Join our community of SUBSCRIBERS and be part of the conversation.
To subscribe, simply enter your email address on our website or click the subscribe button below. Don't worry, we respect your privacy and won't spam your inbox. Your information is safe with us.
Orlando Pirate and Zambia international midfielder Isaac Chansa has given Christams gifts to his former clubs.
Chansa has donated a set of jersey each to Chambishi and Power Dynamos.
The midfielder began his league journey at division north side Chambishi in 1999.
He later made his name under the late Ben Bamfuchile at Power Dynamos from 2001 to 2005 before heading to Pirates.
Meanwhile, the death has been announced today of former Zambia international defender Joseph “Untrainable” Bwalya.
Bwalya who played for Konkola Blades, Kabwe Warriors and Railway Express, died on Saturday at the university teaching Hospital after an illness.
The defender, who enjoyed a brief stint in Zambian colors from 1995 to 1996, was prior to his death on the bench of South African lower league team African Warriors.
The Committee of Citizens (CC) has said the current debate on the Barotse Agreement should be condemned by every well meaning Zambian as it had potential to engulf the country into ethnic violence.
Committee Executive Director Gregory Chifire said Zambians should distance themselves from the debate as it was being driven by people with selfish motives who were only interested in fanning dangerous ethnic and tribal divisions in the country.
Mr. Chifire said this in a media statement made available to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
He condemned some leaders from named political parties for capitalizing on the Barotse issue describing this as cheap propaganda.
Mr Chifire said it was hypocritical for some political leaders to claim support of the issue when they were on record of having opposed it in the past.
“It is dangerous for any selfish politician or group of people to demand for issues that threaten the peace, stability and unity of our country” Mr. Chifire said.
Mr. Chifire called on Zambians to draw lessons from what was happening in other African countries which were characterised by bloody ethnic violence has due to secession demands.
He accused people championing the restoration of the Baroste Agreement of 1964 in Western Province of being insincere saying their demands were already being addressed by Government.
President Rupiah Banda has said Government would not tolerate violence being perpetrated by an excited group of people trying to use the Barotse Agreement.
It will not be any surprising if President Rupiah Banda is re-elected into office next year with a fresh five-year mandate added to his CV, and there are more than enough reasons why that would not be a miracle.
Challenging a ruling party is one thing, and the opposition in Zambia manages to do that so well, but ousting the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) from office needs nothing short of the 1991 revolution that sent UNIP packing, which unfortunately is not within sight.
As we count down to the 2011 general elections, it might be interesting to look at just how the ruling party packages it’s campaign messages and also where the opposition gets it wrong.
Donations
Debating whether it is wrong or right for the President, Vice President, First Lady and ministers to make donations either to organisations or individuals citizens especially during campaign periods should be left to people who interpret the law better, but let’s look at the effects it bears.
Not so may headlines ago, First Lady Thandiwe Banda was in the news facing criticism and condemnation for donating money and other materials to some unknown women’s organisation in Mpulungu, Northern Zambia.
That was shortly after Mpulungu area member of parliament, the late Lameck Chibombamilimo was put to rest. Those with unfailing memories will recall that Thandiwe’s almsgiving was a replica of Vice-President George Kunda’s charity to a bunch of dancers during the campaigns for the Chitambo by-elections 2009. Pictures of his ‘brown envelop exercise’ are almost collecting dust now, but the results from both occasions are needless to mention.
There are so many other ways in which the ruling party, enjoying tightly massaged publicity from four well funded media institutions – including ZANIS, manages to gather momentum into the now all familiar ‘Operation: Rural vote’.
Just last week, President Banda made headlines with his K5million (about US$1,000) donation to a needy Kabompo couple that was seeking help to raise new born triplets.
“President Banda was sympathetic with the couple after reading about their plight in the press, read a statement signed by State House special assistant for press and public relations Dickson Jere.
And well, the Kabompo triplets surely had their Santa Clause wish granted, but how many triplets born in Zambia have had the luck of capturing the Head of State’s attention?
