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Sinjembela Member of Parliament Poniso Njeulu addressing council officers in Shangombo District
Sinjembela Member of Parliament (MP) Poniso Njeulu has filed an injunction restraining the United Party for National Development (UPND) from expelling him from the party.
Mr Njeulu has asked the Lusaka High Court to declare his purported expulsion announced by the party’s National Management Committee (NMC) as null and void because his case was not tabled before the disciplinary committee.
Mr Njeulu who is also deputy minister of Information and Broadcasting Services wants the court to stop the party from writing to the Speaker of National Assembly to declare his parliamentary seat vacant.
Mr Njeulu has sued UPND party secretary general Winston Chibwe for expelling him from the party.
The MP indicated that the decision to expel him was as a result of him accepting a deputy ministerial position by President Michael Sata who used his Constitutional rights to appoint him.
In his Statement of claim filed in the High Court the defendant contended that his purported expulsion by the UPND was misleading,illegal and did not conform to the rules of the party as well as natural justice.
He wanted the court to declare that he was still the elected MP for Sinjembela Constituency as he was not accorded an opportunity to be heard by the National Management Committee that sat to decide his exit from the party.
“I am asking the Court to restrain UPND from communicating to the National Assembly to declare my seat vacant because I am the duly elected MP for Sinjembela Constituency, the decision by the NMC to expel me is null and void as it flouted party rules,” Mr Njeulu said.
He said as a result of the party’s decision to expel him he had suffered loss and damages and wanted the court to grant him an injunction that would also restrain his party from further writing to the Speaker or further facilitating to deliberate on this matter.
UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma announced last week that the decision to expel Mr Njeulu was arrived at by the party’s NMC meeting which sat in Lusaka on Thursday, May 22, 2014.
The party decided to expel Mr Njeulu from the party for alleged misconduct and that Mr Chibwe had since written to the Speaker of the National Assembly, Patrick Matibini to declare the Sinjembela seat
vacant.
Kasama Central Member of Parliament (MP) Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba yesterday appeared in the Lusaka Magistrate Court where he pleaded not guilty to one count of assault.
Mwamba, 55, clad in a black suit arrived at Magistrate Court Complex accompanied by his wife Chama in his beige BMW that being driven by Alliance for Better Zambia (ABZ) leader, Frank Bwalya.
The former defence minister took plea before Magistrate Prince Mwiinga.
Particulars are that Mwamba a business executive cum politician of 10 Roan road in Lusaka’s Kabulonga area did assault, his operations manager at Arizona Marketing, Collins Mudai thereby occasioning him actual bodily harm on May 14 this year.
Earlier, Chief Resident Magistrate, Joshua Banda allocated the matter to senior magistrate Mwaka Mikalile who recused herself immediately Mwamba stepped into the dock.
Mwamba again re-appeared before Mr Banda who allocated the case to Mr Mwiinga where the accused took plea in a packed courtroom.
State prosecutor Conrad Milimo told the court that the accused was before court and the state was ready to proceed with plea.
Magistrate Mwiinga read the charge against Mwamba and asked him if he understood the details of the case.
The matter had since been adjourned to June 26 this year.
Outside court, Mwamba challenged the police to explain why they have delayed to arrest Mr Mudai for forgery which he reported on May 14 this year.
Police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga said in an interview that the case needed proper investigations and to subject the forged signature to hand writing experts.
Meanwhile the former Defence Minister said he is not a criminal for armed police to search for him in the manner they are did.
Mr Mwamba said that he was not a danger to society and had communicated to his lawyers about re-scheduling a meeting with police over the alleged assault case because he was attending to other pressing issues.
He said that it was unfortunate that police wanted to create an impression that he was a criminal who had gone into hiding when they were aware of the communication.
According to officers close to the investigations, police have been under political pressure from leaders in the PF to arrest GBM using the excuse of assaulting his former employee who until recently worked as Logistics Officer at Arizona.
“We were just ordered to search for him on Saturday, actually we were directed that we should arrest him on Friday so that he spends the whole long weekend in detention but that failed because some people informed him and that is how we re-directed our plan to have him picked up in the morning of Saturday,” said the officers.
