I note with sadness and concern the continued extravagant lifestyles our government officials continue living. The government used tax payers’ money to fly the ministers who left for the Beijing workshop yesterday 13th November 2016 in first class.

It is regrettable that the same government that has openly told the nation that we have no money can be abusing the national treasury in such careless fashion. Both the president and the minister of finance announced that the government was going to come up with measures aimed at reducing the cost of running government, but what we are seeing instead is the exact opposite. The government is showing lack of seriousness in running a cost effective government. A single first class ticket to Beijing costs a minimum of 10,000 USD (ZMK 100,000). This figure multiply by ten (10) ministers mounts to ZMK 1,000,000 less other allowances, accommodation etc. It is therefore, unthinkable that an economy that is surviving on debt can be such wasteful in spending. Unless the minister of finance can tell us that they lie when they say the country has no money, such behaviour is hypocritical to say the least.

It shows selfishness on the part of government to continue living extravagantly when the citizens are being advised to tighten our belts. The government must not continue squeezing the citizens through taxes when they are enjoying. This is a cruel way of dealing with human life.

To lead us with dignity they must lead by example. The government must show seriousness in dealing with the challenges our country is faced with. It must not be business as usual.

Our leaders must ask themselves questions, do they love us enough in order to serve us better? Are they humble and do they listen to everybody, to diverse opinions in order to choose the best path in running government?’ If they don’t ask themselves these questions we will continue seeing the same mediocrity.

With proper governance, life will improve for all.

By David Kapoma

MMD President Dr. Nevers S. Mumba was invited guest speaker at the Marrakesh, Morocco Climate Change Symposium held between 7- 13 November 2016. This was a follow-up conference to the epoch-making December 2015 Climate Change Conference held in Paris. He delivered his speech on Friday 11th November and was honoured to officiate and again speak at the award-presentation gala dinner on Saturday evening 12th November 2016.

Below is the Full speech

INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE SYMPOSIUM – MARRAKESH, MOROCCO, NOVEMBER, 2016

CLIMATE CHANGE : A GOVERNANCE CHALLENGE IN AFRICA

INTRODUCTION

We are all here today because we believe that no challenge poses a greater threat to our future as a planet than climate change. It is something that scientists and world leaders alike are strongly agreed upon that unless we embark on a new journey of climate-change- mitigation founded on real, practical, nation by nation action, we will not meaningfully intercept the devastating reality of climate change.

We believe that unless we develop a strong “bottom up” approach as opposed to the “top-down” Kyoto Protocol-related approach, we will not overturn the current threat on the global environment that climate change poses to our world today.

We are also here, because we believe that no continent could be struck that severely by the impacts of climate change as Africa. Given its geographical position, the continent could be particularly vulnerable due to the considerably limited adaptive capacity, exacerbated by widespread poverty and the general low levels of development.

THE REAL CHALLENGE

But, I am also here to raise a serious objection to the assumption that climate change in Africa can be mitigated simply by asking African leaders to implement climate change symposium resolutions.

The current problem of Africa is not a lack of good policies or a lack of funding to implement those policies, but a consistent carelessness in the choice of its leaders. Africa has continued to use flawed electoral processes that keep away the competent, disciplined and honorable candidates from ascending to positions of power. Until Africa places a premium on leadership, all the grand ideas of mitigating the challenges of the continent including climate change will only be a pipe dream. I am convinced that, the equitable delivery of goods and services to any people depends on the morality and integrity of its leaders. Until we achieve this, our many good efforts shall continue to be in vain.

THE CURRENT SITUATION

In an article dated February 2016 by Charles Krokoff entitled, AFRICA: THE ANSWER TO GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY, in which Krokoff argues that Africa had an estimated 60% – about 1.4 billion acres – of the world’s uncultivated, arable land with fertile soils, a readily available and an affordable labour force from a population set to double to 2 billion by 2050, abundant water resources from its many rivers and lakes, a favorable tropical climate that allows cultivation of at least two crops per year and with the right kind of investment, should be able to feed not only itself but much of the rest of the world.

However, the troubling negative effects of climate change such as poor rainfall, droughts, floods and mudslides coupled with escalation of global food prices and population explosion, all combine to pose a real threat that could wipe out this opportunity for global food security.

In addition to all these challenges, Africa is desperately short of electricity.

According to the Africa Progress Report 2015, ‘Power, People, Planet: Seizing Africa’s Energy and Climate Opportunities,’ some 620 million Africans, accounting for two-thirds of the continent’s population, are without access to electricity. Former UN Secretary General Koffi Annan, who also chairs the African Power Panel (APP), says this vast energy deficit is “an injustice that robs millions of our fellow citizens of the dignity, opportunity and freedom that comes with access to modern energy”.

