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In the last article , football workout ,i discussed a general workout for all players , more of a warm up . Today football fans can learn how to workout like ,arguable ,the best player in the world today, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi . Messi is known for his speed ,agility ,and balance . Those are the aspects we will be working on.
THE WORKOUT
FOR SPEED
“W” Run
how its done;
Lay 5 cones in a W shape, 10 metres across the top, and 5 metres deep.
Start on the furthest left point, jog backwards to the second point, sprint to the third, jog backwards to fourth and sprint away to the right point.
Wait 20 secs, then reverse.
Dead leg run
how its done;
Place 8 hurdles or cones in a straight line, with the final one 5m out from the end.
Run down the cones, lifting one leg high over each.
Use a good 90-degree arm drive and push your knee high.
Sprint out to the last cone, repeat with opposite leg
FOR AGILITY
Horizontal hops
how its done;
Set out 6 cones: 3 in a straight line, at a hopping distance; then from the end, one at 9 o’clock, one at 12, one at 3, all 5m away.
Hop to each cone, then sprint out to one of the final cones.
Walk back and alternate the hopping leg.
Do 3 sets of 8 reps
Get ups
how its done;
This is great for leg drive. Lie on the floor (always alternate position: back, side, front, etc) count to 5, then get up as quickly as possible, then sprint 5m.
Perform 3 sets of 8.
This trains total-body coordination.
Two footed bounds
how its done;
Lay out cones the same as the horizontal hops exercise, but instead of hopping, bound with two legs over the first 3, then sprint and swerve through the 9, 12 and 3 o’clock cones and back to the start.
Perform 3 sets of 4
FOR BALANCE
Backward lunge with side flexion
how its done;
Start with feet shoulder-width apart, knees bent and core tensed.
Step back into a deep lunge with right leg, extend your right arm overhead and side flex.
Push back to the start with left leg.
Do 8 reps of 6 each side
Shelf stacker
how its done;
Reach and lunge down with both hands to the outside of your right ankle
explode from there in a diagonal movement across the body, as if putting something from the floor onto a shelf.
Do 15 reps on each side.
Alphabet drill
how its done;
balance on your left leg.
Extend your right leg in front and draw the alphabet, then repeat on the other side, maintaining posture and balance the whole time.
FAZ Division One
05-06/11/2011
Week 27
North
Chambishi 2- Kabwe United 0
Luanshya United 0- Mining Rangers 0
Kitwe United 0- Mufulira Blackpool 0
Mufulira Wanderers 0- Ndola United 0
Indeni 0- Mufulira Police 0
Zesco Luapula 1- Prison Leopards 1
Lusaka Dynamos 1- Konkola Mine Police 2
Chindwin Sentries-Nkwiza*
*Nkwiza did not travel
Bresmer united 1-Kalulushi Modern Stars 1*
*Match abandoned
South
Big Roma 0- Riflemen 1
Lusaka Tigers 0- Profund Warriors 0
National Assembly 3- Kalomo Jetters 0
Paramilitary 1- Lusaka City Council 0
City of Lusaka 1- Freedom Rangers 2
Petauke United 1- Kafue Celtic 2
Young Green Eagles 1- Mazabuka United 1
Livingstone Pirates -Luena Buffaloes*
Not played
Senanga Leopards- Nampundwe*
*Not Played
Profund Warriors and “Oilers” Indeni have ended their decade long absence from the Faz Super Division.
Indeni and Profund were last in the Super Division in 2001 and 2000 respectively.
Profund’s promotion was sealed on Sunday following a 0-0 draw away to Lusaka Tigers at Matero Stadium in Lusaka.
Evans Sakala’s side has 62 points from 33 games and earned their top flight status with a game to spare from Division 1 South league.
Profund are the first Division 1 South side to secure their promotion place this season.
Kafue Celtic 2nd on 60 points, City of Lusaka 3rd on 58 points and 4th placed National Assembly on 58 points are all battling for the remaining Division 1 South promotion position.
Meanwhile, Indeni complete Division 1 North roll joining Konkola Mine Police in the Super Division.
Indeni, who needed just one point to get promoted, finished scoreless at home against Mufulira Police.
Herve Renard has said he will honor his one year deal with Zambia.
The Frenchman said at a post-training press briefing on Monday morning that he will only step down should the Zambian public be dissatisfied with the team’s performance.
“I won´t run away,” Renard said. “I promise I will stay I won’t refuse but I will leave Zambia if Zambia doesn’t want me now.”
Renard was reappointed as Zambia coach after Dario Bonetti was fired last month despite qualifying the team to the 2012 Africa Cup tournament.
The Frenchman today held his first training session since his reappointment when he took a group of home-based players through the paces at Olympic Youth Development Centre in Lusaka.