On Saturday, a platoon of 11 armed police officers raided Mr. Mwamba’s house in Kabulonga residential area in unclear circumstances in an alleged assault case.
Vice President Guy Scott has observed that the country is running out of freedom fighters and thus Government is next year considering identifying and honouring national heroes beyond 1964.
Dr Scott said this at Government House in Lusaka on Sunday when he hosted a dinner for the Freedom Fighters honoured by President Michael Sata during Africa Freedom Day celebrations.
Dr Scott, who had just returned from South Africa where he witnessed the inauguration of that country’s President Jacob Zuma, said Zambia and South Africa attained Independence in different years and thus their freedom fighters belonged to different age groups.
“I have just been in South Africa, the difference there (is that) they got their Independence 20 years ago; we got our Independence 50 years ago so when you say, in South Africa, bring me a freedom fighter, it
can even be a young chap.
“Here in Zambia, if you want a freedom fighter, myself I only just qualified, I will be 70-years-old next week.
“Others are more than that. You are 80 or 90 but somebody who is 50 years old to come and say I am a
freedom fighter, he’s lying. He was born in 1964, how was he going to have been freedom fighting before that?” he said.
Dr Scott said Zambia was running out of freedom fighters and noted the need for the country to change its targets and focus on doing something to make it a great country, which people looked forward to associating with.
“One day even the last freedom fighter will be dead, hopefully it will be me but maybe I will be dead before them and then what shall we do? We can’t keep looking to the past and say yes it was a great
battle. We have to move forward and put ourselves into the 21st century and make ourselves a modern country.
“So in many ways, maybe even this will be the last day, the last year in which we will be looking for freedom fighters. I think next year will change style and start looking for heroes, start looking for
people who have been heroes of events that have happened since Independence,” he said.
Dr Scott said he had chaired the committee which had identified this year’s Africa Freedom Day awards recipients and earlier refused to address his guests insisting that he would only do so after they had had their meals.
In his vote of thanks on behalf of the award recipients, Cyprian Mulonda said the freedom fighters were overjoyed at President Sata and his Government’s decision to honour them as previous administrations had neglected them.
“What you have done in the 50th year of Independence, if it will continue us as your parents even if we die, will say we liberated the country and left it with people who will take good care of it,” he said.
Mr Mulonda, who is Mansa District Freedom Fighters Association chairperson implored Government officials at district and provincial levels to embrace freedom fighters and respect them as their parents who contributed to the freedom the country was enjoying.
Also in attendance were Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s office Davies Mwango, Home Affairs Deputy Minister Nickson Chilangwa, Defence Deputy Minister Joseph Lungu and Local Government and Housing Deputy Minister Forrie Tembo.
Police confront FDD president Edith Nawakwi for allegedly holding an illegal meeting
Open Society Foundation (OSF) Executive Director Sunday Chanda has accused the Zambia Police of being selective in the application of the Public Order Act.
Mr. Chanda said the move by Police to block MMD President Nevers Mumba from meet his members in Eastern Province while allowing PF Secretary General Wynter Kabimba to go around the country to conduct similar meetings amounts to double standards in applying the law.
Mr. Chanda says such double standards continue to prove that the police is partial in the manner it applies the public order Act.
He says the Police should apply the same rules to all political parties including the ruling party.
Mr. Chanda has since appealed to Home Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula to rise to the occasion and guide them men and women in uniform on the application of the Public order Act.
Meanwhile the opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has called on Members of Parliament to consider amending the Public Order Act as Parliament resumes sitting next month.
FDD Spokesperson, Antonio Mwanza, told QFM News that there is urgent need to review the public order Act and its implementation in order to promote freedom of assembly in the country.
Mr. Mwanza said it is clear that in its current form, the public order Act is not advancing liberties, but is curtailing inalienable rights, which include freedom of speech, expression and freedom of assembly.
Mr. Mwanza said that despite some amendments having been made to the public order Act to try and bring it in tune with a multiparty political dispensation, its enforcement has not changed much from what it was under the one-party state.
He has since implored parliamentarians more especially those from the opposition, to continue pressing government for the release of the final draft constitution.
