader and wants to praise his own articles using a different name
I see no problem with the ‘Legacy’ becoming the stuff of legend 🙂 …Even better that way , lest we forget!
Seriously tho’ , I also agree that the article can be confusing and i think a bit convoluted. What is the meaning of fustigate? Can someone help?
The author states that the assiduous defence of late LPM’s presidency since his death is mostly misconceived and then straight after that states that he/she will avoid playing judge of LPM’s presidency. This appears contradictory .
Most people do understand what this legacy generally refers to. It is a kind of benchmark , as # 15 suntwe has pointed out . It is not an enigma.
No 49 Smoothcriminal…Interesting expose’ there. You deserve an award , awarded independently by LT. Thanx for that post on the ‘science’ of blogging …. I’m sure the author will exercise ‘ Right to reply’ .
mwanawasa was jus as good as kafupi. corrupt tribalists. RB aint no different. sometimes people will benefit from others hard work. we are still living off KK’s hard work. Be careful wat u wish for, we made a mistake in 1991. now we are on the verge of another mess up with PF.
Kibakimani,
I have not bothered much to look at the arithmetic of LPM’s ethnic appointments to the cabinet. Assuming you are right, please note that according to the 2000 Census Report (p 42), Lambas (1.9%) and Lenjes (1.4%) together accounted for only 3.3% of the total population of Zambia. If your number of five full cabinet ministers out of a cabinet 20 is correct, this means that that these two groups, small as they are in terms of numbers, made up 25% or a quarter of LPM’s cabinet. I am curious to know what proportion of cabinet seats bigger groups like Northerners (32.4%), Easterners (20.2%) and Southerners (10.6%) had in his cabinet and whether this is also a positive aspect of the Mwanawasa legacy some people are trying to perpetuate.
#49, whether or not the blogger is trying to praise himself is besides the point. The fact remains that he makes valid observations and communicates them in a remarkable way.
firstly a question, why does the Post Newspaper always focus on the negative part when it comes to the government’s performance? when there is is something positive, they keep quite, why? ninshi bamabadyesako kuli ma opposition leaders especially PF and UPND? You people try to be realist or else you regret the WORST LEADER EVER in the near future. they say ‘the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know. From the time ZAMBIA became independent, people have been complaining up to date. when MWANAWASA was still alive, people where complaining and insulting him saying ‘this is the WORST LEADER ever, but now they are saying Mwanawasa was better than Rupiah! do you honestly think we will ever have the best leader in our country? one day, you will regret the worst leader coz U…
Dear Colleagues, let us be realists and come to terms with the fact that Mwanawasa’s tenure ushered in an unprecedented level of integrity in public office. That in this country is a legacy gone to the dogs. For a rational Zambian to claim Mwanawasa left no legacy is to indulge in maniacal self denial.
A good analysis-pretty polite.I don’t think I would have been as sparingly as you have been in this article but nonetheless-it’s a good read and I hope that Zambians wherever they are will appreciate the gravity of the situation in Zambia.The power to change this lies in our hands and let’s support a credible party with a vision and focus to develop the country and give the ordinary zambian a better life and not just to fatten the few.
12 June 2006
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Lusaka — PATRIOTIC Front (PF) president Michael Sata has accused first lady Maureen Mwanawasa of misleading her husband that he is well enough to win this year’s elections.
And Sata said the late UPND president Anderson Mazoka was a freedom fighter who fought against President Mwanawasa and his minions’ oppressive rule.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
Another Lesson for Levy
The Post (Lusaka)
OPINION
October 1, 2006
It does not matter how many people choose to call wrong right or how many people sing the praises of wrongdoers, our position shall remain the same.
It is very clear that some of our people were swayed by cheap propaganda, by lies; they lost their guard against false prophets who came to them looking like sheep on the outside, but on the inside are really wild wolves.
It is not difficult to know who these wolves really are. You will know them by what they say and by what they promise to do. You can also know them by what they did in the past. It is biblically said thorn bushes do not bear grapes, and briers do not bear figs.
# s8 Dawa, tribalism is primitive, and I would be last person to condone it. All I was trying to show was that in his appointments, LPM had a soft spot for pipo from his tribe/relatives. especially that some of these appointees have questionable cridentials. i wouldnt complain about Chituwo’s appointment, but Namulambe, even for him to have initally landed a PS post, remember that his only experience was working as a junior officers of a small rural council-Lufwanyama as an administrative officer, yet other more experienced pipo and more qualified were give deput Ministerial positions or non at all(though on MPs on the MMD ticket)
nepotism is primitive, and it destroys one’s good deeds no matter how well he performed. You may need to look at the ‘family tree’as published by on…
There is also another source of frustration that may explain why our people are today embracing the same characters whose arrest and prosecution for corruption they demanded in 2002. It is a political attitude and practices of Levy Mwanawasa and his minions. Levy and his friends got into a fight they had never contemplated and had no clear vision of how to begin and conclude it. They jumped from one end of the pendulum to the other, contradicting themselves several times in the process. And to some extent, they carelessly made this fight look like it was a cheap political game.