Of course the first family is blessed with twins Temwani and Dunia and probably understands better the challenges of multiple birth. But haven’t Siemens Siamese twins been born in this country and some died for lack of foreign specialist treatment? If the problem facing Emelda Chikamba of Chikamba Village in Kabompo is so touching, can’t there be a constitutional provision taking care of such natural situations?
Bumper harvest
Hats off to the Zambian farmers for producing about 2.8 million metric tonnes of Maize in the “Bumper Harvest” of last season. It is still very difficult however, to fully credit President Banda for the massive yield, unless the ministry of Agriculture supplied unprecedented farming inputs in 2008.
But a good rainy season met with standard agriculture policy can produce enough maize, some of which soaked by the way, to earn the ruling party positive governance points.
Mining
Almost every day, chiefs in Zambia have been praising President Banda for scoring positive economic strides and calling for his re-election next year, citing the single digit inflation among other economic indicators as his achievements MMD through President Banda claims that its administration has seen a record high foreign direct investment in the mines, not to mention job creations in the booming sector.
About two years ago, Zambia’s Copper was selling for less than US$3,000 per tonne, a situation that saw mining companies folding up and leaving. Today Copper has shot a record high price of over US$8,000 per tonne, would there be any connection between honourable Commerce minister Felix Mutati’s speeches to the investors and the London metal exchange rates?
But again, for a country like Zambia whose major export is copper, the rising global metal prices has a lot to write home about for a party in power.
Infrastructure
The people of Mongu are surely happy and deservingly so, for the Mongu – Kalabo road that has been a mock to their livelihoods for more than 10 years. Thanks to President Banda, K1.2 trillion has been earmarked to finally put a full stop to the old Western Province story.
The sad news is that a very tiny fraction of that amount is coming from Finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane’s 2010 budget, the rest of it is coming from Exim Bank of China.
Due to demands of increased power supply to drive the growing economy, Energy minister Kenneth Konga last year signed a US$1.5billion agreement with the China-Africa Development Fund to construct a 700 megawatts Kafue gorge lower hydro power station. Over 2,000 jobs will be created.
Again the only problem is that government through ZESCO and the constructor Synohydro is expected to source only a third of the total budget while the US$1 billion remains a loan from China.
What may not be foreseen for these and numerous other projects at this stage is that President Banda may not be there when these loans will require servicing.
But systematically President Banda and his ministers are packaging their ‘progressive’ campaign messages in a way that suits the ears that have no preview to behind the scene realities.
TV advertising
To blind it all, President Banda has intensified his TV adverts on the national broadcaster ZNBC, which he uses to amplify his party’s manifesto and government achievement.
Even though these prime time adverts, which the opposition have not really questioned to expectation, have continued to run, it remains a mystery who is sponsoring them.
The packaging may suggest that ZNBC does not cash-in anything from the ruling party, and much as that may only be left to speculation, MMD is enjoying the fruits.
Yes President Banda has done exceptionally well, for a man who was hopped back into active politics from his productive farm ascending to the highest office. But to say that he is Zambia’s guardian angel may well be an overstatement.
The Pact
When all this is happening, you would expect the opposition joining hands to form a united front to bring about the much talked about change, but the reverse is the situation.
Firstly, No one really knows whether or not the Pact between the Patriotic Front (PF) and United Party for National Development (UPND) is still existent and from the look of things, it would seem that even members of either parties don’t know the answer.
From Fighting over the Pact presidency to constituency seats and finally giving each other cold shoulders, PF and UPND, the unbreakable Pact is without doubt staggering.
Even though UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema is consistently assuring Zambians that the Pact, which was born out of their demands, is still going strong, it would not be surprising if we learnt later that Mr. Hichilema was in fact singing lullabies to himself.
What happened to joint campaign rallies, what went wrong with joint press briefings and a joint manifesto for the Pact?
