Letters to the editor

Sun, 18 Feb 2018 12:13:23 +0000

STOP SENDING PUPILS AWAY

Dear Editor,

I wish to express my displeasure with some schools that have continued sending grade 8 pupils away just because he or she has not bought a rim of paper demanded by some schools.

What is even more annoying is that pupils be are barred from attending classes even after the fees have been paid in full. Why send a child back home just because of a rim of paper?

When schools reopened in the aftermath of the cholera outbreak, the government through the Ministry of Education, made it clear that no child should be sent back home because of unpaid fees. Instead schools were advised to engage individual parents and decide on payments a plan for fees.

Why should parents be subjected to buying rims of paper and other stuff as if they are part and parcel of the fees?  That’s the responsibility of individual schools, but all this is forced on parents to buy, this fair. Some schools even ask parents to buy toilet tissues and other sanitary items. Surely is this the responsibility of parents?

Parents are already overburdened many with taxes, why add more indirectly? I appeal to the Government to look into this. Some schools are taking advantage of the situation to run away from their responsibilities.

Yes, I am aware for instance that the schools, especially rural ones are poorly funded, but that does not give any learning institution the right to make excessive demands on parents. Let them find other ways raising money for their operations.

I appeal to the government to explain this issue clearly because in as far as I am concerned, schools are supposed to buy such things from their own resources.

As it is schools, especially government, ones have abrogated their responsibilities and transferred them to parents.  What is the government policy on this issue? As a concerned parent, and like many others, I need an explanation.

Concerned Parent

LUSAKA

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Ministers should emulate President Lungu

Dear Editor,

I write first and foremost to commend President Lungu for listening to the complaints of Zambians for him to reduce on his foreign trips but concentrate on spot checks on Government projects countrywide.

This is surely a very diligent after thought move.

A lot of Government projects that have gobbled a lot of money either have stalled or lack quality because of lack of serious supervision by government.

I have said time and again that politicians will trust technocrats to do the work, including supervision at their own peril.

Ministers should also take a leaf from President Lungu to take periodic inspections in line with their work than waiting for reports from technocrats who have a way of misinforming them to their discredit.

It is this reason that despite Minister of Health Dr Chitalu’s assertion that there are no shortages of drugs in hospitals and clinics countrywide, the reality is actually opposite in some hospitals.

Limulunga Hospital in Western Province is such an example where people are complaining of lack of drugs for their ailments except panadol.

This means his assurance to the nation is misguided and he should get on the ground and get the correct status quo.

This is the hospital that is just a stone throw from the Litunga’s palace and people are forced to travel to Mongu General hospital for simple ailments.

Wisdom Muyunda, Chingola

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Upgrade shanty compounds

Dear  Editor,

President Edgar Lungu has promised to upgrade shanty compounds and I only wish that this could be done fast. Living in shanty compounds is really tough especially now when rains are making life difficulty. Homes are flooded and it is hard to keep dry because even the furniture is drenched and smelling badly.

The pit latrines are filled with water and over flowing and just spreading disease and dirt all over.

And on top of this, we have to worry about cholera hitting us because of the same poor sanitation system.

Most of us are hoping that the pledge from the President would come sooner than later because this life is not easy.

Because of the poor planning or lack of planning in shanty compounds, the possibility of getting roads done is questionable. It would mean getting rid of some houses and how many people would be willing to lose their homes.

But a decision definitely must be made to improve our lot. We cannot continue living in squalor.

We have a President who feels for poor people and that is already a plus for us.

We are just waiting for the implementation of the pledge.

In the meantime, we shall pray that the cholera does not return.

Bweupe, Kanyama

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Kambwili is shallow

 Dear Editor,

I used to think ba Kambwili was all that and smart especially when he was Information Minister. He should sound so intelligent. Now his shallow brain has been exposed. The man has no substance to him.

His level of thinking is that grade 7 and I cant for the life of me, imagine what made Presidents Sata and Lungu appoint him as minister.

The man belongs in a comedy house. He is good for entertainment and not to be taken seriously.

Honestly the language that he uses to demean others, especially women, is so primitive. It is almost like the man has a dictionary of derogatory words and insults.

How can a national leader harbor so much hatred for others. How can a national leader wake up dreaming of the best way to insult and demean another human being.

As for Margaret Mwanakatwe, ba Kambwili is not even in her league academically or in terms of intelligence. He should therefore not even talk about her. No amount of pull her down (PHD) will work. She is a strong woman.

Bullies like targeting women that they secretly fear or admire. Not sure in which category to put our Luanshya man.

Josephine, Kitwe