The team is holding a three-day training camp in Lusaka ahead of next Tuesdays Friendly way to Nigeria in Kaduna.
President Michael Sata has disclosed that more than 60 per cent of the crop that has been purchased would have gone to waste if the Patriotic Front was not elected into power.
In a press statement made available to the media by Special Assistant to the President for Press and public relations, George chellah , Mr Sata said that he was happy with the progress government has made in the purchase of maize and other crops since taking over office.
The President disclosed that government has so far purchased over 1,660,899 Metric Tonnes (MT) of maize worth K2.1 trillion and over 993MT of rice worth K1.5 billion.
“Government has paid out over K1, 774,836,300,000 (approximately K1.8 trillion) and another K100 billion will be disbursed this week to speed up payments to our farmers and settle all arrears in order for them to proceed with the ongoing farming season with minimum difficulty,” President Sata said.
“More than 60 per cent of the crop that has been purchased would have gone to waste if this government was not elected to power.”
The President has re-affirmed that the new administration was determined to steer the agricultural sector as promised and in line with the PF manifesto.
“During the campaigns we made an undertaking that we shall ensure that maize and other crops were bought just in the early days of us taking office. This promise we have kept hence our decision to dedicate huge sums of money to the crop marketing season,” President Sata said.
[pullquote]“More than 60 per cent of the crop that has been purchased would have gone to waste if this government was not elected to power.” [/pullquote]
“We would like to express our gratitude to our millers who have reduced the price of mealie meal. And we hope that others who have not yet effected this price reduction will do so to help the majority of our people afford this essential commodity.
“We are happy that the Food Reserve Agency has taken keen interest in purchasing other crops such as rice and we anticipate that other high-value cash crops will be identified.”
The President also said government is working on comprehensive measures to combat animal diseases in the country especially in Southern Province.
File: Some Zambia sugar shareholders plucking sugar cane during the conducted tour of the Zambia sugar factory
Zambia Sugar , the country’s largest sugar producer, said on Monday sugar output in the current financial year would be below last year’s 385,000 tonnes due to lower cane yields and reduced sucrose levels.
However, the company, a unit of South Africa’s Illovo Sugar , said improved factory performance would offset some of the reduced production.
High world sugar prices and a shortage of sugar worldwide in the six months from April to September 2011 had boosted exports to its traditional regional markets, it said.
“Despite lower sugar production, higher sales realisations combined with effective cost control and the benefit of improved factory productivity have improved operating margins and increased profit from operations by 40 percent compared to the previous period,” Zambia Sugar said.
Bulk raw sugar exports to the European Union (EU) had moved efficiently although prices had been hit by currency fluctuations and high logistics costs, it added.
Increased sugar production combined with duty and quota-free access to the EU led to 108,000 tonnes of sugar being exported to the EU in the year ended March 31, it said.
[Reuters]
File:A defector from MMD only identified as Chomba talking during a PF rally
By Gray Soko
It has become characteristic of Zambian politics that at election time there are defections mainly from the opposition to the ruling party seeking re election. Although some of these defections are stage managed to demoralize the opposition, it is also true that some people defect because they want to secure their wellbeing by aligning themselves with what they believe will be the party in power. The reverse is now happening with members of the former ruling party defecting to the PF.
The ruling party has in the past been accused of using public institutions such as FRA, ZRA, DEC and ACC to squeeze political opponents out of business. There have also been claims that perceived or actual political opponents were denied business contracts with government institutions. In this situation therefore some people chose to throw principles to the wind for survival by publicly denouncing parties they had fervently supported and joining the ruling party. Some leaders like BY ditched their parties and stood as parliamentary candidates on the ruling party ticket whilst others like Sakwiba Sikota subordinated their parties to support the ruling party.
Hardly a month after the PF won the elections, former die-hard opponents of the PF mainly from the MMD have wasted no time to denounce their parties and defect to the PF. In one case one such official has been challenged by his former MMD comrades to deny the fact that he has defected simply to run away from his problems with the FRA. Some of the defectors even claim their former parties have no vision for Zambia.
These defections call into question the morality of some of our political leaders. It is doubtful they are in politics for service to the people, rather, they are in politics for their personal ambitions. It would be better therefore if such defectors were not given so much attention but asked to quietly to prove their credibility to the people. There are “leaders” who are swinging from party to party like monkeys jumping from one fruit tree to another.
It is also important that public institutions that have previously been perceived as tools by the ruling elite to settle scores with political opponents are made professional and non-partisan. Indeed President Sata said as much when he swore in the new ACC boss. If these institutions become partisan, they create favourable conditions for corruption as they will be covering up the wrong doings of the ruling elite and in the process their own. One dramatic turn of events following the PF victory for example was NAPSA making a public demand for unpaid rentals and setting bailiffs on their MMD tenants. One is bound to ask what quid pro quos existed between the MMD government and NAPSA before the elections.
