MMD IS WEAK ON CORRUPTION: ZAMBIANS NEED CHANGE

While many Zambians will point accusing fingers at Ndola High Registrar over FJT acquital. We must realise that FJT's free ride is not about the presiding magistrate but MMD government and its plans which has proven itself in this case that it is weak, soft and legally incompetent to prosecute corruption cases.We not blame for the magistrate for acquittal; but hold MMD accountable for failing to prove the case.

Zambians must respect the ruling of court but hold MMD government accountable in the manner it handled this case. MMD government has wasted taxpayer's money with this case which many top MMD officials knew it was a dead end. Zambians deserve to know who how much MMD government has spend on this case since it started. This is total wasteful spending by the government.

The big lesson for Zambians in this case is that MMD policies has once again proven itself to be weak, soft and incompete to fight corruption in Zambia. We deserve a change in goverment with a strong party whose agenda and policies will effectively fight corruption.

The choice before Zambians for 2011 elections are now more clear; continue with same weak government which has failed to fight corruption or bring in a new strong government that will fight corruption seriously?

Looking beyond the status quo in PF, leaders like Kabwata MP, Mr. Given Lubinda is someone who can deliver as Zambia ’s next Republican President. Given Lubinda will sweep the MMD from power and deliver Change for Zambians. He is electable at the national level and capable to command rule of law in Zambia . PF, be serious and present to Zambia , skilled and experienced leaders like Mr. Given Lubinda to stand for presidency.

TEST YOUR 2011 VOTE:

RB(MMD) Vs G. Lubinda(PF):.............................

Increase in Parliamentary Seats lacks Vision: Instead Let Cabinet members not be Members of Parliment.

The proposal being floated at NCC by MMD to increase parliamentary seat from does not offer satisfactory reasons. But lets look back first, how do can we improve role of parliament in Zambia and avoid waste of tax payers money to maintain MPs who are normally quite in parliament?

Zambia must do away with MPs acting as MPs and serving as Cabinet Members. YOU CAN NOT BE BOTH THE LEGISLATOR AND EXECUTOR? We can not have one person doing two dinstinct jobs namely to legislate and act as an executive. Cabinet must be independent and should be chosen from MPs. Those who want to be Cabinet must resign from Parliament first. This is the big weaken in our governance. It is not effective and it is not working. How can parliament charge oversight on a ministry when the boss of that ministry sits in parliament? MPs jobs must be be to legislate only and let Cabinet members execute the laws and govern.

I argue that increasing seats should be based on increasing effectiveness of parliament to legislate, provide oversight on the executive, increase number of women MPs and promote good governance. Increasing seats does not mean effective parliament. Maybe Zambians need to think about a bicameral parliament with two legislative houses like in most countries which requires a concurrent majority support to pass any legislation and may give opposition party control of one legislative house.

The idea of having 40 MPs from interest groups is undemocratic and lack real representation of the Zambians. The current nominating MPs system is not helpful to our democracy because all those nominated end in the ruling party control. If Zambians decide to have nominated MPs, let’s do away with this current practice.

Let us have a Special Independent Select Committee to make appointments of all nominated MPs. Nominated MPs must possess distinguishable public service whose expertise e.g in science, business will be useful in parliament. The role of nominated MPs must be to provide constructive non- partisan alternative voices in parliament; and their term must be limited to only 2/3yrs. No party should claim monopoly of nominate MPs to avoid one political party dominance in parliament.

The role of parliament must be to legislate, give oversight to the executive and be representational. This requires having appropriate powers, adequate resources and committed members of parliament. We can not afford having a rubber stamp parliament because that will make the executive unaccountable and corrupt. Large constituencies may require another MP but must be dealt with on a case by case basis. One way to increase the effective of the Zambia ’s parliament is to legally give subpoena powers to parliamentary committees when investigating actions of the executive branch and any public office investigations. Committees must have autonomy authority to subpoena people to publicly testify under oath, investigate and recommend prosecution. Secondly, parliament must approval international trade agreements, debts and loans agreements which the executive branches engage in.

MMD IS DIRECTIONLESS ABOUT CBU AND CONTRIBUTING TO UNEMPLOYMENT WHICH ALREADY SO HIGH BY EXPELLING CBU STUDENTS.

