Letters to the editor

Wed, 17 Jan 2018 10:40:26 +0000

THUMBS UP TO CHAKUNKULA WARD COUNCILLOR

Dear Editor,

May you allow me space in your well balanced news paper to appreciate the work of one of the Lusaka civic leaders.

It is important to give praise where it is due. It is in this same vein I would like to commend councillor Mwitwa of Chakunkula ward for demonstrating leadership by going round his ward to inspect the clinic and other projects that are done. When we as a neighborhood reported a bad road, he took it upon himself to come and inspect the road, and he further brought the City of Lusaka Director of Engineering, a thing we have never seen since we have been reporting this same close for years.

Most projects that were done in the past lacked supervision. If we had officers who went round to see the jobs done by contractors like Councillor Mwitwa is doing now, we would not be hearing of a sinking maternity ward foundation at Chelstone clinic because that would have been corrected from the on set of laying the foundation. The drainages and side walks that have been done in Chelstone and other parts of Munali Constituency are just a waste of money. For example the drainage along Palm Drive road which was done by some Chinese construction company, just a year ago has broken down from the foundation. At some places, water can not pass. There is a house on the same road that gets immersed in water when it rains. Some roads in the constituency are hard to walk and drive on. All this happens because of lack of supervision of works done by these contractors. I also wonder where the CDF goes. We would like to know who determines where to spend CDF for Munali Constituency and how they come up on where they would spend it.

With the infrastructures going on in the country, we need supervisors from the inception of each project to the finishing point. Thank you Councillor Mwitwa for your hard work such that within this short period you have been elected councilor, you have shown vigilance. May you keep up the game and help to upgrade our ward and our constituency”

 Bishop Alick Malama

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A test of royalty

Dear Editor,

Royalty is a status of having or enjoying majestic privileges or belonging to the family of a king and queen enjoying a status above others in the society and attains to themselves much respect duly deserved to them.

Likening this to our beloved country and communities around, we have such people as kings, queens, councillors, mayors, parliamentarians, ministers and or presidents.

They are chosen by people to lead the affairs of masses, much responsibility is entrusted in them by according them a high status in the society so that they can deliberate on issues of the people without fear, injustices or impartiality.

To uphold the systems and allow no such devices that could destroy the reputation or legacy of the forefathers or leaders that fought for its freedom.

However, society today is engulfed with people from within whom when a status of royalty has been granted they abandon their masses.

Its more painful to note that those we or rather the people entrust with an opportunity, power and most if all such status of ROYALTY, chose to destroy systems, oppose the weak, gain more for themselves as the masses that gave them an opportunity to deliberate on issues suffer and languish in pain and poverty.

Its at that time that we note greedy, pride, disrespect for humanity and gross misconduct knowing their status will speak and protect them.

All that is benefited by the same masses that got them to test royalty are afflictions of pain, bitterness, inhuman and hostility treatments and environment created by a “test of royalty”. 

Most kings, presidents, ministers, parliamentarians, mayors, councilors, husbands,/wives and most leaders forget so fast that God at times would allow his people to elevate you to a higher status not that you are special but because he wants to see how your reaction would be that moment when you have a test of royalty. What has happened to the humbleness, intelligence and humility we had when we were being entrusted with responsibilities in our societies?

Are you a leader, a husband/wife, a party president/minister, mayor/councilor, king/queen? What have you done with that opportunity you had or have to test royalty? 

Be very careful how you behave when God gives you a “TEST OF ROYALTY”

Most great men/women before our times and even now have fallen before attaining their awaiting legacy or reaching the line of destiny.

Watch that you do not lose respect, grow wings of pride or develop a sense of inhuman towards Gods mankind because that invites a grave downfall on yourself.

 The society is yearning for leaders that are selfless, just, faithful, humble, hardworking and leaders that are keen to put the interest of masses as heart. To lead with humbleness, respect, understanding and faithfulness.

We must realize that leaders are not appointed by people but God himself using his people. Do not take your test of royalty for granted because a fall without God is more painful than anything else. I urge our leaders in our great country of mother Zambia not to take leadership for granted because the same people that are used to elevate you to your test of royalty are watching and may not be there to cushion your downfall.

May God bless our blessed country of Zambia.

Joackim. P

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The need for dialogue is now

 Dear Editor,

Dialogue between political parties who hold different, often polarizing views, is a productive way to rebuild social cohesion and identify points of collaboration and agreement.

Dialogue is a communication process that privileges genuine listening and understanding others’ viewpoints over dictating what they must believe or do. It involves jointly examining the assumptions that each of us holds and understanding why they operate as they do, with the goal of moving forward together.

Dialogue can help the ruling Patriotic Front (PF)  and the opposition United Party for National Development ( UPND) to understand each other, identify common grounds, and then collectively work on paths forward to break impasses, be them policy impasses, or interpersonal ones. Dialogue, as a process, addresses sentiments of exclusion. That process, and the connections that result, can lead to tangible changes that are amenable to those on both sides of an issue.

Dialogue led to productive action. Talk cannot address all injustices. But experience demonstrates that rebuilding trust and creating opportunities for inclusive dialogue among political parties is an approach worth considering. Nelson Mandela’s words resonates: “conflicts are resolved through shifts that were unimaginable at the start.” Dialogue can help make the unimaginable not only imaginable, but possible.

Br. Igidious Chalo, CFC.

Kabwe, Zambia .