There should be nothing undignified being in opposition. If the opposition parties are truly based on sound principles and are there for the good of Zambia, there is no need for the spate of defections to the ruling party. Of course there can be genuine conversion to other ideals but what has been happening is more of opportunism. Those in opposition should also not spend their energies scheming “exhaustion strategies” to frustrate and wear down the ruling party but rather articulate the legitimate grievances and aspirations of the people so that together with the ruling party we have balanced development and negate conditions such as high poverty and unemployment levels which could create internal threat and instability.
ZAMBIA Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holdings (ZCCM-IH) has broken its silence regarding the whereabouts of the US$167.5 million Barrick Gold paid for a 2.28 percent stake in Lumwana Mining Company (LMC).
“The funds are placed in short-term investments with local financial institutions,” ZCCM-IH said in a statement placed in the Daily Mail following concerns from minister of Mines and Minerals Development Wylbur Simuusa that the company might have either ‘misplaced’ or ‘misapplied’ the money.
ZCCM-IH, in a management statement, said it will disclose the whereabouts of the money after a board approval next month because doing so before the board’s consent would be tantamount to flouting listing rules. The company is listed on the Lusaka and New York bourses.
Last week, Mr Simuusa gave the company a one-week ultimatum to account for the money which in Kwacha terms stands at tens of billions and could provide a major boost to poverty reduction programmes.
Former minister of Finance Situmbeko Musokotwane, in an interview via phone from Zimbabwe where he is doing some work, said he is confident the money could not have been misapplied.
[pullquote]ZCCM-IH, in a management statement, said it will disclose the whereabouts of the money after a board approval next month because doing so before the board’s consent would be tantamount to flouting listing rules. [/pullquote]
“If there are any suspicions by the minister (Mr Simuusa) that the money is missing,” Mr Situmbeko said, “the matter must be reported to the police.”
The Peter Munk owned gold digger paid Australia’s Equinox Minerals up to US$7.5 billion for LMC and insisted on buying off the 2.28 percent stake Zambia had even after the local competition commission advised that ZCCM-IH must maintain the stake which by extension gave ZCCM-IH a stake in the multi-billion Jabil copper and gold mine in Saudi Arabia.
Criticism mounted regarding ZCCM-IH’s decision to take a ‘measly’ US$167.5million from the largest gold digger in the world instead of actually demanding a large stake in the mine that has an extendable 35-year lease life.
However, speculation has been escalating that ZCCM-IH only agreed to give up the 2.28 percent stake in LMC after Canada’s Prime Minister from 1984 to 1993 Brian Mulroney visited State House with a Zambian author based in the United States.
Barrick Gold is a Canadian owned mine. The nature of discussions Mr Mulroney “quietly” had at State House with the Zambian author and State House officials remains unknown.
MAUREEN Mwanawasa, wife of late President Levy Mwanawasa, represented a prospective gold buyer, but has stated that the connection was not sinister in anyway as the ‘golden triangle’ unravels.
“I represented one of the people that were interested in buying the gold,” the former First Lady, a Lusaka lawyer from Mwanawasa and Company said, “We gave a South African client the necessary advice and got our fees for the job…that is all we did.”
Mrs Mwanawasa identified the client as a Mr Moto Mabanga who could not meet the sale criteria stipulated by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) which required the interested party to buy the entire 118 kilogrammes of gold at once.
“Our client just wanted part of the gold and not the entire amount,” Mrs Mwanawasa said, “We just provided the necessary legal documents at Mwanawasa and Company. That is all I know about the gold. I went to see Mr Zulu at DEC with our client’s offer and later he called us to say our client did not qualify to buy the gold.”
The gold with a present day value of about US$6 million or K32 billion was ostensibly sold at US$4 million after being seized from two Zimbabweans. Former President, Rupiah Banda and his former press assistant Dickson Jere recently in Lusaka and Mfuwe met a Swiss man, Nicolae Buzaianu, who is believed to have bought the gold.
Mr Jere did not answer his phone more than three times yesterday when the Daily Mail called him. He is said to be in South Africa on business. The Swiss man has asked Mr Sakwiba Sikota of Central Chambers to sue the Zambian government and demand US$100 million for being linked to the gold but President Sata, who cannot be sued as a head of State has instead challenged Buzaianu, 42, to come to Zambia and “explain” himself if he is not tainted.
The President who has embarked on a spirited campaign against corruption that has won him kudos locally and internationally also disclosed that the Swiss man whom he stripped of diplomatic status at UNESCO in Paris is on a DEC “watch-list.”
Mystery surrounds how the gold was sold while in DEC custody but information reaching the Daily Mail suggests that the seized gold excited lots of top government officials leading to an abortive attempt to switch it for fake bullion while it was still in DEC custody. The attempt to switch the gold for fake bullion was thwarted by a named female senior DEC official.