Let’s suppose Mr. Hichilema and his PF counterpart Michael Sata went flat out campaigning in Western, North Western, Eastern and Central Provinces, giving the same donations that the ruling party is giving and uprooting the resistance in the rural areas, where would it leave MMD?
This is not likely to happen, not soon. Instead Mr. Sata has gone his own route and so has Mr. Hichilema. It is simply to the MMD’s advantage that the two leaders are failing to realize that they would not win an election in their individual capacities.
Opposing the opposition
As though that were not enough, the other smaller opposition political parties have charged up against the bigger opposition parties, putting holes in their challenges to the ruling party.
Some are eager to nail the Pact completely out of existence while others like Humphrey Siulapwa’s New Generation Party have literary lost their vision, courting 74-year old President Banda as there 2011 hero.
FDD’s Edith Nawakwi Nawakwi is seemingly comfortable watching the political scenario from a respective distance, buoyant with her booming agriculture activities. You can only guess if she is confident of becoming Zambia’s first female president in 2011.
With due respect to a law abiding citizen, Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda, his passion for leadership and relentless efforts to change mother Zambia is yielding too little.
New comers like Elias Chipimo’s National Restoration Party (NAREP) must have tested the waters by now and seen just how deep it runs. Challenges have not spared them as seen by their occasionally broken silence and change of party convention dates.
But even that has not stopped parties you would want to refer to as jokers like the Africa’s Democratic and Economic Development Organization -Zambia Must Change Now (ADEDO – ZAMUCANO) from coming on board.
With the reduced presidential election nomination fees, more parties are expected to mushroom between now and next year, adding to the pressure facing the countrie’s opposition.
Under such circumstances, it would be more of a miracle if President Banda lost the 2011 elections than if he won it.
File:Former President Kenneth Kaunda dressed as Santa Clause
By Wesley Ngwenya
Last week, I was having a chat with a friend of mine about Christmas and how we felt that it was becoming more and more Western. Apparently, my friend’s five year old daughter was following our conversation. She simply said, “Jesus is white!” We were both stunned at this insight and looked at each other not knowing how to respond. I broke the silence and engaged the girl in conversation. She said she has seen Jesus on television and on pictures and he is white. “How about God, what color is He?” I inquired. “He is also white like Jesus”, she responded.
I couldn’t blame the little girl for the white images of Jesus or God that she had after all I grew up with similar images myself. Later that week, I decided to do a random survey of adults and what color they thought Jesus was. Most thought he was white, a few got philosophical or theological and said he had no color and no one ever said he was black.
During this Christmas season, I am shocked at how Christmas has turned out to be a “White Christmas” with everything Western. Shops are filled with Christmas gifts and decorations of white santa, snowflakes, Christmas trees—the kinds you find in North Dakota, red and green lights and even a nativity scene. All these products are made and imported from China where they do not celebrate the holiday at all.
I think slowly, Christmas has lost its meaning in Zambia. Back in the day, we celebrated Christmas by having uncles, cousins, friends and anyone to come and eat and drink. Our parents played the tunes of Smokey Haangala or Paul Ngozi and we danced to them. Yes, we knew about the “White” Jesus but we never really focused so much on him or had all kinds of white pictures in our living rooms.
Today, Christians have completely been transformed where we fill our homes with all kinds of decorations we do not understand. If Jesus is white maybe we have embraced a wrong religion for ourselves. We need to keep searching for the ideal black religion or better return to the good old African religion.
When I was talking to one person on the same subject they said, “Well, God used the white people to bring this religion to us because we were lost. That is why we follow their religion.” I asked him if it had ever occurred to him that perhaps our religion wasn’t that bad at all. Or why was it not the black people who were enlightened so as to spread the good news to the white folks with a black Jesus uh? I am sure the white folks would love that. Then they would have to decorate a mango tree for a Christmas tree, fun isn’t it?—with all the yellow, green and red mangoes acting as lights.