Although they lacked clarity on how to execute the fight against corruption, they were never willing to take advice. Levy and his minions at critical times lacked the resolve to execute the fight in a princi
We don’t say what we say out of disrespect. But this fox-like approach almost cost us all the gains of a democratic struggle of 15 years. We had almost bequeathed ourselves a government of thieves, by thieves for thieves. Who is to blame? It is Levy’s intransigence, unbridled arrogance and lack of political foresight. If Levy’s agenda was to fight corruption, the first thing that should have characterised his Cabinet would have been a commitment to this fight. But when one looks at Levy’s ministers, who can one truly say were committed champions of this fight?
As we look at all these things and as Levy celebrates his victory, he must ask himself at least one question: what is it that almost made the good men and women of our country sweep theft and thieves off the streets and install it in government? What are they angry about? What has made them take such an apparently irrational and dangerous step?
The answer is simply that the people feel let down by Levy. And it’s not only on the question of corruption. It is also on the issue of the Constitution and his general attitude towards the people. Levy will need to make serious changes to his attitude towards others. He cannot continue with the arrogance and lack of humility that characterised his first term of office. Levy will need to bend backwards a lot more and learn to meet the…
DEJA VU!!! THE SAME TACTICS BUT THIS TIME NYAMA SOYA IS MADE OF GREATER STUFF THAN STEAK OR CABBAGE AS THEY CALLED HIM!!
Rodgers, i think its good to appreciate sometimes. there could be some negative things that the Big man did, but that does not mean he did nothing. Don’t behave like dogs that doesn’t appreciate. By the way, Levy is dead. So don’t speak like there is another chance for him to better himself!!!!
This discussion about Levy’s legacy wouldnt have been there had it not been for The Post, Maureen, Patrick, Magande, Namulambe, Mpombo and to a lesser extent, Shakas, Masebo. Lets be fair, Levy started as a very unpopular president, but by the Time he died, his approval ratings had shot through the sky. Levy died a very popular President.
But this current debate is about those who remained wanting to profit from that popularity. Remember the ‘annointed successor nonsence’, were Maureen had to come out in mourning to say Magande should be president because Levy said so??? And unshamedly, the Post picked it up and sung the line over and over.
It is against these pipo that all this talk is about, not Levy himself. Please let LPMs soul rest in peace by creating our own legacies.
I beg to differ with those who utter disparaging remarks about the Late President. It is clearly very short sighted for us to claim there is no legacy about the late. Are our memories indeed so short, or have we chosen to induce amnesia into our thinking? That’s scary for an electorate.
NAMULAMBE Science and Tech Minister has now been FIRED because of trying to champion the issue of legacy blindly! Rupiah retained almost the entire of Levy’s cabinet except for Magande and arm chair critics started crying foul about the legacy issue. We know how it started, its all about Magande, Zambian Airways issue and the Post who supported Magande. The truth hurts!
I just want to remind people that the late Mwanawasa was personally annointed by Frederick Chiluba. Beside, I am not quite sure if he really defeated late Mazoka in 2001. There is an issue of the VJ connection here. And it was Mwanawasa who brought RB from wherever he was. So what legacy are really talking about? The fact that FJT was so bad does not mean Mwanawasa or Kaunda, for that matter, were excellent leaders. Our people are still poor and our democracy is still mediocre. We will lower our expectations of leadership standards if we use FTJ as a yardstick.
I find it ridiculous that any normal Zambia can trash the Late LPM tenure of unprecedented integrity in public office, and the stability that he as a leader prevailed upon Zambia for the first time in decades. I find it ridiculous to debate this.