Patriotic Front Secretary General Winter Kabimba and Northern Province Minister Freedom Sikazwe on arrival at Luwingu where Mr. Kabimba first addressed a mammoth rally at President’s Park before officiating at the district conference. Looking on is Lupososhi Member of Parliament Lazarous Chungu
It is interesting to follow Wynter Kabimbas’ self deception and the PF dilemma. Every intelligent political analyst can tell what Wynter is projecting himself to the PF and the Zambian people at larger. In recent months Wynter has received the highest coverage in the post newspaper and for obvious reasons, Wynter is projected as the most organized and politically correct individual. This has given Wynter extra appetite for power believing he can take over from Micheal Sata and rule Zambia. This self deception can be seen in Wynter’s style of leadership as the Secretary General of the party and Minister of Justice.
Wynter Kabimba like any Zambian has a right to aspire to the highest office of the land. However, he needs soul searching to understand the reality of Zambian political landscape. Of course Wynter is Secretary General of the party and he should know that Zambians are very intelligent and wise when it comes to selecting who rules the county. Apparently, Wynter has miscalculated his judgment due to the fact that he believes he will climb on Sata’s name and deeds. Like he has repeated said it himself; Micheal is Micheal. Sata comes’ with a long track record of being in government and political ingenuity which Wynter does not have himself.
[pullquote]I am told that Wynter failed to win an election in his own village[/pullquote]
Let’s ask Wynter basic questions to help him understand his self deception. What has he done since PF came into power as Minister of Justice? Absolutely Nothing! This is a moral question for Wynter because the gentleman has been receiving tax payer’s money without concrete actions as Minister of Justice. A lot of Ministers in the PF government regardless of them being useless as Sata would like to call them are seen to be working while Wynter is preoccupied with PF political party matters at the expense of limited national resources.
Micheal Sata was Secretary General of the MMD and served in many Ministerial capacities to which he delivered. Today, this country is yet again challenged with a constitution making stalemate due to the fact the Wynter is sitting on the Constitution. The constitution, the foundation of this country, a document we have spent huge sums of money, is sitting gathering dust in his office. In fact PF is one of most disunited, indiscipline and violent political party in the history of Zambia under the leadership of Wynter Kabimba as Secretary General. The country is misguided and has lost its direction economically and politically due to him intimidating his colleagues in PF with I know it all style and arrogance. What type of leadership is this?
There are more questions about Wynter’s leadership and vision for Zambia. Especially his personality and the whole political ideology. What has Wynter achieved in his personal capacity at individual and professional level? Some people say he is a failed lawyer. I am told that Wynter failed to win an election in his own village. What does an average Zambian think of Wynter Kabimba as a person, as Secretary General of the party and its government and as a Minister of Justice? I think if Wynter did a soul searching and personal reflection he may find that his self deception in believing that he can take after Sata is a PF dilemma.
The PF dilemma is finding and selecting a leader that can take after Sata not Wynter Kabimba. The PF dilemma is to limit Wynters’ self deception into believing that he can be the heir to Sata, he may for the PF but not for this beloved country our forefathers worked so hard to liberty. The PF dilemma is to deal with outside forces like the post newspaper that have infuriated the party and taken control of it. The PF dilemma is that it can’t co-exist without Sata. The PF dilemma is that it can’t rule without Sata. So what then for the PF?
Kennedy Mweene is one of three big doubts for Zambia’s June 6 friendly away to Japan.
And Zambia on Wednesday kicked off their training camp at Barclays Sports Complex in Lusaka ahead of next weekends friendly in the USA.
Mweene is said to have sustained a hamstring injury over the weekend during Mamelodi Sundowns invitation to Namibia.
“I spoke with Mweene,” Zambia coach Patrice Beaumelle said.
“He will be going to the hospital tomorrow (Thursday) and from there will be able to make a decision.”
Other doubts are striker James Chamanga of Liaoning Whowin in China who has an ankle injury and South African-based defender Davies Nkausu of Bloemfontein Celtic who is nursing a hamstring injury.
Meanwhile, striker Fwayo Tembo and midfielder Mukuka Mulenga have both been excused from the Japan friendly after earlier making the initial call-up roll.
Mukuka has been withdrawn on medical grounds following his recent recovery from a 10-month injury spell.
Fwayo been excused so that he can sort out his future with Romanian club Astra FC after dumping the club last August following a bust-up with the clubs president.
