A Culture Denied by Soneka K. Kamuhuza

It used to be that Zambians prided themselves on their very identity. Those things that made us uniquely a part of the Southern hemisphere of Africa. We tied ourselves into the historical travels of the Bantu and the Mfecane migration of those bolting from Shaka's terrorism. As the Lozi eventually settled in the West, they carried their history and culture as if in an arc, to be celebrated each year on television for all to see.

Who can forget the resonant drums that signaled the reading of the Zambian budget. That ever some memorable rhythmic pumping as the sound of his melody echoed in our ears. We watched closely as the dancers decked in our local garb danced and shuffled in syncopation. There was a face to our culture, we could identify with the art that made us who we are. When western instruments became common, The Witch, Paul Ngozi, The Big Gold Six Band, and Amayenge traveled through the airwaves manipulating those instruments to give us something distinct and identifiable.

Ricky Illilonga chose another genre but even through his words, he uniquely touted our African identity. The Mulemena Boys took us exactly where Emmanuel Mulemena's words had left off. There was no mistaking the fact that Zambia was on their music agenda and we had an identity. It may not have been created for Western commercialization, but it made us who we are, gave us that uniqueness that separated us from them, whoever they are.

Here we are now in 2010 and as I watch the floodgate of music that washes over the dam of our sensibilities, I hear nothing that brings me the pride of old. It has become a genre that resonates of Western ideologies mixed with local dialect tricks. What was once uniquely distinct has become the verbal musings of under-directed minions acting like little R&B puppets. The music itself is catchy, much like the useless regurgitated nonsense we hear on Western radio over and over. Catchy street phrases are turned into big hits, because they have a good bass line. Auto-tuned voices are becoming the norm, and our youngsters envy a culture they will never understand.

They dress, talk and emulate thugs and rap stars, creating icons of people and a society they may never visit or understand. Television has provided them with role-models and they are hell-bent on emulating a lifestyle they can never contain. Who exactly thought it cogent to allow our young women to gyrate themselves into convulsions in videos? When this has been done with cultural music, it was given the majesty that comes from the fluidity of reserve. Nowadays, the sexually explicit provocation is mired only by the length of the song. It is incendiary in nature and and aberration to our ancestors.

We have become that diluted country. That place where second hand clothes, ideas, cultures, people, and economics can find solace. We are the white-washed; that place where we are only too easily consumed by our need to forget ourselves. In Star Trek The Next Generation, 'The Borg' were known to assimilate other cultures, and their catch phrase was, "Resistance if futile". In our case, we have shown none, and we stand idly by as our children, drawn by the decadence of a societal myopia, ingest the drunken brew of an unsustainable metamorphosis. We sit listless as this evil draws them further and further away from that very thing that roots them to their land, their identity.

What would shock them is how much the very people they are emulating, so much envy them their Africaness (made up my own word). They scream to have the grounding, the connection, the origins of any African. How those very R&B singers would give their very lives to know which stream in Africa their ancestors drew water. How the head-dress we have exchanged for a fifty cap slung backwards, would gratefully be accepted in Washington DC. We are working so hard to adopt a culture that is rooted in slavery and import an identity that was created simply to provide solace out of pain and poverty. The former and latter having been our identity since our dawn.

We must build our cultural muscles enough to reconsider our stance and make the case known that what makes us uniquely Zambian, is exactly that which makes us enviable. We cannot allow our need for world acceptance to be at the cost of wearing another mans clothes, and taking on another mans language, ideas, ideology, culture and music. Because doing so does not make us innovative. It makes us sellouts!

We Are Back

Hello its been a while we sure did take time off to try see how best we can make Insights work better.

It is sure nice to be back but now we are looking at you to come on board and join us in discussing various social issues that affect us all.

In the next few days we will tackling certain asspects that affect us all.

As for now enjoy the weekend Dont Drink And Drive its not only your safety but that of others.

President Banda and his travels….

I write what I like….
By Daimone Siulapwa
17th July, 2010

President Banda and his travels….
AS former Foreign Affairs Minister, it is perhaps understandable that president Rupiah Banda is often times seen as the flying minister. But unlike the time he served as foreign affairs minister under Dr Kenneth Kaunda in the first republic when it was imperative to be on move because of the apartheid South African and Rhodesian situation, things have changed now.
The Zambian people do not necessarily need a President who will be pre-occupied with political battles outside the country’s borders at the expense of domestic economic affairs. The greatest challenge that the country currently faces is the upliftment of the living standards of its people.

And we hope that the current administration of President Banda recognize this.
However, if at all they do, then they are definitely going about it the wrong way. Flying from one country to the other almost month-in month-out looking for so-called foreign investment is an illusion. The recent trip to Turkey, where Zambia is said to have signed a number of co-operation agreements is a case in point.

Yes, we may not be at the same level with Turkey in terms of development levels, but it is difficult to see how marginally big Zambia will be able to benefit from that kind of co-operation. Yes, I do believe that the development agenda of any country should be driven from the top, as in, the leadership of the country should show enough hunger for the development of the country.

But a trip to Turkey is certainly one that the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry or indeed the Foreign affairs, would have been able to handle. The argument from those in support would be that the President was merely responding to an invitation. Probably!
But also you and I also know that it is not every invitation that need be expected. How many invitations does State house receive asking the president to officiate at locally? Plenty if you ask me, but he does not always accept all them. He selects which one’s are really worth the trouble. Those that he think do not necessarily warrant his presence, he delegates to either the Vice President, Minister directly responsible for that area or indeed the Presidential Affairs Minister.

This makes perfect sense because it is understandable that the president will not be able to make it to all the functions that he has been invited to. Well, even us, at a personal level, it is not all the invitations that we get to honour.

However, when it comes to foreign trips, it is like the president accepts each and every one. Accepting them is not necessarily the problem, but the way that they are honoured is where the problem is. To accept an invitation for an official State visit does not necessarily mean you go there right away. Some of these invitations can be honoured at a later stage, even after a year.
We have seen United States President barrack Obama cancelling official State visits to Indonesia and Australia in order to deal with domestic issues, particularly the oil spill caused by BP in the Gulf of Mexico.

But often times than not, the President will be seen getting on the plane even when we have issues here that may need his full attention.

Again, this thing of saying the president has gone to such-and-such a country to woo investors is really laughable to say the least. Foreign investors are not going to be attracted to Zambia simply because the president visited that country. They are not going to come and invest in Zambia because of the user friendly investment environment alone but how much profits can they make. Most investors are prepared to invest in war zones as long as they can reap those huge profits they want, The DRC and Somali are a case in point.

Countries that have been able to attract foreign direct investment or indeed those that have made economic strides have done so not because their heads of States or government made foreign trips, but because of the economic policies in place. Ask how Rwanda, which is on its way up despite the genocide in 1994, has been able to do it.

If anything, the President should be carrying the private sector and even traditional leaders on these trips. These are the people that will attract investment in Zambia. The private sector knows the opportunities that exist but often times than not lack either the capital or the technology. On the other hand, traditional leaders, who have abundant land on their side, know what kind of investment is needed in their particular areas.

Further, it is an illusion to think that this country will be developed by foreign investors. Never, it will take the locals to do so. We would want to see the president and indeed the entire leadership of the country paying as much attention to local businessmen as they do to foreigners.

Why can’t the president take a visit to Lusaka’s Kamwala area and see what kind of challenges traders in those areas are facing. Well, does the president even know how much traders in kamwala contribute to the city’s revenue coffers? Or maybe that is an issue he would rather leave to the Lusaka City Council (LCC) while he takes another trip on the Presidential Challenger to another God-knows destination?

Simply put, we need the president to start taking a more active role in local issues than has been the case hitherto.

A Zambian man based in the USA, Nathaniel Tumbwe , is on trial for having unprotected sex with women without telling them that he was HIV positive.Tu

Ghana's World Cup

Ghana's eventual loss today was devastating. All of Africa was tied into this, our freedom moment. Uruguay was never a colonizer but somehow, just by their origin, they represented more than just football opposition. Deep down inside we were tying them to the colonizers and oppressors who have tread on our soils. Their South American connection felt repetitive of past World Cups and this, this was Africa's moment.

As Asamoah Gyan stepped up to take the penalty today in the waning minutes of the overtime game against Uruguay today, hundreds of millions of people were holding their breath. If you're like my wife and I, then you barely sat down for a minute of the whole game, stealing occasional glances at the television, while seemingly trying to do innocuous tasks around the house. For the millions of us rooting for Ghana, the only remaining African country in the 2010 World Cup, it more than intense. Luis Suarez, whose handball created this opportunity for Africa to unite in one shining moment, was making his way back to the locker room weeping desperate tears. After Gyan sent the shot hard against the crossbar and over the goal, the camera showed Suarez in exasperated relief, realizing that his very life had been saved. My own laments come to my ears as I questioned God's loyalty to our cause.

There was just this prevailing feeling that this was the year that an African country would break the jinx. This confirmation that we would finally lose the moniker of 'potential' bridesmaid and actually become part of the bridal party. The Black Stars were showing the world that African football has finally arrived at the highest level on the world stage. It took me about six hours to calm down today, eventually needing to go to a garden store to buy some flowers and do some subsequent planting. Therapy, I needed therapy.

Ghana has nothing to hang its head down about, nothing to be ashamed about. Mightier teams have fallen, and earlier in this tournament. Italy, England, France, and Brazil all have made their exit. Ghana put on valiant effort and unlike Luis Suarez whose handball made him an unlikely hero because of the outcome, reminding us again that Africa continues to knock on the door of greatness. This was just not a game, it was our continued strive to forget colonialism, Apartheid, neo-colonialism, elitism and racism. All these seemingly unconnected things are the subliminal, unsaid things that these games represent to us. Uruguay may not have been a colonizer, but their origins allow us to use them as a symbol of all we have fought against.