Now I am not anti-Christian myself. I am a God fearing, God loving Zambian. My only concern is that Christianity is still “too foreign” and we do not fully understand it. That is why we continue to fight in its name. That is why politicians take advantage of us in its name. That is why we remain poor in its name. And I think that is why we embrace it too—because we are poor and believe that someday God will change things for us. Maybe we need to change things for ourselves. Like my grandmother said when she visited Minnesota, “God built America first with all its road, bridges, airports and skyscrapers but when He got to Zambia He had no more money.” Now that can only be a “white god” who can do that right? Because a black one will do the exact opposite.
Where is our God this Christmas? Have our images about Him or His Son been transformed completely to think of Him as someone hanging in the sky above Western countries? Do we think of Jesus as a white man with long blonde hair, a goatee, and wearing a white rob? Whatever, your image of God or Jesus is , I hope this brings peace to you during this season. I hope it is time to celebrate with your family and friends. I hope it is time to reflect and appreciate how far you have come. And I hope it is time to look forward to more great things in the year to come. Make, yourself happy this Christmas. Happy Christmas, Happy Kwanza and a winning 2011.
“Behold, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a Son, and they shall call His name Emmanuel — which, when translated, means, God with us”
(Matthew 1:23, AMP)
TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria
In the Bible, Jesus has many names that identify His character. One of those names is Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” See, before Jesus came to the earth, the Spirit of God resided in the temple. People weren’t able to be connected with God the way we are able to connect with Him today. They had to go through all sorts of rituals to make themselves clean enough to go to the temple. Because of Jesus, we believers are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He is the one who cleanses us and makes His home in our hearts.
Isn’t it good to know that God is with us? He is closer than the very air we breathe. His peace is always with us. His joy is always with us. His power is always with us, and His victory is always with us. The next time you feel alone, remember, you are never alone because you serve Emmanuel — the God who is always with us!
A PRAYER FOR TODAY
Father in heaven, thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus and choosing to make Your home in me. Thank You for filling me with Your peace and joy. I bless You today, knowing that You will never leave me nor forsake me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Defence Minister Kalombo Mwansa has dismissed media reports that tribalism and violence has rocked the ruling Movement for Multi Party Democracy (MMD) party ahead of its Eastern Province conference slated for next January.
Dr. Mwansa said what was obtaining on the ground was stiff competition among the people wishing to contest positions in the party in Eastern Province.
Responding to questions from Journalists in Lusaka today, Dr. Mwansa said the MMD was resolving the process of candidacy.
He cited positions of Chairman and Vice Chairman as those being looked at.
“There is no tribalism in MMD in Eastern Province. There is only stiff competition for persons vying for party position at provincial levels,” he said.
The Minister said the MMD was very strong in the East and no amount of violence would disrupt it from holding free and fair elections in that province.
The Eastern Province conference is expected to be opened by President Rupiah Banda next year. The Provincial conferences were deferred to next year to allow party members celebrate the Christmas and New Year festivals.
And Defence Minister Kalombo Mwansa has disclosed that Government intends to construct 9,000 housing units for defence forces in the country to mitigate the critical shortage of accommodation faced by militarypersonnel.
Dr. Mwansa said the project was due to start in various cantonments across the country.
He said Government was concerned about the welfare of men and women in uniform hence it was in a hurry to improve their conditions of service.
The Minister said this last night in Lusaka when he officiated at the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) annual ball held at ZAF Chamba Valley
He further said Government was committed to ensuring that Defence Forces were adequately prepared to meet the country’s challenges.
He reminded the defence personnel that peace and stability the nation had continued to enjoy could not be taken for granted but should be guarded jealously.
He commended ZAF for being supportive to Government when called upon to do a service in national interest adding that Government shall continue making concerted effort towards equipping the defence force to enable them perform their duties efficiently.
Dr. Mwansa also commended efforts made by Air Power Ladies Club to spearhead the construction of hospitals and nursery schools in ZAF bases among them Eugenia, Kabwe and Samora Machel respectively.
