Mon, 08 Jan 2018 14:55:08 +0000
DISCLOSE FUNDING FOR NEW PARTIES
Dear Editor,
Where is the money coming from for the former Ministers to fund lavish expenditure on vehicles and mobilisation campaigns?
It is interesting that the same officials appear to have vast resources to buy fleets of vehicles for use in campaigns in Luapula and Northern Provinces in which provinces
Where has this money come from? It cannot be from their salaries which are well known by the public.
Sadly the moribund Anti-Corruption commission has failed to investigate any of them even where the public has provided evidence.
Zambians know these people and where they have come from.
Perhaps with the new leadership the ACC will try and improve their act to gain public confidence.
It is not possible that within the few years they have served in Government they could have earned so much money in a legitimate manner to even afford expensive mobilisation programmes for their new parties.
Time has come for the various law enforcement agencies to take their work seriously by exposing the hypocrisy of those crying to be as white as President Kaunda’s handkerchief when they are well known for their nefarious activities. Unless these people are exposed they will continue to destabilise the country with their unfounded claims.
It has become fashionable for new political parties to make outrageous statements accusing the Patriotic Front (PF) of corruption or failure in one way or the other, without stating what their intentions will be.
I have in mind the new NDC party of Chishimba Kambwili and his friend including former foreign Minister Harry Kalaba who have all concentrated on harping the evils of corruption in the PF without being specific on the nature of evil they area condemning.
If they have examples they must state out clearly so that the people of Zambia can make a determination over the matters.As it stands the country has nothing to go by except their word that there is corruption in the Government.
Thomas Muzyamba
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Congratulations to striker Patson Daka
Dear editor,
I also wish to congratulate Zambian prolific striker, Patson Daka who plies his trade in Austria on winning two football accolades or awards.
At local level, Daka won the National Sports Council of Zambia (NSCZ) sportsman of the year and he also won the African young player of the year on Thursday, January 5, 2018. He beat his two rivals; Krespin Diatta of Senegal and Salam Giddou of Mali.
The Zambian striker played an instrumental role for the junior Chipolopolo to win the 2017 Africa Under 20 Cup of Nations. The football tournament was hosted by Zambia. He also guided the junior Chipolopolo to the quarterfinal stage at the 2017 South Korea FIFA Under 20 World Cup football tournament.
If the above was not good enough, Daka was instrumental in the senior Chipolopolo’s 2018 Russia World Cup qualifier despite Zambia failing to qualify for the maiden world cup berth.
His crowning as African young player of the year is a great achievement for our country. This has shown the world that our country has talented footballers who can compete at any level. He has made us proud and I wish him all the best in his football endeavours.
CORCERNED CITIZEN, Lusaka.
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Three defence force wings equal to the task
Dear editor,
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu last Friday directed the three defence wings namely the Zambia Airforce, Zambia Army and Zambia National Service to clean the streets of Lusaka.
The decision was arrived at due to outbreak of cholera epidemic in most parts of Lusaka. The cholera cases were first recorded on October 6, 2017.
These personnel from the three defence forces swung into action in the early hours of new year’s eve, Sunday December 31, 2017 cleaning the streets of central business district (CBD) with all shops and other trading areas closed.
Soweto Market was recently closed due to outbreak of cholera. The defence personnel have been working tirelessly since Sunday in a bid to clean up the city thereby improving the sanitary conditions.
The cholera epidemic in Lusaka has been declared as a national disaster. Hence, the need to contain further outbreak of the epidemic which has claimed 42 lives so far.
Of course, there is an outcry from the street vendors in that they are not trading which has impacted negatively on their financial position as vending is their only source of income to provide for their families.
What is cardinal is health of the citizens which should always come first. On this score, let me hasten to mention here that the defence forces are equal to the task by cleaning Lusaka central business district. This will ultimately restore sanity and bring about high levels of hygiene.
Lusaka is now cleaner than before and devoid of street vendors, some of whom caused public nuisance. The listening Patriotic Front (PF) Government through the ministry of local government and housing has not neglected the street vendors.
This is because it has come up with the initiative of relocating the street vendors to the new trading site which will be constructed soon. This is a good gesture.
CONCERNED, Lusaka.
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HH and cholera saga
Editor,
HH and as an opposition Leader, you are supposed to keep in check the existing Government and as much as I welcome your earlier statement over the cholera crisis, but as said your statement could have been of much value had you earlier yourself than President Edgar Lungu, sensitized the Government over the epidemic and that way you could have gained great political mileage that way and not as things stand now, because that was an afterthought, not especially for someone aspiring for republican President of Zambia and to me it looks like you are working in isolation and little care from the people in your inner circle.
Where is your sensitivity, when people are dying and yet you have money outside Zambia and if banked here could be taxed and go a long way in helping the people that you want to lead.
H.H, your emphasis on overseas trips by Government has become unproductive, because the people of Zambia have heard the rhetoric before and it has saved its purpose, but allow for productive issues and what tangible things have you done? to counteract the existing cholera crisis as a leading opposition political leader and in order that both the people of Zambia and outside may be able to appreciate you. But with God’s divine intervention the epidemic has saved a thorny political issue on how best to remove street vendors and without any conflict.
Any leader should at all times care for his own people and through their deeds and President Edgar Lungu has shown the exemplary leadership and it’s what may be expected of you and Zambians are seeing too little of it.
Friday B. Nkamba Lusaka
Extended school holiday timely
Dear editor,
The Minister of Health, Dr. Chitalu Chilufya and his General Education counterpart, Dr. Dennis Wanchinga recently held a joint press briefing in Lusaka to officially announce the extension of the school holiday in view of the outbreak of cholera across the country, with Lusaka recording the highest infection rate which is currently standing well above 2000.
The number of people who have died of the cholera epidemic is above 50. This is indeed a very sad development.
It was, however, resolved during the briefing that schools, colleges and universities will remain closed until the cholera situation is brought under control. It was further resolved that these learning institutions will not reopen any time soon.
However, the cholera situation will be revealed at the end of this month so as to establish whether schools should reopen or not.
As a way of containing further spread of the epidemic, the defence and security wings are on top of things by embarking on the cleaning exercise of Lusaka central business district (CBD).
In my aforegone conclusion, I wish to laud or rather commend the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health for mutually agreeing to extend the school holiday in view of the escalating cholera cases across the country. The decision is timely and long overdue.
PHIRI, Lusaka.