He also feels strongly that Africa’s wealth in renewable resources provides the greatest hope to eliminate energy poverty and pursue low carbon development.

I agree with him.

Therefore if we are able to power Africa and expand the development base, it will have a positive impact on health, education, manufacturing, job creation and a whole range of issues where Africa is not left behind but contributes to the fight against climate change by pushing for renewable energy.

The stark conclusion we can draw from this, is that the pursuit of hydro-electricity is not a sustainable option due to successive seasons of poor rainfall thus resulting in insufficient water levels in hydro-electric dams required to generate electricity, which leaves (or makes) renewable energy as the most sustainable, long-term, cost-effective, viable and most accessible option to a continent as ravaged by climate change as Africa is.

IMPACT ON AFRICA?

In finding sustainable solutions to tackling the challenges of Climate Change, it must be kept in mind that African economies are critically and heavily dependent on the climate. The raw use of land and related natural resources for the sustenance of its population, particularly by the vast poor rural pupulations demonstrates a great vulnerability in any event of extreme weather.

Regrettably, at the same time as climate, the environment, land and natural resources assume greater significance in the human and economic development of Africa, humanity itself has been depleting the very life systems on which the well-being of the planet depends. As a consequence, expansion of economic activities such as agriculture, fishing, forestry and tourism, especially eco-tourism, have suffered at the hands of man’s own destructive tendencies resulting in the depletion of these life systems.

On the continent, floods could also result in rise of water-borne infectious diseases. At the same time, many Africans argue that the continent is the least responsible for GHG emissions, the least prepared for the changes and yet will require the most efforts to adapt and is already burdened with human security challenges related to poverty and conflict.

Drought is a key factor behind the declining agricultural productivity of Africa. There is a strong correlation between rainfall and GDP, and between land degradation and the incidence of poverty. Many scientists believe that climate change is going to make this situation even worse. Adaptation and mitigation are therefore going to be central to the future development of the continent.

POLITICAL OWNERSHIP OF MANAGING THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLIMATE CHANGE

The climate-change Paris Agreement reached in December 2015 was a rich victory for diplomacy. China, India, the United States and the European Union must all be applauded for their pre-Paris pledges on climate action which made the agreement possible at long last.

These countries’ commitments created the sense of responsibility, trust, and solidarity that enabled 195 nations not merely agree on a one-off deal, but also set in motion a series of increasingly ambitious five-year cycles to phase out greenhouse-gas emissions in this century.

But the Paris Agreement simply marked the beginning, not the end, of the road. It is now the collective duty of all of us to hold our political leaders to account and ensure that they turn promises into action. We hope that Environment and Climate change issues are urgently incorporated and integrated in national planning – especially in Africa where political rhetoric is more popular than the strict compliance, implementation, follow-up and adherence to agreed programs of action.

We must therefore ensure that African governments play their part and keep their promises made on national emissions targets and the environment, for example. Adherence to these targets is voluntary, rather than inscribed in the agreement, so they are not legally binding. It may be prudent therefore, for this conference to set up a mechanism that provides incentives for compliance and promotes cooperation.

THE SEARCH FOR A PRINCIPLED AND VISIONARY AFRICAN LEADERSHIP

I now wish to pay great tribute to former President of Nigeria General Olusegun Obasanjo who is a member of the esteemed Africa Progress Panel (APP), for the remarks he made last year that climate in Africa is becoming increasingly volatile and difficult. Electricity supply is unreliable and erratic.

In most sub-Saharan countries, the situation has reached unbearable levels for the people, and businesses in the manufacturing industry and the SME sector, who are now facing power outages stretching between 8-12hrs per day on average. Some countries experience power outages running in 24-hour cycles. For the sake of political patronage and fear of becoming unpopular, transparency in managing the electricity challenges is usually shrouded in unrealistic populist pronouncements promising to end load-shedding are the order of the day instead of courageously facing up to and tackling the challenges of the current power deficit.

I completely agree with the sentiments General Obasanjo referred to in the APP Report of 2015, which calls for a bold, determined and, I might add, a leadership of MORALITY AND INTEGRITY within Africa to effectively address the realities of climate change. The international community and other cooperating partners must continue engaging African governments in their anti-corruption initiatives as corruption has continued to be a wide-spread drain on financial resources.

In addition, African leaders must be made aware that an emerging investment fundamental, apart from other well-known economic fundamentals, is what is called ‘satisfaction with a country’s level of democratic values’ in which Namibia ranks number one.

This criteria assesses a country’s level of democratic freedoms and governance which include freedom of speech, freedom of association, freedom of assembly, freedom of opposition parties in offering checks and balances. A free media is critical in playing a role of a ‘watchdog’ and whistle-blower against possible government and political abuse of authority and office in the use of national resources. Unfortunately, many countries in Africa are experiencing a systematic clampdown on these democratic freedoms, harassment and silencing of opposition parties as more and more governments become more despotic. They are more averse to dissenting views resulting in compromising good governance, the rule of law and accountability in managing national resources.