MAKETULA THANK YOU FOR SUCH SNESIBLE BLOGGING. PLEASE NOTE THAT THOSE COMMENTS POSTED WERE MADE BY THE POST NEWSPAPER SOON AFTER THE 2006 ELECTIONS. THOSE ARE NOT MY OWN. I JUST WANT TO SHOW YOU HOW INCONSISITENT THE POST IS. IF U DONT DO WHAT THEY WANT THE MALIGN YOU BUT AS SOON AS YOU STEP IN LINE THEY ARE YOUR FRIENDS.
what integrity ba zambia prophet. levy was a direct product of a corrupt regime. he never won that 2001 election. it was rigged in his favour so those of us who were there know that Levy was even worse than FTJ and KK. Its only the peace of zambians that helped our country otherswise there would have been civil war in our country. Levy was a tribalist and a mepotist and allowed his wife to interfere in the running of the country
How will the donors explain the millions of dollars spent in the so called Fight against Corruption? What happened to ‘Zero Tolerance against Corruption Policy’? How could the game rangers turn on the Game? The Game the nation trusted them to keep? And chose to become the worst poachers?
It is no wonder that the cases of corruption are reported in a strange and skewed manner.
It is either reported as Frederick Chiluba’s corruption the man that left office 9 years ago or Rupiah Banda’s corruption, the man who only ascended to this office six months ago!
The Mwanawasa period is skipped with such skill that it is difficult to recognise that the worst corruption in Zambia in fact, occurred under Mwanawasa, under his watch, mostly by his family, his friends and his officials!
To take another example, the country will also remember that Katanga Governor, Moses Katumbi was reported to have swindled the Government of the Republic of Zambia of millions of dollars together with Dr. Frederick Chiluba. This case was in the hands of the Task Force. Surprisingly, however, all the allegations against Katumbi were dropped whereas his fellow accomplice, Chiluba – if Chiluba had indeed committed these crimes – is facing the same charges in the courts of law. Critics have therefore argued that Mwanawasa’s crusade against corruption is a farce. It was selective and discriminatory. To this day, Mwanawasa’s government has not disclosed why Moses Katumbi has not been prosecuted.
Towards the end of his tenure in office, Levi Mwanawasa became disillusioned with the Task Force…
At a state briefing the president even said that the Nchito brothers had been paid about US $5 million by the state. The Post picked this up and wrote an editorial comment titled, “Was the US $ 5 million paid to the Nchito brothers?” in which they challenged the president to disclose what had been paid to the state prosecutors. Yet their argument was beside the point. Mwanawasa was simply saying that the fight against corruption, in terms of the cost to the government and given the very few or no convictions of alleged plunderers, was unjustifiable. He was frustrated.
It may also been recalled that Zambians have protested against Mwanawasa’s ‘family tree’. As soon as the man became president, Levi Patrick Mwanawasa systematically appointed his Lenje relatives in key govt ministries
rodgers do you have any proof that Levy never won the 2001 elections for bloggers to see. can you explain how you compare levy’s legacy with chilubas, or kk. I am not saying KK has no legacy, or that FTJ has none. You may wish to examine what motivates your discussion and you will find that your position on the matter may be skewed. I challenge you to recount the state of this economy immediately after Chiluba left. Compare that with the state of this economy immediately LPM passed on. You must be so naive to believe in your delusion of right.
rodgers do you have any proof that Levy never won the 2001 elections for bloggers to see. can you explain how you compare levy’s legacy with chilubas, or kk. I am not saying KK has no legacy, or that FTJ has none. You may wish to examine what motivates your discussion and you will find that your position on the matter may be skewed. I challenge you to recount the state of this economy immediately after Chiluba left. Compare that with the state of this economy immediately LPM passed on. You must be so naive to believ in your delusion of right.
Unfortunately, fighting corruption is a much higher principle and would require and mean that WHOEVER has dipped their hands in the public purse and kitty should be brought to book without exception.
If this was followed, it will without doubt, bring in sharp focus the strong allegations of corruption against Levy and Maureen Mwanawasa, Mutembo Nchito, Mark Chona, Fred Mmembe and others who have helped themselves to public monies. They should be exposed and be brought to book.
But how could the ‘angels’ of the Fight against Corruption be involved in stealing public funds and with such impunity? The very fight against corruption was their shield as focus and attention was deliberately cast elsewhere! It is for this reason that Mmembe has busied RB with corruption allegations
rodgers you keep shifting from one branch to another, I asked you a question,’ can you proof that the Late LPM rigged 2001 elections as you claim?’
my friend if you recall levy won only 29% of the vote then mazoka got 27% in fact the EU monitors and all sane Zambians knew Andy won that election. Even Levy himself knew that and thats why he tried his best to reconcile with UPND and in fact poached people from UPND like magande and also implemented the UPND manifesto. FTJ is the one that laid the economic framework that Levy continued to implement. there is no innovation that levy brought on board. these were policies developed in 1990 by the MMD. Even the Post itself knew how close levy came to losing that in 2001 and hence in 2006 they ensured that it did not happen again by working with the MMD to crush Sata who again was very close to defeating levy hence the reconcialiation. but now even Pf will not see the light of day
ba zambia prophet dont talk about things you do not know. in 2001 i was an electoral officer and I know what MMD did to secure that victory. that is why levy tried to protect kashiwa bulaya with a nolle because of the funds they received through ministry ogf health. ask ba maureen what she was getting in those brown envelopes she was carrying around. the time is up for all you family tree of levy. u will be going one by one!!! and we are counting
rodgers, you claim the Late LPM rigged the 2001 elections with your knowledge as an electoral officer. I find you not to be qualified to comment on Levy’s legacy by your own admission.
