Today's Letters

Tue, 04 Apr 2017 10:02:21 +0000

A single tribe cannot rule Zambia

Dear Editor,

The truth must be told about our country.

The demographics of our country will not allow any one single dominant tribe to rule the country because that will be a recipe for constant upheaval and destabilisation.

That is why our politics must be organised around common issues and interests rather than ethnic consideration.

The effect of colonisation and development of the mining industry in Zambia and South Africa have played a major role in the political dynamics of the country in relation to ethnic makeup.

Zambia has been carved into some very convenient ethnic groupings that makes nonsense of the tribe. For example Bemba is no longer a tribe for the few within Paramount Chief Chitimukulu. Bemba is a lingua franca that embraces many tribes and most importantly generations of “coloured” children born from intermarriage who speak the language as a birth right.

It is for this reason that the defection of Geoffrey Mwamba to the UPND is a non-factor to local politics. His brand of tribal politics does not make sense to the younger educated people whose interest in the wellbeing of the nation as a whole and not for a chiefdom.

The tribe today means very little because the aggregation of tribes has obliterated and erased the chiefdoms to which individuals paid loyalty. A larger community of Zambia has been created whose future will be determined by the largest aggregate of citizens.

It means therefore that any allegiance to one tribal group is doomed to failure.

That is why President Lungu an Easterner from Kitwe is accepted because many people trust that he will serve the best interest of the nation rather than that of his tribe. Nobody feels threatened by him. If anything he represents modern Zambia. He belongs to the tribe to which the Jerabos are related- a common commercial interest.

This mean that any party that represents one concentrated tribe will be a threat and may never be supported by the majority.

PF is popular because it has its roots in people with common interest, namely a wish to see the country distribute resources as equitably as possible through a leadership that is committed and dedicated to all the people of Zambia regardless of their tribal affiliation.

Let those with ears hear.

Solomon Mwetwa

Commit HH, UPND to prayers

Dear Editor,

I am probably one of those Zambians who will never understand the thinking of  UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema.

Having said this I am making my worthwhile request to the Church in Zambia to commit HH and his UPND to God because what these human beings are doing is beyond even the Devil himself.

Talking alone will not make HH and UPND admit that President Edgar Chagwa Lungu won the elections and he is now sleeping in State House while HH sleeps in New Kasama. It is as plain as that.

What HH wants to create anarchy in the nation? The Bemba call is ‘kufilila munsenga’ simply translated that if Iman not the one, nobody else should.

The level of lawlessness in UPND has certainly reached frightening levels and could easily spark a civil war-perhaps that is what HH is thoughtlessly praying for.

The trouble with war in whatever form, it does not choose who to target. It may start killing the one who starts it because if HH and his cohorts that they can easily overrun this country, they had better think twice.

They may today boast of having killing machines but for how long? They should not forget that every fighter gets beaten.

Our boxing champions Charles Manyuchi and Catherine Phiri were recently beaten. It has happens all the time because you cannot be the smart fella all the time.

Only HH and UPND minions will probably learn this too late but their payback is coming soon whether they like it or not.

Mark Myatt once wrote that a leader who lacks character or integrity will not endure the test of time.

It doesn’t matter how intelligent, affable, persuasive, or savvy a person is, if they are prone to rationalizing unethical behaviour based upon current or future needs, they will eventually fall prey to their own undoing. Optics over ethics is not a formula for success.

Nobody is perfect, but leaders who consistently fail are not leaders, no matter how much you wish they were.

Josiah Soko, Salima Road, Matero

New ZESCO tariffs outrageous

Dear Editor

I refer to a comment by Mr Mathew Jere were he espoused the increment of electricity tariffs in your Sunday Nation of 2nd April 2017.

It is my view that Mr Jere has taken a simplistic view of the whole issue, and seems to be devoid of implications to the social and economic climate.

To counter his points, I raise the following issues:

1. The cost of generating electricity by ZESCO has never been appreciated by the general populace as this information has never been availed to the public.
2. How does the public utility fair when benchmarked to worldwide practices, e.g number of employees vs total generated power, or generated power vs losses etc
3. Comparing ZESCO’ s tariffs with other countries in the region is misleading. We hold 40percent of water in the region while countries like South Africa use coal and nuclear.
4. New projects in generation including those based on renewable energy should be private sector driven as opposed to depend on ZESCO’s tariff increases. ZESCO’s CAPEX outlay should be deployed to recapitalize the current asset base.
5. It is not ZESCO’s mandate to attract investment in the energy sector by increasing tariffs as espoused. This is the function of Government which has a larger leverage, like other investment incentives under IDC.