I want to shout, "Our civil rights were violated, this is racism!" I can't because, this is football and FIFA is doing all it can to send the message that this game transcends race, color, creed, economics and nations. This is the beautiful game - that one game that is truly a world sport. What transpired today was just what Asamoah Gyan said, "It's hard luck. You know, we had opportunity to win this game," Gyan said, "but unfortunately, that is football for you."- (Associated Press http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=264116&cc=5901&ver=us)

Today, we witnessed why this game is so great, why even after losing a job almost a month ago, I have been carried through what should have been a difficult period with nothing but memories of the opportunities to watch each and every game. With my first day of new employment coming next week, Ghana's exit could not have come at a better time, somehow Uruguay, Netherlands, and whoever wins tomorrow, don't raise my gander. I'm really not interested anymore and will watch only because football is my religion. I will not worship at the altar because my favorite African preachers have left and the choir isn't singing any of my favorite songs.

As for Asamoah Gyan, my hats off, much respect. Stepping up to that penalty kick, he carried the weight of all of Africa. His shoulders should have been sagging as he stepped up to that ball. We were all riding on his shoulders, offering advice on how he should place that kick, how hard he should kick it. His miss was our miss and as Ghana's fortunes go, so went Africa. We are reminded however, in Asamoah's statement about the resilience of Africans, we never dwell on the pain, but recognize that our success is in the fact that we're still standing here today. Ghana played beautiful soccer and Africa rejoiced, Ghana lost and so did Africa, but that was only today. Tomorrow will come.

I Write What I Like....

By Daimone Siulapwa

Guest Writer: Nkonkomalimba Kafunda

Proposal over use of mine dividends causes uproar
Concerns over the distribution of proceeds from Zambia’s mines have continued to take centre stage with the latest coming from prominent North Westerners angry that their province, already lagging in development, will not benefit from money raised from local mining operations.
Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Investment Holding ZCCM IH, the holding company for government interests in the country’s mining sector announced early in May that an US$18.1 million dividend paid by First Quantum Minerals from profits made at Solwezi’s Kansanshi mine, would be invested in agriculture in Central and Copperbelt provinces, much to the chagrin of natives of the North western province.

Leading the onslaught was former republican Vice President Enock Kavindele who said there was no way resources of the province could be used to develop other regions when the province itself was in dire need of development.

He revealed that local chiefs had surrendered about 200,000 hectares of traditional land to government for purposes of development so if ZCCM-IH was interested in agriculture they could develop that land.

Kavindele compared the suggestion by ZCCM-IH to the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland practice of using Northern Rhodesia’s resources to develop the South. “We cannot go back to the federal government where copper mining in Zambia was used to develop other capitals,” he emphasised.

The former vice President was supported by local chiefs and several other politicians from the area. It is widely accepted that such problems are merely a symptom of a greater dilemma as locals have little or no say in distribution of wealth as they do not control the means of production. Since the demise of ZCCM at the hands of the privatisation process all major mining operations are foreign owned and controlled. Coupled with the fact that these investors are allowed to retain 100% foreign exchange of their earnings anywhere they see fit, only operations money remains in Zambia. In 2007 the Mwanawasa regime introduced a windfall tax to mitigate this problem but this was scrapped, ostensibly due to the global economic crunch which hit a year later, by the Rupiah Banda regime, a move condemned by most industry experts.

The concerns raised by the North Westerners have been echoed by the country’s mine workers union. Union General Secretary Oswell Munyenyembe in a recent press statement urged government to implement already existing legislation which provides equitable share of resources from the mines as well as the reintroduction of mineral royalty tax.

He said there was need for government to particularly implement key provisions of the Mines and Minerals Development Act to enable communities benefit from mineral earnings and to clearly define policy on the use of resources in order to promote national development.
“We are aware that the recent debates over the resources received from First Quantum Minerals Kansansanshi mine is about mineral royalties. We are also aware that companies like Mopani Copper Mines and Konkola Copper Mines pay as much as US$2 million to government coffers per month in taxes. There is need in this regard to come up with clearly defined policies in the use of resources to provide all round national development and laying a strong foundation for the expansion of the Zambian economy,” said the unionist.

Such arguments have brought back to the fore the rationale behind the scrapping of mineral royalties and more recently the refusal by the Zambian government to reintroduce the tax despite recovery of commodity prices with copper trading at almost US$ 8000 per tonne. Experts have said that as the royalties only come into force after prices rich a certain threshold it is irresponsible for government to refuse the reintroduction of these taxes.
The mineworkers union has observed that while other resource rich countries such as Australia and Congo DR were currently in the process of implementing new higher super tax regimes, Zambia was dragging it’s feet adding that the government fears that taxation would scare away investors did not hold water as the union firmly believed that “serious and genuine investors “ could not be scared off by royalties.

This government indecisiveness is not endearing the Banda regime to voters. As the Union observes, employment figures are way below ZCCM Levels and this in the politically volatile copperbelt province. Additionally conditions of service and salaries were significantly slashed during the financial meltdown and have not been restored even though metal prices have been resurgent.

All in all the government is seen to be more pro foreign investor than pro Zambian citizen a perception that could be the undoing of President Banda at elections due towards the end of 2011.

I write what I like…..

By Daimone Siulapwa

Guest Writer: Nkonkomalimba Kafunda

Zambian Parastal’s Privatisation raises eyebrows
Revelations that a consultancy firm will be paid US$12.8 (K65 billion in local currency) by the Zambian government for facilitating the sell of 75% shares in telecoms parastatal Zamtel to a Libyan company, have been meet with shock and indignation in Zambia, Africa’s largest copper producer.

On Saturday June 5, Finance minister Situmbeko Musokotwane signed an agreement worth US$257 million to sell the majority stake in Zamtel to GAP Green Networks of Libya. Of this sale price 5% or US$12.8 million will be paid to Cayman island registered RP Capital Partners. This is in line with a contentious memorandum of understanding signed between government and the RP Capital in 2008.

The transaction has been clouded in controversy from the word go. Independent newspaper the Post in an expose in 2008 revealed that RP capital had links to president Rupiah banda’s son Henry, who had in fact introduced the company to the Zambian government. When then Communications and transport minister Dora Siliya went ahead and signed the memorandum of understanding with RP capital against the advice of the government’s chief legal advisor the Attorney general the public and opposition politicians alike bayed for minister Siliya’s blood.
Subsequently Chief Justice Ernest Sakala was forced to constitute a code of conduct tribunal to determine if there was any illegality in Siliya’s actions, after a complaint was filed by a former communications minister William Harrington. Though Siliya was forced to resign under pressure to pave way for an independent inquiry,l she was reinstated a few months later when the high court overruled the tribunals findings which had found that she had acted illegally. The inquiry had found that Siliya had breached Article 54 sub article 3 of the constitution when she selected RP capital partners to value the assets of Zamtel against advice of the attorney general. The high court on appeal ruled that the tribunal had acted excessively, quashed the tribunals findings and cleared Siliya.

She was, unashamedly, reinstated the same day she was cleared, raising speculation that the deal she had signed was beneficial to people above her.

Zamtel is the oldest phone company in Zambia. It was formed after the break up of the Post and Telecommunication s Corporation which separated into telephone and postal divisions at the end of the 1980’s. With the coming of mobile telephony and the internet age, Zamtel branched into the new areas but with little successes. Cell Z the Zamtel mobile phone division has the tail end of market share while the internet division, Zamtel Online, is generally seen as inefficient at best and down right unreliable at worst. The company, however, has a monopoly on fixed line services.

Normally this would make a solid case for privatization but Zambia’s experiment with privatization in the 1990’s had resulted in poverty and pauperism for the majority of the workforce due to closures and retrenchments. As a result the country’s vibrant civil society and opposition fervently opposed this particular privatisation.
Leaders of the Patriotic Front and the United Party for National Development have, throughout the process of privatizing Zamtel, maintained that they will re-nationalize when they get into office. The two parties are in an electoral pact that has a more than fair chance of unseating the MMD in next years general election.

Following the announcement Patriotic front President Michael sata charged that this was just another form of plunder of national resources and the current regime will one day be called to account.

“They have sold Zamtel because of corruption not for the benefit of Zambian people so the Zambians will not get anything out of this.” Charged Sata in an interview with Post on June 7.
The Zambia Association of Chamber sof Commerce and industry was of a more optimistic view. President Handson Sindowe told the state owned Times of Zambia that the deal created opportunities. He said the transaction was good because government had maintained a 25% stake with options to offload this to the Zambian public through the Zambia Privitasation Trust Fund (ZPTF) and the Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE).

Without commenting on the intricacies of the transaction Sindowe said though people viewed the 25%v as small it translated into almost US$100 million.
Apart from the US$257m purchase price LAP Green Networks had agreed to invest an additional 62 million dollars , take over government guarantees of US$75 million and settle redundancy packages for 2,314 Zamtel workers bring the total package to US$394million.
It remains to be seen who the ultimate beneficiaries of this deal are: Certain members of the Zambian government or the Zambian people as a whole.

I write what I like…..Zamtel: More questions than answers…

WE all agree that Zamtel was not the ideal model of a profit-making company.
The privatisation of the Zambia Telecommunications Company (Zamtel)
has always been opposed by civil society organisations and opposition
political parties, and have accused the government of lacking
transparency in the sale of one of the last remaining state-utility
firms.