He further warned the members of the defence and security services to avoid engaging themselves in partisan politics as the country drew closer to the tripartite elections next year.
He urged them to be disciplined and exhibit high moral behaviour .
And speaking earlier, ZAF Commandant Andrew Sakala commended Government for the modernisation programme which had enabled the Force enhance its delivery service to the people.
Lieutenant-General Sakala said ZAF would continue to carry out its mandate and meet its obligations with professionalism and dedication.
He told the Minister that the personnel would remain loyal to the Government.
Annual balls accords officers and their families a chance to interact with their civilian counterparts.
This year’s Annual Ball was celebrated under the theme, “Achieving Efficiency through concerted Efforts”.
ZRHL Group of Companies, a Chinese firm says Zambia is destined for economic prosperity as a result of her cooperation with other countries.
Company Board Chairman ZOU LING says Zambia’s stance on embracing investment flows in the country especially from China will result in economic boom.
Mr. LING noted that Zambia and China have for a long time enjoyed mutual cooperation based on mutual respect and dignity for mankind in the two countries.
Mr. LING said this in an interview with ZANIS in Chibombo today when he presented Christmas gifts to Golden Valley Farms Community.
The donation worth about K 50 million comprising assorted food stuffs include bales of sugar, 100 x 10kg bags of meali-meal, dressed chickens, biscuits and sweets among other gifts.
He said the donation is part of the Company’s corporate responsibility of ploughing back to the communities they serve.
And in his Christmas message, Mr. LING has urged the Zambian people to remain calm and celebrate the festive season in harmony.
He advised people to reflect on the birth of Jesus Christ who died for their sins on the cross of Calvary.
Health Minister Kapembwa Simbao has disclosed that the presentation of Christmas gifts to babies will be extended to all the major hospitals across the country.
And Dr. Simbao has said Government will train 7,000 Community Health Workers (CHW) to vulnerable communities especially in rural areas in order to reduce the high mortality rate of women during deliveries.
ZANIS reports that Dr. Simbao was speaking to Journalists at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) soon after giving gifts to 25 Christmas babies that were born at UTH.
Dr. Simbao said Government was determined to reverse the trend of women dying from complications arising from delivery.
Among the gifts the Minister donated mothers delivered of Christmas babies included a push chairs, clothes and baby bath-basins. Government has made it a deliberate policy to donate assorted items to mothers who have given birth to Christmas babies annually.
Dr. Simbao said that Zambia was eager to address the high mortality rates among women during child birth.
He said the development was a threat to the attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on health goals number four and five.
The Health Minister was accompanied at UTH by Ministry of Health Spokesperson Dr Kamoto Mbewe and other senior ministry officials.
The Minister however, commended the media for highlighting more stories on reproductive health to keep the nation abreast.
And the Minister revealed that Traditional Birth Attendants have been transformed into Community Health Workers to assist local communities in emergency cases where medical personnel were not available.
Sylvia Nyirenda 34, a mother who gave birth to a baby girl thanked Government for the gesture saying Government had demonstrated its commitment to the welfare of women in the country.
And UTH Managing Director Lackson Kasoko said the visit by the Minister had motivated the workers at his institution.
Dr. Kasoko also commended Government for the funds UTH was receiving.
UTH, the largest health institution in the country records an average of 50 new born babies on a daily basis. A total of 25 Christmas babies have been recorded at the institution this year with the first infant born at 00 -15 am while the last one was delivered at 08-15 am.
Former Finance and National Planning Minister Ng’andu Magande has charged that the 6 percent annual economic growth is not strong enough.
Mr. Magande said to Qfm in an interview that government should have been seeking a stronger growth of 10 percent in order to accommodate Zambians.
The former minister has expressed sadness at the manner in which young people in the country are filling up the streets because of lack of employment despite attaining some level of education.
He has charged that the economy is not for an individual person and that there is need for government to identify categories of individuals that need development and intervention methods needed to put in place.
Mr. Magande says as the country’s economy grows, it must trickle down to the poor Zambians.
