Today's Letters

Tue, 09 May 2017 12:34:05 +0000

The UPND’s down in the dumps

Dear Editor,

Zambia, a country that’s regarded as a beacon of peace and general tranquillity by many in the world, seems set on the path to the UPND’s proclaimed post-election Armageddon if mystery surrounding the whereabouts of UPND vice president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) who was reportedly out in India seeking specialist treatment for his knee ailment, contrary to the latest information which indicated that there were no records to show that he’d flown out of the country from any Zambian international airport were anything to go by (“GBM flees Zambia?”, Sunday Nation, May 7, 2017).

As a consequence, GBM’s disappearing act days after his counterpart, the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema was arrested and charged with treason for failing to give way to the presidential motorcade during the Kuomboka ceremony last month, has become such a hot speculation issue.

It is, therefore, not surprising that the UPND seems vulnerable when it comes to the talk of the whereabouts of GBM after he missed his comrade-in-arms Hakainde Hichilema’s court appearances before skipping his own scheduled court case in which he’s been charged with illegal drilling.

And he would be sorely missed by the accused legalteam.

How and why did GBM go missing when his boss needed him most at court appearances?

How and why did the UPND lose its innocence by involving itself in unlawful acts of treason? Why is the main opposition party trampling on its moral and lawful compass by refusing to recognize President Edgar Lungu as Zambia’s duly-elected Head of State?

Why are they soiling the long-standing record of peace and image of our country in this manner? The mind boggles.

Perhaps the answer is simple. Possibly, they wrongfully know that they would get away with it.

And they know that the political damage they’re going to suffer in Southern, North-Western and Western provinces is probably limited.

In short, they’re unwittingly confident, that the political reality of single-ethnic dominance in one of these three provinces shields the UPND from adverse political consequences.

Not only that, they have consistently chosen ethnicity over country in the knowledge that if Hakainde Hichilema politically falls, like the Biblical Samson, he might pull down the ethnic popularity pillars of the UPND in Southern Province and bury many of its current leaders and general membership in the rubble.

Suffice to say, the ruling PF smells blood because the UPND seems vulnerable when it comes to matters nefarious and tribal.

So far, all the UPND has been able to do in response to allegations of acts of tribalism, treason and arson is to mumble incoherently since Hakainde Hichilema’s incarceration for treason has rendered the party a rudderless ship.

Surely, the ground must be fertile for another UPND election defeat in 2021. Well, Zambian politics are much simpler than that.

However, one thing which is for sure at the moment is that the UPND is down in the dumps.

GBM has done the unimaginable. He has abandoned his boss just when his support mattered most. His disappearing act is perhaps the most vital blow yet to hit Hakainde Hichilema’s chances of winning the treason court case.

That GBM’s disappearance has exposed Hakainde Hichilema’s underbelly and sapped his chances in court is a matter of worry for the UPND legal team.

Mubanga Luchembe,

LUSAKA

The shame of Petauke roads

Dear Editor

I have just returned from Petauke in Eastern Province but what I saw of some of the roads there is beyond description. It is a calamity.

To start with, the road to Petauke Boma (from Turn off) on Great East Road is a national scandal.

The rains swept it away many years ago such that buses going to Chipata have stopped going into Petauke town where the planned railway line will pass through. Quite mind-boggling.

This piece of a road looks like it survived a Second World War bombing yet it is in the constituency owned by our illustrious agriculture minister Dora Siliya who can apparently not be bothered by it. Why Dora why?

There is another road from Petauke to Ukwimi right up to Sitambuli village where a modern secondary school is being planned which the locals want to name Edgar Chagwa Lungu Technical High School. But for now this road is simply unspeakable!

It is in bad shape that even scotch carts are finding it increasingly difficult negotiating on it as they carry out their daily tasks.

I am further compelled to remind RDA or whoever is in charge of roads in this country to also consider doing something about the roads from Petauke to Manyane and Mwanjawanthu via Mumbi which are equally in dire straits.

I  further more wish to remind the concerned area Members of Parliament  Ms Siliya (Petauke Central) and Mr Listed Tembo (Kaumbwe)  that roads are cardinal to development and if left neglected as many of them are today, it kills the spirit of advancement in many aspects.

As for Mr Tembo the road between Mumbi and Manyane is another pain in the neck. He promised to do a bridge at Nkhwenze on Milindi River but for years now it has remained undone. Why Mr Tembo?

Our past MPs Mr Charles Banda (now tourism minister) Mr Fashion Phiri and Mr Nicholas Banda just watched from terraces while their counterparts elsewhere went to work.