First, Cabinet decided to sell 75 percent of the Zamtel shares and
appointed RP Capital of Cayman Islands, an alternative investment firm
specialising in identifying intermediate and long-term investment
opportunities on behalf of institutional investors and qualified
high-net worth individuals in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa
and India, to evaluate its assets.

However, the evaluation report has never been made public and was a
subject of a tribunal as it was alleged by civil society organisations
that Dora Siliya, then Minister of communication and transport, had
ignored the advice of the attorney general in awarding a $2 million
contract to RP Capital to evaluate Zamtel.

Mumba Malila, the Attorney General, had advised Siliya against signing
a memorandum of understanding between government and RP capital of
Cayman Islands to evaluate ZAMTEL assets. Mumba Malila’s contract as
Attorney General was never renewed. I will leave that to you
consider.

Anyhow, government said it cannot make public the valuation report as
it would jeopardize the privatisation process. Government said it
would be wrong to disclose the value of Zamtel as all the prospective
buyers would bid around the value of the assets and frustrate the
process.

Well, we all remember that in 2002, government shelved plans to
privatise Zamtel, opting instead to commercialise it but this did not
work out either as the performance continued to decline.
Zamtel, established about 40-years ago, is encumbered with liabilities
amounting to more than $120 million. It also has an annual operational
deficit of $17 million and is heavily indebted to Government in
unremitted taxes.
A Parliamentary committee on communication, transport, works and
supply in January last year recommended that Zamtel should be
restructured and recapitalised to find a lasting solution.
But it seems this fell on deaf ears, instead government sold 75
percent of Zamtel shares to Lap Green N of Libya at the cost of US$257
million. And President Rupiah Banda now says the sale is not irreversible.

Really? Why the government has decided to turn a deaf ear to the opposition to
sell Zamtel no one knows. We all know the effects that privatization
has had on the social and economic life of this country.
Or have we all forgotten the lessons of Zambia Airways? Did the
Zambians not have a quarrel with the government when they were
liquidating Zambia Airways? How many years down the line have passed
and they are still struggling to dispose of its assets? It is way over
a decade now.

It is easy for government to claim that it will pay all the workers
their due packages, but from past experience, we know that that has
not always been the case. Upto now, we still have former ZCCM workers
who have not been paid.

Further, what guarantee is there that management positions in Zamtel
will be retained by Zambians? Where do they think these Zambians, whom
the country trained at great cost will utilize their skills?
What was wrong with just re-organising Zamtel, putting an efficient
management in place and stopping political interference for it to
succeed? We all know that Zamtel is solid, one just has to look at the
human resource that is there, the buildings and now the optic fibre
that it is putting in place.

With the new owners, we know that a massive staff reduction programme
will need to be carried out. So, when our fellow citizens contribute
to the unemployed, we know who to blame – the MMD Government.

UPND/PF pact launch on Saturday

The pact between the Opposition Patriotic Front and United Party for National Development (UPND) is next Saturday scheduled to be launched in Lusaka.

Pact co-spokespersons’ Charles Kakoma and Given Lubinda have confirmed this development at a joint news conference in Lusaka.

UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma says the two political parties have had sufficient time to do away with any suspicions amongst the opposition political parties.And PF spokesperson Given Lubinda says launching the pact is a way of renewing the commitment.

Govt refuses to evacuate critically ill Chibombamilimo

Former Deputy minister of Energy Lameck Chibombamilimo is critically ill at his Lusaka residence in Kabulonga.

But despite his ‘very ill and bed-ridden condition, the government has dimissed and rejected pleas to evacuate him for specialist treatment. The MMD Mpulungu MP has kidney complications and he urgently requires a kidney transplant.

The government has reportdely snubbed appeals to evacaute him to India so that he could seek a new kidney. Chibombamilimo, once Northern province minister, is said to be trying to evacuate himself ‘but funds haave dried’.

Last year Rupiah Banda fired Cibombamilimo together with Jonas Shakafuswa from thier resspective posts for what he said was "lack of allegiance to him as the appointing authority."

Mmembe found guilty of contempt

Post Editor-in-Chief Fred Mmembe has been found guilty of contempt of court together with the Post Newspapers by a Lusaka magistrate court.

This is in the case in which Mr Mmembe and the Post newspapers are charged with contempt of court arising from an article authored by US-based Zambian Professor Muna Ndulo titled “The Chansa Kabwela case:A Comedy of Errors

In the allegedly contemptuous opinion piece, Cornell University Professor Muna B. Ndulo described the process against Kabwela as a “comedy of errors” and wrote that the obscenity case, which was widely decried as a politically motivated attack on the newspaper, was detrimental to Zambia’s image abroad.

Section 116 of the Zambian penal code criminalizes speech or writing that could prejudice opinion regarding an ongoing judicial proceeding.

The matter came up for judgment this morning before magistrate David Simusamba. In delivering judgment Magistrate Simusamba said the defence by Mr Mmembe that he was on leave at the time the article was published could not be considered by the court because he was the Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper.

In November last year, Mr Mmembe described his case as a tactic used by tyrannical regime against press freedom. “Contempt of court is a charge that has been used by tyrannical regimes the world over against press freedom,” M’membe told the International Press Institute at the time. “We hope the judicial process will handle the case in a manner that preserves and promotes press freedom.”

Magistrate Simusamba has since reserved sentencing to Friday June 4,2010 at 09:00 hours.

I write what I like….The rehabilitation of Frederick Chiluba

This article – By Guest Writer: Nkonkomalimba Kafunda

3rd June, 2010.

The recent high profile meeting between former president Frederick Chiluba and traditional and political leaders in Luapula province has brought to full circle the complete restoration of Chiluba from political pariah to top insider in the corridors of MMD power.

Ostracised in the Mwanawasa years as kingpin in the plunder of the country’s resources during his eventful ten year reign, Chiluba and his close associates were dragged before court after court charged with stealing hundreds of millions of dollars, property of the Republic of Zambia

Though personally never convicted in a Zambian court, London High Court Judge Peter Smith found that Chiluba and his fellow defendants had embezzled millions of dollars after the Zambian government sued Chiluba and others among them a Law firm, individuals and boutiques in a bid to recover plundered national resources. The judgement can however not be enforced in Zambia as it has not been registered in the local high court due to what can only be described as government inertia.

Some of Chiluba’s associates particularly his wife Regina, fund managers Aaron Chungu and Faustin Kabwe have been found guilty and sentenced to prison terms for various offences and but currently out of prison pending appeals in the high court. In a bizarre turn of legal events, Mrs. Chiluba was convicted by one court for receiving stolen goods from her husband while another acquitted Chiluba the alleged mastermind on all counts.

During his years in the political wilderness Chiluba was loathe to attend state functions preferring to stick to himself comforted by members of Pentecostal clergy with their all too conspicuous bibles complemented by their all too loud proclamations of faith. The former President was a man with friends few and far between, even his former ministers who had pledged undying loyalty in years previously, did not even think of touching him with a ten foot pole.

Fast forward to 2010 and the centre of power seems to have shifted to Serval Road, Chiluba’s official residence as second head of state. The metamorphoses from Zero to hero began soon after President Levy Mwanawasa’s death. Then Vice President Rupiah Banda had no credentials to take over the leadership of the MMD. Seen by many as a very fortunate Unipist who Levy had credited with delivering Eastern province in the 2006 elections, Banda had to consolidate his power, build a nationwide following and generally gain acceptance from the rank and file of the ruling party. Working for him was the fact that the position of party Vice president had been deliberately left vacant by the somewhat paranoid Mwanawasa who had seen usurpers of power in all who had sought that position at the last party convention. Chiluba’s support was seen as cardinal in creating a constituency for RB.

Soon after Banda’s confirmation as MMD candidate politicians of all hues and with varied motives relentlessly campaigned for Banda. The surprising package, though, was Chiluba. Throughout his legal problems and exile from main stream political power, Chiluba had relied heavily on support from the Patriotic Front. It was therefore, surprising to see Chiluba’s campaigning all out for RB as the President is known to his friends. The sensational break with PF’s Michael Sata showed that Chiluba had chosen what was politically expedient over what was morally acceptable.

Speculation was rife that a deal had been made to make Chiluba’s problems with the courts go away in exchange for his political support, which would have the effect of weakening the PF and enhancing RB’s chances of victory. The rest, as the say, is history.

I write what I like….Its Time to Retire the Elders

By Daimone Siulapwa

31st May, 2010.

NOTHING personal here, but it is about time we faced facts as they are.
During the United States 2008 Presidential elections which saw a new era heralded with the election of Barack Obama, one student asked John McCain this question: “If elected, you’d be older than Ronald Reagan, making you the oldest president,” another student observed. “Do you ever worry you might die in office or get Alzheimer’s or some other disease that might affect your judgment?"
Forget the answer that was given by John McCain, undeniably a remarkable United States statesman.

But, this is one issue we should, as Zambians, face square-on.
We have far too many old and recycled politicians in the country thereby making it difficult for people with new ideas and indeed, those with new energies to play a meaningful way in public affairs.
Some of these politicians have been in government or in politics since the pre-independence era. What is it that is new that they want to bring to the dining table that they have not done in the past four decades? Are they the only ones ordained by the Almighty God to lead this country? Should death be the only way out of politics for them? When will their children ever have an opportunity to lead this country? Just when do they expect to rest their bodies from public service? Do they want us to introduce mandatory retirement for politicians?

Why should we have 70 and 80 year-olds setting policy that will affect their great-grandchildren? Is it not about time such people made room for younger, more progressive officials? How rational is it to keep having dinosaurs from the past setting precedent and laws for future generations?

