GBM reject politics of appeasement

I would like to thank my tribal cousins for their stance following the unceremonious exit of Honourable Minister, Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, as Defence Minister, one of the most ranked portfolios in President Michael Sata’s administration The Bemba’s have demonstrated a unity of purpose for Mr. Mwamba, as a result of his decision to endorse Paramount Chief Chitimukulu rather than blindly embrace collective responsibility, as we know in some instances the majority may not be right. The business mogul has demonstrated that it is important for one not to use their tummies when making critical decisions but their heads, a rare feat in many African leaders. Perhaps Mr. Mwamba did not need the job but the job needed him. He has shown others how it is done who are still job hunting/waiting for jobs even when they are being pushed away. Mwamba did not push himself on the leadership by refusing to give up his birth right, as a hybrid of the bemba royal family. It also defies logic that President Sata has opted to question the Bashi Lubemba’s decision on the choice of the new Chitimukulu, many succession wrangles in the country have arisen among royal family members unlike the Chitimukulu case which has been questioned by the government, while the Bemba dynasty has no qualms what so ever. Mr. Mwamba had long before his unceremonious exit being a reject within the corridors of power when he was stripped off the position of party chairperson for elections. Admittedly, he was a victim of circumstances within the rank and file of the party that he had laboured for and giving up on family would have been a deadly decision for a weaker political soul like him. Subsequently, the support that Mwamba is getting from his tribesmen is commendable because the cause he has undertaken is a noble one and not for the heart-fainted but one with a strong character and it had to take GBM to spearhead that agenda, who is already financially safe. This is entirely my opinion and not my employer nor my wife.

NKANA PUNISHMENT A SCAM

I find the decision by the Football Association of Zambia(FAZ) not only outrageous but conspiracy made to curtail our aspirations of winning this year's Championship. It's now clear that Nkana had lost the game against Konkola blades way before the fixture looking at the verdict. It is undisputed that Nkana has the largest number of fans in the country and that it is a joke for a stadium like Konkola Stadium to be policed by six officers, such a potentially explosive fixture. Could this be the Zambian version of match fixing or football corruption at its best? This is how we are killing the game of football. How did the match officials allow the blades fans on the pitch to perform superstitious acts without intervention, pouring of opaque beer on the VIP section where Nkana fans were seated and you decide to punish us? Stop managing football with a remote control and making of decisions on precedence. Disappointed. This is daylight robbery comrades but I appeal to the soccer fans especially those in Kitwe to camp outside the stadium throughout ninety minutes during the game against ZESCO despite the decision because the boys need us in spirit for a better result.

SPARE TP MAZEMBE

The behaviour of our football administrators regarding the TP Mazembe trio is disheartening and a clear manifestation that Zambia currently has no talent. This is so because I once lived in a Zambia where national team places were not guaranteed and were highly competitive and that the current football Association of Zambia(FAZ) President, Kalusha Bwalya can testify to this. Surely, something has done wrong in our football administration, which someone should owe up. Why the special attention on the three, who don't even play in a prized league but just in the neighbouring Congo.I totally endorse Moise Katumbi's decision to hold on to the players because he is purely a businessman, who has heavily invested in the trio and expects a return. The absence of the trio should have opened doors to others players that have been yearning to dawn in national colours unlike the current situation where some players have in the last ten-years have made national team places, as personal to holder. Truly, Great Kalu, should up his talent identification programme to ensure that there is a resounding or never ending pool of local, rich and abundant talent. I will not subscribe to the notion that Kalaba, Sunzu and Sinkala are the best Zambia has ever had and that we should continue clinging to them. It's time that we begin to look beyond them and focus on raw and untapped talent from across Zambia like was in the case in the olden days where the national team had four-select sides that ensured that the first team was the cream dela cream of Zambia's refined talent unlike the questionable, un-royal and money prone citizens. Additionally, I make an earnest appeal to the migration department to be considerate of the forces at play regarding the TP Mazembe trio issue and not make emotional and invisible implemented decisions because in the end Katumbi might just be the victor in the all equation like the unchained armless bull dog holed at Lusaka's government complex ever backing.