This is to inform you that the site migration was not successful and the process had to be aborted because the amount of time allotted was typically insufficient to complete the task. We hope to make another attempt at the process at 18:00 hrs ZMT. During that period that site would be offline. We hope to complete the migration by Sunday morning.
Again, sorry for the inconvenience this will cause and thanks for your support to LT
As announced in our last update, the site will be offline tonight from 22:00 hrs ZMT (GMT +2) to facilitate migration of the site to a scalable platform that would allow us to introduce more services without knocking the site out.
Internet traffic has been on the increase , resulting in poor performance of the site to the point that we had to shut down some services, like popular posts, to just keep the site afloat. We expect this traffic trend to continue its strong upward trajectory going forward because of the presence of more bigger players (Phone Companies especially ) in the ISP space in Zambia. It is just wise that we anticipate this growth in traffic. Broadband access in Zambia is slowly but surely beginning to tick up.
Currently, LT has outgrown the current platform and it high time we did the migration.While hoping to complete the migration by afternoon 12:00hrs ZMT we have instructed the technical team to work flat out and shoot for 06:00hrs ZMT in the morning to minimise the inconvenience this migration will cause to our esteemed online visitors.
Thanks for your understanding and support to Lusakatimes.com. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2011.
LT team
PS: Don’t forget the LT 2010 Awards. Please take part and submit your nominations
Ambassador Dr. Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika inspects a guard of honor after presenting Credentials to Queen Beatrix of Netherlands
2.
Ambassador Dr. Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika inspects a guard of honor after presenting Credentials to Queen Beatrix of Netherlands
3.
Former Zambia Army Commnder Isaac Chisuzi (l) greets former Zambia Air Force Commander Peter Zuze. General Zuze was a fighter pilot who fought air battles against Rhodesias enemies
4.
Defence Minister Kalombo Mwansa launches the book by former Zambia Army Commander Francis Sibamba at a dinner in Lusaka.
5.
Mission Press director Father Miha Drevensek positions a microphone for former Zambia Army Commander Francis Sibamba during the launch of a book called The Zambia Army and I.
6.
Former Zambia Air Force Commander Samuel Mapala (l) and his counterpart from Zambia Army Isaac Chisuzi (c) and the wife of former Zambia Army Commander Francis Sibamba, Catherine in Lusaka
7.
Soldiers from the Zambia Air Force make a toast during the annual ball in Lusaka
8.
Some senior Zambia Air Force officers and their spouses make a toast during the annual ball in Lusaka
9.
Bare Feet dance troupe in action during the Zambia Air Force Officers' annual ball in Lusaka
10.
First lady Thandiwe Banda tries out one of the two tractors donated to two farmers from Kazungula and Kalomo districts during the launch of The Conservation Agriculture Mechanization Scheme in Kazungula
11.
The Mwale Sisters in action at one of Lusaka's popular night spots.
12.
Dancers for the Mwale Sisters putting up a traditional stunt in Lusaka.
13.
A male dancer for the Mwale Sisters in action in Lusaka
14.
FAZ interin committee Secretary General Simataa Simataa and National Sports Council of Zambia chairman Chifumu Banda captured before leaving for Zurich at Lusaka international airport.
15.
FAZ interim Committee secretary General Simataa Simataa captured before departure for Zurich.
16.
New Generation Party leader Humphrey Siulapwa (r) with his secretary general Robert Chabinga before a press briefing in Lusaka
17.
New Generation Party leader Humphrey Siulapwa addressing a press briefing in Lusaka
18.
The New look emblem for the New Generation Party
19.
Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane (l) with Nchelenge Member of Parliament Ben Mwila
20.
Vice president George Kunda receives the ZANAMA attire with his wife Irene on the right
21.
Vice president George Kunda donning the ZANAMA chitenge outfit
22.
Vice president George Kunda when he arrived in for a three day working visit in Kitwe
23.