Most companies and indeed the civil service have mandatory retirement ages although some continue to work even after that, but in the case of our politicians, especially those that have served as Ministers and Members of Parliament, and got gratuity, have they not got good money in their lifetimes to enable them retire and perhaps go and play golf, go fishing, or just spend time with their families?

Some talk of the need for experience, but how will the young ever gain experience if we keep on recycling these spent forces? And in any case, how are we benefiting from their experience? Seeing the way things are, whether in government or opposition, it is safe to say, very little actually. Some, when asked about their profession, they even say politician. Is politics surely a profession? According to my dictionaries definition, a professional is a vocation founded upon specialized educational training, the purpose of which is to supply disinterested counsel and service to others, for a direct and definite compensation, wholly apart from expectation of other business gain. Anyhow, that aside, it is time we turned the leaf and asked some of our senior citizens to step aside.

With the election next year, it’s a bit too late to ask for their immediate retirement. I think what we need to do is campaign for the retirement of all elders in politics within 5 years after the 2011 elections. They have a last chance or opportunity if you may call it to make their mark and MOST importantly to transfer the much required experience they have gained to the people who will take over from them.

With the election next year, it’s a bit too late to ask for their immediate retirement. I think what we need to do is campaign for the retirement of all elders in politics within 5 years after the 2011 elections. They have a last chance or opportunity if you may call it to make their mark and MOST importantly to transfer the much required experience they have gained to the people who will take over from them.

With the election next year, it’s a bit too late to ask for their immediate retirement. I think what we need to do is campaign for the retirement of all elders in politics within 5 years after the 2011 elections. They have a last chance or opportunity if you may call it to make their mark and MOST importantly to transfer the much required experience they have gained to the people who will take over from them

We will ask them to retire respectively because they have served their country with dignity. We will not evaluate their performance, for the sake of making it easy for them; we will retire them all on GOOD performance.

Those that will not retire within 5 years will deserve no mercy, respect or a last chance.

We will expose them for what they are. We will campaign to expose ALL the WRONG things they have done while in office, we will not leave a leaf unturned, if that’s what it will take to retire our Elders, so be it.
We will TARGET one Elder at a time, we will tell it as it is, how they started out in politics, how they have late down our people and how greedy and selfish they have been on the expense of our poor people.

CHECK POINTS….. How many times have you been a minister? For how long have you been a member of parliament? How many political parties have you been a member of? How many government positions have you held in your political career? What is your current net worth? What is your current health status, are you will to undergo a public health test? Who have you groomed to take over from you, just mention one name?

We now demand that all political parties should formulate structures that will encourage new people with new ideas to be allowed to play a role, we demand that structures be put in place for grooming new leaders. We will not all form political parties.. NO..

Without fear or favor, the list below is of Elders I think should retire from active politics within 5 years after the 2011 elections to leave room and space fro new minds and new ideas. if you have additional names, please add on..

1. Rupiah Banda

2. Michael Sata

3. Malimba Masheke

4. Amuusa Mwanamwambwa

5. Vernon Mwaanga

6. Daniel Munkombwe

7. Mulondwe Muzungu

8. Peter Machungwa

9. Guy Scott

8. Siteke Mwale

9. Inonge Wina

10. Joseph Kasongo

11. Crispin Sibetta

12. Major Celestino Chibamba

14. Ben Mwila

15. Edith Nawakwi

16. Joseph Kasongo

17. George Mpombo

18. Sikota Wina

19. Nakatindi Wina

20. Dr Ludwig Sondashi

I write what I like....

Do We Need More Political Parties?

By Daimone Siulapwa

17th May 2010

IF perhaps it was William Shakespeare, he would have said to have or not to have?

Should Zambia have so many political parties? Or perhaps are the new parties being formed now necessary at all?

Well, the simple answer to that is that the country is a multi-party system of democracy and that people have the right of association - a fact in itself. But that answer is a simplification of the reality on the ground and the challenges that this country faces.

Maybe because of the frustrations that are found in the many already existing political parties, individuals are increasingly finding it necessary to form new ones.

That may as well be true.

They perhaps see the already existing parties as not providing the necessary direction needed for this country to move forward.

But my own assessment is that we are having too many political parties being formed due to lack of internal democracy in the already existing parties.

Just look at how difficult it is for these political parties to justify why they do not go for conventions. Yet, these conventions are supposed to provide a platform for them to review policy and indeed re-energise themselves for the task of providing leadership to the country.

The biggest reason given for the inability to go for a convention is lack of resources - something that may perhaps be true.

But again, how do these same political parties manage to travel the breadth and length of the country to campaign during a general election.

And in case, if it is indeed lack of resources, why do these political parties engage in some kind of fundraising.

Truly speaking, we have not seen some serious fundraising activity from any political party in this country.

Anyhow, lest we lose track, the subject here has to do with the many parties that are being formed, and my assertion that it is due to lack of internal democracy in the respective political parties.

In the recent general elections in the United Kingdom, we saw some senior Labour Party members openly criticize their leader Gordon Brown, without any reprisals whatsoever.

But the question is can that happen to any of our political parties in this country?

If you dare oppose a position taken by the party leader in this country, 90 percent of the chances are that you will be punished. If you are a Member of Parliament (MP) or Cabinet Minister, it is likely that you will lose that privilege. This is not speaking from without, it is something we have seen time and again in our country, and will continue to do so as long as we fail to provide vibrant internal democracy.

Now, if there is lack of tolerance for its members by leadership, how possible is it for them to do so for a new member who may want to join and influence policy in the manner he feels is okay. In other words, is it possible for someone with a Barack Obama-like style promising change, to be accepted in an already existing party? Or would Elias Chipimo Jr have been accepted in any of the already existing political parties preaching what he said at the launch of his political party? I doubt that very much. There-in lies the need for internal democracy in our various political parties.

I write what I like....

The Press In Zambia...

By Daimone Siulapwa 16th May, 2010.

AM certainly sure that the press in Zambia would have loved to commemorate this year's World Press Freedom Day under different conditions from the ones they did.

The World Press Freedom Day, which falls on May 3 every year, for our local pressmen and women, came at a time when they are embroiled in what you may call a fight with the government.

On one hand, the government wants to introduce statutory regulation while on the other, the press want to stick to self-regulation.

Both sides have advanced their own reasons, and drafted some form of framework as in how they plan to have the media perform its role.

Of course the press has rejected the proposal put forward by government much the same way the authorities have failed to embrace those of the men and women with pens.

Something unique about this is that the media are united on this, at least in so far as self-regulation in Zambia is concerned. Everyone is agreed that the media in Zambia is too polarized - we have two extremes with little, if any, liberalism.

But what we have so far witnessed so far is unprecedented in terms of media unity in this country.

Of course it is not like these men and women who inform, educate, entertain and influence us are enemies, most of them are friends at a personal level despite working what you call competing media organisations.

That aside, what do we go for - self-regulation or statutory regulation. Journalism, like any other profession, is subject to certain ethics and codes of conduct.

But as there is really no regulation per se, the profession has been invaded by what you may call quacks.

There is a feeling that some of these practitioners are conducting themselves in a partisan manner, and that they are using in their reportage, language that is unsuitable. As a result of this, government feels there is need to tame them through statutory regulation.

Depending on which side you are on, you have already taken a position. I also have one, and its not new. I strongly believe in responsible journalism, get that right, I have not said self-regulation or statutory regulation. Ladies and gentlemen, I simply want responsible journalism in this country. I want journalists, who without fear or favour will carry, be able to carry their mandate of informing me, educating me, entertaining me and influencing me, without any bias whether he is from private or public media.

If you asked me, we need the media much more than we need the legislature, judiciary and executive. It is not for a joke that they are called the fourth estate.

Like Thomas Jefferson, the former United States President said, I would prefer a press without the government to a government without the press.

Prostitution

As I remake myself in 2010, I am left answering a simple question; "How do you want to be remembered by your family?" A few weeks ago, this question would have included the word 'friends'. One of the primary 'friends' on this journey, has been my work. She has whispered sweet nothings in my ear, I have maintained this relationship with her, even at points that were a detriment to my family's health. Many times I have found myself in the corrupted foulness of this relationship, bearing no fruit except the genuine sneer of disdain and congenital wickedness. That's a heavy line that simply says, "Work has not really been my friend."

There's a chapter in Proverbs 7:10-18 that seems very appropriate, "Then came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent. (She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home; now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.) She took hold of him and kissed and with brazen face she said; "I have fellowship offerings at home; today I fulfilled my vows. So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you! I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt. I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamon. Come, let's drink deep of love till morning; let's enjoy ourselves with love!"

I have ended 2009 on vacation, bringing to a close what is in many ways a banner year by professional account. During this respite; I have come to one simple conclusion, "I've given up a lot to get here." Surveying my land from this professional mountain top, I look down into the valleys I have traversed and see the billowing smoke of forest fires left in my wake. It has become clear that the work world expects nothing less than a pound of flesh. In my myopia, I have been only too willing to sit with a knife and cut myself, presenting my body ounce by ounce to fill its supply. This prostitute has had me bleeding slowly.

I am not a big believer in New Years resolutions. Actually let me rephrase that, I did make one resolution in 1990 that I kept for a year. I am declaring in loud voice though that I am making one major resolution; "I will treat my work, like it has treated me!"

I have courted her (work) delicately, invested large amounts of time and money into her well being, ignored my family and sometimes gone without food to please her; I have found myself gaining huge rewards. New titles, increased pay, recognition, awards and promises of brighter tomorrows. Yet as 2011 looms, this hollow sound pings off the walls of my heart, it's the emptiness that comes from shallow living. Much like others, it is not that I am doing anything that is not expected of a go-getter in America. If you want anything in this country, you have to be willing to work for it. No, what is currently irking me is the unsaid cost of professional gain.