“Free at Last”

It is exciting to witness the unprecedented retention of professionalism and credibility back to every reporter in public media newsrooms. Unfortunately, the development seems to have generated some form of disorder in some quarters of government especially officials who had self-appointed and turned professional scribes into perpetual plastic bags or 'personal-to-holder’. Ironically, the move was at some time defended on the grounds of Parliament. It is without question that Zambians have over the years yearned for a progressive and more accountable media fraternity especially on the part of the public media which is largely funded by the tax payer. Such a move to depoliticise public media newsrooms is therefore the wish of every well meaning Zambian. Any kind of attempt by some overzealous politicians to muzzle public media and perpetuate unprofessionalism, should therefore be treated as an off-side and fought vigorously. The personal to holder arrangement in public media as was witnessed of late had completely taken away the editorial autonomy of senior managers in the newsrooms to an extent where reporters started dictating where and how to cover particular stories. If this is what some government officials want to perpetuate, it would be better to lay off the senior managers (Editors) instead of paying them huge sums of tax payers money for sitting and waiting for instructions from some reporter who has been told what to write by a government official. From the reaction to these reforms however, it is clear that some politicians will stop at nothing but continue fighting to have control over public media newsrooms. What is also clear on the other hand is that well meaning Zambians, professional media bodies and ordinary Journalists are happy with the reforms to let public media operate freely. An earnest appeal goes to politicians to stay clear from public media operations. The money that they give to public media does not come from politicians’ pockets but from the ordinary Zambian tax payer. The practice where the public only learns public scandals involving government officials through private media is not healthy. The idea of politicians wanting to have unlimited access at the expense of ordinary citizens should not continue. Free public media and let it operate professionally! Disclaimer: This is entirely my personal opinion and not of my employer

ZAMBEEF Should not be blamed

After loudly proclaiming that ZAMBEEF meat contained aromatic aldehyde, used in confectionary, Zambian Health Minister, Dr. Joseph Kasonde was back in Parliament last thursday for the graduation of the substance from its current state to formaldehyde, a chemical used in embalming human bodies without proper justification. Having watched Honourable, Dr. Joseph Kasonde on local televisions delivering his statement, I am made to conclude that the sins of Members of Parliament(MP) is to properly understand what is before them or maybe they are just ignorant of what is happening. This is because I do not come to this charge lightly, but ask you to look at the initial proclamations regarding the Zambeef in local media reports revealed that the respective meat products were laced with chemicals that were used to embalm dead bodies was an undertaking of the local authorities. Surprisingly, one local authority, Lusaka City Council-LCC-through its public relations Officer, Henry Kapata vehemently refused the authority had carried any such tests. Its’ clear that ours politicians are occasionally lapsing into mild hypocrisy and subsequently allowed Minister Kasonde to deliver his statement with easy without questioning the legitimacy of those results. Secondly, a cautious approach should have been applied in dealing with matter owing to the number of our citizens employed in various ZAMBEEF outlets of this indigenous investment surely economic distortion awaits, us a country for been careless in addressing the problem at hand rather than the wreak sweet-sounding havoc by Minister Kasonde. I therefore, proposal that dialogue should be the ultimate destination in resolving this impasse. I am conversely, optimistic that the truth will dawn among members of the executive by the time most of them woke-up to reality, the damage would have been done. It’s clear that economic vandals are succeeding by keeping the public ignorant of their actions by a compliant press and timid adversaries especially that the most basic function of every government is to protect the people and their property. When the reports of the presence of aromatic aldehyde emerged enlightened Zambians refused to subscribe to this cheaper political illusions and safe guarded their investment in ZAMBEEF and humbly offered explanations admitting the presence of the substance in most foods like cooking oil, fermented edibles like bread & chibuku. Nevertheless, the chances of wreaking havoc to health are slim or none at all because its dosage that makes the poison and only excessive consumption of aldehydes or formaldehyde can cause cancer, hypertension. Additionally, it is unfair to blame Zambeef at this stage because the imported meat that had been impounded at the boarder points was void of aromatic aldehyde but what really happened to the meat that disappeared? Is it the meat that government took for testing abroad and where was this investigation done and the credibility of the institution are some of the questions that Minister Kasonde failed to address? Could it be that contamination was locally induced? by who? Is the outcome, as highlighted by the Minister of Health, the final verdict? We have all been eating their meat for decades now. Even our parent did. But, did anyone die? Remain Steadfast and alert Zambians and pay no subscription to cheaper political illusions and I call on all of you Zambians to summon sobriety and not emotions in dealing with this matter.

