Letters to the editor

Sat, 10 Feb 2018 10:35:11 +0000

Hillcrest Secondary School asking pupils to pay K1, 200 each for school bus

Dear Editor,

A FEW weeks ago, St. Mary’s School in Lusaka was in the news over exorbitant project fees.

This time it’s Hillcrest Secondary School in Livingstone.

The school is charging K1, 200 for a school bus they want to buy.

What is very painful in this is that they are refusing to give last year’s Grade 12s’ their statement of results if they do not pay this amount.

Imagine a pupil coming all the way from the Copperbelt or other faraway provinces to pick their results only to be turned back because they have not paid this amount.

The question is why force pupils that have left the school to pay when they will not even benefit from the use of this bus.

Can the Ministry of Education tell the nation why parents are being blackmailed in this way?

Concerned parent

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FINALLY, SOME IDEOLOGY IN POLITICS

Dear Editor

IT WAS a breath of fresh air to hear former Foreign Minister Harry Kalaba  articulating and discussing an issue of ideology as he castigated  the fact that Zambia had erroneously embraced  liberalism.

It was such a change from the insulting and vulgar language we have become acquainted to from your intellectual midget Chishimba Kambwili and his arrogant nemesis Hakainde Hichilema.

His debate however had no alternative he was offering considering that for almost 27 years the country laboured under a command economy in which Government controlled a large percentage of business. That model failed in Zambia as it did in many parts of the world.

Our friends next door in Zimbabwe embarked upon an indigenisation model which has landed them into serious economic, social and political problems. We actually benefitted by having some of their white farmers relocate to Zambia.

The only disconcerting  aspect of Kalaba’s rhetoric was his justification for remaining in the Patriotic Front (PF) while resigning as a minister. It does not make sense. Surely if the PF is corrupt, he has no business being there as a righteous man. He should distance himself from the party which, according to him, is not championing the cause of the ordinary people.

It is not good enough to remain in the pond and claim righteous indignation, this is called hypocrisy of the worst order.

Irwin Mwanakombe

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Yes, trading in cemeteries is wrong

Dear Editor,

I wish to strongly back the letter by your regular contributor Elemiya Phiri of Lusaka entitled ‘Trading at cemeteries illegal, unacceptable’ that appeared in your paper on January, 13, 208.

The trend is slowly but surely spreading to nearly all towns including Luanshya.

Traders have resorted to selling disposable drinks, mineral water and ice blocks at cemeteries.

This has resulted in death losing its dignity and respect.

Apart from being illegal, this trade is morally wrong in the eyes of society.

Like Mr. Phiri rightly observed, cemeteries are sacred and final resting places for our beloved ones and we should accord them the utmost respect they deserve.

KT Luanshya

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Concourt must guide the nation

Dear Editor

I WRITE to appeal to the learned judges who sit on the Concourt bench to take a leading role to guide Zambia and Zambians  from unwarranted hiccups the nation has seen after 2016 general elections.

The failure to interpret and put to the end some perceived court cases by some disgruntled politicians have put some Zambians, especially our majority rural zambians into believing the fight to plot one is still on, yet it is as plan as white paper that this was put to rest when Edgar C Lungu was sworn in.

So, where is the problem for the learned Counsels not to clear the air and fuss once and for all.

This time around, political parties should be preparing their relevance towards 2021 general elections.

Concourt for all I know, unless otherwise is the supreme Court of the land and should therefore not be entangled with what is happening in lower Courts for interpretation. Unless there is something Zambians dont know that they of course should know, the talk of last elections should by noe be
water under the bridge.

Please do not do Zambians the dis-service.

The money being spent on the judges under this jurisdiction is too much to take it lightly.

Wisdom Muyunda, Chingola

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Baluba Mine reopening will revitalise local economy

Dear Editor,

THE people of Luanshya badly need jobs and the decision by owners of Luanshya Copper Mines to reopen Baluba Mine in the months to come is in tandem with the PF government vision of creating decent jobs for the people.

The new contractors to be given the job of running the mines must employ as many people as possible by giving preference to those who once worked at Baluba and new ones with the necessary qualifications and experience.

Lastly, I would like to appeal to the mine investors in Luanshya to adopt some schools in Mpatamato Township as a way of corporate social responsibility.

This is because right now there is nothing that the people of Mpatamato can point at as far as the China Luanshya Copper Mines is concerned.

Luanshya Resident.