Zambia Votes 2011: A Second look at Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika as the Next Zambian President
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By Belliah K Theise
This week ‘s memo is about the next Zambian president. Who should take the Zambian presidential sit in 2011?
I hate to admit this, the truth is, our leaders are always voted by villagers, marketeers and street boys who have no clue about education and foreign policies.
According to our observation, most politicians have a way to get into a mind of a person with little knowledge or no knowledge at all. This includes developed countries. If you take a close look on politics, you will find that people end up voting for a candidates who keeps preaching what voters want to hear. People will go out to vote just because of a hear say, without assessing a candidate in practical terms.
In most cases, political Candidates have a tendency to study what the audience want to hear. Any one can stand and say I will give you jobs, bring rich breakfast, lunch and dinner in your home. Zambian Voters will listen because there are no jobs and are in poverty. As a candidate, you are happy when people vote for you. Are you going to keep your promise once you are voted in office?
Practically, things always turns out to be different from all the promises that politicians make.
it’s time for candidates who are aspiring, to start preaching on practical issues and not to give fake hopes to people. Talk about real things that affects the economy of every country, and explain, to voters that it is not an easy path to bring stability to the country, it takes hard work and devotion to make things happen.
Disappointments, comes out when a candidate makes fake promises, do something else after being voted into office. We ask all the aspiring candidates to be more practical in the way they make promises to people, to avoid early disappointments.
It is not fair for voters who have no clue on “Inflation” or economics, who listens innocently and line up to vote for a candidate who later does something contrary to his/her promise.
Zambia has highly experienced ,knowledgeable, and educated people. Why is it that Zambians ends up voting for wrong leaders?
Could it be that all the educated Zambians, are too frustrated with the system, and has opted to sit back and watch, while the poor Zambian villagers , marketeers and street boys take their stand to vote for what they hear from those who can read their minds and give them fake promises? or could it be that qualified leaders and educated Zambians are too busy with other duties and other personal stuff, or they are not brave enough to fight for their people or is it lack of bringing themselves out with a positive approach to their fellow Zambians?
If you are candidate or a voter. It is time to revisit your weaknesses and try to improve on them.
Our advice is:
Avoid: Hate, tribal, gossip, and malicious rumors. By all means, should not be used as a tool to pick a right candidate for president. Validate each rumor, use your own discretion and common sense. Avoid operating like robots that are programed to perform certain functions. Operating like a robot, makes both leaders and their voters look like idiots, when things go sour.
Remember:
Not every rumor or gossip is true. Yes there is no smoke without fire, but you have to remember that humans always enjoy negatives that appear on a candidate without using their good sense of judgement or common sense, they vote basing on those facts. If a negative outweighs a positive side of a candidate, it takes away all the good work he/she has done.
Remember, Media and campaigns are there to help voters to pick the best candidate, but at the same time, uses that as a tool to bring down a candidate, if the opponent has strong links to the media. Many great leaders are brought down in no seconds, and voters end up voting for useless candidates.
Again… use your common sense and your good judgement, when you read negatives that comes flying on potential candidates.
On that note, we decided to re-visit Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika’s profile, as she seem to be carrying all the package of what makes a great president.
We at Zambian Chronicle, would like to see Dr Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika, contest for president in 2011. We have well rounded Zambian candidates like, HH and Many more, Inonge adds to the package.
For years, Zambians have had a problem when it comes to picking a president. It’s time to check where Zambians go wrong when it comes to voting?
Weakness:
We Vote with emotions, tribal, rumors and hate, Worse more when it comes to gender.
In the end we get disappointed with our own voting when things go in a different direction.
May be it is time to turn around, and look seriously inside lives and works of the aspiring candidates, without looking at a tribe, relations, cheap gossips or malicious rumors.
It is even more difficult to convince a Zambian mind, when it comes to women leadership.
When we look at Zambians, we see a lot of potential candidates men and women, that can lead us in 2011, and bring light to Zambia.
I am not here advocating for Inonge because I am a woman.
Here at Zambian Chronicle, we are looking at the credentials, Education and experience.