Many are veering towards resisting leaving power at the end of their tenure, or blatantly engage in massive electoral malpractices thereby stifling democratic governance and economic development such that the tremendous gains made in the 1990’s in the emergence of democracy on the continent are unfortunately fast disappearing.

Strong voices on the continent must begin to speak up early to stem this dangerous tide or else all the progressive efforts being undertaken by such organizations as the APP and other bodies will not yield the intended outcomes.

In Africa, climate change may already be responsible for falling water levels in West African rivers; declining coral reefs in tropical waters; lower fruit production in the Sahel; fewer fish in the Great Lakes region; and the spread of malaria in the Kenyan uplands. By threatening basic human needs, such as food and water, climate change will be a catalyst for instability, migration, and conflict. Africa will pay a heavy price. This means that Africa is facing an emergency energy situation which must be addressed ‘yesterday.’

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, Africa must immediately reconsider the type of leaders it chooses to place in office if it is to achieve any of the set targets in the areas of climate change mitigation. This is a challenge we must accept and act upon now as the window of opportunity to achieve this will not last forever.

To overcome the challenge of climate change, Africa should look beyond the mere rhetorical resolve by our leaders to adopt and implement the latest environmental protocols. Rather, Africa needs to take a bold step and ensure that leadership in our countries becomes the exclusive preserve of men and women with vision, determination and requisite academic education. Finally, and most importantly, they must be men and women who will be driven by moral aptitude and integrity in the management of their nation’s resources and people.

Nevers Sekwila Mumba (Dr)
Leader of Opposition Party in Zambia – Movement for Multi-Party Democracy, (MMD)
Former Republican Vice-President – Republic of Zambia
Minister of the Gospel – Victory Ministries International
(MBA – GOVERNANCE AND PUBLIC POLICY)

By Pastor Chanda

The nation of Zambia is reeling at the unprecedented numbers of husbands who are going to early graves because of being murdered by their wives. This was very rare news once upon a time, but now, it is becoming regular headline news.

Men are no longer feeling safe and are wondering what has happened to their wives.

Once upon a time, when we heard of domestic violence, we assumed that it was a wife being physically abused by her husband. These recent incidents seem to suggest that the era for that assumption is now over. Those were wives of the old school. This is now another lot.

It is wrong to fight. It is wrong to physically harm anyone—whether that person is a man or woman, child or adult, mad or normal. God has commanded, “You shall not commit murder” (Exodus 20). It does not specify who is being murdered. Murder is always wrong.

It does not matter how much love you have between the two of you, you are still different personalities with different cultural backgrounds and experiences.

So, as we ask the question, “Why are wives killing their husbands?” we must realise that we are really asking the question, “Why is the rate of domestic violence escalating in this country?” If we do not answer this question we may find ourselves exterminated.

Lack of Conflict Management Skills

Looking at the recent situations, it is evident that one of the major causes of domestic violence is the failure by married couples to know how to handle their differences. Many couples do not have conflict management skills at all. So, they resort to fists of fury.

We have an adage in our language that says, “Imiti ipalamene taibula kukwesana” [“Trees that are near each other cannot help but rub against each other”]. In other words, as long as two human beings get close to each other they will have disagreements.

It does not matter how much love you have between the two of you, you are still different personalities with different cultural backgrounds and experiences. These are going to affect the way you view life and react or respond to your spouse’s choices and decisions.

Isolation from Support Structures

Once upon a time, society provided social support to couples going through a difficult time, especially if one person in the marriage was misbehaving arrogantly. The wider family would often come in quite early because they lived in close proximity to the couple.

However, these days we tend to be scattered right across the country and live very far away from kith and kin. Some go to live abroad in order to get better economic opportunities. The isolation makes couples very vulnerable because they have no one to turn to.

Lack of Pre-Marital Counselling

Too many young people get into marriage without pre-marital counselling. Even those who go to church tend to concentrate on the dancing rehearsals. They have very little time left to sit down and learn about the challenges awaiting them in marriage.

As a result, when problems begin in the marriage they do not know what to do. They sit on them like a person sitting on a boiling kettle, until it explodes. They go from fists to blunt objects, to knives, and whatever they can lay their hands on. That is the result.

Women have Learnt to Hit Back

Once upon a time, women used to allow themselves to be objects of such physical abuse. With the women’s liberation movement in full throttle, they have learned to hit back. Instead of women only being victims of domestic violence, men are becoming victims too.

This is the answer to the question, “Why are wives killing their husbands?” But what can we do to arrest this worrying trend of domestic violence? Good question. Let me think about it and come back with the answer next week, hoping it will not be too late for someone!