KONSTABLE IS BACK!

When Muvi Television started transmission in 2004, one of the most popular comedies on the screen was the Police drama Konstable. With its twisted, corrupt and cartoon like characters, this comedy became a household name as it depicted some of the many occurrences at one too many Police stations in Zambia. Konstable was created by Chris Mukkuli who was also the writer of the first season, with help from Angel Phiri. The comedy featured actors like Malumba Malumba, Thomas Malama, Betty Ngulube and Serah Zulu. The Second season had Henry Joe Sakala come on board as writer with Siphiwe Milanzi taking on the mantle of director! Now, after more than five years away from the screen, Konstable is back on Muvi TV for a third season with crazier characters for even bigger laughs! After unruly residents burn down Mungoni Liso Police Post, it comes back to life with new Konstables and a new Officer in Charge! Just like their predecessors, the new Konstables are never short of bungling up cases that are brought before them. Leading the pack of these crazy officers of the law is Konstable Mutale (Aubrey Luo), a university graduate. He is backed by the Tumbuka boy and former rat catcher Konstable Nyimbiri. The Mabisi drinking Konstable Habbakuku (Brian Kambenja) and wanna –be fashion model inspector Liswaniso ( are also there to add more misery to officer in charge Munyaule played by Barnabas Mwale who many will remember as Mfumu Chidano in the Banja series. Konstable is a parody of a Police station that highlights corruption in the service, exposes abuse of power by those in authority and other challenges that the Police service is faced with. The Konstables often get into trouble by their own fault. For example Konstable Mutale gets Officer in Charge Munyaule in trouble when he locks up the minister of finance who bashed a child on his way to present the national budget. When reminded that the man in the cells is on his way to present the national budget, Mutale retorts: “Kulibe benangu banga chite stand in?” In another episode Officer Munyaule’s wife puts on her husband’s uniform and sets up a fake road block but ends up unwittingly arresting and soliciting a bribe from the I.G! There is more drama and more fun in this season of Konstable! The comedy premieres on Muvi TV on Thursday 11th July with a live event at the Freshview cinemas where high ranking officials from the Zambia Police, the cast and crew are expected to attend! Other Muvi TV local productions will be showcased. Productions like Pa Shabeen, Ba Mwisho and Housemates. The launch is scheduled for Thursday, 11th July, 2013 at 18:30, Fresh View Cinema-Lusaka.

Zambian Constitution making..... "another wet-dream"