PATRIOTIC Front secretary-general Wynter Kabimba says the ruling party has not reneged on its promise to deliver a people-driven constitution within the shortest time possible and has assured that it will not betray Zambians over the constitution review process.
And Mr Kabimba revealed the PF engaged a Kenyan company to conduct parallel vote tabulation at a cost of US$50,000 in the September 20 tripartite elections. In an interview in Chingola yesterday, Mr Kabimba said although the issue of delivering a people-driven constitution within 90 days is an issue of debate, the PF will ensure that the new constitution is enacted within the 90 days after a committee of experts is appointed.
“The constitution making process to us is a matter of commitment in our manifesto and we have no intention whatsoever to renege on our promise to deliver a people-driven constitution,” Mr Kabimba said.
He said the committee of experts will come up with a practicable roadmap to produce a constitution that will stand the test of time. “We do not intend to betray the people of Zambia because the issue of the constitution has been a big question of the people of Zambia since 1964. We want the PF to leave a legacy that it gave the people of Zambia a legitimate constitution which will stand the test of time,”
Mr Kabimba said He appealed to opposition political parties and non-governmental organisations questioning the PF’s commitment to delivering a good constitution to liaise with the Ministry of Justice for them to get an accurate position on the process.
And speaking when he addressed PF officials from Chingola and Chililabombwe, Mr Kabimba revealed that the PF engaged a Kenyan company to conduct Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) at a cost of US$ 50,000 in the September 20, tripartite elections.
“We spent a sum of US$50,000; we got this team here to do the permutations and planning and to share with us the experience about their work in Kenya. We also hired a company of public relations people and paid them US$30,000 from South Africa to come and help us do a documentary,” Mr Kabimba said.
He also said PF leaders will be supervising Government to ensure that the policies outlined in the party manifesto are implemented so that the ruling party can deliver on its election promises.
Mr Kabimba advised PF members to accept and accommodate those who are defecting to the ruling party. He, however, warned that MMD members who are joining PF to cover up their criminal activities will not be allowed in the party.
MINISTER of Finance Alexander Chikwanda is ready to present the first budget of the Patriotic Front (PF) government in Parliament this Friday. And the British government says it will increase development aid to Zambia by 15 percent, which is about 235 million pounds for the period ending 2015.
Ministry of Finance public relations officer Chileshe Kandeta said in a statement issued in Lusaka yesterday the ministry will ensure all the relevant documentation is ready for the presentation of the 2012 budget.
“In the last few days, we have spent substantial time with the minister, and I can confidently confirm that he is in good spirits and more than ready to present the first budget of the PF government on Friday, November 11, 2011,” Mr Kandeta said.
He said the ministry has completed the technical analysis and synchronisation of development guidelines of the new government in the national budget.
And British Minister of State for International Development Andrew Mitchell says his government will work with its Zambian counterpart to address lagging Millennium Development Goals using a combination of cash transfers, maternal mortality interventions and other programmes aimed at improving water and sanitation.
He pledged British support in removing the barriers to wealth creation and investment in Zambia. “The current overall focus of our programme is on making growth more inclusive, tackling inequality, especially in rural areas, combating corruption and improving accountability. These priorities are very closely aligned with those in President Sata’s statements and the PF manifesto,” Mr Mitchell said.
Mr Mitchell said the measures taken by the Zambian government to date are an indication of its seriousness to spend taxpayers’ money on achieving real poverty reduction and a better society for all.
Russian Ambassador to Zambia Boris Malakhov has also described Zambia as one of the best investment destinations in Africa because of its political stability and good climate.
During a meeting with Mr Chikwanda, Irish Ambassador to Zambia Tony Cotter also described President Sata as a consistent and strong leader who has determination to fight corruption and better the local economy.
Chinese Ambassador to Zambia Yuxiao Zhou said his government has been financing the structural maintenance of the TAZARA railway line every year.
He said the Chinese government will help Zambia with the sinking of boreholes in rural areas, renovating hydropower stations, building apartments for medical personnel at the Levy Mwanawasa General Hospital, building additional classes and a library at Confucius Centre at the University of Zambia, primary schools and high schools targeted at technical and vocational training.
FLASHBACK Nevers Mumba (L) with former president Rupiah Banda
THE Die Hard MMD youth wing has backed the candidature of former Zambian High Commissioner to Canada Nevers Mumba to take over the party presidency from current holder former republican President Rupiah Banda.
National co-ordinator Bowman Lusambo said in Lusaka yesterday though other party officials named in the former ruling party’s presidential race equally have leadership skills, Dr Mumba is the best candidate.