Egyptian Ambassador to Zambia Salah Eldin Sadek addressing 10 Zambian engineers who have been sponsored for training to Egypt
24.
Chief Justice Ernest Sakala waits to present awards to journalists during the 2010 MISA Zambia awards
25.
Chief Justice Ernest Sakala (l) presents the Freedom of the Press award to United Liberal Party leader Sakwiba Sikota during the 2010 MISA Zambia awards
Interim Faz president Andrew Kamanga said Fifa’s green light for Faz councilors to put a no-confidence vote as an agenda item at next March’s general council meeting as an endorsement of a vote of no confidence in Kalusha Bwalya.
Kamanga said this at a press briefing just 24 hours after arriving from Zurich where the interim, Kalusha executive and government met Fifa to find a solution to the current Faz impasse.
Fifa had prior to the tripartite meeting on Monday said that if any part was aggregated with the Kalusha Bwalya administration, they should do so at the next Faz congress in 2012.
However, Fifa continue to recognize Kalusha as the legitimate head at Football House.
“FIFA itself has passed a vote of no confidence in Bwalya’s executive,” Kamanga said.
“And they have simply asked us to finish it off.”
He said the interim committee’s job now was to start the final push to next March’s general meeting.
“FIFA recognized us because when the FIFA president came into the meeting, he acknowledged that there were problems with FAZ and its members,” Kamanga said.
“So our job is easy, we will closely monitor the Kalusha executive and we will start campaigning.”
FTop: President Rupiah Banda with traders and Bottom: PF leader Michael Sata at Nsenga Hill market in Mpulungu
By Elias Munshya wa Munshya Just this year Zambia has had several by-elections. Some came as a result of death of incumbents while some were necessitated by expulsions or resignations. In a few months’ time, another by-election will take place in Mporokoso, after the resignation of its MP, Maynard Misapa.
Several NGOs, some politicians, and a good number of candid citizens have condemned the number of by-elections that Zambia conducts each year. By-elections are condemned as expensive and in some cases as unnecessary. Most recently a prominent Zambian political party said the money used for by-elections, which runs in billions of kwacha, could be well used for other developmental projects. However, I wish to argue in this article that Zambia needs more by-elections as they have more benefits for our growing democracy.
First, by elections are needed as they help the nation get to know interior parts of the country. Much of our media in Zambia is mostly based in Lusaka and the Copperbelt. As such, the focus of all these newspapers, radio and television stations are undoubtedly Lusaka, the Copperbelt and surrounding areas. The only time at which other rural areas receive some amount of national publicity is when there is a by-election in those rural areas. Bring a by-election and suddenly we get to know about the needs of the people of far flung areas such as Mufumbwe, Luena, Kanchibiya and Mporokoso.
Second, by-elections help further the tenets of democracy in between the general elections. A Zambia which goes to polls only after five years would be a politically boring country. There would be no political creativity and political rising stars would be thwarted. For example, the UPND rose to political prominence as a result of by-elections during Chiluba’s second term. I will leave it up to other commentators to debate why from 1996 to 2001 so many MPs from Southern Province died. This death of mostly MMD parliamentarians led to the rise of Anderson Mazoka and his UPND as they swept each seat that the MMD dead incumbent left. While the causes of these deaths or the morality of these deaths is beyond this article, it suffices to mention that the UPND could not have discovered its genius without those particular by-elections. In terms of political science, the UPND should go into history as the party that has gained more seats in parliament through deaths of incumbents than any other party. It is quite ironic that the UPND’s rise under Hakainde Hichilema is also connected to winning by-elections especially in Northwestern Province necessitated by the deaths of MMD incumbents. These deaths include that of Ben Tetamashimba (Solwezi Central) and Misheck Bonshe (Mufumbwe).
Third, by-elections promote the spirit of national unity and bring about the feeling of national solidarity. Suddenly during a by-election, it is not just Lusaka or the Copperbelt that matters. As in the Luena by-election, all sorts of politicians converged on Mongu. These politicians from all walks of life and from all corners of the country travelled to show solidarity to their party and their candidates. This solidarity is basically non-existent during the general elections as most politicians get busy with their own constituencies.