Zambia will face Japan next Friday in Tampa, Florida on Samurai Blues’ passage to the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Police escorting Dr Mumba’s entourage out of Vubwi
The opposition FDD has condemned actions by police in Vubwi district Eastern Province where they blocked MMD leader from addressing party officials in the same district.
FDD spokesperson Antonio Mwanza says it saddening to note that the PF government has continued to use the police as tools of oppression against the opposition in the country.
Mr. Mwanza condemned the police for following orders blindly when they are suppose to be professional in the way they apply the law.
“As FDD we wish to strongly condemn the actions by police for stopping MMD president Dr. Nevers Mumba from conducting political meetings with his members in Eastern Province.
The PF has continued to use the police as tools of oppression against us the opposition while Wynter Kabimba is going round the country canvassing for vote the police are busy stop us from having meeting with our members,” Mr. Mwanza said.
Mr Mwanza adds it is for this reason that even as members of parliament continue to fight for the constitution when parliament resumes seating next month they should also apply the same pressure when demanding for the amendment of the public order act which continues to be used in a selective manner by the law enforcers.
And the opposition leader has encouraged fellow opposition members to remain strong and resist police brutality as the country does not belong to selected individuals.
Mr. Mwanza was commenting on the harassment of MMD leader Nevers Mumba by police in Easter Province yesterday.
The Zambia National Women’s Lobby is pleased with South African President Jacob Zuma’s appointment of 15 women into his 35 member cabinet.
This number which represents about 42.8 percent representation of women in the government’s highest decision making organ is a step in the right direction as the absence of women from political decision-making has a negative impact on the entire process development.
We are further encouraged that 43 percent of the South African parliament is female , a clear indication that the attainment of the 50 percent women’s representation in public affairs and other important offices will soon be achieved.
It is however important to note that South Africa is attaining gender parity in decision making positions partly because of the Proportional Representation Electoral system that the country is practicing, which enhances the likelihood of representatives from minority or marginalised groups such as women and the disabled to be included in decision making positions.
Proportional Representation also ensures that there is greater consensus in policy making and attainment of equitable development. We therefore implore the Zambian Government through the leadership of his Excellency President Michael Sata to consider adopting the Proportional Representation Electoral system as a mode of election to enhance democracy and the participation of the minority groups in the electoral process.
While it is true that Zambia as a country may not meet the benchmark of the SADC Declaration on Gender and Development of ensuring that there is 50% representation of men and women in all decision making positions by 2015 , we can still emulate other countries in the SADC region like South Africa and Lesotho (at local government level) who have managed to increase the number of women in decision making positions through affirmative action, like the reviewing of legal frameworks for more women to assume decision making positions.
United Party for National Development (UPND) President Hakainde Hichilema says his party will ensure that farmers are made aware of the maize market price before the marketing season in order for them to plan properly.
Speaking on Feel free radio station on a programme dubbed big issue, in Chipata today, Mr Hichilema said crop prices will be announced ahead of the farming season so that farmers are able to plan properly when to plant major cash crops such as cotton and groundnuts.
He noted that farmers face numerous challenges because they only know the market price after they have invested money into the production of the crops until government announces and in most cases only for maize .
The UPND leader stated that farmers find it difficult to recover their cost of production because in most cases the market prices are below the cost of production due to poor market policies put in place by the government.
“If farming is a business how can a farmer benefit as they pump in a lot of money on credit and are supposed to pay back loans for fertilizers and then the price drops like that and are in suspense as to how much they will sell their commodity,’’ he said.
Mr Hichilema said UPND is going to revive not only farming but also add value to the crops grown including maize before export to other countries to create employment for the people of Zambia.
He also claimed that the levels of street vending have increased because people cannot find employment in the country.
And the UPND leader also stated that his party is represented in all the ten provinces going by the composition of leaders in the top leadership which trickles down to lower organs of the party.
He said UPND represents a new breed of politicians who are willing to serve the people with passion and diligence.
Minster of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, Mwansa Kapeya, is in Cancun, Mexico, to attend the 5th Global Environment Facility (GEF) Assembly.
Mr Kapeya, who arrived in Mexico on Monday, was met at Cancun International Airport by Minister Counsellor at the Zambian Embassy in Washington DC, Ben Kangwa.