I have always been pessimistic about my country’s desire to write a constitution that will stand the test of time under the current circumstances and government’s response to a fresh proposal by the Technical Committee Drafting the Zambian Constitution-TCDZC-to have a six months extension to the constitution making process. The negative response apparently amplifies my reservations. I am forcefully drawn into sharing thoughts on the recent revelations by Justice Minister, Wynter Kabimba of the correspondence between his office and the team mandated to ensure that a constitution that meets our aspirations, as Zambians, and not politicians who have always hijacked the process is delivered with ease. Firstly, there should be a realisation that current politicians should detach themselves from the process because it is not meant to serve their interests but prospective generations. Thus, the need to let the committee conclude its work, rather than looking at the cost of the exercise, could have been the best way to go. Who told the current Government that democracy is Cheap? Why has Honourable Kabimba remained defiant to the civil society organisations about the need to have a legal framework to protect both content and the process? Ironically, President, Michael Sata has time & again reaffirmed his commitment that under the Patriotic Front government, Zambia will not borrow or import a constitution from any other country but will formulate its own people driven supreme law of the land. Additionally, the President has constantly noted at several forums that world over, the constitution making process was an art in compromise and consensus building which calls on citizens to give prominence to national interest as opposed to serving narrow partisan interest, which the justice minister seems to have adopted by his refusal to grant the committee the requested 44 million kwacha-rebased for the proper completion of the process. It is not true that we (Zambians) want a constitution now not even tomorrow but that we want a quality document to address the many challenges that we are faced with as a country. It is therefore my conviction that the current leadership deserves some lecturing on the prospects of a good constitution. Accordingly, we need, as a country to embrace the proposal by the technical committee to conclude the process. It is further absurd to demean eminent individuals like Justice Annel Silungwe, who currently chairs the committee that it has been turned into a commercial franchise without listening to their proposal. I think we should be sober when discussing issues relating to the constitution and not trivialize it as beer talk. Those opposed should stop thinking that those advocating for the extension are unpatriotic. It is disheartening that Zambia has no respect for technocrats that continue to serve the country with diligence and utmost commitment such as those that currently constituting the technical committee due to their investment in time & energy in crafting this document. Mr Kabimba could have been well advised to engage the committee and understand its reasoning for an extension to conclude its work than paint the committee as a bunch of individuals solely interested to amass the country's resources. His outburst puts the whole process in reverse gear as it seems will be concluded just because Kabimba wishes to see the work concluded whether it meets the aspirations or not. This also shows Government's bulldozing tendencies which may constitute the remaining process to the final enactment of the constitution. This also brings to the fore fears many people had at the beginning of the process that it should not be left to the good will of politicians, however those who voiced out then were labelled all manner of names. Surprisingly, in the run-up to the September 20 General elections, then leader of the Opposition Patriotic Front (PF) repeatedly mentioned among other things that his party would deliver a people driven Constitution within ninety days of being elected into government, which however stands as one of the many failures of this government with its now infamous 90 days rhetoric. Undoubtedly, the call by the Justice Minister that the committee should conclude its program of work by June 30, as earlier indicated might just be among the many wet dreams of the ruling party to deny Zambians a well thought constitution. Whoever has told these politicians that we don’t have money to finance the completion & extension of the constitution making is a joker in the wake of unprecedented by-elections & bloated government, the biggest on the African continent. One would not be far from the truth to conclude that Zambians have gone through the same failed route when it comes to the constitution making process. As things stand the PF government has shown little if no commitment at all to start the process through the establishment of a referendum commission to prepare for the holding of a referendum, which will inadvertently be even expensive going by Kabimba's argument. Its' my opinion

“A Cry in the wilderness”-Zambian Media bodies Kaya?

“Crying in the wilderness”, is a title that best describes Kennedy Phiri’s recent writings on his social network page, Facebook, following his recent beatings at the hands of state sponsored thugs in Lusaka’s Matero constituency: Kennedy Wrote, “Attacks on journalists must be condemned every time they appear whether the affected are from MUVI, ZNBC, Daily Mail, Times of Zambia, MOBI, TBN or indeed the Daily Nation. Eleven days ago, I and Francesca Banda were attacked and none of the so called media bodies raised even a finger not even the so called MISA. Eleven days later other journalists are attacked by the same group, then it’s all hell break loose, we hear the so called media bodies exhibit double standards, a wrong is a wrong. It’s my opinion”. Kennedy’s outburst comes in the wake of an attack, in which he was severely beaten with fists, stones and sticks by about twenty people suspected to be members of the ruling Patriotic Front(PF). They met their fate as they were pursuing a story involving the governing party cadres’ alleged grabbing of land in the capital from an old defenceless man. Ironically, the attack on the Journalists received no attention from the existing media bodies. Not even a statement to condemn what transpired. However, eleven days later, another set of Journalists are attacked and well punctuated statements from the respective media bodies floods almost all newsrooms in the country. Well, what conclusion could a Journalist in Kennedy’s entourage make about such a development? Kennedy’s opinion is a clear call for media bodies to be proactive and not reactive/selective in the pursuant of a free media in Zambia. Additionally, the media bodies should inspire defenceless Journalists with the provision of legal representation in the courts of law once such matters are taken to there instead of just talking and letting reporters pursue such cases using their own resources. Time and again, some courageous people have criticized the armchair style of leadership prevailing in most of our media bodies. They seem to be pre-occupied with making empty statements without providing a clear roadmap on how the media fraternity should engage the stakeholders in ending the incessant attacks on Journalists. As the case was with their disposed colleagues, the MMD, the Patriotic Front (PF) Members seem to be falling prey to land grabbing. And in defence of such barbaric practices, they allegedly find pleasure in inflicting pain on the people working to expose their undemocratic acts. While Journalists will remain an endangered species world-over, the manner in which they are protected by those claiming to stand for their rights should be more in reality than in theory. The culture of selective representation is, to say, the least, demeaning on the part of the affected Journalists and their respective media houses.

