Wed, 05 Jul 2017 13:48:40 +0000
POSITIVE VIBRATIONS No. 66
There is no doubt any more that pride and prejudice has taken center stage in our body politics and is undermining Zambia.
It appears many do not accept that after all and when all is considered, Zambia is a country of laws. We have many experts and many commentators who have taken it upon themselves to clarify and explain common sense. Sometimes, the views of these experts are dangerous and absurd. They undermine the stability of Zambia.
Many are actually posturing to be heroes of the downtrodden, when in reality, pursuing vanity. They have gone in some undefined alliance with some individuals in media organizations, and that is where the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation, (ZNBC) which I have had brushes with in the past, beats other media.
ZNBC mostly puts across a nationalistic agenda and we know what has happened when politicians at very high levels, have tried to control News.
It appears that the “crime” ZNBC has “committed” is to be owned and “controlled” by government, (people of Zambia) as opposed to known media houses, which are owned or remotely “controlled” by foreign interest(s). Foreign control is generally, dangerous!
Some media houses are Zambian-owned but struggling. This is where government must proactively respond, and the Zambian owned media too, must push for support, since it plays a pivotal role in either informing or misinforming the public.
I have mentioned ZNBC and the media in general because those are the platforms from which people make up their minds to take this or that position.
Recently, President Edgar C. Lungu correctly, talked about sanitizing the public service. It cannot be doubted that we knew about that concern/sentiment through the media.
We know about vandalism through the media and we know about how good or bad the Zambian economy is performing through the media. We get to know most happenings through the media. That is how central and pivotal media houses are, as opposed to investing in pedestrian clubs.
It is my submission therefore that in addition to sanitizing the public service; we need to extend the broom to the private sector as well, more so, with some media outlets and multinationals employing Zambians.
This is important because when we allow all manner of expression as provided for by law, it is the country (not individuals) that suffers if and when recklessness, sets in. Conglomerates too surfer!
Just like in important works such as the Holy Bible, we tend to read only those parts that support our action(s) or utterances. We are not concerned with what is required to understand and interpret the law correctly.
I have said before that statutory interpretation is very technical and requires detailed know how, beyond casual gleaning of a statute or legal instrument.
Interestingly, the same conventions that we refer to as making strong reference to domestic or international law, also submits to legalese. Ratification or domestication of international instruments can never mean substituting/overthrowing domestic legislation. Actually, most international legal instruments on Human Rights make logical reference to Domestic Law.
I submit that pride and prejudice has led to undermining Zambia, in many ways. One of the unfortunate consequences is that the economy, with the assistance of some Zambians, is in “foreign hands”.
Let’s take the simple example of the administration of Dr. FTJ Chiluba’s Presidential Housing Initiative (PHI). Quite alright sitting tenants bought houses but regrettably, sold to the highest bidder at the behest of indigenous Zambians.
Unfortunately, the new owners hold sway over the economy and through the banking system; externalize proceeds of their business activities and doing as ownership entitles them.
Then, we complain bitterly that the Kwacha is weakening against the dollar! It had to take the Bank of Zambia, to put a stop to dollarization of prices and fees. Colleagues, we have a civic duty to complement government and the Bank of Zambia.
It has been argued, that Zambia is largely dependent on Copper. If we agree that because Zambia has no access to the sea, therefore challenges are to be expected. And, if we agree that because Zambia was once colonized by the British, then we should look to Britain to make things right; then these assumptions among many are partly responsible for our relatively youthful people knowingly or unknowingly, undermining their country to support other economies.
Most of these guys are in pursuit of vanity. They wittingly engage in some known scandalous and morally repulsive activities. In this category, are some high profile figures, a suggestion that Zambians must save Zambia!
If I may ask, how can experts in manipulating investments and masters of scandalous behaviors save Zambia? Put differently, do they have the best interest of Zambia at heart, when they have taken oath elsewhere to serve hostile entities?
Ask any person I worked or associated with at Afronet, we did our own independent investigations and never at any time sought to compromise any government or private official. I remain very proud of the professionally trained staff, most of whom now hold prominent and responsible positions, at home and abroad.
So, why would we, after more than fifty years of independence, have very little stake in our copper and other minerals? In this respect, I wish I could support the so called Jerabos, who illegally took it upon themselves to get what rightly belongs to Zambia. Regrettably, their “complicated” formula of redress undermines national security and the rule of law.
The pronounced corrective efforts are commendable. Refusing to respect the law, is a big problem, and unacceptable. Remember, nobody is above the law!
We have talked and have been talking for various reasons. Others seek to settle scores; others seek political relevance while others seek to make a real and genuine contribution. In the process, intentions and choice become quite clear.
What is worrisome, and probably the source of pride and prejudice; is the false belief that Zambia’s challenges, which have been there since independence, can only be cured by outsiders.
Just how practical is such a belief? There are others who say that “in fact, we are better off being colonized again”. What debris of thought!
It is common knowledge that donors support Zambia as a country and the framework for supporting Zambians is through the government of the Republic, which is both a legal and legitimate entity. I know no instance when donors or a donor has stepped forward to support Zambia through a controversial grouping at odds with government.
For this reason and many others, there is a struggle for the control of public resources and what we see manifesting as “violence” or anger, is nothing but an expression of failed schemes, which include criminality. It is a national problem, requiring a holistic and detailed response.
When people, resort to anarchy, reason is absent, thereby negating objectivity. It is important to appreciate that once one imports emotions in any situation, judgment is impaired.
This is one of the reasons why a referee or umpire in any match must not be emotionally involved.
I have advised men and women who stand on the pulpit to preach the Gospel, not to take sides, whatever the circumstances. The reason is simple: Congregants are happy with a sincere and neutral message, distant from self serving agendas. Taking sides divides the congregation!
As we deal decisively with the scourge of pride and prejudice, truth must remain our guiding principle. We must be each others’ keeper and accept the reality of divergence of opinions.
Some opinions are good and some very bad. Please understand this: The foundation of the human rights discourse in modern times is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted on 10th December, 1948.
If it is of any comfort, the natural school of thought, upon which the human rights movement draws inspiration, had a major input from St Augustine, a renowned Scholar/Priest. You just have to look and appreciate the Catholic Church’s Social Teachings to appreciate that fact, including the following:
We have no choice but to co-exist. This reality demands respect and reason to guide existence.
Any person wishing to enjoy or exercise his or her God given rights, must do so knowing too well the inherent obligations of co-existence. It is partly the reason why the law imposes strict liability on certain offences, in order to promote sanity.
In more than one way, the law, including rules and regulations, tends to limit our enjoyment of some rights. In fact, other than misplaced feelings of entitlement, no right is absolute! I stand to be corrected.
A Nationalist posture is always important.
We must as a matter of urgency, take the bull by its hones and deal with debilitating issues. In doing so, we must grow our democracy and not take into account irrelevant considerations, which offend principles of fairness, equity and justice.
It is wrong and absurd to assume that in order to be politically correct, one must criticize her/his government and associate with partisan politics or programs, however defined.
Note that intellectual output, just like any good functionary elsewhere, requires truth to reign all the time. Understanding is another challenge.
Clearly, bending the truth for convenience or whatever end is not what Zambia and its partners, desire.
See you next week.
Comments: ngandem12@gmail.com Mobiles/SMS 0955776191 and 0977776191