While in Mexico the Minister will take part in roundtable discussions on a number of thematic topics including legislation and Fiscal Policy Support of Sustainable Forest Management and Climate Change Sustainable and Resilient Cities, Mainstreaming Natural Capital in Decision Making and Financing Green Growth.
Other officials from the Ministry of Lands attending the Assembly include Ministry Permanent Secretary Inutu Suba and Director for Environment and Natural Resources, Fishani Gondwe, who is also Operational Focal point for GEF in Zambia.
Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister, Gabriel Namulambe, will also attend in his capacity as alternate delegation leader at the Assembly.
The GEF kicked off on Sunday with the 46th Council comprising council members representing 32 constituencies from both developed and developing countries. Zambia was represented by Council member Mr Gondwe.
In his submission during the Council, Mr Gondwe observed that Sustainable Land Management (SLM) is a primary focus in all Southern African countries and that land is the key factor on which all social-economic activities take place.
He added that the Southern Africa region understands that SLM is the anchor in addressing Biodiversity, Climate Change, and Land Degradation in contributing to achieving sustainable development.
GEF is one of the most important international financing mechanisms for Multilateral Environmental Convention and supports projects that are aimed at improving the environment convention and supports projects that are aimed at improving the environment and contribute to achieving environmental benefits around the world.
Zambia is a member and chair of the GEF Southern Africa Constituency comprising, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland and Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, Ms Suba attended a side event co-hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme, the United Nations Development Programme, the World Bank and an organisation known as CLASP.
The event highlighted efforts that are paving the way to accelerate energy efficiency benefits for other lighting sectors.
During the panel discussion, Ms Suba stated that there was low understanding from energy consumers in Africa on the need to observe and implement energy conservation measures due to insufficient and lack of proper packaging of information.
She further said that energy and environmental sectoral objectives go hand in hand such as measures that aim to use resources in a more efficient way which in turn yields savings that help to satisfy the raising energy demand.
This is contained in press statement issued by First Secretary for Press and Public Relations at the Zambian Embassy in Washington DC, Patricia Litiya.
Chibombo District Commissioner, Felix Mang’wato has called on the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) to devise a more vigorous approach in curbing illegal fuel vending in the country.
Mr Mang’wato says illegal fuel vending will remain a big challenge, especially in rural districts like Chibombo, unless the ERB and other stakeholders approach the problem with the vigour it deserves.
The DC said this during a District Focused meeting organized by the Energy Regulation Board (ERB) which was held at Chibombo District Guest House.
Mr Mang’wato said illegal fuel vending should not be condoned because it is a hazardous business.
He said the quality of fuel sold illegally cannot be guaranteed as it is usually mixed with other harmful substances which lead to damage of motor vehicles.
He further said the improper storage of the fuel sold illegally also poses danger to the vendors and innocent community members as it has often resulted in fires leading to human physical injuries or loss of life and damage to property.
And ERB Senior Manager of Consumer and Public Affairs, Fred Hang’andu, said illegal fuel vending is a multifaceted issue which requires the efforts of all stakeholders.
Mr Hang’andu, however, said the ERB has continued to work with other agencies affected by illegal fuel vending to curb the problem.
He said the board has also continued to sensitise community members on the dangers of illegal fuel vending.
He durther encouraged community members to also play a role in curbing illegal fuel vending in their communities by reporting vendors to the relevant authorities.
Mr Hang’andu noted that the hazardous outcomes of the illegal fuel vending, such as fire, do not affect the vendors alone but also the entire neighbourhood.
The MMD in Kasama has invited applications from prospecting candidates to stand on the Kasama Central seat in case of a by-election.
In an interview with ZANIS today, MMD Provincial Information Publicity Secretary, Cephas Bwalya, said so far 14 candidates have tendered in their applications to the party.
Mr Bwalya said the party has been forced to open the applications following the recent activities by the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) in Kasama.
‘’We do not want to be ambushed; we do not want to be caught off-guard,’’ Mr Bwalya said.
He said the PF’s activities of supporting Civil Rights Activist Kelvin Sampa were a clear indication that campaigns in Kasama had started and that a by-election was looming.
