Letters

Tue, 02 May 2017 10:02:58 +0000

ArchBishop Mpundu’s letter missed the point

Dear Editor,

I have taken some time to read Catholic Arch bishop Mpundu’s letter on the current political status of our country. My conclusion is that the British Government had a far much more lucid and comprehensive apprehension of the dynamics of Zambian politics than our own Catholic Bishops.

Our Bishops are neither concerned nor driven by the wishes and aspiration of the ordinary Zambian otherwise how could they miss the anger of most Zambians who were witness to the impudence that HH displayed towards their elected President?

My first observation is that the letter was dismissive of this country’s appellation as a Christian nation. The Bishop put the phrase Cristian in inverted comas denoting that he did not agree with the description.

This is perhaps the biggest problem that the Catholic Bishops have with the current regime.

President Edgar Lungu has taken on board Christianity with a zeal and determination that is reflective of President Frederick Chiluba the original President who coined the nation as such.

The Catholic Church opposed the title on theological grounds that many of us have found difficult to understand.  They understand a Christian nation as a theocracy in the same manner that some Muslim countries have become Islam nation by the use of Sharia law.

Being Christian, a term embraced by most Evangelical groups, does not mean that the church takes over leadership of the country. It simply means that the nation recognised the supremacy of the one Supreme God whose teachings and precepts should form the basis of our personal and state conduct. It is not any different from what late President Michael Sata said when he decreed that he would rule by the 10 commandments.

The Bishops had no difficulty accepting Mr. Sata characterisation of his rule because he was a Catholic, but had problems with the Christian nation because it emanated from a protestant or evangelical.

This marks a very serious failing in the legitimacy of the message from the Bishops which is already clouded with the “theological” cobwebs of radical evangelism of the Pentecostals who wear their faith on their shirtsleeves rather than hide it in complex theological constructs which only make sense to those already trained in theology.

It is not fair to tackle President Lungu from an antagonistic premise which makes him wrong even before he utters anything.

The least the Bishops could have done was to acknowledge as did the British High Commissioner that the conduct of HH was provocative as it displayed a very abominable disregard of the status of Presidency.

This should have been the starting point of the Bishop’s letter which instead went ahead of itself to prophesy Armageddon which was previously pronounced by HH.

It is a great pity that the church which should have been an authoritative, impartial and well-meaning institution to which Zambians could have turned in this time of trouble has instead become another divisive and intolerant  actor.

What a shame.

Nathan Kasonde

NHA houses too expensive for ordinary citizen

Dear Editor,

Zambia has a huge housing deficit which needs serious attention.

However, institutions mandated to help mitigate this housing deficit are worsening the situation. The National Housing Authority is an institution that does not need to be bailed out in any way as it is capable of raising revenue for the Government.

It is saddening that a lot of houses built by NHA remain unoccupied or not sold after huge sums of borrowed money was used to build the houses. National Housing Authority is being mismanaged and if we sit and watch, it will continue to be a drain on our national resources.

NHA must start constructing houses that are affordable to the middle class. How many Zambians can pay over K700, 000 for a simple house which NHA sales in Lusaka when the same type of houses can be constructed by individuals using local materials at half the price? l urge Government to seriously consider restructuring the NHA.

As for now, it can even make sense for the government to offer those houses to civil servants so that the national treasury reduces it’s expenditure on housing allowances being paid out and save the nation resources that can be channelled to other needy areas.

It is a scandal to have unoccupied houses which cost the nation huge sums of money.

Wisdom Kaunda

Kabwe

Political traditional leaders divisive

 Dear Editor,

The shame of Tonga chiefs was the press briefing held at the incarcerated UPND leader’s spacious residence in New Kasama which was from the first been dismissed as a press briefing full of hot air.

But sometimes hot air was just what was needed when chiefs, in their view, wanted to claim that the ruling PF hated the Tonga-speaking people going by the reckless statements, insults and derogatory remarks the PF president and his senior party officials have issued in the past.

True or false? You decide.