South African National Press Club-an oasis of opportunities

My appreciation is to the National Press Club of South Africa for the opportunity to have attended a one-day-international media conference last Thursday focusing on the realization of free media reporting during elections. The pre-conference atmosphere initially presented several lessons to our existing media clubs across the African continent with Zambia inclusive. Unlike what I gathered in my brief stay in Pretoria, the operations of these local clubs have been brief-case driven, no fixed-bode and uninspiring to the media fraternity in the country. The Press Club of South Africa has a well-established gallery, in which some of its activities have been well documented, as a mode of transfer of knowledge to future generations, facilitates student interest in the media industry through career assistance and professional networking, as was the case with my invitation. The National Press Club is a representation of over 500 members, consisting of more than 50 percent journalists (full members) and communications practitioners (associate members) working in the media environment. Founded as the Pretoria Press Club in 1975,the club was able to bring prominent journalists from ten-African countries to share professional insights and experiences in the aftermath of the Kenyan and fourth-coming Zimbabwean general elections following a successful referendum in that country. One initiative that was of greater importance was “newsmaker of the year,” in which the club awards individuals and institutions for the prominence in the news annually. Guess who some of the winners are? Previous honours include to the anti-apartheid hero, Nelson Mandela, Thabo Mbeki and the South African Air Force among other outstanding individuals and individuals, as a reward for excellence. The club has seemingly embraced the “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy” proverb through the establishment of a bar, as a means of killing off boredom. Suffice to say, Zambian media clubs have really failed to ensure the consistency, legitimacy and lack of vision, as affiliation to these establishments are of hand-to-mouth benefits and public relation platforms in return with freebies prominently being airtime and sugar.

Elusive Zambian constitution: Where are we?

Zambians are now closer than ever before to the realization of the constitution that will stand the test of time under the leadership of Michael Sata, as one of his electoral pledges in the run-up the September 20th elections delivery of a document that does not only inspire the general citizenry but also meet their aspirations. As delegates converge for the sector groups’ convention at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Centre, Zambians are more certain that the elusive constitution will soon be a reality. The sector groups’ convention is a gathering of professionals and experts invited to discuss and analyse the different articles in the first draft constitution (FDC). The avenue provides a platform for stakeholders to offer their expertise on the proposals. A total of ten sector groups have been proposed and these include the general principles (including consideration of citizenship and general amendment provision), Human Rights (Civil and Political Rights), Human Rights (Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), Representation of the people, Government structures and functions (including separation of powers among three arms of the Government), Public Finance and Accountability, Public Service, Defence and National Security, Devolved Governance and Traditional leadership, Land, Environment and Natural Resources and Constitutional Offices and Commissions. It is however, hoped that the process will not be dominated by sympathizers of the ruling party and does not steal away its core responsibility to facilitate consensus among stakeholders in addressing the political, social, economic and cultural interests of our people, I mean it should be inclusive in its composition.

Zambian democracy breeds political jokers

The number of political parties continues increasing in the country, as everybody is beginning to feel that they are presidential material, the price that my beloved country is paying for choosing democracy, as its system of governance. Ironically, she has been producing more useless, hopeless and talkative politicians allegedly with presidential ambitious than the required technocrats to service the country’s wheels of development. Truly, Zambia deserves better than the counterfeit leadership in the name of upholding values of democracy without risking our beliefs in the philosophy of governing ourselves. I must confess that our political landscape is filthy and optimistic that history does not repeat itself in seeing our democracy breeding political jokers like those of the yester-years such as Chama Chakomboka. Maybe, the emergency of newest political parties: republican progressive party under the headship of comrade James Lukuku and that of Mike Mulongoti dubbed people’s party is seemingly the resurrection of Chakomboka. It’s clear that democracy in our description, as a people is elusive.