Mr Bwalya assured that the MMD in the area was united and strong and ready to scoop the seat if an election was held any day.
He said the divisions that have characterized the top leadership were just artificial.
Mr Bwalya further alleged that some senior PF members in Kasama were allegedly working with the opposition MMD.
But when contacted for a comment, PF Regional Secretary, Evarist Chellah, described the allegations by MMD as cheap politicking.
Mr Chella said there was no need to start campaigning because the Kasama Central seat has not yet been declared vacant.
He said the PF was simply carrying out normal party mobilisation activities.
On the PF support to Kelvin Sampa, Mr Chellah said Sampa was a party sympathiser who was just supporting the party like any other well-wisher.
He also dispelled allegations that some senior PF leaders in the province were working with MMD, saying no person in their right mind could work with the opposition MMD because it was a party embroiled in political wrangles.
Mr Chellah appealed to the MMD leadership to concentrate on mobilising their party whose political fortunes were dwindling.
Kasama Member of Parliament, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, was recently suspended from the PF after he resigned his position as Defence Minister.
Mr Mwamba is in court for cases of corruption and, of late, assault and his party leadership has suspended him for alleged insubordination and brining the party to disrepute.
Labour Minister Fackson Shamenda says it is malicious to suggest that President Sata should be excused from work on medical grounds.
Mr Shamenda says the PF Government is equally concerned about President Sata’s health.
“I find it malicious that some people would suggest that the Head of State must stop working now because he is unwell. When people talk like that, they make it seem as if we are not concerned about his health, we are equally concerned and wish the best for him but it is malicious to suggest that he stops working,” Mr Shamenda says.
He was commenting on sentiments from MMD leader Nevers Mumba that President Sata should avoid attending state functions due to his falling health.
Mr Shamenda said Dr Mumba was making malicious comments about President Sata’s state of health.
“He is not a Doctor, why does he want to start prescribing options for the President? He is a Pastor, he should be talking about prayer and not making malicious statements.”
On Sunday President Michael Sata cut short both the Africa Freedom Day programme, and the investiture ceremony at State House and failed to attend the commissioning of the National Heroes Stadium.
Those in the advance party at the ceremony that should have seen the National Heroes Stadium officially handed over by the Chinese Government included Defence Minister Edgar Lungu, Community Development Mother and Child Health Minister Emerine Kabanshi, Tourism Minister Jean Kapata, Commerce Deputy Minister Miles Sampa, Agriculture Deputy Minister Greyford Monde and Lusaka Mayor Mulenga Sata.
At State House, for the first time in history, it was the Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda who cut the Africa Freedom Day cake which has been the exclusive function of the Head of State
At the Freedom Statute, president Sata waived normal procedure when he left the venue before diplomats and ministers could lay their wreaths throwing the ceremony into confusion.
There was confusion as the national anthem was played to signify the departure of President Sata as the Head of State had suspended with protocol.
After laying his wreath, Mr Sata broke with protocol and procedure when he failed to return to the presidential dais and instead strolled towards surprised and perplexed security personnel who had lined up for the occasion but did not expect the presidential handshake.
As a result of the quick departure from the Freedom Statute, the presidential gun salute in honour of Africa’s fallen heroes was not observed. Cabinet ministers and diplomats were made to lay their wreaths in the absence of President Sata who left the venue for an investiture ceremony at State House which was equally hastened and cut short.
The investiture ceremony was for the first time conducted in a manner where the recognized freedom fighters were merely lined up and decorated with medals without any form of background being provided.
Slap Dee and Judy have both received nominations at this years AFRIMM Awards ( African music magazine awards) .