Senior Chief Mwanachingwala and Senior Chief Mukuni are the most vociferous in the band of Tonga chiefs. Chief Mwanachingwala said they could not be silenced because of the allowances they were getting from the PF government when things were going wrong in the country such as oppression and injustices that have now resulted in the arrest of the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema. While Senior Chief Mukuni said that he would not disengage from active politics as traditional leaders were political by virtue of being leaders. He further said that chiefs look after the welfare of people, therefore, could not be detached from the political nature of their surroundings.

But in stark contrast to the way its traditional cousin, the band of traditional leaders in North-Western Provinces, does things – the two-day provincial indaba on the issue of development held in Solwezi was vigorous and public. The indaba was attended by all the chiefs in the province.

Finally, the traditional leaders in North-Western Province resolved to work and support the government of the day in delivering development to the region because there’s no any other Zambian president other than President Edgar Lungu (“North-West chiefs resolve to support Govt”, Daily Nation, April 28, 2017).

The unshakeable Chief Mwanachingwala and Chief Mukuni in league with other traditional leaders from Southern and part of Central provinces have been at the forefront calling for the release of treason arraigned UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, notwithstanding his alleged acts of provocation, lawlessness, impudence and impunity against those in authority.

Mubanga Luchembe,

LUSAKA

LAZ for rule of law

Editor,

The Rule of Law is not being applied fairly by the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), in that people with a lot of money in their bank accounts and those able to fly abroad at will are receiving what can be given to the less privileged in our societies and prisons. Since when did the Association take a bold step in freely representing Zambians with no access to legal fees? Yet, LAZ is in the forefront increasing legal fees to deny legal representation of the poor in Zambia and also its failure to help interpret the Constitution of Zambia fairly.

Citizen

Raphael Sipambukelis letter shocking

Editor,

Mr. Sipambukelis’ letter dated 28th April 2017 is shocking in the sense that I never thought a ‘Southerner’ could have such constructive and progressive ideas. If that is the general thinking of UPND stewards then be sure, the UPND will soon rule Zambia. HH is finished.

John

Mr Musenge’s remarks unfortunate

Editor,

Mr. Musenge, you were quoted in the disgraced Mast Newspaper that, the arrest of Hichilema will make the PF unpopular. Unpopular to who? PF has its members just like UPND has. If anything, it’s them who are becoming unpopular for burning markets and other government infrastructure. If we have nothing to tell people, let us learn to keep quiet.

Micky

Kalulushi NAPSA housing projects stalls

Editor,

It is better that you protect yourself from political anger during this Labour Day. Don’t be part of the political trachoma that has affected the political system of Zambia. Be a productive youth. Don’t be part of the political violence.

Rainbow Party Youth Leader, Matero Constituency

Open letter to General Education PS and Minister

Editor,

We want to add our voices on the 2017 teacher replacement precisely in Southern Province. Five months ago, our children were given introduction letters for employment officially signed by the Permanent Secretary but up to now they are not yet stationed in their respective schools and we don’t know what exactly is going on. May you please advise and update us on what exactly is going on because the process has delayed a lot and perhaps let us know on how long it will take to finalise everything for our children to start working.

Concerned citizen

The Mast vested interest in LAZ

Editor,

The lies and hate being displayed by the Mast Newspaper is worse than the political hatred. The Mast is in support of LAZ because of the legal fees M’membe is corruptly getting from LAZ despite the US$ 100, 000 per month salary.  What we note is lifesaving of LAZ by KBF for the love of peace and unity in the organization, so credit goes to KBF and not LAZ executive as put by the Mast. That goes to show how tolerant we must be in national matters. Bravo KBF but don’t let evil practices take root in LAZ.

JKC

Political Maturity

Editor,

The speech by British High Commissioner to Zambia, the speech by RB and that of KK goes to show the nation that people need to be level headed when dealing with national issues. In short, we learned how important it is to respect the office of the President in the world and how important it is to concede defeat at all times regardless of the powers you are possessing. The three leaders are part of the level headed personalities of the world, not forgetting Hilary Clinton of the US. The writing is still on the wall for everyone to read and articulate.

Change Life Zambia Board