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This page is
managed by Maidstone Mulenga.
Quick facts on
Zambia
Zambia's Coat of Arms
· Official Name: The Republic of Zambia
· President: Levy Mwanawasa
· Vice President: Enock Kavindele
· Size: 752,618 sq km. or 290,586 sq m.
· Population: 9,100,000 - 12 per sq km
· Largest cities:
· Monetary unit: Kwacha - Ngwee
· Languages: English and 73 indigenous
languages.
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MWANAWASA SHOULD RESIGN
Comment by Maidstone Mulenga – July 22, 2002
It’s time to start all over again in Zambia. Let’s start
with President Levy
Mwanawasa. There is enough
circumstantial evidence to cast a pall on the legitimacy of his election
victory.
Even his statement
that he could pardon his predecessor, Frederick Chiluba’s,
if he brought back the money he allegedly stole, taints his good name. He
should resign and call new elections now. Let’s start on a new slate, a
complete new slate.
- There
should be no hangovers. Anybody who has served in all past three
governments should not run for the presidency. Let’s have a new
president without any political links to the Kaunda, Chiluba or
Mwanawasa governments. There are enough able Zambians to fill the
position. To make it easier for the new president to function without
political affiliations, there shouldn’t be any need to have a political
party backing for anyone to stand for the presidency. The winner should
come into office without having any political debts to settle.
- Let’s
separate the legislature from the executive. Cabinet Ministers should
not be members of Parliament. By removing Cabinet Ministers from the
National Assembly, the president would have a broader choice for
selecting the prospective ministers. He should not be limited to the 150
or so who are members of Parliament. Ministries should be run by
professionals and not by politicians. Zambia has an abundant supply of
qualified and trained professionals who should be running the
ministries. The president would then nominate the Cabinet for approval
by Members of Parliament. The ministers would only appear in Parliament
to answer the members’ questions if need arises. Let the members of
Parliament make the laws and let the Cabinet execute those laws. This
would also improve the job market in Zambia. The idea of having someone
hold two jobs (as an MP and as a minister) is unfair. It is common
knowledge that MPs who become Cabinet ministers tend to neglect their
constituencies. So let politicians be MPs and let professionals be
ministers.
- As
for Chiluba’s case, let’s expedite it by:
a)
Releasing Xavier Chungu from his secrecy oath (let him say
where his instructions were coming from and why he allowed those payments);
b)
Give immunity to Xavier Chungu. He is only one who can
provide information to convict Chiluba. Anyway, releasing him from his oath
of secrecy is tantamount to giving him immunity from prosecution.
c)
Turn Stella Chibanda into a state witness. She too was
closer enough to the trail of money to give valuable information but I am
sure would not like to speak if the information incriminates her.
d)
In short, forget the about the small fry, go for the big
fish!
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