Zambia needs a candidate for president, that has both local and foreign policy experience. As an African country we can not rule out education. It should be very cardinal in this aspect.
Therefore when it comes to choosing a president, let us open our eyes and pick quality and not quantity.
Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika and Hakainde Hichilema are both quality.
Having said that, Zambian Chronicles will continue to bring out candidates, that we think can make great president for Zambia in the future.
As we pointed out, in our earlier debates, Hakainde Hichilema and Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika, have the real package.
Therefore, without looking at the tribes and gender, we feel Inonge can make a great president for Zambia for 2011. This includes, the appointees of ministers and local government officials.
This forum may help the next Zambian President to pick right candidates for certain roles.
Below is Inonge ‘s profile and credentials:
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Princess Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika (born 10 July 1943, Senanga) is a senior Zambian politician currently. For more about her check
http://www.inongelewanika.com/family.htm
1. Dr. Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika is currently Ambassador of the Republic of Zambia to the United States of America . Before her appointment to Washington D.C.
2. She was Ambassador and Special Envoy to the Zambian President during his term as Chairman of the African Union.
3. Dr. Lewanika served as a Member of Parliament in the Zambian Parliament from 1991 to 2001. She was the first Chairperson of the Zambia All Party Women Parliamentarians Caucus and also founding Vice-chairperson of the outhern, Eastern and Horn of Africa African Women Parliamentarian Caucus.
4. At a very critical time just before national elections in 2001, Dr. Lewanika chaired the National Crisis Committee of the Alliance of Opposition Political Parties.
5. She is a former candidate for President of the Republic of Zambia in the December 2001 Elections.
6. She is an Educator by profession and has worked in various levels of Education.
Prior to her involvement in politics, Dr. Lewanika worked with UNICEF in key leadership roles in Africa overseeing more than twenty countries at a time. Jim Grant, the former head of UNICEF once called her “the most knowledgeable person about the children of Africa .” Dr. Lewanika was among five women from various continents to brief members of the United Nations Security Council on the first and unprecedented debate that resulted in UN Resolution 13 on WOMEN, PEACE and SECURITY in the year 2000. She was among sixteen (16) eminent African Women Members of the Organization of African Unity (now African Union) Committee on Peace and Development, an Advisory Group to the African Union.
She was President of Federation of African Women’s Peace Networks (FERFAP) from 1997 to 2002. As President of the Federation of African Women Peace Networks (FEFAP) she contributed to mobilization of peace activities. In that capacity, she was selected to be among ten prominent African Women Peace Workers that visited Rwanda soon after the genocide. She later led a United Nations delegation to Burundi and Rwanda to assess the effects of the genocide on women and children and recommend intervention strategies. She led the Electoral Institute of Southern Africa (EISA) Observer Mission of 96 Southern African
Academicians, Researchers and Members of Civil Society to the Zimbabwean Presidential, Mayoral and Council Elections in 2002. She was one of the International Youth Foundation’s founding board members.
Dr. Lewanika holds a Ph.D. in Early Childhood and Primary Education from New York University . She is a mother of two grown daughters, a grandmother to four boys and a grand daughter. She has lived in five countries and speaks eight languages.