Executive ladders treat personal lives with a certain disdain. Though there is outward encouragement to live life complete and fulfilled; the constant ladling of projects and expectations increases your time commitment. You lose much of your personal time in an effort to achieve goals. The prostitute, becomes the mocker. Challenging you to manage the time and juggle life. She will never mellow, nor will she be calm. She is a time devouring machine. She wants nothing else but to ingest as much as she can of you and spit out what is not of value to her enterprise.

I feel now, like a sinner at confession. "Bless me Father for I have sinned........" I am re-discovering the true value of family. They of the; "What can we do for you?" clan. Constant cheerleaders, single minded objectivity, only looking out for your best. Standing where others fell, throwing life lines where others throw stones, coming out in the cold, when others won't answer the phone.


I resolve not to be sick at home and healthy at work, I'm going to treat this prostitute the same way she has treated me;

1. I will get the most I can from her while doing the least I can to make her happy.
2. I will give her a time limit and make her pay for any time added for services
rendered.
3. There are some things that I will absolutely not do regardless of the monetary
possibilities.
4. If she wants me to perform special services, she will have to provide special
services herself.
5. I will not be at her beck and call. Time off, is time off
6. I will not allow her children to act like they belong to me nor will I feel
compelled to support them.
7. I will see the honey dripping from her lips as the venom of a viper and watch her
mouth as it wields its teeth.
8. I will always use protection.
9. I will see her only as a means to achieve my own means and not allow her to bend
any of my rules without consequences.
10.She will need to go through my pimp to get to me.

I write what I like…

Our Leaders and Morningside clinic in South Africa
By Daimone Siulapwa

You will be forgiven for thinking Morningside Clinic is in Zambia. While the masses of our people are dying from serious diseases like Aids, cancer and many more, our leaders continue to waste our national resources by going to South Africa to be treated for a mosquito bite.

Since the inception of the multi party system in Zambia in, we have seen the influx of people from rural areas into urban areas in search of greener pastures. The number of people now leaving in Lusaka has increased ten fold from 1991. This, on it’s on, should have been a good reason for whoever is or was in power to pioneer the construction of many and NOT one hospital. Here we are not talking about unregulated little private hospitals run from two bed-roomed houses in every suburb charging our people exorbitant fees enough to buy Japanese cars if you visited them for a week.

Since we started taking our leaders to Morningside clinic from 1991 to date, the money spent should have built our own Morningside clinic. My poor calculations tell me Billions of kwacha have been spent.

Consider the following1.A return ticket business class to South Africa will be around US$ 12002.In most case these people go with wives, bodyguards, personal assistant, their own Zambian Doctor and maybe with one or two of their children, total five (5) people which equals US$ 6000.3.A bed at Sandton clinic before consultation is approximately R3000, which is around US$ 400 at today’s rate. Say that person stays on average 10 days, we looking at US$ 4000.4.Doctor’s consultation can be anything between US$ 500 to 5000 depending on your problem, scans, tests and other analysis will get you down by another US 3000. In total you will be spending around US$ 7000 here.5.Surgery/ heart bypass you will be looking at another US 8000.6.Accommodation at Road Lodge, the hotel opposite Sandton clinic will charge you R800 per night without food, which is US$ 120 by 5 people in the crew = US$ 600 x 10 days = US$ 6000.7.Normally food allowances are around 200 and 300 US$. Lets pick an average of 250 by 5, which equals US$ 1000 per day for five people and US 10,000 for 10 days.8.Car hire for 10 days with driver who knows the area well would be around US$ 2000.9.I will put incidentals at around US 5000, just in case.10.This gives us a total of US 51,000.00 per sick leader.This does not cover for extended sickness or in an event of death.

Now do the mathematics yourself. How many leaders have we sent to Sandton clinic in the last 16 years? Lets say as a country we have sponsored 200 trips of leaders to Morningside clinic in South Africa - This is 200 x US 51,000 per trip, which equals US 10,000,000.00 ( Ten million dollars). In Zambia, we could build a modest hospital for 1 million dollars (including commissions and nchekelakos)

Did you know that Morningside clinic is just finalising the final touches to their expansion programme. It now looks like a five star hotel….. Part of our money I guess.

See link for expansion costing……

http://www.privateprojects.co.za/Demo/Summary/Details/Details.aspx?ID=799

NOW… I ask the following questions and I demand answers now and not tomorrow,

1.Does this tell us the caliber of Zambian doctors at UTH or anywhere else is so low that our Political leaders have no faith in entrusting their lives in the hands of these doctors? 2.Do they suffer from diseases that they think they should hide?3.Or is it a question of wanting to die in luxury?4.Is being sick and in Morningside clinic part of working, meaning you can clock in some of those needed dollar allowances.

With the World Cup starting next month, I hope we don’t see more of these happenings - we could be sponsoring anything, you just never know.

There are many questions people have and we deserve answers.

Apa epo mpelele…

Mapatizya Formulae key to 2011 polls

It is not difficult to understand why the MMD is bitter about their electoral defeat and therefore demise in Mufumbwe constituency. Mufumbwe is a rural area. The MMD has been rigging elections by cheating people that its strength lies in the villages. They claim that even though urban dwellers detested anything MMD, the party draws its legality and legitimacy from villagers.

Cleary the result of Mufumbwe is a direct reproach and threatens to expose this 10–year old lie.In 2001, the MMD lost elections to the opposition led by late Anderson Mazoka, or to put it more accurately, Fredrick Chiluba ‘stole’ votes and gave them to his creation called Levy Mwanawasa.The nation would have gone to war then. But because we are Zambians, tolerant but not foolish, the nation moved on in peace and tranquility. But Chiluba and Mwanawasa, like most thieves would do, engaged themselves in a fight for the stolen goods. Chiluba is still being haunted up to now though he would rather pretend that he has peace now.

From 2001, the MMD has continued rigging elections even in bye-elections.It is not surprising therefore that someone had to do something about it.And that something came from Mapatizya, a rural area. At that time, Mazoka, not Ackson Sejani had decided that ‘enough is enough.’

He had vowed that, after being robbed in 2001, he will not allow a repetition in 2006. At that time, Mazoka was preparing to lead the pact of UNIP, FDD and UPND into the 2006 elections. So Mapatizya bye-election was by all means a test ground for 2006 elections. Unfortunately, Mazoka’s health at this time was failing. A few months after preventing the rigging in Mapatizya, he traveled to South Africa for medical review. His condition had greatly improved and no one thought he would die on this trip. But the nation was told a few days later he had died, probably strangled on his bed.

The MMD went on and stole elections from Michael Sata who had filled the vacuum left by Mazoka. Just like in Mazoka’s case in 2001, Sata won the elections in all the most populous urban areas and people were just waiting for the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to announce the opposition leader as the duly elected president. But that was not to be. Instead, Dan Kalale and other characters at ECZ said there were more votes from villages which were in favour of the MMD. Sata was told eventually that he had lost.

Then God killed Mwanawasa. The nation had a presidential bye-election. In the same fashion and method, Sata was again told that he had lost to unknown and unattractive Rupiah Banda.The PF and UPND then formed a pact to see how they can defeat the MMD. So far it has worked. Out of the four parliamentary bye-elections conducted since the pact was formed, the pact has won three; MMD one in the home town of their president.But the opposition knows that the MMD can not be trusted. They rig elections and will always rig using their facility called ECZ.So, they haave to safeguard the national vote. They are falling back on the Mapatizya formulae founded by Mazoka with Sejani as operation director.

The Mapatizya formulae involves vigilantism and alertness. It is meant to stop pre and post voting rigging tricks.It involves a lot of interventions including physical when the situation demands so. The MMD calls this violence. The opposition calls it intervention.When electoral malpractice and unfair campaign methods are detected, the opposition cadres are required to intervene physically since the police, usually under the command of the most senior MMD cadre present, can not do anything.

Usually the MMD uses government infrastructure for rigging. So the opposition cadres are particularly alert to movements in these areas.
The formulae require agents of the opposition at polling stations to immediately send results to the command centre for tallying. Once the command centre has counted and discovered that they have won, they are not expected to co-operate with anyone trying to delay the announcement of results.This system is set to be replicated to the entire country next year.The MMD can not blame the opposition for such. It is the MMD to blame. The government allows a discredited ECZ to preside over elections. They retain the same people to run the ECZ even when they know that some names just when they are mentioned, the nation becomes suspicious.But to the MMD, this is ok because it works in its favour.

But Mufumbwe was shocking to the MMD and they are still confused. Not that they don’t know the truth. They know they are not popular but have been telling lies which they have started believing themselves.President Banda is particularly upset because he knows the direct meaning of all this. Mufumbwe was held by his minister and considered the entire north-western province as his stronghold. But losing two bye-elections in the same province within a few months has really disturbed the president.And to think that the presidential by-elections are less than 20 months away should be very frightening. And this is the province where the MMD thinks it has taken a lot of investment from China. It is actually a rebuke to the government. It shows that people are not satisfied with government efforts. They do not agree with whatever government is doing in the area.

The MMD is worried that the party, like UNIP, will be restricted to Eastern province if the current trend continues.So in desperstion, they are appealing against the Mufumbwe verdict.It is possible that the MMD will find a friendly judge who will overturn the people’s choice in Mufumbwe.But if and when that happens, will the people of Mufumbwe give the MMD a vote? We shall wait and see.Maybe they want the court to go a step further by not just overturning the people’s choice but by imposing the MMD candidate Mulondwe Muzungu as the ‘duly’ elected MP.As for the ECZ, they should not even complain. ECZ is a worthless commission which has no credibility at all. Which election have they ever ran and everybody was satisfied?Now they are busy misusing money by paying for useless complaints on TV when it them who are mandated to prevent such things from happening.Whatever the case, people must be ready for Mapatizya formulae in 2011, after all the opposition has seen that it works.It is amazing how many government officials like teachers are police officers one meet who are anti-government.