Others reportedly vying for the MMD presidency include former minister of Commerce and Lunte member of Parliament Felix Mutati, former minister of Defence Kalombo Mwansa, Chisamba member of Parliament Moses Muteteka and former minister of Foreign Affairs and Kasempa member of Parliament Kabinga Pande.
“We think Nevers Mumba can push us from where we are now to the next stage, probably taking us back into power. We know that Nevers Mumba will work with the youths, all structures of our party, the Church and ordinary Zambians.
“We want to encourage the MMD youths to come together and support his candidature because we, as the party youth wing, have received warm welcome from the general party membership in all the provinces. We have also received a lot of support from the intellectuals with whom we have shared this idea (of supporting Dr Mumba),” Mr Lusambo said.
He said Dr Mumba has leadership qualities that the MMD needs in its current state.
He said the tele-evangelist and former diplomat, who once served as republican vice-president in former President Levy Mwanawasa’s administration, is charismatic, clean, has the ability to interact with all citizens regardless of their political affiliation and has vast experience in relating with the international community.
Mr Lusambo warned that the MMD youths will not support any candidate who will engage in corrupt practices in a bid to win the presidency.
“If we hear that anyone is dishing out money we shall report that person to NEC (national executive committee) and demand the expulsion of that particular candidate because we don’t want corruption. We want to have a new MMD with a new image and strategies,” he said.
Mr Lusambo said all the presidential hopefuls must exercise their democratic right in a decent manner. Mr Lusambo said the MMD youths are aware that a named senior female party official is scheming to disturb the democratic process of electing a new president.
He warned the official in question to stay away from the process because she has misled the party before and is still capable of doing the same. Mr Lusambo said the MMD youths will maintain respect for Mr Banda and former vice- president George Kunda and pledged to work with the two on all matters concerning the party’s welfare.
Mr Banda, who went through unopposed at the party national convention held in Kabwe early this year, has fallen out of favour with the party after the MMD lost the September 20 tripartite elections to the ruling Patriotic Front.
Meanwhile, opposition MMD national youth chairperson Moses Muteteka has called on party members to give chance to the national executive committee (NEC) to select an acting president of the party.
Mr Muteteka, who has applied for the position of acting party president, said he is ready to take up the position and re-organise the former ruling party ahead of the 2016 tripartite elections.
He said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday he will contest the position as announcement by MMD national secretary Richard Kachingwe, who called on individuals desiring the position to express their interest and apply.
Mr Muteteka, who is also member of Parliament for Chisamba, said he has been in politics long enough and has the capacity to provide leadership to both the young and old.
He also welcomed the decision by the party’s NEC to invite applications from suitably qualified members to take over the leadership of the opposition party following former President Banda’s intention to retire from active politics.
Mr Muteteka said the party needs a vibrant and youthful leader and that if elected acting party president he will work hard and help the party to win the 2016 tripartite elections.
“I have applied to NEC, and I’m hoping that I am given chance to be elected as acting president so that we can organise our party ahead of the 2016 elections.
I’m mature enough to provide the leadership that the MMD party wants,” Mr Muteteka said.
Nkwazi have been demoted from the Faz Super Division after losing 3-1 at home today against Red Arrows.
Arrows meanwhile finished second on 52 points with a game to go before the end of the season thanks to their away win at Edwin Emboela Stadium in Lusaka.
Nkwazi were the last team demoted this afternoon joining Kalewa, Lime Hotspurs and Kabwe Warriors down to Division 1.
Arrows took a 3-0 lead into half time with midfielder Mwape Mwelwa scoring the first goal in the 10th minute.
The visitors later benefited from a Dennis Makinka own-goal in the 27th minute who failed to deal with the ball under pressure from Dan Sibanda.
Arrows made it 3-0 in the 38th minute when striker Dube Phiri blasted in the ball from a tight angle.
Nkwazi battled back in the second half through Augustine Mulenga who scored in the facesaver 75th minute but Arrows rode the pressure to send Nkwazi down to Division 1 South football next season.
Arrows second place finish with a game to spare means they will represent Zambia in the 2011 Confederation Cup.
President Sata kneels in prayer at Saint Ignatius catholic church
President Michael Sata has urged the Muslim Community to assist in the national effort to develop the country. This is contained in the President’s message to the Muslim Community as they commemorate Eid-Ul-Adha today.
“On the occasion of Eid-Ul-Adha, I wish to urge all my brothers and sisters in the Muslim Community to let love, sacrifice and compassion, influence their everyday interactions with one another,” says the President.
“I challenge you all to lend a hand in the national effort to fight crime, corruption and all other evils so that we can make our beloved country a better place for all to live in.”
Eid al-Adha or “Festival of Sacrifice” is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son Ishmael as an act of obedience to God, before God intervened to provide him with a ram to sacrifice instead.
