Those who live in grass houses should not throw stones

It is unjustifiable for one who cannot be sued to sue in the name of proving innocence. This clearly justifies why Zambia needs a new constitution to ensure that the document does not only protect those in authority but meets the aspirations of the very people it aims to protect. It is a long held view that the current constitution gives the sitting President too much powers, a view which has now been proved by the President appearing in court where even court decorum could not be respected and their honor were at a loss on how to handle the incumbent. I have always said politicians should always look beyond there interest, as regards the national constitution and President Micheal Charles Chilufya Mwango Sata has an opportunity to give us a document that stands the test of time and not that, which propagates confusion and anarchy to say the least, as is currently the situation. We should all admit including State House that the current constitution falls short of our aspirations, as a country thus needing treatment. If his excellency was an individual like he was in the opposition, the highlight of the article the subject of alleged defamation would not have been on him, as an individual but because of the nature of the office he holds criticism is inevitable. Additionally, lack of public engagement through different avenues such news conferences has been elusive for the last three-years at State House. My earnest appeal therefore to the country's leadership should be about serving the integrity of its people rather than public image build up at our expense. What are the answers to the Kwacha, which has taken a walk now at K6.7 to a dollar, Konkola Copper Mines Saga, Zambians need inspiration leadership, overcome their daily challenges. I also want to thank Malawian Outgoing President, Joyce Banda for providing the continent with the joke of the year for claiming that she been rigged out of office. This is unprecedented for a sitting President in Africa and the digging of her heels on the ground is not a solution. Views expressed here are purely personal

ZAMBIA: A Country without a future

At the height of Zambia’s independence, young people were an epitome of hope and a new beginning but as the country celebrates its fifty years since the end of the colonial rule they have been become a shadow of themselves.The prospects of young blossoming Zambia had been anchored on the very existence of our young generation to facilitate the country’s development. They beamed with hope to lead the rest of the generations to the Promised Land, a land of milk and honey. However, fifty-years after our young people are wallowing in abject poverty and unemployment, a daunting nightmare. Today’s young people face a real and increasing difficulty in finding decent work.The Central Statistics Office reported that unemployment is a more serious problem in the young age groups of 12.-14 (19.9 percent); 15-19 (22.6 percent); 20-24 (20.8 percent) and the 25-29 (13.9 percent). Zambia's President, Michael Sata’s pledge to the electorate that his administration would create jobs for young people three-years ago still remains mere political rhetoric simply put jobs are not forthcoming.The least Zambian youths have come to accessing jobs is through statistics promulgated by Government officials yet the promise of creating jobs for Zambia's most productive age remains elusive for now.Therefore, many young people have failed to find justification in celebrating “Youth Day.”As we reflect on this year’s Youth Day in the Jubilee year, the role of the young people should be properly dignified, as regards to their contribution to the economic emancipation of their country. Additionally, the country’s educational sector should be overhauled to be able to meet the challenges of the modern times in making young the existence of the young people more economically sustainable.Therefore, entrepreneurship is fundamental for a country in sustaining the gains of an emerging economic powerhouse in the region, we are proving to be. Entrepreneurship education facilitates an informed citizenry among young people, who in turn can establish their own institutions and create employment to absorb those roaming the streets. I also wish to commend comrades, who were recently arrested for petitioning the powers that be over the constitution during the youth day celebrations in Lusaka. As much, as I sympathize with the governing political party that Zambia does not need a constitution, I am comforted with the fact that many of these people that shot down the constitutional road-map are in their evenings of their times and understandably their action is justified, as they have been webbed to colonial tactics of suppressing their own people. How do you justify the arrest of someone for merely expressing themselves? Zambia deserves better especially that it is a democratic society where people should be tolerate of other people’s views. This country does not belong to one political party, as we are made to believe. The Zambia Police Service should also stop exhibiting double standards having allowed the governing political party cadres match in the streets of Lusaka several times without any hindrance.The best thing the Police should do is to arrest those who have wasted our tax payers’ resources in funding the process they did not believe in unlike innocent who are merely preparing their future as the future is only certain for those who prepare for it today and you get arrested for merely defining the future you wish to have? Furthermore, the police action amounts to a violation of human rights and Freedom of expression, which is well engraved in our national constitution. Clearly all these things will one day sure haunt us, as a country that suppressed its youth in an attempt to sustain our tummies. This is the Zambia we wanted to see at the reintroduction of multi-party politics? Worse still, to arrest innocent youths and undress female youths who were only celebrating their day while PF cadres are allowed to put on military uniforms during youth day. Is it true that young people are the future leaders of tomorrow? Do they really belong to the future? Happy Belated Youth Day

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.