Saturday, July 23, 2005

Where the truth lies

Quote
"WE are wedded to lies and forced to live with them; that is why it seems that we are overwhelmed when we hear the truth.
We seem to live in a country where people can promise anything and deliver nothing but still get away with it.
We seem to live in a country where people can lie about very important things and still get away with it without being challenged by anyone.
We seem to live in a country of words and not actions. Yet we have been told that doing is the best way of saying and that living is the best way of showing what we believe in. It is said that words without deeds are worthless."


The Post editorial describing how the MMD And Mwanawasa Can't Survive Without Corruption

Friday, July 15, 2005

Dogs Have Invaded Zambian Politics

The Post says Dogs Have Invaded Zambian Politics:
"It seems politics in Zambia has really gone to the dogs, or rather as others would say, the dogs have invaded Zambian politics."

Tuesday, July 12, 2005

Kavindele hoping to challenge Mwanawasa

Former Zambian vice president Enoch Kavindele will challenge President Levy Mwanawasa at the ruling party's convention this week, posing a threat to Mwanawasa's bid for a second term next year.

Kavindele told reporters in Lusaka on Tuesday he had decided to seek the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) presidency after the party suspended polls for the position of vice president amid a deepening row over graft.

Kavindele said he would defy resolutions by eight of nine provinces that Mwanawasa be the sole presidential candidate - automatically making him the party's choice for national presidential elections next year.

More from source: IOL: Kavindele hoping to challenge Mwanawasa.

Political Party Members' Expulsions

It makes sad reading that fifteen years of democracy in there are still strong elements of non democratic principles among our political parties.

It appears most of our politicians still lack real education on democratic principles. The continued suspension of opponents to those at the helm of power has been evident in the last 15 years of proclaimed democracy. It appears many in Zambian political parties believe democracy is holding national or parliamentary elections only.

Yet democratisation is not only a concept, nor is it synonymous with multi -partyism. It is rather concerned with certain conditions of things, conditions such as a virile civil society, a democratic society, a free society, a just society, equal treatment of all citizens by the state, an ordered, stable society, a society infused with the spirit of liberty, democracy, justice and equality.

No society qualifies as democratic, representative, and progressive until there is free and voluntary participation of all its citizens in all spheres of life. The human rights of individuals and groups should be protected. Everyone should be allowed to express their opinions and join the political, religious or civil groups of their choice. All people should be treated equally and without discrimination and be given equal opportunities.

It is not only their right, but it is their duty. Citizen participation may take many forms including standing for election, voting in elections, becoming informed, debating issues, attending community or civic meetings, being members of private voluntary organizations, paying taxes, and even protesting. Participation builds a better democracy. In Zambia I have seen this not to have been the case. So long as one threatens those at the helm of power it means ones rights cannot be exercised.

I have noted, as most Zambians may have done so, that Zambia's political parties are still far away from assimilating the principles of democracy. They have often tended to be more divided as a party whenever a convention approaches. A sign that tolerance, openness, accountability, freedom of expression and association, above all, equal opportunities are not their priority but a prerogative of those in control.

The Zambian political parties needs respect for human, social, and economic rights as well as civil rights if democracy is to take hold, for democracy cannot survive in a context of stark polarization among political competitors.

In particular, the MMD has existed for close to 15 years now, more so, claims to be the pioneer of democracy and yet each of it's conventions are dogged by allegations of abuse of civil and political rights of its membership. Does this explain the eventual approach by its leadership concerning civil and political rights of the citizenry countryside? If so, how then can Zambia's democracy flourish when the tenets of it lack it? It is time political parties that claim to be democratic exercised the principles of democracy within political structures.

This implies allowing all members of political parties their civil rights to contest for any position and campaign without fear in their political parties. Other than this, I see no democracy in Zambia. Thence the eventual tramping on NGOs, Media, Opposition and the Civil Society.

Source:ZambiaSossa: Political Party Members' Expulsions

Monday, July 11, 2005

Web closes on Africa's dirty deals

A new website that can be used as a tool to monitor and acquire information on the funding of all political parties in was launched in Cape Town on Friday.

The website was launched jointly by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Organised Crime and Corruption Programme and the Institute for Democracy in SA (Idasa) Political Information and Monitoring Service.

Source IOL

Corruption claims shake Zambia's ruling party

The Mail & Guardian Online reports:
" ruling party has expelled a senior member and popular politician over allegations of corruption just days before the start of a national convention called to elect a new party leadership, a spokesperson said on Monday.

Tipped to win the Movement for Multiparty Democracy's (MMD) vice-presidency at the convention starting on Wednesday, Austin Chewe was axed on Sunday night by the national executive committee in a move that could split the party."

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

Kitwe Press Club Banned

The Kitwe Press Club was banned by the Kitwe district commissioner's office last week after hosting last month on his political career. In reaction, Nevers Mumba's spokesperson John Ziba said yesterday "We Won't Allow Fascists to Trample On Our Right to Information".