And Mr Sata has expressed deep regret and sorrow at the death of chief Kapichila of Lundazi District. The President noted that since his ascendance to the throne on May 4, 1957, the late chief Kapichila who has passed on at the age of 87, has been instrumental in promoting local development among the people of Lundazi and the Eastern Province as a whole.
President Sata said the death of chief Kapichila will be intensely felt not only by the royal establishment but by many Zambians around the country and abroad.
“Kindly convey on behalf of the People and Government of Zambia and indeed on my own behalf, heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the royal family and the people of Lundazi district,” the President said.
The Following is an open letter that was sent to UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema on 25th October 2011 using the email address on the opposition leader’s website by the author. Due to the lengthy nature of the letter. We shall publish it in two parts. Below is the final part
By M Makalu:-
Sata won Luapula by 73.54% in 2011, Northern by 64.18%. I am sure this is what Mr. Mweetwa called ‘careful’ analysis that makes you conclude that even other candidates receive votes from their tribes. So you take your 71.41% win of Southern province as normal and say, “the regional support given to the UPND is not different from that received by other parties including the Patriotic Front (PF).”
But when I say stop your tribalism, I am not saying start losing in Southern province. That would be dumb. Southern province is your home ground; you have every right to even set the record of scooping it by 100% if you can.
“Stop your tribalism” instead means:
a. Stop talking ONLY to Tongas. Based on how UPND’s support has evolved over the past 10 years, it is clear that you talk only to Tongas. Talk to other regions as well.
b. Stop accepting tribalism ANYWHERE in Zambia.
One Zambia, One Nation , Take the fight to them
You owe nobody no apologies for winning in Southern Province. But as somebody who aspires to be president of Zambia, you all everybody, including Tongas, apologies for only managing to convince Tongas to your agenda.
We are One Zambia One Nation. We are a union of 73 Bantu speaking tribes. (In my dreams, I even wish we were called United Bantu of Zambia (UBZ) so as to keep ‘unity’ on our lips everyday).
This means that ALL tribes have committed themselves to seeing each other as brothers and sisters. This came automatically for people who were there at independence because they shared the same pain and indignity from colonialism. So it was easy for them to embrace each other from Northern to Southern, Eastern to Western and everyone in between.
But to those of us born yesterday, who did not share in the pain, we need our leaders TODAY, to call us to unity just like the leaders then called our forefathers to unity. So you must see the tribes’ commitment to One Zambia One Nation not as something that is fully done and dusted for all eternity, but rather as WORK IN PROGRESS.
[pullquote]But when I say stop your tribalism, I am not saying start losing in Southern province. That would be dumb. Southern province is your home ground; you have every right to even set the record of scooping it by 100% if you can.[/pullquote]
In other words, as somebody who aspires to rule Zambia, your first responsibility is to make sure that that Zambia continues to exist. Zambia exists only as a union so you want to make sure that you work and are seen to work towards making that union more perfect. Unite your Zambia before you rule it.
When your ‘careful’ analysis of election results revealed that you received less and less support from Northen and Luapula, you should have reached out more; you should have talked to them more, engaged them more. You should have taken the fight to them. You should have refused to bow to tribalism. Instead, what you did was, you went back to Tongas, asking them to vote for you more, explaining that the tribalistic Bembas did not vote for you enough.
You then went to Lozis who also share similar anti-Bemba sentiments and brought them on board. It is the reason the ‘tribalism’ mark has been put on your head and not on Sata’s.
Sata also gets his least votes from your region: Southern, Western and North Western. But instead of him going back to Bembas crying for more votes, mind you, the vote of Bembas and associated tribes is twice that of the Tongas and associated tribes’ he reached out more, engaged more. He brought the fight to you.
This is what I meant when I said stop accepting tribalism anywhere. Sata refused to bow to Tongas’ tribalism. And over the 10 years, his support in your regions has seen growth.
[pullquote]From 2001 to 2011, your votes in Northern fell from 8,888 to 2,935; in Luapula from 5,674 to 1,758. Sata’s rose from 790 to 24,609 in Southern; 838 to 43,579 in Western; 275 to 18,790 in North Western and 1,930 to 63,890 in Central. You had a better start in Sata’s territory than he had in yours. [/pullquote]
From 2001 to 2011, your votes in Northern fell from 8,888 to 2,935; in Luapula from 5,674 to 1,758. Sata’s rose from 790 to 24,609 in Southern; 838 to 43,579 in Western; 275 to 18,790 in North Western and 1,930 to 63,890 in Central. You had a better start in Sata’s territory than he had in yours. But because you accept tribalism it has cost you.
