AT the end of the nomination process for the 2021 Zambian presidential election, there were 20 candidates and there were supposed to be an equal number of running mates.
But finally, four of the candidates failed to complete their nomination formalities and withdrew from the race. That left 16 presidential candidates.
This hunger for power among our politicians left me wondering if Zambia had become a huge jackals’ carcass; our country has become an animal butchered and dressed to be scavenged by marauding canids.
To understand these worries about the conduct of our politicians, it would be wonderful to look at the definitions of a jackal and I will quote:
“A jackal is one of several small omnivorous canids (such as Canis aureus) of Africa and Asia having large ears, long legs, and bushy tails, a jackal is a person who performs routine or menial tasks for another or a person who serves or collaborates with another especially in the commission of base acts.”
Jackals normally hunt small and medium prey but they can also feast on the carcasses of large animals. A carcass is defined as a dead body especially one of an animal that has been consumed or dressed for consumption.
Jackals normally scavenge on larger species whenever they chance one that may have been hunted by larger predators. They do not mind the condition of the carcass, they will scavenge it anyhow. A scavenger is defined as a person or animal or even insect who takes what others have thrown away.
In folklore and mythology, jackals are referred to as doleful howlers. A howler is defined as a glaring blunder, or clumsy mistake or embarrassing misjudgement, typically one which evokes laughter.
The definitions of these key words in relation to the behaviour of jackals when put together clearly illustrate the conduct of our politicians. In a country of only 17 million-plus people, we have 16 presidential candidates while large, very large nations will only have two or three competing parties.
The worst part of it is the crisscrossing of politicians from one party to the other without any regard to principles and morals. Considering what is known about the business conduct of UPND presidential candidate Mr Hakainde Hichilema, it is disturbing that some leaders in the country have gone to join him and try to dupe the people with an empty cry of the “Zambia We Want.”
Former Finance minister Felix Mutati is the minister who commissioned the forensic audit into the Saturnia Regna Pension Trust Fund after an outcry from the Trustees, members of the public and a damning report by the Pension and Insurance Authority.
Mr Mutati saw that report and never released it to the public. What was he hiding?
To date, that report has never been published, it has not even been circulated to the members who subscribe to the Saturnia Pension Trust. What I know is that only two copies were given to the chairman of the Trustees who has ever since hidden it away from the public.
Where does this secrecy put Mr Hichilema’s bid for the highest public office in our land? Certainly there are moral issues which should worry a person like Mr Mutati. But in jackal-like behaviour, the two seem to be comfortable collaborators in some base conduct.
I can also swear and dare Mr Kelvin Fube Bwalya to refuse that I personally presented him with a report of how the managers of the Saturnia Regna Pension Trust Fund had abused properties that belong to the pension scheme.
The properties where registered under Saturnia Regna Pension Registered Trustees instead of the pension fund as ordered by the Pension and Insurance Authority. To date, no one besides Mr Hichilema’s close associates, has ever seen the title deeds to the properties.
I also explained to Mr Bwalya how Saturnia Regna Pension Trust Fund is involved in the theft of the BP Zambia pension scheme funds with all the documentation which includes letters signed by Saturnia managers.
Mr Hichilema is a shareholder in African Life Financial Services (Aflife) and Benefits Consulting Services Limited (Bencon). These are the two companies that administer and manage the Saturnia Regna Pension Trust Fund. Of course an effort has been made to conceal Mr Hichilema’s involvement by layering of the shareholding through Menel Management services.
That Mr Mutati and Mr Bwalya have found Mr Hichilema as a representative of the “Zambia We Want” defies logic. Mr Hichilema’s business conduct raises a lot of moral issues and of which both gentlemen have first-hand knowledge.
Is it not a question of scavenging? People have seen Zambia as a carcass ready for scavenging. How else can one explain these unprincipled marriages in our political parties?
People are just seeking power without any clearly defined ideologies or programmes for the country. There is no regard for self-esteem or any sense of shame.
All that there is a pitiful hollering to deceive their way into power.
It is a jackals’ scramble for a large carcass!
Yours truly,
Troubleshooter
pentvision@gmail.com, ecchipalo@icloud.com, ecchipalo@yahoo.co.uk
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