Slap Dee has been nominated in the category Best Male Southern African . He will competing against: Aka (South Africa) Zeus (Botswana) Donald (South Africa) Khuli Chana (South Africa) Stunner (Zimbabwe) Tha Dogg (Namibia)
Judy has been nominated in the category Best female Southern Africa . She will be competing against : Lira (South Africa) Toya De Lazy (South Africa) Zahara (South Africa) Kearoma Rantao (Botswana) Lizha James (Mozambique)
President Michael Sata leaves the Lusaka High after attending a court case
African governments must change the way they handle their leaders illness
In a blunt article entitled “When an African president falls ill, dies: lessons from Ghana”, published in The Post Newspapers on August 6, 2012 in the wake of the death of Ghana’s President, John Atta Mills, a colleague of mine from the University of Oxford, advised African governments to change the way they manage the illnesses of their leaders, he argued:
“The presidency is a national institution and little gets done without its involvement. Updating the nation honestly on the health of its leader prepares it for any eventualities, as opposed to the anxiety that silence and speculation generate. It is time our African leaders found sensible and humane but honest ways of conveying their health condition when need arises. While the illness of an ordinary citizen may have no serious bearing on the country’s economic and political facets, the health of a President of any African country has.” Sishuwa Sishuwa (2012)
Indeed, politics is a stressful profession: Long working hours, travel, meeting after meeting, opening ceremonies, commemorations, and uncertainty about outcomes of elections—both national and by-elections can lead to high stress levels and problems like blood pressure, and in extreme cases, cardiac arrest. The past few years, many of our African leaders have answered the Lord’s call while on duty: President John Atta Mills of Ghana (2012). President Bingu Wa Mutharika of Malawi (2012). President Malam Bacai Sanha of Guinea-Bissau (2012). President Omar Bongo of Gabon (2009) and our very own beloved Levy Patrick Mwanawasa of Zambia (2008). Clearly, the recent years have seen much political pressure exerted on our leaders, and coupled with nature—illness—which affects us all, many have left, gone to be with our maker.
[pullquote]Clearly there are people holding our leader hostage, people who might be negatively impacted when there is a change of leadership[/pullquote]
Let us be true to ourselves, sickness is not something we wish for ourselves, not even for our worst enemies, not even for our ex-wives nor ex-husbands nor ex-girlfriends nor ex-boyfriends nor indeed for our nagging boss nor that mean and sadist lecturer at university. Truth is, as long as we remain mortal, as long as we have been born, woe to us, for sickness and diseases will remain part and parcel of our life. As our maker designed us, and as Ecclesiastes 3 says: There is time for everything under the sun. Therefore, there is time for sickness and health, and all its associated allies and repercussions. This is as nature intended it to be. As our maker designed.
There is a proverb is West Africa, Ghana and Ivory Coats which says: If you tell people your ailments, you get medicine for it.
In 1997, I was then only 12 years old, my big brother who was also my guardian fell ill. His sickness had never been seen before, but as always, lay and naïve as were in Libuyu Township in Livingstone, we assumed it was Malaria, and self-prescribed malaria drugs from the nearby store. My brother’s illness got worse by day, and I remember sheding tears each morning I went to see him in his bedroom. Finally we decided to take him to the hospital. And as we would have it, he was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes, and its symptoms were on red alert, a few days delay, my brother would have died. My brother is alive and well to this day, with three lovely kids. Since then, we have had an open door and transparent policy of disclosing any ailment any of us may have to our family, for it is only through this way that we may get the support we need to heal and bear the sickness that may befall us. We have kept to the adage: A problem shared is a problem solved, and like the social media campaigns in HIV/AIDS: We are either infected or affected. Thus we all share the burden through our linkages, and must work together to overcome the challenges that have befallen our humanity. We must therefore become each other’s keeper.
ubulwele bwa mfumu li tensha chalo
With that background, it is shocking to me and, and I guess to many too that there is a lot of secrecy surrounding the health of our President. Our supreme leader’s health status has become a “No go area” for any discourse, and those that dare to say anything, even remotely related to the health of our president are deemed ‘Satanists’, ‘evil’, and ‘only want the president to die so that they can take over’, and in the extreme cases, you will have the shushushu sniffing around on who is saying what, with the aim of ‘fixing’ or ‘skinning you alive’ you as if you were a notorious criminal who should be destroyed at all cost.
