Letters to the editor

Tue, 23 Jan 2018 12:05:36 +0000

UPDATE US ON CONCOURT HOUSE CONSTRUCTION

Dear Editor,

What has happened to the investigation regarding an opposition party that is building a home for a concourt judge in Ibex?

Whether the story is true or not must be investigated in order to put Zambian minds at rest given the importance that the Constitutional Court has assumed in the last few weeks. Everybody with a difference with the Government seems to gravitate to the Constitutional court instead of following the normal structures of conflict resolution.

There is absolutely no reason why some people have been rushing to the concourt over matters that have already been concluded in fora where they did not dispute issues that were subsequently adjudicated upon.

It will be very unfair that some Zambians want to be more equal than others by subverting the judicial system for the simple reason that they may have favorable attention due to irregular relationships.

It is for this reason that, I  wish to appeal to the Minister of Justice Honorable Given Lubinda to accelerate these matters which have been placed in the public domain by opposition leaders who are concerned that their matters will not be dealt with the impartiality they deserve. These fears are well founded because we have situations where the very people abusing the system today did the same thing during the Mwanawasa regime.

The capture of the judiciary by some corrupt people as alluded to by the President is a real issue which will be ignored at our peril. Many countries which have allowed corruption to pervade their judiciaries have paid dearly because loss of confidence leads to serious erosion of trust in the integrity of the entire governance system.

It is also important that Government should look into the composition of the Judicial Complaints Authority which appears to have taken on more power as to interfere with matter that are properly before courts of law.

We must guard our judiciary against the intrigues of thoise whose interest is to subvert justice for their own interest.

Moffat Chirwa

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Inertia should not be tolerated

Editor,

PEOPLE who get government contracts to do roads, should be serious and do what they are paid to do.

Colossal amounts are paid to contractors on the understanding they will do the job as agreed. It is disappointing that roads that have been paid for are still in deplorable states because contractors cannot be bothered to finish their work.

Apart from cancelling the contracts, such people should be black listed from ever getting government jobs. The lack of seriousness that some contracts are showing in shocking.

If only they can also be sanctioned for delaying completion of projects, then people can be serious.

Many feeder roads are still impassable long after the contractors got money to grade and upgrade the roads. This should not be allowed. The ministry of infrastructure should follow up on all projects to ensure that those who got government money are doing what they are paid for.

Concerned, Lusaka

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Shameless Kambwili exposed

Editor,

Thank you for exposing this habitual liar Kambwili for what he is. The only constant about him is lying.

I was shocked to hear him talk about the Post Newspaper on Radio Phoenix and pretend that he is the champion of press freedom and that he had supported the newspaper.

Which universe is he living in? What has happened to his memory that he should pretend to forget what he did to that newspaper.

Kambwili is probably the only minister then who hated the Post Newspaper the most. He could not go a day without talking negatively about the paper. He wished for it to disappear. Especially when the Paper dared to question his activities.

He should stop this nonsense he has started of pretending to care. Please just be original and accept that you took part in intimidating journalists.

Now that you find yourself on the outside, you want the Post. Well, its too late.

You need to have some integrity in your work and words for people to trust you. Don’t talk just because you have the urge to do so. Talk when you have something sensible to share.

Clement M, Mansa

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Motorists must support road tolling 

Dear Editor,

Thank you for allowing me space to air my views and concerns. I want to comment on some motorists who are opposed to paying toll fees.

They have even resorted to using other roads without toll gates just to avoid paying toll fees. But money collected from toll gates is meant for development.

So motorists who have resorted to using bush roads or different routes just to avoid passing through the toll gates should rethink their decision.

Mini bus drivers are the biggest culprits complaining about paying toll fees, yet a good road network is key in their line of business. Road tolling is certainly good way of rising revenue which is ploughed back in the economy for road maintenance.

I therefore implore the National Road Fund to carry out sensitisation campaigns to raise awareness among motorists and the general public on the importance of toll gates and revenue collected from this new infrastructure.