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A look at more of Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika’s work Below:
| By Lori Nitschke WeNews correspondent |
| After 30 years of promoting girls’ education in the less-developed world, aid workers are now realizing that it is not enough to simply open the school door to girls. Unemployment, clean water and HIV/AIDS are now also on their agenda. |
 WASHINGTON (WOMENSENEWS)–Like many aid workers and activists trying to improve the lives of women in developing countries, Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika has long viewed education as the key to solving many of her countrywomen’s problems.Mbikusita-Lewanika, a former member of Zambia’s parliament and now the country’s ambassador to the United States, says the benefits of educating girls are so numerous– from raising marrying ages and lowering birth rates to stemming health and economic problems–that she would like to install a plaque reading “Send the Girls to School” in every village.But 30 years after the U.S. government and other aid-givers began to promote gender equality in their programs, they, like Mbikusita-Lewanika, have learned that relieving the burdens of poor women is more complex than once thought. Foreign aid officials from the United States, United Kingdom, United Nations and various nongovernmental organizations say that it is not enough to open the school door to girls if their families are besieged by unemployment, unclean water, labor-intensive household chores and, increasingly, debilitating health problems such as HIV/AIDS. Nor is it enough to get a few women elected to the parliament or congress while women in the countryside still suffer age-old discriminations.To succeed, say aid experts, gender-equality programs must be integrally incorporated into the aid process from top to bottom, beginning with constant attention to gender issues at the policy level and ending with a wide distribution of burden-relieving aid in the rural areas where discrimination is often most ingrained.In Africa, for instance, women perform about 75 percent of agricultural work, according to Mark Blackden, the lead economist in the World Bank’s Poverty Reduction and Management of Gender Equity Division. He estimates the continent’s per-capita income would have doubled over the last 30 years if women had been given more aid and education to help with crop production. But aid givers have only recently realized that “one does indeed need to talk about the African farmer and her husband,” Blackden said.Instead, because of cultural misunderstandings, they have often directed agricultural education and technology to men. As a result, Mbikusita-Lewanika said, it is not uncommon to see men sitting on tractors as women and girls continue to cultivate with a hand hoe nearby.Clearing a small plot of land in this manner can involve 18-hour days, leaving women little time to raise their children, gather fire wood, walk long distances to find potable water and, increasingly, care for the sick. With such intensive household labor needs, Mbikusita-Lewanika said girls often have little time for school.”The average woman takes care of everyone else but herself,” Mbikusita-Lewanika said at a recent Capitol Hill briefing for legislative staff.In countries where economies have been destroyed by conflict or AIDS, another factor diminishes the rationale for education: The lack of jobs when a girl graduates. As a result, Mbikusita-Lewanika said that, while education “may be the most important investment, it may not necessarily be the first investment” that donors should undertake. For instance, providing drinking water would save women in many Zambian villages 1 1/2 hours a day, she said.In 1973, the U.S. Congress passed the Percy Amendment requiring that the nation’s foreign aid help integrate women into the mainstream of developing countries’ societies. Since then, the U.S. Agency for International Development–the main administrator of U.S. development aid–and other organizations have progressed from conducting a few gender equality projects a year to considering gender issues as a part of nearly every decision. While women’s issues once were often segregated in a separate office or set of discussions, all programs are now expected to address their impact on women.”The progress can be summed up in one sentence: It is no longer a separate thing,” USAID administrator Andrew S. Natsios told a Washington foreign aid conference earlier this month.
More Work to Be DoneStill, aid officials and activists say there is much more to do. According to the World Bank, more than 20 percent of the world’s population still lives on about $1 per day. The majority are women. And women’s burdens, especially in AIDS-stricken Africa, are growing as they bear bigger social and financial burdens. One way donors can begin to lift that burden, Mbikusita-Lewanika told legislative staff, is to bypass governments and distribute aid money to local faith-based organizations and other groups that work at the local level and already know the intricate problems the women in their community face. Many central governments have not established effective ways to distribute help in the countryside, she said. Other officials suggest increasing funding to fight HIV/AIDS in Africa. The $2 billion the Bush administration is prepared to spend in 2004 “is not enough,” said Kathryn Wolford, president of Lutheran World Relief, based in Baltimore. Wolford also suggests an increased focus on debt relief for poor countries, which would free funds for social programs and infrastructure that could relieve women’s burdens. Other activists say aid organizations need to collect and process more data showing the positive link between women’s participation and