PRESS FREEDOM

All Zambians including the state and corporate institutions should be at the forefront of protecting media independence in the country. A free press plays a key role in sustaining and monitoring a healthy democracy, as well as in contributing to greater accountability, good government, and economic development.

Most importantly we should guard against any restrictions on the media that could affect freedom of the press because most often they could indicate an impending assault on other democratic institutions.

All stakeholders including media institutions should stop controlling the viewpoints that should reach citizens and repress independent voices who aim to promote accountability, good governance, and economic development.

The press should also play a role in ensuring freedom of the press is protected by thoroughly investigating issues and providing balanced reporting. While there is no reason that justifies restrictions on media independence, reporting half truths has led to unnecessary assaults on the media.

The legal environment for the media should also be designed in a way that will not allow political pressures that influence reporting, and economic factors that affect access to information to thrive.

Hon. Sakwiba Sikota SC

kk 11

THE DEATH OF A COUNTRY. Least we forget

Imagine loosing all the Red Sox players. No more Rocket, Pena,Vaughn, Fletcher, Greenwell, nothing. All gone. All at once. The buddingCharlotte Hornets, pride of North Carolina. Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourningprimed, ready for the playoffs. Beating Boston, then gone. All in the blinkof an eye.

On April 27th, 1993, a military plane carrying 30 passengerscrashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Gabon. John Starkshead-butting of Reggie Miller during the Knick-Pacer series received moremedia attention. The crash killed 18 of Zambia's top football (soccer)players as well as the hopes and dreams of 8 million people. The tragedy canbe likened to the Peruvian plane crash that eventually became a movie. Thedifference is, no one survived. In Africa, death is viewed with reverance, soyou can be sure there will be no movies.

Most of the players came from humble beginnings. As kids theywalked the streets seeking papers to wrap up and make into balls. They playedfootball barefoot late into the night. Their play was a means of ignoringthe growling in their empty bellies. This scenario epitomizes the beginningsof many "third world" players. From dust fields to plush greens, reaching theWorld Cup is the dream of every competitive soccer player. Our dust field,barefooted players were taking us to the World Cup, we had little doubt. In acountry where the average man spends his time figuring out how to get hisnext meal, there is little that can equal the loss. To fully comprehend this,one must understand that football is the main form of recreation in Zambia.It is the avenue with which the daily rigors of basic survival are forgotten.All political, social and economic differences are put on hold. The countryunites. Brothers and sisters with one goal, "cheer the boys".

Yes Africa has problems. People are starving in Ethiopia and Somalia,brothers and sisters constantly dodge bullets in South Africa, dictators,uneducated leaders, corrupt governments, large scale poverty, disease andother grave problems too numerous to mention. Africa also has manyquestions. Is the West perpetuating our plight? Are we being taught tablemanners and not how to grow and cook food? Has there been a systematicplan to target us for destruction? How much more of this forked tongue, doublestandard super power alliance garbage is necessary before Africa can get realhelp? We recognized all the questions but, like a cult, were oblivious tothem as we watched our team progress along the ladder towards the World Cup.

We were oblivious to discussions of reparations for descendants ofslaves, social and economic impacts of the slave trade, western influence inAfrican politics, the prosecution of those that assassinated Patrice Lumumbaand conditional aid. All we could see was the inevitable berth in oneof the World Cup groups. We didn't have illusions of grandeur. We would notwin but at least we would be there. As the dust from our drought ridden landrose around us, we ignored the little fingers of our children prodding us,innocent eyes begging for sustenance. Like avid baseball fans during thepenchant race we were glued to the television, beer in hand. We answered allquestions without once taking our eyes off the screen. Afterall we didn't wantto miss the "Bwalya pass" that set-up the goal. Similar to basketball fansnot wanting to miss a second of Micheal Jordans 54 point performance, weignored our wives. Our love-lives suffered. We put aside our hunger. We hadour football and we could taste the World Cup.

The Zambian team following became a cult. Born of a need to ventfrustration, our cult believed that the team could conquer all. We couldsee the promised land. The team, young and vivacious, led us on. The cultgained fevour after an exemplary performance in the Seoul, Korea Olympics.The highlight of which was, beating Italy 4-0. Yes, this was our triumph."Our boys" had beaten the hunger, colonialism, apartheid, illiteracy,violence, disease and neo-colonialism, if but for a moment. We cheered themon. They were representing us. Each deft move, each goal was a personalvictory for each Zambian. In their triumphs each of us won a personal battle.Our cult leaders led us in the pursuit of a little gold cup that would bringwith it an unimaginable national achievement. But alas, the ugly hand of fatereached out.

Two generations of players were lost. Godfrey "Ucar" Chitalu, coach,once the most feared and revered striker on the African continent died in thecrash. He in the 70's, was what Abedi Pele', Nii Lamptey, Charles Musonda andKalusha Bwalya aspire to be. Usually double marked by opposing teams, he wasdifficult to contain. As a player, he had led the national team to thefinals of the 1974 Africa Cup of Nations competition. It was the countrieshope that his leadership and that of Alex Chola (the first Zambianprofessional player) would lead us all the way. We lost these men and more,all in the span of seconds.

Our dreams were lost in those few seconds that it took to extinguish30 lives. Never in our history had there been a tragedy of this magnitude. Italso could not have come at a more inopportune time. A state funeral, a weekof national mourning with the burial of the players, officials and crew atLusaka's Independence stadium closed the chapter on Zambia's greatesttragedy. But our dilemma is just beginning. We can't pull out of the cup.This would not be fair on the nation, our fallen heroes or the players thatare still competing.The rebuilding process has begun with the new teamplaying a few local matches. We have also received great support from Denmarkand England. Denmark offered an all expenses paid training session England, aprofessional trainer. Even with all this help, many of us do not feel asdeeply about the new team. We find it hard to have similar expectations ofthem. So excuse us if our attention; to our qualifying for the World Cup; iswaivering.

We are now more cognizant of our children prodding us. Their facesare coming into focus. The grumble in our bellies is becoming prominent. We canhear the voices of our wives as they shout " you never listen to me". We haveno excuse to buy beer instead of food. Our televisions are off and we mustnow pay attention to what the kids are doing in school.

We want to blame someone for the crash? Who do we blame? God? Whatrestitution will we find as we now turn to face our daily nemesis survival?Will the two month grace period requested by President Chiluba of Zambia forthe rebuilding of the team bring with it a respite from our daily torment?Will this rebuilding translate into a more focused national agenda? Does theWest plan on standing by as Africa is ravaged by all imaginable forms ofproblems? We do not expect handouts but just like there was an inherentlystrong show of force in the Gulf (protecting oil); we expect similar muscleflexing to the cascade of problems that plague Africa. We shall continue topoint fingers until those responsible for creating and perpetuating ourproblems make a concerted effort to help or, the grumbling in our belliesbecomes less noticeable.

As if adding insult to injury, FIFA denied our request to postponethe first games until September. We would not get a chance to breath. Storieshave begun flying around our country about the condition of the aircraft. Wehear it was faulty, was not pressurized and had numerous mechanical failures init's history. If this is the case then "our boys" should not have been on thatplane. The government has set-up a trust fund for the families of the playersand yet what they really should be doing is paying out of their coffers.Afterall, it was a government plane and with the capitalist ideas thathave become inherent in our system, families may just up and sue for allit's worth. "Hey, that's what I would do". But then again, this is unheard of.

We grieve because our dreams have died and all that is left to us isanger, hunger, despair and the rantings and erratic behaviour of uneducatedpoliticians.

Written By,Soneka K. Kamuhuza.

14 Jul 1993

Press Statement From ULP On SECTOR CODES

The United Liberal Party (ULP) is pleased that government has started the process of introducing sector codes in various areas of the economy. However we would like to appeal to the government to take deliberate steps that will ensure that the sector codes benefits especially ordinary Zambians who are capable but have no economic resources.

The ULP also has several concerns regarding the route which the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) is using to implement the sector codes. The United Liberal Party (ULP) feels that the process of developing sector codes should not be left in the hands of companies alone.

The recent history in labour relations between workers and owners of most companies clearly indicate that they cannot be trusted to come up with codes that will benefit ordinary Zambians. There is need for government to provide the lead in developing the sector codes in collaboration with the private sector.

On July, 29, 2009 the ULP presented a motion in Parliament that was urging government to urgently develop and gazette citizens’ economic empowerment sector codes for the benefit of ordinary Zambians. The ULP proposed priority areas in which government should gazette the sector codes as mining, agriculture, tourism, infrastructure development, education, health and financial services.

Instead of giving companies a blank check on sector codes government should provide a guide such as sector codes meaning levels of involvement with which we want ordinary and poor Zambians to participate in the main stream economic activities of this country through ownership of a meaningful percentage of shares.

This should include companies that are already involved in the priority areas of this economy and the foreign companies that wish to invest in areas such as mining and infrastructure development. This will help us ensure that empowerment programmes truly benefit the ordinary indigenous Zambians.

For an example government should ensure those foreign companies that are currently involved in road rehabilitation and other infrastructure development works surrender not less than 35% of their controlling shares to indigenous Zambians who will be identified under the citizens’ economic empowerment programme.

Sector coding in the mining industry should include employee share ownership where companies could give up a percentage of their controlling shares and issue at least 1.5% share capital at current market value to workers. This will help to improve the welfare of workers and encourage high productivity in vital sectors of the economy.