YES HE RIGGED USING THE NIKUV VOTERS REGISTER. WHAT THEY DID WAS GIVE A NUMBER OF MAZOKA’S VOTES IN NORTHERN AND LUAPULA TO SATA AND MIYANDA. THEN IN COPPERBELT THEY TOOK AWAY VOTES FROM MIYANDA AND GAVE THEM TO LEVY. THE RIGGING IS DONE DURING COUNTING THATS WHY IN 2006 THE OPPOSITION REQUESTED FOR ELECTRONIC COUNTING BUT AGAIN AS YOU KNOW MAMBILIMA STOPPED ELECTROB=NIC COUNTING AND REVERTED TO MANUAL COUNTING HENCE THE CONFUSION AT MULUNGUSHI. ZAMBIA PROPHET LEVY RIGGED 2001 AND 2006. IN FACT THE MAN IN 2006 WAS READY TO CONCEDE TO SATA BUT MAUREEN REFUSED AND GAVE INSTRUCTIONS TO THE SYSTEM. MAMBILIMA RECEIVED OVER 400 MILLION KWACHA THROUGH MAHTANI. ITS ALL THERE AND ONE DAY WE WILL RELEASE THE EVIDENCE AND MANY WILL BE SWALLOWED INCLUDING YOU PROPHET A MEMBER OF THE FAMILY TREE
ONE OF YOUR RELATIVES HAS GONE TODAY MANY MORE WILL BE PURGED EVEN IN THE ARMY, POLICE AND AIRFORCE AND ZNS. WE KNOW THEM. SO PROPHET YOU WILL NEVER CONVINCE ME ON LEVY. HE WAS A NEPOTIST AND A CORRUPT LAWYER. ASK ISSA GALEDOU OR MOSES KATUMBI.
rodgers for an electoral officer you sure had some amount of data there. However, I am at a loss to accept your insinuations. The economy improved that much in Late LPMs tenure due to stable leadership, and a return to basics during his tenure. You are surely not able to take anything away from Late LPM legacy. It is cast in stone.
I side with Rodger Chongwe, and the article on this one asfar as Levy’s “Legacy”.Zambia Prophet Levy had little to do with the improvement of the economy.Global Economic circumstances were on that artificial economic bubble which eventually burst. He was just in time for the Copper High, with a huge influx of funds. Even Chiluba, or a person not so bright would have rode that wave with an economicboom.In fact LevyeventookZambia back as that was the chance for capable Zambians to even take a real stake in our copper industry. But guess what- the Chionese and Mahtani’s, and Family Tree are the ones who ate. Don’t believe the hype or “wish-wash” about Levy. MHSRIP
Observing Dabate Btn 88/89 & rodgers Colleagues, I am afraid I can not agree with your two selves on this, and it is not a question of siding with this or that. During the Late LPM reign, this country received the first ever wind of donor support and goodwill as has never been exprienced in Zambia. A leader detrmined what happened to the led by his style. Get a drunkard father and most likely you end up with a drunkard child. For the first time ever, we had long term national planning restored and that brought about economic stability – as opposed to short term expediency. C’mon people. To deny this is burying like the deliberately choosing to give credit where it is due, and I for one shall not be part of that group of ungrateful individuals.
Let bygone be bygones.
Let us concentrate on the future. What, I ask, is Zambia’s greatest need? We need to prioritise. We cannot do everything at once.
Levy was insecure after the accident but the Levy of 1991 was a principled disciplinarian. That is why FTJ feared him and tried to eliminate him. But now that he is gone, we all know he had something to offer to Zambians whether he did it or not is another thing. But knowing how crap we Zambians are, they would rather blame and not appreciate that none of us are pefect and no matter how much we blog and shout we are mostly just a bunch of arm chair critics. That is why our houses are dilapidated in most cities, sewer is all over and the infrastructure in the country is crap. Crap Zambians respect Levy, at least he tried.
A well written article as well as good analysis.