economic development. While many activists suggest that there is already too much talk about women’s problems and not enough action to solve them, economists say that more convincing evidence of the link between women’s progress and economic progress could be found. At the foreign aid conference, Phil Evans, the senior social development adviser for the United Kingdom’s U.N. mission, said that statistical gender analyses are often riddled with “methodological problems,” in large part because researchers have focused on studying women instead of placing them in a societal context. Some say the United States should signal its commitment to gender equality by ratifying the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, an international treaty that aims to outlaw discrimination against women and requires signatory countries to periodically report on their progress. President Carter signed the treaty in 1980 but the U.S. Senate has not ratified it as 174 nations have done. Ratifying the treaty would send a powerful signal that the United States will join the world to “use the instruments available to us to hold countries accountable” for improving women’s lives, Geeta Rao Gupta, president of the Washington-based International Center for Research on Women, told legislative staff. New Solutions in AfghanistanIn Afghanistan, USAID is attempting to deal with these challenges and its methods are not always very subtle. To encourage families to educate their daughters, USAID gives extra rations of vegetable oil to girls who attend school every day for a month, Natsios said. The number of girls attending school has increased overall from 6 percent to 35 percent, Natsios said, and is reaching 50 percent in some towns. Not all of USAID’s work in Afghanistan is so targeted at women and girls but Natsios said he has found that nearly every project is having an impact on women’s status. For instance, the U.S. program that is building a 300-mile road from Kandahar to Kabul is unexpectedly improving women’s health in southern Afghanistan. Now mothers in childbirth and women in other forms of medical distress can be driven to medical facilities in Kabul in a matter of five to six hours. Before the road was built, the trip could take two days, Natsios said. In addition, USAID has installed day-care centers in all Afghan government ministry buildings. Natsios said women who work for the ministries–many now widows with young children–said they would not return to their jobs unless their children had a safe place to go. While many activists and government officials say gender issues are no longer seen as women’s alone, they hope the next 30 years will bring a greater resolution to age-old problems. “It has taken a very long time to get as far as we are and (we) have a very long road to go,” said Julia Taft, assistant administrator and director of the United Nation’s Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery. Lori Nitschke is a freelance journalist living in Washington, D.C. She was recently a Knight-Bagehot fellow at Columbia University in New York, where she received master’s degrees in journalism and business administration. Previously, she covered economic issues for Congressional Quarterly. |
Copyrights © 2008 Zambian Chronicle. All rights reserved. Zambian Chronicle content may not be stored except for personal, non-commercial use. Republication and redissemination of Zambian Chronicle content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Zambian Chronicle. Zambian Chronicle shall not be liable for any errors, omissions, interruptions or delays in connection with the Zambian Chronicle content or from any damages arising therefrom.
Zambian Chronicle is a wholly owned subsidiary of Microplus Holdings International, Inc.
Copyrights © 2008 Microplus Holdings Int., Inc
Belliah,
1… you are so right; unfortunately, particularity and separability are infirmities of the mind, not characteristics of the universe and those demographics you mentioned keep weighing more on the Zambian Enterprise than all else … thanks a trillion
It is high time that Zambians cherish the economic boom that the country exhibits in the SADC region, outweighing RSA on food export. This is all due to responsible governornce. Zambia is very rich country both academically and in natural resources, but the country fins itself being ruled by self inrching and most corrupt individuals at the expense of the poor majority. All the thinking of the people has been manupultaed to believe men can do better. No. Iam a man and a NAMIBIAN who see that country as my legitimate home becuase i spent 13 years in the camp of ANC and SWAPO respectivley as pioneer of the liberation movement while Zambia. Of all my stay in that country, there has been no better time than the time Mwanawasa came into power. Every one in Johannesburg and Windhoek is talking about Zambian economy and when meet Zambians it like you are meeting an American who is only visting and not looking for a job anywhere because the reputation of counry is now very good. I think it is time for Zambians to show political maturity by allowing a responsible mother like Dr. Inonge to share her wide experience in the management of public affairs. Give her your support. Men have failed because they base their political dominance on tribalism. Viva Chronicles and Viva Dr. Inonge
2Ndunda thanks a trillion for your comment.
Absolutely, Mr Mwanawasa’s work is visible. He is a Lawyer by profession, and has tried to fight corruption in Zambia. We need Another educated candidate who is well rounded, to continue the good work. It is a big challenge for candidates, but with perseverance, and support Zambia can see a light at the end of the tunnel, hopefully stabilize the economy and fight deadly diseases like HIV AIDS.