Let us look back in history. President Levy Mwanawasa had been reported ill during his first term of office, and actually flown to London for medical treatment, where, as you would expect, the government machinery reported that he was well and jogging and in good health–propaganda. Come 2006, he faced election rumours that he was unwell, and our current leader mocked his ill health day and night, at one point mockingly saying Mwanawasa’s brain and mouth do not coordinate owing to the poor treatment he purportedly received in India. Mr. Sata, our president, then in the opposition and doing what a patriotic Zambian would do, personally wrote to the Chief Justice and Speaker of the National Assembly, stating:
“In Bemba we say, ubulwele bwa mfumu li tensha chalo (when a chief is sick it affects the whole nation). So they can’t keep our President’s sickness as a secret. When the late Pope John Paul II was sick, the whole world was informed on an hourly basis on his condition until he died. Even on Ariel Sharon they have been updating us. Lack of information on the President’s sickness affects the country. But we are not entitled to childish statements from Lupando Mwape like ‘The President is jogging in London’. The vice-president is trivialising this matter and yet it’s a very serious one. We are lucky Zambia has a small economy, if it was in the developed world, when the President is sick without the nation being informed, the economy can be adversely affected and the currency can even drop. That’s how serious these issues are.”
Indeed, Mr. Sata was right, the health of the head of state has a strong bearing on the performance of a currency. Indeed, true to his word, the currency does perform poorly when the nation is not informed clearly on the true state of health of its leader. You only have to check today’s exchange rate to see its reaction to what is currently being rumoured.
To discredit those rumours, Mwanawasa waged a very active campaign in the 2006 that left him exhausted, and at one point lamented that campaigning was tiring. He won the September 28th 2006 election, but as fate would have it, In August 2008, he died in France, but his illness was earlier denied and even concealed by government officials.
Telling the truth for the sake of the nation
One wonders: Is it a taboo to talk openly about the true state of the head of state’s health in Africa? Why are there all these rumours about the health of our president, H.E. Mc Sata? Could history be repeating itself where the country is deliberately kept in the dark on the true state of health of our leader as was the case in 2008? And if it is true that our leader is not well, why are we being kept in the dark? Why wouldn’t Mr. Sata’s handlers do what the man would have done when he was doing his noble duty in the opposition—saying the truth for the nation’s sake?
It is said that he who is healthy does not need physician. We all know that our current President has been sick before, even once evacuated to South Africa under an emergency in 2008. Surely, a man of his advanced age would be faced with a myriad of medical condition: It is normal, and expected. Therefore, it is only logical that we be kept abreast of his true health condition, as we are all concerned citizen who only have one leader, Mr. Sata, and nobody else!
I doubt there is any sane Zambian that does not wish Mr. Sata well, if at all he is not well. We wish him well. My family wishes him well. I personally want him to be alive and kicking to witness the goodness and the fruits of his leadership. I want to meet him one day and tell him how he has inspired me with his life, his resolve, dedication to a cause, and how against all odds he worked to inspire a nation to live the motto: Dare to Dream,–Everything is Possible!
Sata held hostage by those around him
Seeing the picture of Mr. Sata at the courts the other day made me sadly realise one thing: Those who do not wish the President well are the very people surrounding and holding him hostage. What was the essence of the physical torture they put the President through by making him appear in a civil matter at the courts when he already has a nation to attend to?
The presidency is already a strenuous job, why would they even have a man in his late 70s be lining up at the courts? Where is the Minister of Justice to offer critical legal advice to the president? Or is he one that is actually benefiting from the perceived ill health of the president? Are Mr. Sata’s handlers deliberately believing they are deceiving Zambians by giving the president increasing dosage of “public appearances” to enable him undergo some physical actions which ordinarily he wouldn’t be able to do? Clearly they are putting the health of the president in jeopardy, and this is not in the interest of Zambians.
Let us really be honest with ourselves: Companies do retire and retrench people on medical grounds, wouldn’t it be a great legacy to have our supreme leader take a side step, as Fidel Castro did, if indeed he is unwell? I think if it is true that Mr. Sata is unwell, as would have been for Mr. Mwanawasa, if not for evil reasons of those with skeletons in their cupboards, he would has stepped aside and recuperate on his own volition. Clearly there are people holding our leader hostage, people who might be negatively impacted when there is a change of leadership—and these are forcing the man to go beyond his endurance. It is such people we all Zambians should be wary of. For those that have access to such people, please, let them note that the life of our President is valuable to us.
I have every belief and confidence that our President loves this nation, and it is my prayer that he does not allow his “supporters” to lead him astray. We love you all, and wish you well, Mr. President. Get well soon.
We remain,
Under your God given leadership,
Your humble flock of Zambia.