Fourth, by-elections are good for the local economies. Politics is big business in Zambia. By average, apart from the billions that the Electoral Commission spends on the elections, political parties also pour in billions of kwacha. It may not be a lasting investment for a particular constituency, but at least for that particular moment, the elections provide the cash and several business opportunities. Bars sell more beers, restaurants cook more meals, and lodges fill up their beds. Even in if such a boom does not last long, it nevertheless brings temporary smiles on a few faces.
Fifth, by-elections bring the ruling party and indeed a sitting president closer to the people. By-elections also provide the opportunity to test the sitting president. If we had no by-elections, the only time a sitting president would be tested is at a general election. Five years is too long. At least with randomly occurring by-elections the president is forced out of the presidential helicopter to interact with real people in various constituencies. Such interactions usually result in some tangible government help. One example is Kabwe. It is no doubt that the creation of Mulungushi University was expedited during the Kabwe Central and Bwacha constituency by-elections. Equally during the Mufumbwe by-election the president and the government ministers were forced to camp in Mwinilunga and interact personally with the ordinary folks on the ground. Undoubtedly, the ECZ spends a lot of money on these by-elections. And truly some of them are unnecessary. But still the benefits that these by-elections have for our democracy, for our economy and for the political development of our country far outweigh any disadvantages. As such, Zambia should have more and not fewer by-elections. For now, the next buzz is taking place in Mporokoso. We could also meet in Mufumbwe again if the Supreme Court agrees with Judge Philip Musonda.
Time to eat... A group of women going to deliver Matebeto to a would be husband
By Martin Mwango
Zambian anthropology defines marriage as a union between a man and woman. Marriage is the first gift that God gave to human beings, the creator blessed it and gave us the power to be pro creators on earth. Hence, Marriage has accompanied the human story from the very Genesis. Each culture defines marriage life differently.
In the Zambian culture we have some marriage values that we cannot do without. There are values and beliefs that have been there for generations and these are rituals that prepare one for a good and long lasting marriage. Here are some of the traditions of our lovely Zambian culture, though I’m not here to discuss them more profoundly but just to give a brief hint of them. The process that leads to marriage consists of the following steps
1) Insalamu when two young people fall in love, the man takes the first step and takes the Insalamu (token) which shows the commitment he has towards a woman he intends to marry. The two families then accept and acknowledge the intention of their children.
2)Nkobekela is the period that goes from the time that the insalamu is accepted by the woman’s side up to marriage or wedding day. During this time the two partners get to know each other and their families better.
3) Amatebeto The woman’s family responds to the man’s side with amatebeto. It’s a ritual practice for social and union between the two families.The womans family prepares a feast for the mans family.
Before the wedding day, the elders organizes themselves to teach both the man and a woman traditional values on how to abide in their new marriage life.
In Zambia today we are slowly losing these traditions and in the end we shall forfeit our identity just because of the so called world globalization. Our marriages should not be influenced by any other cultures.Besides Westerners have their own way of interpreting marriage life.
Nowadays, there are lot of divorces in Zambia which was something very rare many years ago. Are we easily disregarding the traditional values we are taught in exchange for the frivolous western values. Do our women deserve divorce? Perhaps its the women who nowadays want to wear the pants in the home.When we stand up for gender and change of some cultural practices we have to be careful.For example, when people stood up in Zambia to fight for liberty of dressing, what has come out of this liberty? We have lost our dressing code and our identity. Zambian men and women, we need to go back to our roots and pick up our identity and have respect in our marriages.
Let’s not just rush to make a change without putting into consideration the effects it will give us tomorrow.
Touch not marriage, otherwise our families will soon become like that of westerners where marriage has become like a contract. God created man and a woman and he consecrated them for marriage life and our culture as taught us how to interpret marriage life.