Thanks a Trillion
Bilia
3vote a lozi into power? you are having a laugh mate. no matter how educated they are , selfishness prevails in these people. just look at the way our embassy in the uk is run; a bunch of self-centered people who keep everything within their click and by that I mean lozi click! i urge everyone in zambia who wants a good leader not to vote this tribe into power for indeed we will only be voting a tribe into power, God forbid!
4Welcome Mwezi,
Give us a name of a candidate, that you feel can make a Zambian President. What is your thought on Hakainde Hichilema or King Cobra – Micheal Sata who seem to be pushing harder and reaching out to the poor people in his campaigns in all shanty compounds?
You have all the rights as a Zambian citizen to express yourself. Thanks a trillion for your concerns.
However, going by tribal, will not help us to progress. The problem we have in Zambia, is tribalist disease.
Other than Lozi, every dominant tribe in Zambia act in the same way. This is why we need to punch ourselves to fight out our bad tribal habits. We should all fight to change, once we all start working on our weakneses, we will be united, and work as one Zambia, one nation.
Yes they have short hands,but there is always giving someone a chance. It depends on an individual anyway, as in each Zambian tribe, there are self centered people.
In all fairness, we need to look at her work as an individual,and not as a lozi.
Zambian Chronicle team, feel every hardworking candidate, deserves a chance.
Let us Discuss Inonge as an individual,without focusing on her tribe first. Otherwise, tribalism is a biggest problem in Zambia.
Thanks a Trillion,
Bilia
5Well elections are a long way off and Iam sure a candidate worthy of the post will emerge at some point.Please do not question about what I think of Mr Sata or Mr Hichilema because Iam interested in neither. Did I even mention either in my post? No.Do I sense a bit of sarcasm in your reply? I do and to point out to you,it’s very unprofessional of you. Campaign for your, Quote “Tribal cousins”, wow and to think you mention that tirbalism is the biggest problem in Zambia but a word of advice, I, like everyone else is entitled to an opinion. As for Lozis being good in their beliefs and principals; like being selfish? Well tell that to the Bembas and the other tribes who will not vote a Lozi or Tonga into power. The truth of the matter is;Zambia is not ready for Lozi nor Tonga leader cos they are worse on Neopotism than any other tribes. Should an Easterner,Bemba,Kaonde,Luvale or any other tribe apart from the two I mentioned earlier,one who is worthy, then I shall be licking my lips all the way to the ballots. Good luck to Ms Lewanika.I must add that I do have admiration for female achievers and that, I shall not take away from her but my vote will go elsewhere and if no palatable candidate emerges then I wont vote.
6Hi Mwezi,
We are not promoting any one particular candidate and I am certainly not promoting a particular tribe. You should understand that your prejudices against Lozi’s or Tonga’s are a form of bigotry. Is your hatred of these tribes any better than the abuses of whites against blacks here in Africa? The European whites had there own twisted reasons for treating blacks like dirt. They would tell you that we couldn’t govern ourselves. Were they doing us a favor by dominating us? Of course not. Yet you pursue a similar course as our former oppressors by marginalizing the Lozi’s and Tonga’s for no better reason than your own personal prejudices. Racism is nothing more than tribalism on a larger scale. Don’t you think Zambia deserves the best leadership regardless of the tribe they come from? Would you actually vote for a retarded candidate from a tribe you find acceptable rather than a brilliant Lozi or Tonga, Bemba and other? By your words, you seem to echo this foolish sentiment.
As far as your allegation that I am unprofessional, you obviously have not read my contributions to this site. I have always made sure to discuss the respective merits of all candidates and attempt to stimulate discussion as to who would best serve the Zambian people as our next President. As Editor of this site, I can never allow free speech to be limited based on personal prejudices. At Zambian Chronicles, we serve ALL the people of Zambia, not any particular tribe. Every Zambian man and woman is welcome to express their views freely on this site. This includes Lozi’s, Tonga’s, Bemba’s, Senga’s, Lunda’s and any other tribe because we are ONE. There is no harm in my sense of humor, I am a Zambian too.
Voting or no voting is your choice,depending on your interests and commitment you have for your country.