In a nutshell, this is what makes you a tribalist while Sata is not. In a union of 73 tribes, you observed that certain tribes did not like you. Instead of reaching out more to those tribes to foster unity, which is a mark of a good leader, you went back to your tribe and ‘woke them up’ to tribal voting. In the end your tribal vote grew so big that it swallowed your national vote. This is what makes your regional support VERY DIFFERENT from that of other political parties: it devours your national vote. At 52% from Southern, you outdid Sata’s 33% from Northen and Luapula combined. You effectively became UPTD (T = Tribalistic) and stopped being UPND.
UPND’s Political strategy Going Forward
The era of the ‘old political folk’ ends with Michael Sata. Everybody wants new blood; young and fresh brains. You are far ahead of the pack amongst all young people who will emerge, be it in MMD or PF. So if you play your cards right, the next election could be yours.
So think about the following:
1.Abandon character assassination
The phasing out of the old political folk is the dying of politics of character assassination. So as you “ensure checks and balances” and “curb government excesses,” avoid attacking Sata’s character. You would be sinking yourself down with him. Like it or not, Sata has been voted for his pro-poor policies. You are committing political suicide if you want to put “checks and balances, and curb government excesses” to that. So adapt!
2.Flow with The Post Newsspaper do not fight them.
Going by your youth wing’s press statement, it appears you feel as if the Post hates you and is jealous of you. I have no comment about that. But the Post is a very important asset to every Zambian politician. It being a private newspaper, its survival depends on its sellability. Meaning that being relevant to Zambians is their lifeblood. So if the Post picks up a certain line of reporting and editorials, know that the newspaper is selling.
Take that line of reporting as the line of thinking Zambians are on. Flow with that instead of fighting it. And for fear of legal action, they make sure their facts are accurate before they publish.
In the event that the line of reporting is against you, like on tribalism, do not be defensive and go on attack against the Post. From now on, your response to tribalism allegations shall not be “M’membe hates HH, M’membe is a trouble maker, M’membe this M’membe that, etc” or “other parties are tribalistic too, including PF” or “we are too important or too big to go in a fight with a newspaper.” When M’membe’s readership hear that, they go, “Guilty, guilty, guilty!” That is not good for you.
So your response shall be, “We are happy with our performance in the 2011 elections. We have emerged stronger as a party. Although, like all Zambians, we are disappointed that we got over 52% of our votes from Southern which indeed makes us appear tribal, since that is where our president comes from. Perhaps it could be that we over spent our campaign resources there to ensure he did not lose on his home ground. As you know in Zambian politics, home ground advantage is key. We have definitely learnt from this, and we will allocate resources better in the next elections.”
In other words, while everybody explains your 52% from Southern as tribalism, explain it as allocation of resources, a planning error or something. From there, assure the Zambian people that UPND is their party. If it did not reach them in 2011, you will make sure it reaches them BEFORE 2016. In publicity, there is a saying, “There is not good or bad publicity.” So use the Post’s “attacks” to your advantage.
3. Have a two-pronged approach to “cracking” the Bemba vote.
So far it appears as if your only approach to winning Bemba support is ‘pacts’ with Bemba parties. Go as far as you can on that front. But in my view, it is highly unlikely for a Bemba party to leave the presidency for you. Can you leave the presidency for a Bemba yourself?
So in addition to seeking pacts with Bemba parties, have a “Bemba Attack Team (BAT).” Launch “bats” on Bembas. Just make sure those bats will include Bembast too. It is an old saying, “Set a thief to catch a thief.” You need this wisdom from where am sitting.
The job description of this team is to reach Bembas before 2016. To reach Bembas NOW. And let this team report directly to you, or somebody just next to you, from their permanent residence in Bemba territory.
Also keep your eyes closely on Nevers Mumba. It is very likely he will swing the Bemba vote. PF, MMD and UPND will all want him. This might be a far cry shot, but to me, Nevers has not been fired; he has been promoted. He is Sata’s successor. Well, even if you disagree, just keep your eyes on him, will you?
4. Have a message for the people.
The major issues of the past election were poverty and corruption. Sata’s message on both of them was “more money in your pockets” and “Don’t kubeba” respectively. You are guaranteed that poverty will still be an issue in the next 3 or 4 elections. So coin a message against poverty, which even the street will understand. Your 5 reasons listed on www.hakainde.com are too many and meaningless to the street. They are for the educated like me. The phrase “real change” is too abstract, only analytical people can listen to such.
If you don’t mind positioning yourself as someone who will build on from where Sata, the people’s popular president, will leave off with pro-poor policies, your poverty message can be: more money in the bank too.
People don’t just want money they can spend, they want to save too. Tell them, “Sata gave you money to spend; I will give you more you will save some.” Or you can just say, “HH For Enough Money.” Enough money for food, accommodation, education, health, travel, etc.
Or you can re-phrase your “food for all” into “No more hunger.” The street understands the latter better than the former. “No more poverty, No more ama broke, etc” are variations.
