Today's letters to the editor

Mon, 07 Aug 2017 10:47:43 +0000

Pupil’s dress code must be decent

Dear Editor,

The education policy demand that pupils in schools must dress decently to the required standard.

The decent dress code should apply to pupils of both public and private schools.

Despite the law being in place, some pupils have continued to wearing short uniforms, different pairs of shoes, having fun haircuts, putting some fun makeups to mention but a few.

Pupils in private schools are the major culprits where indecent dressing is concerned.

In olden times, pupils could adhere to decent dress code and teachers were very strict in ensuring that pupils conform to the accepted dress code.

If pupils were found wanting regarding dress code, punishment was meted out there and then.

Nowadays, some teachers seem to be reluctant in enforcing discipline on pupils who abrogate or violate school regulations. Indecent dress code by some pupils has led to high incidences of such as sexual immorality for instance.

Parents of these pupils should also play a significant role by ensuring that the latter adhere to dress code as demanded by the school authorities.

Should the issue of decent dress code of pupils be tabled in parliament for revisiting? In my considered view, I feel this should not be the case.

This is because the school authorities can enforce disciplinary measures against pupils found wanting regarding decent dress code.

The pupils are the future leaders who should exhibit highest standard of discipline including dress code.

They should wear appropriate uniforms whenever at school.

ELEMIYA PHIRI,

Lusaka

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Workers and work culture

Dear Editor,

It is very frustrating and annoying to see workers in both public and private institutions fail to attend to problems facing people.

Some of these people in offices have lost love for work but are good at asking when salaries would be in.  Being in those positions is a privilege to serve the people to the best of one’s ability.  Most of these people have the tendency of saying ‘come next week or come on Friday.  When that time comes they will either be out of office or will ask you to see them the following Monday.  One wonders why these people occupy offices when they don’t have answers to give to the public or can’t solve problems presented before them. How I wish some of us with the heart to serve would be given that opportunity to be in those offices.

Concerned citizen

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Motivating suspected UPND arsonists

Dear Editor,

I want to comment on the UPND in Southern Province and Livingstone in particular that disputed Justice Minister Given Lubinda’s recent statement that no innocent citizens had been arrested since the invocation of Article 31 by President Edgar Lungu.

Unwittingly, UPND Livingstone spokesperson Neto Halwabala accused the minister of misinforming the nation.

 According to him, the police acting under the invocation of Article 31 arrested 12 suspected UPND cadres from

Livingstone and moved them to Lusaka where they are allegedly detained incommunicado (“UPND challenges Justice”, Daily Nation, August 5, 2017).

Despite the consequences, Neto Halwabala’s thoughts and claims of innocence on the spate of arson attacks that rocked the country nationwide in the recent past portray a motivating, dishonest and unrealistic analysis of the actual deeds that led to the threatened state of emergency obtaining in the country.

However, it must be noted that UPND suspected arsonists – many of whom are educated – are individuals who have become disillusioned with the UPND-hyped but failed regime change of 2016 – and have chosen to vent their frustration using a terror-related platform.

While their activities portray them as unrepentant demon-controlled arsonists, news reports as well as public opinion in Southern Province have shown that there may be economic and political dimensions to their actions, rather than demonic.#

The UPND challenge to the Justice Minister was very educational in the sense that it provided some insights to the investigative wings who are involved in probing the mysterious setting ablaze of markets and government buildings experienced nationwide in the recent past.

However, I think another angle that should have been looked at was whether these suspected arsonists were being used by UPND politicians to derail the present government in Zambia led by President Edgar Lungu, a PF president.  This is very important, considering the fact that Southern Province is deeply divided along ethno-political lines.

The inference being that the UPND Livingstone spokesperson and the 12 arrested UPND cadres from Livingstone share the same political aspirations of the same opposition party.

By the look of things, one would tend to believe that the setting ablaze of City Market in Lusaka, the burning down of public  installations were possibly masterminded, engineered and caused by the UPND grassroots leadership, which claims to propagate democracy, but in fact works for and gives support to cabals who champion ethnic minority rule.

This is against the tenets of democracy, which presupposes popular choice of a people.

This selfish motive by the UPND has brought about disunity, hatred and enmity and, by extension, acts of arson and economic sabotage in the country.

Mubanga Luchembe,

LUSAKA

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‘Mighty’ must up their game to survive relegation

Dear Editor,

People’s team and the legendary cup fighters, Mufulira Wanderers Football Club is not performing to the expectation this soccer season.

It is not good that a team of Mighty Mufulira Wanderers’ calibre can plummet to level of relegation zone within the first round of the season.

 Mighty is currently lying on position 18 with a paltry 15 points from 20 games played so far?

In week 20, Mighty played to a 1 all draw with the Zambia Army sponsored outfit, Green Buffaloes Football Club.

 The tea, should find the winning ways if it is to survive relegation and avoid plying their trade in Division One in next year’s soccer season.

 However, there is still chance for Mighty to improve on the league standing and survive relegation.

This is possible. This can be achieved by start winning the remaining games.

Over and above, the premier league is thrilling with the presence of topflight teams like Mufulira Wanderers, Nkana, Power Dynamos, Zanaco, Zesco, Napsa to mention but a few.

 All the best to Mighty in the remaining league games.

 EP, Lusaka.

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Bus Operators should emulate Wada Chovu

Dear Editor,

After concluding my business in Lusaka, I boarded one of the buses at inter-city bus terminus on 31st July, 2017.

This bus belongs to one of the operators on the Copperbelt and it was going to Kasumbalesa Via, Ndola, Kitwe and Chililabombwe.

To say the least, I was shocked and disappointed with the disorganized crew of the bus.

The conductor and call boys were drunk and smelling beer while shouting at the top of their voices.

The bus was full but they kept on selling tickets. When the time to start off came, there was no prayer but confusion as the driver was busy exchanging insults with the call boys who were demanding for their ‘cut’.

 As a concerned passenger I tried to call the numbers on the tickets to complain only to be told that the gentleman whose number was used was no longer with that company.

I would like to urge bus operators to emulate Wada Chovu bus services of Luanshya whose crew has respect for passengers and always start with a prayer for the journey. Passengers deserve respect.

Timothy Kambilima

Luanshya