Thanks a trillion
Bilia
7Mwezi, your dislike of Lozi and Tonga is not accidental. From your sentiments, it is clear that you cannot promote unity and live to accept the diversity of other tribes/culture. I did not suggest Dr. Inonge as a potential candidate because she is Lozi or Tonga. I Simply followed her principles and high profile diplomatic achievements required in responsive gorvernance. The mention of tribalism in this centuary where we expect the results of unity through inter marriages to defeat it is an unfortunate situation. When civilized people like yourself (hopefully so), with access to internet and info tec start to present tribal sentiments when looking at potential leaders in the society, then their was no need for you to go school. Which ever candidate meets the best qualities for leadership, tribal origin is not an issue for intellectuals. For yor own information, Zambia is not the only country having Lozi speaking people. We have Lozi speaking people in Namibia, in Botswana,and RSA. Apart from their roots being from Free State in RSA, they have a wider representation in southern african politics, defense etc. The government of RSA spentds millions of rands in supporting the welfare of Lozis in Auckland Park, Johhannesburg where they have lozi studios at SABC headquaters bradcasting to regional studios in Namibia, Botswana including your country Zambia. The first vice president of SWAPO was a lozi, Minister of Presidential affairs in Namibia sitting in the state house is lozi, the next president of Botswana is a mongwato classified among the Southren and central lozi speaking clans of Botswana. The Lozis were the first tribe in Zambia to allocate land for refugees from ANC, SWAPO and UNITA. They were the first tribe to volunteer the distribution of liberation materials for ANC and SWAPO written Umkhoto we Sizwe and Sechaba. As a former freedom fighter my self i deeply recognise the role they played in the liberation struggle of our states in Southern Africa and calling them selfish and tribal people is sad, especially tribal coments from a person whom i suppose should be civilized. However, if lozis are not worthy of any political leadership in your country, we salute them as political heroes in Southerrn Africa particulary RSA and Namibia where we had most of them arrested in Pretoria in 1963 for fighting the oppressive regime. May God bless the soil of the Lozis and Tongas. And to those tribes trying to reserve political ground for themselves by claiming they are better than others, time will tell when they will be despized by their own children and destiny is not mathematically calculated, it is spritually pre determined by the Almight. Let us promote unity of oneness, not tribalism.
8NDunda,
Welcome again.
Thankyou for your wonderful contributions. We promote positive minded people like yourself on this site.
You have valid points.
I had to dismiss Mwezi, because she/he came with personal tribal attacks.
We at Zambian chronicles believe in unity and not division of color, or tribal.
We are one big family.
Looking at Inonge’s credentials, she is one of the best candidates and We still feel Inonge can bring change to Zambia, if only Zambian people can open their eyes and hearts.
Thanks a trillion
9Bilia
The strength we get when see Zambian working together is our source of pride. Mandela and Sam Nujoma see that country as the father of the liberation strungle. We are one people. To Mr. Mumba and Madam Bilia, you will remain in the history books as agents of unit. Let us work together as sons and daughters of the continent. Let us embrance everyone and one aonther. It should not matter which province the leadrs come from, embrace them, show love, show respect and feel part of the group. Tribal hatred is sin. Name calling is not good. I have respect for all the tribes in that country and anyone who has leadership qualities should be supported, be it from the north, west, east or south. Is it possible for me to have the email address for Mr. Mumba and Madam Bilia,please?
10One day you might want to visit the deserts of Southern Africa. We will want to receive you.
