Zambia: Open Letter to President Banda

WE sincerely thank you President Rupiah Banda for your impartial, steadfast, benevolent, progressive and excellent leadership.

Yes, you are the true servant of the Zambian people. Mr President, you have carried on the vision of our first Republican president Dr Kenneth Kaunda by reuniting Zambia and diffusing eminent ethnic fights.

You have also carried on the mission of our second Republican president Dr Frederick Chiluba by empowering Zambians economicallythrough housing, job creation, entrepreneurship and infrastructure development.

And you have carried on the legacy of ourthirdRepublican president, the late Dr Levy Mwanawasa's rule of law, the fight against corruption and food security.

Zambians are yet to see your own vision but already we are enjoying economic development through your relentless efforts in wooing real investors to come and invest in Zambia.

No one can deny you this credit to your CV. However, we are concerned with our civil service which has been a stumbling block to all your predecessors.

Not all but some civil servants in positions of control or authority. It seems these people have been confused by their greed which has been made worse by influence from greedy politicians through funding their political parties to keepon destabilising our country by distracting your attention from solving real problems facing majority Zambians such as housing, hunger, unemployment, illiteracy, poor health and economic disempowerment affecting many retirees whose pension benefits have not been paid for decades.

We take this opportunity to alert and lobby all Zambians not to be cheated by people or organisations that are in the opposition or supporting opposition political parties.

Most of these parties comprise people who were given chance in Government.

They were supposed to find solutions to problems facing the electorate and the public.

Not scaring away investors but wooing them, not making problems worse but finding relief, not making cost of living more harsh but affordable.

We expect the opposition to be offering alternative policies to housing, unemployment, food security, unfair zesco tariffs, under collection of revenue from the mines and unreasonable delay in paying pension benefits to retirees.

Your Excellency, Mr Banda our fourth Republican president as we have stated above that some civil servants are confused, greedy and a stumbling block to your leadership below is the version of how some civil servants derail good governance .

We draw your attention to your order issued through the honorable Gladys Lundwe, Minister of Lands in a Press statement that was published in the Times of Zambia dated April 23 , 2010 revoking statutory instrument no. 110 of 2009 through statutory instrument no 27 of 2010 , and restoring statutory instrument no 44 of 2009 through statutory instrument no 28 of 2010.

Your Excellency, we are very sure that you issued this order after listening to your people's problems and considering the need to relieve them from paying unaffordable title deeds fees, land rates and rents.

The plight of Zambians who have failed to pay the revoked title deed fees, land rates and rents due to circumstances beyond their ability is what moved your human heart to order the Ministry of Lands to pass the above quoted statutory instruments to revoke what people were not able to pay and restore what people were able to pay.

You made this decision unreservedly and impartially. It is clear and straight forward.

Unfortunately some ill cultured civil servants are opposing your directive .

To them, your order is meant to benefit only new cases.

All old cases of outstanding title deed fees, offers, land rates and rent must not be reversed.

Fresh statements issued based on the restoration of statutory instruments are never sent to provincial or district offices from headquarters and they say only registrars are able to interpret these statutory instruments.

This is total sabotage to your good governance record of your leadership. We, therefore, call upon your wisdom to protect us from these civil servants by clarifying the revocation and restoration orders.

In fact, fresh title deeds, land rates and rent statements based on statutory instrument number 44 of 2006 would be more helpful.

May all well meaning Zambians rally behind your leadership.

CONCERNED ZAMBIAN

HH, Sata are opportunists

THE emergence of the cracks in the Patriotic Front and United Party for National Development (PF/UPND) Pact is sad in the sense that many Zambians had invested hope for emancipation from economic hardships.

Somehow, the impending crack is not a big surprise because right from the start, the two leaders of the pact have not been sincere to themselves and to what they intended to do after coming to power.

From the outset, it is not a bad idea for UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema and his PF counterpart Michael Sata as it is their constitutional right as Zambians to work together.

Both leaders have a good following within their parties and among ordinary Zambians; this cannot be subtracted from them.

It is a fact that thousands of Zambians want Mr Sata to be the president of this country based on what he has promised if he wins the elections, particularly on issues affecting the underprivileged such as high tax, high unemployment levels and unequal jobs and business opportunities.

Mr Sata is a forceful and pragmatic leader, hence many Zambians want him to come to power to handle their cries especially now when the economic indicators show growth people can see and feel it unlike now when stakeholders such as banks, millers and transporters are being defiant. People want Mr Sata for his aggressive nature.

On the other hand Zambians also have hope in Mr Hichilema as a young man with the requisite economic and business background. He has a good following because he understands economic issues.

However, the real problem with these two leaders is pretence, double mindedness and opportunism embodies their objectives, if they assumed power.

The two leaders are not patriotic judging by their statements and their conduct to leaders in Government.

They have no respect for a sitting president, traditional leaders or even holders of constitutional offices such as the Chief Justice.

If an aspiring leader exhibits such uncaring respect of institutions and persons of authority, how are they going to respect ordinary persons whom they purport to serve?

What can you expect from someone who is disrespectful to Chief Mwanachingwala of the Tonga people, points accusing fingers at the Inspector General of police and call ministers "people with small brains and useless degrees"?

Mr Hichilema has followed Mr Sata blindly on the privatisation and yet he knows better from a process he participated in and personally benefitted.

Today he closes his eyes to reality and jumps on the bandwagon to attack Government. This is a classic example of opportunism.

Don't regard those in Government as enemies. They are competitors. Float good behaviour and plans to the people such that those in Government will shake hands with you when you too win elections.

Concentrate on strategising how you will tackle leadership. Zambians are looking for quick and efficient service delivery, not taking this or that person to court. I can assure Mr Sata and Mr Hakainde that such vindictiveness can not succeed because all the processes the MMD Government is putting into place is backed by law. My encouragement to the MMD is to re-double service delivery in rural areas.

Let us build Zambia together with one spirit of unity.

HEZRON DAKA

Lusaka

Original Source:
Original date published: 29 July 2010

Source Url: http://allafrica.com/stories/201007290073.html?viewall=1

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