While in Petauke I had a chance of meeting former council chairman (UNIP) Mr Donald Sakala who also wanted to know when funds would be released for the construction of Petauke University to be built at the current farmers training institute. I just looked into his eyes with deep frustration. Of course I had no answer to his question. May be Her Honour the Vice-President Inonge Wina may throw some light on the matter.

And while on the same line of disappointment, can the powers that be please put lights at Chipata airport runway which apparently is lying just next to the farm of former republican president Rupiah Banda?

Honestly how can you have  city with an airport which only operates  during the day?

It is unbelievable that after 53 years of independence this airport has unlit runway from the time it was being used by the the defunct Zambia Airways.

I am an extremely disappointed voter who will have to think twice in 2021 before I waste my time in a queue to vote for my MP, I mean what is the point?

Andrew Agabu Mumba

Garden Compound Lusaka

Where is GBM?

Dear Editor

If it is true that UPND vice president for administration Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba (GBM) has skipped the country, then it is extremely disastrous.

I say so because in leadership there should be an element of gallantry like our first republican president Kenneth Kunda exhibited when the colonial masters tormented him.

I wonder what would have happened if he ran away to hide when the going became tough and rough.

It probably would have taken long for Zambia to earn her independence.

Luckily KK was a kind of man who was man enough to endure it all and appreciatively the Lord paid him by making him leader of this great nation.

I think those are some of the qualities of a leader. Those who hide or runaway should not be trusted with anything in my opinion.

Why run if your conscious is clear that you are fighting right battles?

But then for how long can you keep on running? Don’t they say that you may hide from the sun but you certainly cannot kill it-meaning one day you have to come into contact with it and get scorched.

Citizen

Nchito and Fred M’Membe chicannery

Editor,

They say when you are pointing an accusing finger at someone, know that three are pointing back at you. The looting of Mutembo Nchito and his friend, Fred M’membe’s companies cannot surprise me because I foresaw this way back in the 90’s and no one believed me then. I have no problem with them giving themselves hefty pays and fringe benefits but all these came from dishonest dealings. The two people did the following; Nchito dishonestly misused departure fees paid to his company upfront (cash) by clients who used his airline. M’membe misused value added tax paid also upfront by those who were buying his newspaper. The money above was not paid to Zambians. Will I be wrong to call them thieves?

Micky, Ndola

So HH and GBM still don’t recognize Lungu?

Editor,

What will it take for HH and GBM to recognize the President? Labouring under illusions does not pay, both HH and GBM must know, because the truth and reality will give you a hefty bite. The moral of the story is, never insult a crocodile while  you are in the water.

TK

Advice to all girl children and Zambians

Editor,

Being a true Zambian is not about our colours on the flag or the tribe of a person. I believe we can still stand together and fight early marriage. In almost every society in the world, young people get fewer opportunities than adults to make their voices be heard. Remember every girl child has the right to express his/her opinion and be heard in all matters that affect them. Our girl child denied education is robbing our girl’s future. Dear Zambians, let us think, act and live. Together we can say no to early marriage.

Mutinta.M. Haang’ombe

Building in poor state

Editor,

Before lives are lost, we are appealing to LCC to come and check an illegal structure in Makeni Simsom which has been built in the middle of the compound. It has a crack which the owner knows about and is keeping his tenants on the first floor. Can the council come forward and see this dangerous building before someone dies

Concerned citizen

Directed at LAZ

Editor,

The Law Association of Zambia lawyers in Zambia should form another association like trade unions have done in our country. The present LAZ has too many cartels and it’s for the rich and not the poor. That is why they have increased the fees.

Concerned Ndola citizen

ZESCO cheating consumers

Editor,

The facts put across by ZESCO that it is the only company with the lowest electricity tariffs in the region doesn’t hold water. In my view, this mono-type of thinking, whether we like it or not, everything will go up so why should ZESCO MD and the Energy Minister lie to us that domestic users won’t be affected?

Tsokisa

Ministry of general education spokesperson Editor,

With reference to your commentary on teacher replacement, I am appealing to your office to make a follow up in Southern province and inform the nation if all the teachers who were authorized by the Permanent Secretary and given introduction letters in the just ended teacher replacement five months ago were all stationed in their assigned respective districts.

Patriotic and concerned stakeholder

Street children becoming a nuisance

Editor

I would like to make an appeal to the authorities to do something about these street children quickly before hell breaks loose. It is becoming more and more of a public concern as it is now a danger to move in our streets at night for fear of being attacked, raped or killed. These children are mostly seen smoking dangerous substances and doing all sort of things. Sometimes, when they ask for money from someone who tells them they do not have, they get aggressive and even insult that person.

Citizen