Loyal citizen  LUSAKA

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Stop  insulting at funerals

Dear Editor,

A very bad culture has developed among our youths where during funerals they get intoxicated and then resort to insults regardless who is listening.

It has now become common at funerals to hear youths using vulgar language on innocent people whether elderly or not.

Instead of attending funerals to mourn and comfort the bereaved families, the youth spend time drinking during the day and later at night emerge from their drinking holes only to demand food and use lewd language.

Unfortunately such behaviour is common among female juveniles too. One wonders where this moral decay will leave this nation. Are these the future leaders we are going to have?  If so, then the future of this great country is at great risk.

What is annoying is that even when the youths are using abusive language at a funeral house, nobody seems to care. In my view such youths need to be dealt with in a manner that will forever remind them to respect elders and funerals.

A funeral house is solemn place where people are grieving for their loved one, how can they be subjected to insults?

As citizens let’s we must not sit passively and allow such misconduct at funerals and indeed anywhere else. It is not only embarrassing to hear young boys insulting, but it is morally and culturally inappropriate.

The levels of beer drinking and usage of abusive language during funerals among our youths is very worrisome and should be stopped forthwith. Left unchecked, there will be no youths to talk about.

Concerned Parent

LUSAKA

Leave Daily Nation alone

Dear Editor,

Chishimba Kambwili must leave the Daily Nation alone. If Daily Nation has not covered you and your programmes, that’s not a case Kambwili stop cheap politics. You can’t gain political mileage by attacking the Daily Nation. Ba Kambwili, you are just a political coward, with no proper direction. Take your grievance to State House, stop making noise, you can’t be President of Zambia. You do not have what it takes to lead the people of Zambia. Rainbow party Youth Chairman, Comrade Jimmy Chindongo, Matero

Military must uphold discipline

Dear Editor,

Allegations that goods being confiscated are being shared among our men in uniform makes sad reading and is sad news to the nation whose military is the best and well- disciplined in Africa if not the entire world. We observe that there could be some few bad elements with corrupt minds tarnishing the image of a good disciplined Army, ZAF and ZNS. Our appeal is that please continue to guard against street vending a cancer in our towns and cities without any element of corruption. Just surrender whatever is confiscated due to street vending to the council which in turn should also at the end of the day account for it. KJC

Kambwili has gone too far

Dear Editor,

Mr. Chishimba on the let the people talk programme said our President is corrupt. He said Avic contractors are building our beloved President flats. This is deformation of character. Let our President sue Chishimba. He has gone too far to insult our leader. The man is demon possessed. He even said that the MMD have taken over the PF. Why didn’t he resign when he was a cabinet minister if it was wrong to appoint the 5 cabinet ministers from MMD when he was fired? The man is short of vision. Can’t he remember that late Sata appointed the opposition? It looks like the man is lost in the bush. You talk while the PF is working. E.K. Masaiti

Defiant street vendors back

Dear Editor,

The military has gone back to the barracks. Already, we are seeing pockets of defiant vendors back on the streets and litter is slowly mounting. My advice to my brothers and sisters is simple. Let us obey all government by-laws and trade only in legalised markets or else if the military return for a similar operation, we shall all be sorry. Jack Phiri, Lusaka

Local contractors must change attitude

Dear editor,

The attitude of Zambian contractors assigned to do government projects like building schools, hospitals or roads is worrisome. No wonder the government gives tenders to foreign contractors and we Zambians again criticise the government over the same process. Foreign contractors are better off given contracts than local contractors because they believe in completion of works before enjoying the money. Local contractors do the opposite. Concerned Zambian.

Revisit school repeating policy

Dear Editor,

The new government policy of Grade 9 failures repeating grade 6 will allow many pupils to be on the streets and others get married at a tender age. How will a grade 9 failure who is 15 years old find her/himself in grade 6 at that age. Can the relevant authorities look into this matter before our children start loitering on the streets than being in school. MZ, Lusaka