God bless
Ndunda,
… your words are both wise and kind, Belliah will get in touch with you soon with all the needful your requested … thanks a trillion
Madame Belliah,
11… please expedite the needful as per Messers Ndunda’s request … thanks a trillion
Brainsplus,
12I have already done the needful
Thanks a trillion
Belliah,
13… you are wonderful, thanks a trillion
I wish to commend you Bilia for your professionalism and insight into what Zambia needs in the coming future. A persons personality should never at any time be linked to his race, tribe or clan. Yes i do agree that our traditions and culture affects our personality to some extend and not entirely because what we choose to be is entirely up to an individual. I respect Indunda’s views on the Lozi’s, many times in i have been found in situations where people are talking ill about Lozi’s and i just keep quiet and laugh because i know my strength is in the fact they are actually unable to determine by my looks whether am Lozi, Bemba, or Tonga e.t.c. This goes to tell the Country men and women in Zambia that we are one and the same, one Zambian one Nation. I was born in the Copperbbelt and i grew up in Luapula Province, no one can cheat me about Bemba’s, Lunda’s, Aushi and other tribes there because i lived with them and ate with them and particiapted in their traditions and culture but am Lozi. Zambia can only be developed by ourselves and when we say we try and put up leadership in our country in 2011 that will continue to foster policies that will create wealth and employment to all Zambians it does not mean that others will be forsaken. Leaders to take over from 2011 will need to be leaders that have the Educationa and Experience such Hakainde Hichilema or my beloved granma Dr Inonge M. Lewanika. Well they are others that can offer serious supportive roles at very senior level that are young and vibrant within the current leadership that have also demostrated quality leadership such Given Lubinda, Gabriel Namulambe, Dora Siliya e.t.c …. are we mentioning tribes No… its purely quality. I will rest my case here for now. I just discovered this website today and i will be back for sure. Brainsplus you are doing Zambia proud.
14welcome to Zambia Chronicle Bo Mwanamulena Masheke Akashambatwa,
Mulumeleni sha, Mwazuwa?
Thankyou for your positive comments. Your opinions and contributions are welcome.
Thanks a trillion
Belliah
15Now how does a posting for a further look into Dr. Lewanika as a candidate degenerate into a tribal thread. What is this malarkey about Lozi’s being tribalistic? I did not realize tribalism was an exclusively Lozi trait…maybe we should call it “Lozism” instead.
And what does Dr. Lewanika have to do with the Zambian embassy in Engie? She is in D.C. Have you been to the Zambian embassy is D.C? The reception is manned by two nice Bemba women. Even the Ambassador’s personal assistant is not Lozi. I am almost certain there are Lozi’s there but from a glance what I saw on a few visits was a pretty diverse group tribally.
If you are going to give an example make it relevant.
Look at the woman’s education, experience and accomplishments. Are they relevant, if your answer is yes then you might to revisit your tribal charge given what is at stake.
I don’t know much about either Mr. Hakainde or Mr. Sata perhaps the good folks at the Chronicle could work their magic and post their cv’s as well.
The bit that I could find for Sata is Wikipedia posting http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Sata
same for Hakainde http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hakainde_Hichilema
16Lisa,
We at Zambia Chronicle were shocked too, with some comments we received from some of our leaders. It is sad to learn, how this tribal notion can be condescending and mostly wrong, when we are looking to make great improvement in Zambia by puting great leaders in office, especially those who are well rounded like Madam Inonge. We posted all their resumes, and as you pointed out, what you saw on Mr Sata is all he is. Ex Policeman, if I can recall.
Thanks a trillion for your comment. HH’s resume seem to be well appealing. Mr Brainwave may repost the resumes again at your request.
17Bilia,
Please do not go to the trouble of posting them on my account. My choice between the three is clear. I have a huge…MAJOR bias towards the good Dr. Thank you for the offer still.
18I will be very sorry for all Zambians if Lewanika will be their President. She could not run a small embassy well, how can she run a whole country?
She only think about herself
19I think Dr. Lewanika is just what we need to steer Zambia back on track. Putting aside our biases of tribe, gender, etc., we can all agree that we want a Zambia that is progressive, where there is efficient delivery of basic services, where the infrastructure is maintained and being developed, where people are appointed on merit and there is accountability and transparency at all levels of government, etc. We need credible investors partnering with us. We have so many bright, talented and skilled Zambians in the diaspora, who be such assets to our beloved country. With the way politics goes in Zambia right now, no one is really committed to reach out to them, appoint them or incorporate them in a meaningful way.
Dr. Lewanika is someone who would be more interested in developing the country, rather than playing politics. She brings vast experience, a solid education and just simple common sense to the table. Although most may not think Zambia is ready for a female president, I think it is not an issue of gender, but rather someone who will put an end to the “business as usual” way of running the country.