On corruption, you are trying to spin “Don’t kubeba” to mean ‘a conspiracy within PF where they will run a corrupt government and cover their tracks.” I doubt if this will take you anywhere. Trust me, people know what Donchi Kubeba means.
So just go to the heart of your passion for politics. To me, Mr. HH, looking at news articles on your vuvuzela, the www.zambianwatchdog.com, it is clear that what drives your political career is you hate it that politicians deceive people (especially Bemba politicians who are too clever on their mouths, if I might add). They don’t keep their promises. It is no wonder you are trying to put a ‘conspiracy’ spin on donchi kubeba.
I understand where you are coming from.
As a Tonga, you are deeply aggrieved that your region has not seen as much development as Bemba land. Hence you feel the creation of Muchinga province is “just taking development to the same region;” the same crookedness you want to fight. You are really pieced that your people have been voting for leaders who have ended up doing nothing for them.
Rest assured that this anger is not only in Tonga land; it is in Bemba land too. As a non-Bemba, you might think Bembas are happy because they receive “all” the development. Far from it. The poverty that stripes your people of dignity, stripes Bembas of dignity as well. Can’t you see how Bemba chiefs easily get partisan? Poverty!
So as the pain of colonialism united our fore fathers, the pain of poverty unites us today – Tongas, Bembas, Lozis and every Bantu speaker in our union.
As an aspiring president, show your leadership by finding an inspiring slogan in this widespread anger at politicians’ lies. I give you: “Don’t Kubepa.” Which means, “Don’t lie.” Translate that into Tonga and other languages and off you go.
You are no longer an opposition to “ensure checks and balances and curb government excesses” of a pro-poor government; you are an opposition to “ensure that people’s minimum expectations are met and that government stays true to its people.” You have adapted.
You might ask, “If the government stays true to its people and meets their expectations, won’t that deny me a chance to rule?” No. People will like you that you held the government accountable. You forced government to be true to their word as you rallied people with “Don’t kubepa.” People will see you as their hero as they will see you as having fought for and with them.
Your party symbol is an open hand reaching out for a handshake; make it an open hand ready to receive. But your message is not receiving, it is OPENNESS, TRANSPARENCY, GIVING, HONESTY. An open hand is a blessing. Position UPND as a blessing to the Zambian people.
5. Your priorities.
I only see one actually: Freedom of Information Bill (FIB) and a protective legal framework for journalists at ZNBC who expose government failures. UPND has no mouth piece, so unless you will invest 20 years into a newspaper like The Post, you need ZNBC free from government interference inDEED not just on paper and in rhetoric. So advocate that the FIB happens as quickly as possible, and be of good quality. Also side with journalist groupings seeking a protective legal framework. Commit your legal and money resources to help with ideas in this area.
Every time you open your mouth anywhere and every where, you shall call for these legal instruments. Then step back from the constitution a bit. Wait to see how any new constitution will be received by the church and NGOs before you issue your official position. If you find that a constitution you disagree with is still popular (with the church, NGOs, etc), tell your MPs to vote for it nonetheless. The point is, everybody knows you were part of NCC so there is no “sense” you can say about this issue now.
6. What do you make of Livingstone?
You keep losing in Livingstone while you overwhelmingly win all other constituencies in Southern province, how do you explain that?
My hypothesis is that you lose in Livingstone for the same reason you lose in Copperbelt and Lusaka. The common factor in these areas is that there is a bit of development. This means your developmental message is not getting across. Polish it up.
7. HH until the next election.
Sata is popular, and unfortunately, as the Bible says, “Love covers a multitude of sins.” The strategy of painting Sata evil in the traditional way of criticising and attacking is a non-starter. Forget it. Until the next election, HH must position himself as a leader who fights to make sure Zambians get what they deserve, no matter what. Sata’s promises are good. You may disagree but the people agree. Have a team of people that will compile every developmental promise Sata and PF made: roads, hospitals, money in the pockets, agriculture, etc. Tick off what he implements and use what he does not implement as your ammunition. Quote him and give facts and figures. With your “Don’t Kubepa” slogan, you will inspire masses.
That is about it from me. I remain with the hope that as you seek pacts to earn UPND national support, you will as well form a team of people working on a strategy to achieve just that without a pact (to avoid a repeat of the PF-UPND pact that failed at the eleventh hour). You might need that as you may end up with no choice but to ‘confront’ Bembas on your own. As my statistic on “2011 registered voters and valid votes” shows (see “Additional Statistics”), anti-HH voters (Bembas and associates) are twice pro-HH (Tongas and associates). You need Bembas to have a real shot at the presidency. Creates “bats” for them.
My last words: We are One Zambia One Nation. Tribalism can neither stop you nor take you anywhere.
