MEDIA STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE.
PRESIDENTIAL PRESS CONFERENCES ARE MEANT FOR GREAT PRONOUNCEMENTS.
We write in order to register our displeasure about the Presidential Press Conference held by the Republican President yesterday at Mulungushi International Conference Centre.
We have always associated the Press Conferences held by the sitting Head of State to be a pivotal moment when great pronouncements are made. In the history of our Country, we have listened from Presidential Press Conferences conducted by the first Republican President Dr. Kenneth David Kaunda up to the current Head of State.
There were great anticipations by the general public whenever the President held such a gathering. People could be glued to their radios and televisions as the President was always expected to make some Cabinet reshuffles and announce about some policy changes that would positively affect the lives of the people.
H.E Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia
While we appreciate and commend President Hakainde Hichilema engaging the public from time to time, his speeches are becoming monotonous and tedious. As an Organization, we eagerly anticipated the President touching on the following subjects; -
* How his Government would move in to address the High Cost of Living, Immediate measures and plans that would be employed to arrest the situation.
* Stabilization of the kwacha against the US dollar and how inflation could be combated.
* Although the matter is still in Court, we expected the President to touch on the God Scandal and the allegations involving some staff from State House. Tactfully we expected the Head of State to hint on the demands of the Egyptians asking for their plane and a refund of $ 5.6 million. The general public is left awful as to why the State opted to have the case involving State House staff conducted away from cameras. How come a serious charge of Espionage suddenly became bearable.
The President needed to instill confidence in the people about his unwavering resolve to overcome corruption. No one must be left unattended to regardless of where he belongs. However the emphasis put on the fight against corruption revealed that the fight is only targeted on those who served in the previous administration and yet we currently have many issues involving senior Government officials who are currently serving.
How come we had conflicting statements emanating from the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) about the dimensions of the Gold Scandal Saga? How did what was earlier detected as Gold turn into ordinary ores?
* We desperately wanted to know the interests of the Government in the operations of some Political Parties in Zambia. How can the Registrar of Societies accept and recognize the existence of more than one political party using the same name? When registering any institution, it is a recquirement to do a name search. Immediately someone apply for the registration of an Organization be it a Political Party, an Association or a Business name that already exist, the application would be rejected outrightly!
Could it therefore be an insinuation claiming that the Government is behind the confusion surrounding the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) and the National Democratic Party (NDC)? Why should President Hakainde Hichilema who is known for Rule of Law allow such kind of insanity and abrogations to take place under his watch?
* We expected the Republican President to comment on the recent disaster at Senseli Mine in Chingola were over 60 lives are reported to have been lost. Who owns Senseli Mine? What measures is the Government taking in order to put a stop to illegal mining in Zambia?
* Is the Ministry of Mines doing enough in ensuring that we benefit fully from our minerals? Who is benefiting from Nansanga Mining and Fishing Block located in Serenje where over 100 hectors of Land is taken by some private hands to an extent of displacing the local people? Who is the beneficiary of the proceeds of the mining taking place in Serenje under Senior Chief Muchinda - Kankomba Welala area? What exactly is taking place at Nansanga? Is it Mining or Fishing?
Who allowed the allocation of 120 hectors of Land in Mpika full of Gold ores to some foreign nationals? Why is the Government so naive and complacent about the precious minerals being exploited by selfish individuals without charging them mining royalties and reasonable tax incentives?
* Is the Government thinking about restoring back subsidies on fuel, meal meal, farming inputs and other essential commodities?
* We needed to hear about reshuffles, some disappointments and new appointments in ministries like Ministry of Health, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour and Ministry of Mines. Ministry of Science and Technology should be combined with Ministry of Education just like Ministry of Small Scale and Medium Enterprises headed by Hon Mubanga must be joined to Ministry of Commerce and allow honorable Felix Chipota Mutati to head such a robust Ministry.
Honorable Minister of Mines Mr. Paul Kabuswe, Minister of Finance Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, Minister of Agriculture Mr. Reuben Mutolo, Minister of Labour Ms. Brenda Tambatamba and Minister of Health Ms. Silvia Masebo must be relieved. These Cabinet Ministers have terribly failed to run their Ministries and have contributed to the underperformance of the Government. President Hakainde Hichilema remains a popular leader and should he act on some serious issues, he stands chances to win the elections in 2026.
* When are we going to begin running some manufacturing industries in the Country? Is there a robust program of rescarcistating and revamping our manufacturing industries in Zambia?
Having disclosed areas where we needed to hear pronouncements from the Head of State, we wish to take this opportunity thanking the New Dawn Administration in the following categories; -
- Denouncing political violence and cadreism.
- Introducing free education.
- Increasing Constituency Development Funds.
- Embarking on constructin of palaces for Chiefs Countrywide.
- Decentralizing the Office of the Attorney General.
- Passing the new Law on Access to Information. Doing away with the Defamation of President Law or Decriminalizing the Defamation of the President.
- Strengthening partnership between the Government and the Private Sector.
- Adoption of the Refugee Policy Act by the Cabinet.
- Coming up with the Emolument Act where salaries of senior Government officials are normalized to ensure equity, fairness and non Discrimination.
- Embarking upon Debt Restructuring Program whose benefits are yet to begin trickling down to the people on the grassroots.
OUR GENUINE AND UNSOLICITED ADVISE TO THE GOVERNMENT.
As an Organization, we wish to render free advise to the Government of the Republic of Zambia. Rather than concentrating on the Patriotic Front and citing them in their speeches every time they have an opportunity to address the people, the Government must preoccupy itself delivering development in the Country.
Once the Government concentrate on fulfilling the desires and needs of the people, the Patriotic Front Party and other opposition political parties will simply remain irrelevant.
(1) Reduce on talking. Instead do much of the work without sounding the trumpets.
(2) Avoid self praise. Let the people appreciate you after observing your accomplishments.
(3) Remember that development is a continuous process hence recognize others who initiated some developmental projects. The future Government will equally praise you for some programs you are undertaking now. Learn to appreciate others.
(4) Remain humble and avoid egotism and dogmatism. You need others in everything you do. Embrace divergent views and learn to accommodate the views of others. Treat the opposition leaders as your yoke fellows and not your enemies.
(5) The Head of State must avoid appearing to have monopoly of wisdom. The Ministers and everyone surrounding him must not be afraid of him. A good leader must be approachable and must seek advise of others. Pride is always followed by a crush.
(6) The Government must be willing to listen to people's views. In a Democracy it's the will of the people that prevail.
(7) We should never allow the three Organs of Government to be compromised. Instead we must allow the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary to operate independently.
(8) No foreign hands must have an influence over our internal affairs.
(9) We must be able distinguishing between issues involving Political Parties and the Government. It is sad that much of the Government affairs are being handled by people who are affiliated to the party in Government.
(10) The National cake must be shared equally to avoid favouritism, nepotism, regionalism, tribalism and discriminations.
MPNVP - THE INTEREST OF OUR NATION COMES FIRST.