How can one describe a government which throws aways its own students into the streets? This is a clear sign that the MMD does not value univerisity education. Those students can be suspended but NOT expelled. How can a government turn its back on its own citizen? MMD is contributing to unemployment- So what should those CBU students do now?

If 2009 was an election year, these students would not be expelled. But Zambians need to remember this sad situation when we cast votes again in 2011. MMD has taken Zambian backwards to 1963 when the colonial government would expell any Zambian for speaking about independence and freedom. This what MMD is about.

President Banda is already referred by some people as "elder father"-which he is....We ask him to unconditionally reinstate those students. Let him show Zambians,he cares for all Zambians.

Zambia is in desperate need of economist, engineers, professors and MBAs...and here we have MMD machine expelling students. Zambians must see this in context, this is not about CBU management,but it about MMD hammering any critics to their failed policies.

By expelling students,MMD is saying it does not value education and does not want Zambains to be educated.This is wrong and it must repealed. If really MMD is serious, it must send a strong message to CBU managament that it does not recognize the expulsion of students. MMD continue to get away with this failure for too long.

Our university students deserve better. Zambians deserve better. How many closures will the two main universities experience? The MMD has completely failed to run these two many institutions. It is time for Government to let go and let ordinary Zambians be in charge.The problem at CBU and UNZA is the MMD which has failed to implement workable educational policies.

Other countries have more than two universities, actually each province or regions have more than one university e.g Nigeria or South Africa.

The Copperbelt University (CBU) has expelled the entire students union leadership for breaching student rules and regulations following their involvement in the disturbances that that took place at the institution.CBU registrar Allan Ilunga said in a statement yesterday that the decision was arrived at after a sanate meeting, which also resolved that the university be re-opened on Sunday September 13, 2009.

( All Africa.com)

ZAMBIANS CAN NOT EXPECT MMD TO FIX ZAMBIA'S PROBLEMS WHICH MMD CREATED IN THE FIRST PLACE...IT WILL TAKE ANOTHER PARTY IN 2011 TO FIX THE FAILURES.

Just as it took MMD in 1991 to clean up this crisis caused by UNIP failures, it will take a new party, new manifesto and new president in Zambia to clean up the national crisis caused by MMD government.

MMD government has been in charge for the last decades, we can expect them to clean up the crisis which themselves caused. It will a new president and new party.

The status quo is unsustainable. No one knows where Zambia is heading under the MMD. The MMD government has failed to explain to Zambians their plan on health, education and social service. The unemployment is reaching the highest record. Cost of living is high. Roads are death traps for motorist.

Zambia can do better. Of course MMD will NOT give up power without a political fight. Therefore Zambians must get ready for that and must ask hard questions to MMD politicians: WHAT DO YOU MMD WANT TO DO BEYOND 2011 WHICH YOU HAVE NOT DONE SINCE 1991? Zambians can not take anymore. We need Change in 2011.

Across the country, healthcare workers and teachers are demanding better conditions of services. The ruling party is talking marketing tactics for MMD presidential candidate for 2011; an example how out of touch politically a regime can be with needs of its citizens.

Our hard working nurses operate with inadequate medical supplies and teachers work in poor facilities. Their demand for a sustaining working condition is legitimate. Unfortunately, we see the same patter of dismissive from concerned elected leaders. Government must quickly address the concerns of these workers so that patients and students are served.

Millions of dollars spent on importing mobile hospitals and manda mandas would give better salaries and provide professional development opportunities for nurses and teachers. Mobile hospitals and hearses can not function in a vacuum; both will require motivated and well paid healthcare workers to utilized those facilities. We know our government is limited in resources; but we expect sound government priorities in any public spending.

Zambia requires a comprehensive reform on health and education sectors. We can not sustain the health sector on the generosity to South Africa to treat our patients in critical conditions. Zambia must invest in students to compete globally by having motivated and professional teachers in classrooms.

My hope for 2011 elections is presidential candidates to campaign on workable, innovative and quality health and education policies. It is time to move from salt-for-votes campaign to real infrastructure reforms. Zambia ’s current health and education challenges require a new political platform and ways of governance. Zambia should expect changes in healthcare and education if we keep electing the same people or party with same manifesto and tactics into power.

ZESCO BLACKOUTS IS MMD FAILURE.