Jonathan

Police must find UPND killers of that innocent Zambian

Dear Editor

It made sad reading to learn that an innocent life was lost at the hands of UPND after police stopped their planned illegal rally in Kanyama on Sunday.

The type of politics HH and UPND are playing is extremely dangerous and I am more than convinced that HH will NEVER rule Zambia because he is simply wicked.

I say so because how else do you describe a so-called leader who encourages lawlessness, violence, hate speech-all because of his greed to enter State House?

No, HH has not pleased God and unless he turns to Jesus Christ in a big way he is a washed away politician without any future. Mark my words.

The Bible says God makes mad those he wants to destroy and this is about to happen in Zambia. It is just a matter of time.

Paul Mainda, Jack

Compound, Lusaka The Church Today

Dear Editor,

Christianity must promote truth, love, hope, hardworking, unity and integrity in all human beings.

But today these principles of Christianity have died in many churches.

Anybody who seeks the truth cannot be motivated by most preachers of today.

It is the brainwashed masses who fill up most churches today. The truth seekers have left churches.

They have rejected to be part of hypocrisy and be indoctrinated in unchristian manners.

Zambia is a Christian nation but this declaration is just ideal culture as is evident by the lifestyles of most citizens including some in top leadership.

Most churches deserve to be closed in this country and only help innocent but vulnerable citizens taken for granted by dubious preachers.

Wisdom Kaunda

Kabwe

De-register the UPND now!

Editor,

The unruly behavior of the UPND calls for deregistration of the party now and not later. If these criminals are left untamed then Zambia must brace itself for total confusion due to the UPND’s double standard in dealing with issues to do with the POA, delete UPND from the register of political parties as earlier demanded by Change Life. Arrest HH and his lieutenants who are funning chaos in Kanyama with help from his tribemates. Innocent citizens are being kZilled with fear of the unknown, being deliberately caused by UPND’s illegality and criminality in order to achieve evil schemes.

Concerned senior citizen

The new Ndola Teaching Hospital

Editor,

As much as we are appreciating the construction currently going on at the hospital, the high cost catering service is way beyond poor people. We really miss the previous caterer what happened?

Concerned citizen, Ndola

Beware of failed politicians

Editor,

I write to express my views on what Dr Cozmo Mumba said in the Daily Nation of 30th March 2017 that there is a new PF splinter party called the True Greens. This is day dreaming, why can’t this party talk of its own successes? Why dwell on bringing confusion in our party, the PF? The people he talked about are hard working party members. Mr. Mutati. Siliya, our provincial MP Mr. Bowman Lusambo are in the PF to stay so please ba doctor Mumba, talk about your failed party! We have ba F. Bwalya, he is the person we can get information from and not you. Please ba president, be careful with this failed opposition leader. They are like HH and are in dreamland.

Viva PF, viva Mr. Edgar Lungu!

EK, Masaiti

Directed to Lawrence Tembo 

Editor,

Who told you that to be a President, you need to be a councilor MP, first ? Look at Ian Khama, Obama, the Tanzanian President, Jacob Zuma, Namibian president and the mighty Trump. Were they councilors before? Keep your blindness to yourself. Leadership is all about having the qualities and discipline.

Royd Mbabala

Dangote will help lower mealie-meal prices

Editor,

The price of this product can come down if the Government desires. They did it to cement when Dangote came in. I believe the price can come down. Can I also suggest that in each province, there must be a Dangote milling plant?

Lungu. A.

How much does ERB owe ZESCO?

Editor,

Kindly advice the ERB chairman to obtain the total amount owed to ZESCO by its debtors before looking at their application to increase power tariffs. We want ZESCO to prove that they are not sitting on money.  We are not against ZESCO raising funds but we are against the only method they know of increasing tariffs each time they want money. Why can’t ZESCO diversify (like Zampost) or invest like NAPSA, ZSIC or go flat out to collect the huge debts owed to it? Note that increase in power tariffs will cause hardships to people and the cost of inflation will go up so let ERB tell us how much ZESCO is owed.

Citizen

Is the plight of PHI residents being ignored by LWSC?

Editor,

Why is our plight not being addressed here in PHI? We the residents have been forwarding our complaint but nothing has been done up to now! Is it that we are being ignored or a plight is landing on the wrong ears? This water situation in PHI has gotten out of hand and needs to be addressed NOW. Some of us haven’t had a drop of water for over a year from Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) and have had to dig boreholes to survive! What of the people who cannot afford one? LWSC needs to get serious and do something about this before we go and protest at their offices? We cannot be providing water to a lot of people when it is the job of this entity to do so.

PHI resident