The poor people of this country do not have the luxury of time to wait for six months for companies to develop their own codes which might not be beneficial to the ordinary citizens. We feel that three months would be adequate for government and the private sector to work together on the development of sector codes. This is more especially since the legislation was passed four years ago.

Sakwiba Sikota SC
President
United Liberal Party (ULP)
April 29, 2010

Acquire trade rating, African states told

AN ECONOMIST Dambisa Moyo has challenged African countries including Zambia to ensure that they acquire credit ratings and enhance the ease of doing business to enable them attract more investors.

Dr Moyo, who is author of the world renowned book ‘Dead Aid’, said it is sad that only 19 African countries are currently rated and that many African countries are doing badly on the International Transparency corruption perception index.

She said this when she addressed the 3rd Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Investment Forum during a formal discussion hosted by Blomberg archor personality Maryam Namazee.

Dr Moyo said investors usually ask firstly whether a country is rated or not. She said credit ratings are not expensive and it is important for countries to consider acquiring them if they want to attract more investors.

Zambia is in the process of resuming its efforts to acquire a sovereign rating after earlier efforts were abandoned in the wake of the global financial crisis.Bank of Zambia governor Caleb Fundanga said Zambia has resumed the process of acquiring a sovereign rating.

Dr Moyo told the gathering that many African countries are also doing badly on the World Bank’s doing business index.

Dr Moyo, a Zambian, previously worked at the World Bank in Washington, DC. She is currently a member of the Boards of Lundin Petroleum and SAB Miller.She said that despite going through a genocide 15 years ago, Rwanda is now ranked as the most improved in the 2009 World Bank’s doing business report.

She said if African countries want to attract investments, they should be mindful that they are competing with other regions worldwide and should ensure they perform well on the corruption perception index as well as reduce the cost of doing business.

Dr Moyo said that whether African countries are really corrupt or are just perceived to be, the perception on the Transparency International Index matters to investors.

The forum, which ended on Tuesday, was attended by over 500 people, including businesspersons and policy-makers such as ministers, from 19 COMESA member states.

The forum discussed investment opportunities in the region.

THE Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested two businesswomen in Lusaka’s Kaunda Square Township for trafficking in cocaine weighing about one kilogramme.

The commission identified the suspects as Atines Folotiya aged 58, a resident of Kaunda Square and Ana Daka, 57, a resident of Twapya in Ndola, who were arrested following a search at Ms Folotiya’s house in Kaunda Square In Lusaka.

DEC Public Relations Manager John Nyawali who disclosed the arrest yesterday, said the duo was found with about a kilogramme of cocaine and about four kilogrammes of ephedrine, a controlled chemical which is sometimes used to manufacture stimulant drugs that are popular among youths.

Mr Nyawali said the two are suspected to have trafficked the narcotics from an East African neighbouring country.
[Times of Zambia]

Violence In Mufumbwe

The violence being carried out in Mufumbwe is indeed a sad development in the nineteen years since Zambia’s return to multi party politics or the third republic.

The fact that the sitting government has allowed this anarchy to continue seems to send out a message that they will do all that’s in their power to hold on to political power ignoring the will of the people. The will of the people is the cornerstone of democracy and we all know that the principles of democracy were written hundreds of years ago and to return to violence is to abandon democracy totally.

We say this in the wake of the violence carried out by MMD carders in full view of the Inspector General of police who is said to be vying for a parliamentary seat on the MMD ticket. If that is the case it’s another issue that needs to be confronted as this borders if not is the abuse of office and he therefore should step down. We would feather state that his failure to order the riot police to deal with the thugs that were perpetrating the violence is a total lack of leadership required for the position he holds.

MMD must at all costs rein in their carders for they are the ruling party and to have the nation in arms will only stifle the development of Zambia and the so called courted investors will slowly wilt away.

The leaders of MMD must realize that it’s not about staying in power but the future of Zambia as individuals we will all pass on but Zambia will remain note all those that have passed on including late president Mwanawasa have been replaced so lets have a mindset that puts Zambia first not our own self serving needs.

To the UPND/PF pact restraint is something that you will have to also instill in your carders for to retaliate only causes more friction that we as a nation do not need at all. Stop the Violence its not worth it after all we are all Zambian

MISA says Zambian govt wants to curtail freedoms

The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) Regional Secretariat in Namibia has expressed deep concern at the Zambian Government attempt to impose statutory regulation on the media and has called on the Zambian media to unite in rejecting the move.

MISA Regional Director Kaitira Kandjii says Government’s insistence on a statutory media self-regulation mechanism is inappropriate, unnecessary and aimed at nothing but controlling the media.He says the stunt by government is in bad faith and a strategy to curtail media independence and freedom in Zambia.

Mr Kandjii says it unacceptable and gravely worrying that Government should seek to impose its will and overturn the Fringilla consensus on what self-regulation system suits the media.He notes that the Zambian media have made credible efforts in to develop a mechanism to regulate themselves under difficult circumstances, characterized by unending threats.

He adds that at a minimum, Government has a duty to support, and not impose and jeopardize this process.Mr Kandjii further states that voluntary, non-statutory media councils are the recommended form of media regulation under international law, including article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

He says MISA finds it disturbing that Government keeps changing its positions, having earlier supported the efforts of the Media Liaison Committee, describing the U-turn as unfortunate and one that raises suspicionHe adds that MISA is left to wonder what the true intentions of Government have been all along.Mr Kandjii further adds that the Kenyan mode of statutory self regulation which Government favors is not an option for Zambia, observing that a statutory regulatory mechanism in whatever form shape, will undermine Article 20 of the Zambian constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression, including media freedom.He has since called on the Zambian Government to urgently review its stance on statutory regulation, and end its circus

Zambia among USAID nutrition project strategy beneficiaries

Zambia has been selected as a beneficiary for the USAID Feed the Future strategy, a comprehensive initiative that aims at reducing hunger and under-nutrition at national level.

Following a meeting on malnutrition between the World Bank, Japan, USAID and Canada on Saturday, it was announced that 12 priority countries, including Zambia, were going to benefit from the Feed the Future strategy.

USAID’s Feed the Future strategy is a comprehensive initiative that targets the causes of hunger and aims to reduce poverty, hunger, and under-nutrition at national scale.USAID is working with governments in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to develop comprehensive, multi-sectoral plans to invest in food security and nutrition, including programs to boost agricultural productivity, expand access to markets, reduce under nutrition, and improve resilience to food security shocks.

Feed the Future priority countries included Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia in Africa; Bangladesh, Cambodia, Nepal, and Tajikistan in Asia; and Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, and Nicaragua in Latin America.

With malnutrition causing the deaths of as many as three million mothers and young children every year, ministers, heads of development agencies, and civil society organisations attending the World Bank and IMF Spring Meetings are appealing to governments worldwide to invest more in halving the rate of malnutrition, one of the 2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The meeting for a high-level nutrition roundtable in Washington—co-hosted by Canada, Japan, the United States, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and the World Bank heard how better nutrition, called the "forgotten MDG" for its historical neglect by aid donors, would not only sharply reduce hunger and malnutrition but also would significantly improve the health of mothers and children worldwide since research shows that malnourished mothers cannot deliver healthy children, and undernourished children are more likely to die.

By Post Reporter Mutale Kapekele in Washington DC

Zambia among USAID nutrition project strategy beneficiaries

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10 things African WOMEN must CHANGE by Mubita C. Nawa

Talking about an African woman in the context of change is as taboo as asking the Chinese to adjust the measurements of the Great Wall of China. The very notion of women changing is nerve wrecking because women in Africa, like women the world over, have contributed immensely to civilization as we know it today.

The African woman built the economies of the world. While her men were shipped to far lands in chains and yokes, she tended her land and cared for her own. As her men were deep in the gold and copper mines, she prepared warm baths and warm meals for them to return to. She cradled the harshness of colonial masters and calmed her man to avert the break out of war all the while absorbing the cultural shock that civility imposed.

She discerned the insincerity of the missionary and alerted her man to be careful in his dealings with the bible and riffle brandishing missionary. While men schemed ways to fight and chase colonialists, the woman sung spirited songs that soothed the mind of the freedom fighter. It was her, who liberated Africa.

Occasionally, the African woman picked up arms to fight in the natural and artificial battles that man entangled himself. In those rare moments, that tamed beast in all of us became visible. It brought to the fore a woman’s ability to summon great resolve when her back is pinned against the wall. In war, she has been a victim of rape, in peace she has been a victim of ignorance. In triumph she has been used to sing jubilant praise for her leaders and in defeat, the African woman has been used to mop the blood stained streets of Africa while deep in her heart she nursed her own wounds of insecurities.

The African woman is dark and lovely, distinguished, curvy and sometimes canning. But she is a noble woman. She is a mother, a sister, and a wife to all of us. Her accolades bounce through medieval times, to Mesopotamian times, and to modernity.

However, in order for this woman to continue in her vibe, she needs to modify her psychological posture, and in some cases her physical demeanor, so that her relevance is guaranteed. Change is inevitable. When change begins with a woman, that change is unstoppable no matter who stands in its way.

Here are the 10 things an African Woman must Change. Some items on this list are representative of deeper seated African cultures while others are forward-thinking ways to increase a woman’s sphere of influence.

1. Answer Your Phone: The number one complaint from a lot of men regarding women is not infidelity or clumsiness; it is the inability by women to answer their phones. Cell phones in particular. And the excuse from women is, “It was in my bag. I did not hear it ring.” Your inability to answer your phone will cost you three things:

a. Opportunities will pass you by and go to someone who answers their phone.

b. You will loose your respect because people will consider you a scatter brain.

c. Your relationships will be spoilt as you always have to fight and explain why you did not hear your phone.