HH would also probably make a good president, however I have a few reservations. With all his leadership experience in the private sector, I would have expected to see UPND flourish even better than it did under Mazoka. I also think that being president of a political party without having been MP or another position of public office within the party, can be a handicap. I think more people are giving Sata a second look due to their disappointment with the Rupiah Banda administration.
I feel Sata has done well to tone down some of his past polarizing rhetoric and focus on the bread and butter issues. He seems to be trying to rebuild his image, which is always a good idea politically. The question is if this is enough to win over the support he needs to be president.
20Gee some people are bigots! Mwezi; how do you judge people on the basis of ethnicity? Should Luapulans, Lambas, Lenjes, and Easterners be disqualified from the presidency on the basis of the performance of Chiluba, Mwanawasa or Banda’s administrations? Does the behaviour of these people in office reflect their ethnicity? I personally dont believe so. Their moral failings or otherwise are theirs’ individually and in no way reflective of their ethnicities. So as a Lozi I feel very insulted to be labelled a tribalist just on account of being Lozi. Please, Mwezi learn to treat people as individuals. By the way you just exposed yourself as a rabid tribalist who casts votes on the basis of ethnicity. There has never been a Lozi or Tonga President in Zambia for any sane person to reach your crazy conclusions. And even if there had been; any failings of this person would exclusively be his or hers. Chiluba was a kleptomaniac but we cannot use this as descriptive of the people of Luapula province. It is just sick!
21I personally can’t wait to have a Tonga and or a Lozi as President of the Zambian Enterprise. That would put all this foolish to sleep forever more … it has to be a qualified Tonga and or Lozi, we ain’t putting them there just for the same of it because Zambia is greater than any single one of us … thanks a trillion.
22Daliso Nyirenda,
How are you related to Dr. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika? you are her relative – that’s why you are talking all praises for her. Have you lived or worked with her? Have you seen her real person and character? What Lewanika has done and been doing – just given a chance can be done by any regular individual. She is a crook. Look what is happening in the Embassy of Zambia in Washington, DC where she is the Ambassador. She is always travelling because of per diems. She has not done a thing for GRZ for free. Whatever she can get out of GRZ she will take….. That is her………
23Daliso Nyirenda,
How are you related to Dr. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika? you are her relative – that’s why you are talking all praises for her. Have you lived or worked with her? Have you seen her real person and character? What Lewanika has done and been doing – just given a chance can be done by any regular individual. Look what is happening in the Chancery of the Embassy of Zambia in Washington, DC where she is the Ambassador; from administration to accounting – BAD. She always travel because of per diem and free accomodation and transport fare. In the Residence, the number of housekeepers/maid she had is surprising.
24Dr lewanika will make a superb president. She is down to earth, experienced at international and at local level(including village level). If she was not from the tribe she is from this debate would not even arise. She has integrity, foresight and vision. The sharks that have tried to tarnish her image will not succeed for you cannot curse what God has blessed and God has really blessed her with ability. She is fluent in most zambian languages and respected all over the world. Even when FTJ tried to put a squeeze on her, she was still being invited by numerous organisations to speak and impart her knowledge and experience. When we zambians appreciate the people we have who are genuinely successful and not just admire mediocre kaponya’s and wannabee nationalists then we will start to benefit from the numerous resources we have been endowed with
25If Zambia is to develop then genuinely accomplished leaders like Dr Lewanika and many others have to come to the fore. The politics of insults, greed and tribe are destroying our country. There is a rise in the number of mediocre leaders. Let Zambians begin to demand for commited and selfless leadership. let us encourage those that have genuine vision and abilities. We are tired of the pretenders that have saturated our political and social systems. Inonge is a leader that can stand on international platform and command respect(look at how many govts and international institutions have recognised her and awarded her work, alot of times despite the support of her own government. She was fought by the kangwas in DC etc, by the unprogressives at MFA and State House but was still able to make an impact in Washington. Imagine what she can do with our support.
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