In the midst hospital strikes, unannounced power supply sent the entire country into total darkness. Regardless of what triggered this recent nationwide blackout, perpetual power shortages create negative impression to investors and impact the entire economy. Power shortages compromise our national security and a nightmare to consumers.

Nationwide power outrage shows that Zambia ’s electricity supply system is dysfunctional, ill-equipped and outdated. To fix this problem will require structural changes in political leadership, ideology and ZESCO management. Zambians wait to hear from MMD government their plans for power supply beyond 2011 and what specifically it plans to do which has not been done since 1991. Zambia has enough resources from coal, solar and wind for alternative power supply sources, all it requires is government with clear policies and vision.

ZESCO enjoys market monopoly and revenue to update its grid system; unless that revenue is misappropriated for personal and political interests. ZESCO has skilled employees who are educated and capable of delivering sustainable power supply if directed by sound government polices. ZESCO’s failure to deliver is due to misguided government energy goals and lack of effective political leadership. The MMD government has not prioritized to fix the electricity supply crisis to avoid blackouts and save government spending on importing power.

MMD continues to champion its drumbeat for good investment climate and economic growth in Zambia . But let’s face the reality, without a sustainable electricity supply; investors will not come and Zambians will not have guarantees for local business initiatives. Unexpected power blackouts inflict major damages on household appliances and industrial equipment.

As the battle for election 2011 gains momentum, Zambians deserve to hear how the so-called MMD winnable candidate will offer a different energy supply policy. Opposition parties must also offer their own energy policies. Elections 2011 should be about choosing a President and Members of Parliament who will commit to offer sustainable electricity supply to more Zambians and investors at affordable prices.

ZAMBIA MUST REFORM CONTEMPT LAWS.

It is unthinkable for the state to bring contempt charges against the entire Post Newspapers staff over the publication of Professor of law Muna Ndulo’s article on the Chansa Kabwela case. This is how desperate the MMD government has become to silence truth. Zambians are now aware of the true colors of this government. MMD government must stop this smear campaign against the only independent newspaper in Zambia - The Post. Failure to that, Zambians have to decide with vote in 2011. This is not about the courts, but it is the tactics of RB authoritarian regime.

This situation should be a woke up for Zambians to demand contempt law reforms because we are tired of tactics covering up the truth. In this global communication era, no one is immuned from instant news and opinions. One of the principles of Justice is a fair free free from prejudice. Of course all Zambians, not just the State but including the Post staff are interested in in protecting and maintaining the intergrity of the Zambian courts.

However, the reality in Zambia is sad. The MMD government is now using this law to silence independent investigative media reports. How come only the Post, not other government media is targeted with the contempt charges. Zambia must reform this law now. The status quo is destroying our democracy and MMD government must realize that enforced silence on cases with national implications does not enhance the respect of the courts. Laws develop and adapt to situations.

Reform the media contempt laws in Zambia, it is destroying free speeh, free discussion and killing democracy. Zambians gave the MMD government a mandate to govern by laws not intimidation or violence; if MMD fails to do this they must give up power to another party.

ZNBC MUST BE PRIVATIZED.

According the Auditor General's interim audit report on the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) the company has revealed financial irregularities, which include losses incurred amounting to K6 billion, tax evasion on retirement and gratuity and hefty board allowances among others.

The report revealed that the corporation incurred losses of in 2006 and in 2007 and that interim results for 2008 will remain the same. MMD government can not continue to run a failed institute with more tax payers money. Instead Government need to be getting revenue from it.

Just look at how good for-profit radio stations are doing in Zambia such as Radio Phoenix. Look at how for profit news papers like the Post are doing? All these media outlets are run effectively without government control.

The ZNBC failure is a result of Politicians, not management alone. Politicans many of whom have no real knowledge and expertise of media sector are put in top positions who decisions are not for profit but propaganda to advance political influence. Government is the problem at ZNBC and as long as government remains the sole controller of ZNBC, it will continue to operate losses despite licence fees.

The only way to stop wasteful spending of tax payers money and cut costs at ZNBC is to Privatize the it. Government has not run it effectively. Let experts and ordinary Zambians run it for profit which will mean more workers employed and government tax revenue.

So, Privatize ZNBC...if MMD can not do it, then the next goverment in 2011 must make a committment to let it go into private hands.