More than any thing, not answering your phone means you are disorganized and you lack concern and care for what is important to others first and to you last of all. So get organized and carry your phone with you. There is a reason it is called a mobile phone; coz it is mobile. In short point number one could have easily read, get organized.

Know where your stuff is; find your birth certificate, your marriage certificate if you have one. Know where your title deeds are and when you find them keep them safe. Often what worries men about your disorganization is really one thing; “Will this woman manage when I am dead and gone?” A man can only be assured by your level of personal organization now.

This is not only about getting organized for the sake of men. It is also about getting organized for your sake. So that you can compete in any country, any culture in this world.

2. Leave Your Skin Alone: There is a reason you have that dark pigment called Melanin. It is a good thing and not a bad thing. Instead of the African woman looking for books to read and looking for investment and growth opportunities, she is looking for chemicals that will bleach her skin the deepest. She will alter her outside to look like a Barbie. But her inside will still be riddled with deep seated self esteem scars. And guess who is laughing the most? The men. Enlightened men have no appreciation of any short circuit to Gods wondrous creation.

Please we beg you as your men and your children, we want you natural. Just the way God gave you to us. You can use other augmentations and make up, but leave your skin alone.

3. Go Back to the Basics: The basics defer from person to person and from subculture to subculture. But find out what drove you before and go back to it. Some basics are bad and must be disdained. But others, most of them, are powerful and make an African woman who she is. For example, an African woman has respect. She gives and commands respect. A woman who will kneel down or at the very least do the knee-bend when serving is a woman with respect. A sexy woman but one who is still descent enough not to parade her assets in the streets to all and sundry is a woman of respect. Those are basics. Even the bible in Proverbs 31 speaks about these basics. We must watch E- Channel but we must not embrace everything we see on E-Channel. Some African women are swept off their feet by The Playboy Mansion, Kendra, and all these celebrities whose morals are questionable.

4. Shut UP: Don’t talk too much. Learn to mind your words. Men hate two the most: words and questions. Not snakes and needles. But words. You can’t be talking all the time. When do you think? A great woman is one who speaks when it is the right time to speak. And when she does speak, everyone listens to her. If you talk too much, you will give up respect.

5. Close Your Womb: Having children is a wonderful gift. But having too many children is a wonderful problem. Some African women still think like yesterday; the more children the happier. How many children can you have? At some point you must stop. One of the reasons China is a powerful country I believe is because of the one child policy. With fewer children, you liberate yourself to do other things and you raise better children (exceptions do apply). God gave you a mind, hands, feet and not just you back to lie on. And if your man wants more children, tell him you can adopt. By the way, family planning is primarily a woman’s business. When a woman says no, it is no. Can I get an Amen?

6. Raise Great Children: Preferably children whose fathers are there in your life and the life of your children. Be careful not to emulate some cultures where women mother children for economic reasons. Children are a gift from God. Raise them well. Spend time with them and tell them how great they are. Read great books to them. Introduce them to great mentors. Protect their innocence. And the day your daughter tells you someone has raped her or touched her inappropriately, for goodness sake believe her and do something about it. Too many women are sacrificing their own children over useless men they have allowed to come into their lives. Some of these men are only after a woman’s purse, pelvic and power. In raising great children, discretion must be exercised about your own indiscretions and idiosyncrasies. Many years ago, we never saw our mothers flirting, kissing or even demonstrate the wrongs they did. We never even saw them have sex. We only saw pregnancies. But today’s woman will do any and everything to please a man without realizing she is damaging children who are tomorrow’s leaders. All along mirroring and modeling a life that will damage her own children; born or unborn.

7. Trust your Man: Trust is a better weapon than suspicion. Browsing through someone’s phone is not cool. You will find whatever you are looking for and your heart will be broken. By the same token to all the men who check their wives phones that is the most un-rocking gesture you can ever give a woman. It is the highest form of mistrust. People are innocent until proven guilty not the other way round. In fact, trust makes a person in your life change their behavior. They will say, “I can’t do this because she trusts me.” If you don’t trust, they say; “I will do it after all she does not even trust me.” When you trust people, you show them that you yourself are trust worthy and you free them towards loyalty not scandal.

8. Choose Your Fights Carefully: You can not fight in every fight. Today it is in-laws tomorrow siblings the next day work. Men have a higher tolerance of conflict than do women (In part because men start those conflicts anyway). When a woman fights, she does not rest until she sees blood. You must chill. Fight sparingly. Some battles are better left in the hands of God. He will vindicate you. Don’t go to that workplace of so and so to fight. Leave it alone. One of the great ways to fight is walking away. That way you conserve your energy and prepare for better things in your life.

9. Leave Another Woman’s Man alone: This is a hot topic. I am not even sure I am qualified to tackle it. But many African women have no faith in themselves. They would rather harvest a fruit another woman has toiled to plant and cultivate. There are even women who do nothing but destabilize homes. There are women who have never gone out with a single man. All their men have been married. What in the name of shrimp is wrong with you? Lets face it, some marriages are dead anyway and your presence or absence does not make a difference in that home. But it is still wrong. I also know that there are fewer and fewer single men who are serious these days. A lot of single men are themselves caught up with multiple partners because they still want to play. This leaves the serious minded woman to settle for married men because married men are more stable and mature. Whatever the case, decide which path you will take as an African woman and take it with dignity and sobriety. Someone has to break this vicious circle and I am counting on you.

10. Get a Life: Women in Africa (our mothers at least) got into marriage and forgot about themselves. They dedicated everything they had to the family. They stayed home while the husband went to work; they cooked and ironed the children’s clothes. They did it all. One day these mothers realized the children were grown and gone, the men had multiple degrees and the women had nothing. And I mean nothing. What led to that? These women had no life. They gave up everything for an institution. They gave up everything in the name of family and in the name of raising children.

This modern woman must change. She must change her ways if she is going to win on the byways of life. Some of you women tell your men everything but your men tell you nothing. You tell them where your money is, how much you make, you have even given him an ATM card to your account but you don’t have one to his account. You have let men put all the title deeds in their names while none are in yours. Your men drive all the cars but you have no license to drive even a bike. Your men can go out for dinner and you have to stay home all the time. Get a life. You are a woman first, a wife second and a mother last. In that order you were created and you must take care of yourself. Go shopping every now and then. Go and party with descent friends. Attend weddings, schools, seminars and dress well. I am not talking about rebellious infidel women who want to rule the world with scorn, malice and fierce corrupt competition with men. I am referring to shrewd women who allow the world to underestimate them only because the world does not know what is up their sleeves. I am talking about women who don’t sponsor men’s lifestyles that are scandalous at best and mischievous at worst. I am talking about women who allow men to be hunters. Today’s African woman buys talk time for her man (all the time) and sponsors him to his drinking sprees while she languishes in worry.

She has weakened the resolve of man to provide because she wants to provide everything in the name of fearing to lose everything. And that man like a tamed and domesticated lion has nothing but dull teeth that can’t kill a single mosquito.

I know there are men out there who are intimidated by women who are more educated, who earn more money, or just look good. But let me tell you the truth; a real man is a real man and he will share power, he will support, he will celebrate a great woman no matter how much or how little she makes.

Don’t be one of those women who suddenly because they have money and power want to drive like a man, look like a man, drink like a man and smoke like a man. There are certain things women must never do. Not because it is right for men to do them. But because it is women are noble and kingly in their feminine way. And when women go ‘bad’, they really go bad.

Get a life and let your life shine like that of Mother Theresa. Get a life and let it shine like Oprah who fought in mans world not through manipulation but by gently grabbing power from men. Let your life shine like that of Wangari Matai who the Kenyan government tried to silence but her trees spoke for herself. She went out there and did well. Her deeds won her respect and even recognition for the Nobel Loriets. Get a life and rule your man like Michel Obama who gently guides her man to be moderate. If you ask me who the ‘president’ of America is, I will say it is that powerful woman who has found her place in life, has defined herself without the world defining her, and has liberated her man to be a great man.

Great men, real men, don’t want a woman who has no vision. Great men, want and deserve great women. Just as do great women; they too deserve great men.

CONCLUSION:

Our continent is yearning for development. It is crying daily for men and women across this continent to take their rightful places. The best place in my view is not for men to suppress women and view them as sex slaves or any other slave for that matter. It is not for women to crave power so much that they lose it. I would even caution you, never fight a man head to head, you may not win. The best way to fight men is through power play. It is doing it like the way the German Preside does it. It begins with individual women finding their place in God, in society and in this continent.

Will women use their female prowess to manipulate and compromise their way to the top? Or will they anchor themselves in dogmatic resolves that unites all women around Africa and the world and then fight the greatest oppression of all; the compromise of who a true African woman is.

To label this article chauvinist would be as cheap as labeling the article ‘10 Reasons Why AFRICAN MEN DON’T ROCK’ sexist. Rather, both pieces of work must be devoured with noble intentions while sifting through nuggets of truth that apply.

All in all, women are the foundations of all society. They are the pivot of homes, schools, academia, and society. Men may be better at initiating, but women are better completers and finishers. We need the African woman to arise and bring real change to Africa. She can rule this continent if only she can rule herself, her emotions and her peers. That in essence is what true leadership is all about. Mwaaaaaaaaaaaah.

The author Mubita C. Nawa admits that he is a product of great women including his late mother Mrs. Patricia Mukumbuta Nawa. Yet as coiled up as his love is for women, he humbly submits this text to the women of Africa and beyond as a catalyst of change.