The Case of Prof. Nkandu Luo And Meal Allowanced

 *THE CASE OF PROF. NKANDU LUO AND MEAL ALLOWANCES*

_By Percy Mwale_

The announcement of Prof. Nkandu Luo as President Edgar Lungu's running mate was met with mixed feelings and shock in some quarters. Indeed it was a surprise! I personality least expected it.

So how has the nation reacted?

The women folk and civil society has lauded ECL for sticking with women as it gives them leverage and prominence in national affairs.

The general public, basically has no problem with the Professor as she is impeccable in her public life. No one can raise their finger to point at one act where her personal interest over rode that of the public. In short, she is a woman of integrity.

The only section she has received a lot of stick from is from the opposition. In particular, the United Party for National Development (UPND). They celebrated the appointment with the view that they had where to attack her from. And that is the issue of Meal Allowances. Which football team would criticise their opponents for fielding a weakened team? The UPND claims Prof. Luo is a weak link. Why doesn't the UPND celebrate and wait for 12th August so that they win?  

So let's put this Meal Allowance issue into context.

For a long time, Zambia only had two public universities, namely the University of Zambia (UNZA) and the Copperbelt University (CBU). So issues of tertiary education and bursaries where practically restricted to these two institutions as they boasted of the cream of Zambia's intelligentsia.

As Zambia's population grew, demand for university education places also increased. The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) government opened up the sector and allowed for private participation. This gave birth to many private institutions such as University of Lusaka (UNILUS), Lusaka Apex Medical University (LAMU), Copperstone University, Cavendish University, etc. Not to be left out, the Government of the Republic of Zambia built and upgraded some institutions. These are Robert Kapasa Makasa University, Kwame Nkhruma University, Palabana University, Chalimbana University, Mukuba University and Mulungushi University.

Fast forward to 2019. Prof. Nkandu Luo is Minister of Higher Education. A very unpopular decision of removing Meal Allowances is made. Who was responsible for this? It was a collective government decision and an individual can never be held responsible. Whether the Professor was for, or against the decision, it still remains a PF government decision. And be reminded that not all unpopular decisions are wrong ones. 

The public must never be made to think that the entire UNZA and CBU population is affected as only a portion of these students were, or are still on government bursaries. UNZA and CBU alone have a combined enrolment of around 45,000 students. Can bursaries service such a huge number? Actually, students that had government bursaries prior to 2019 are still receiving until they complete their studies. The only ones affected were the 2019 First Years. 

With its limited resources, the PF government sought a way in which they could spread their tentacles and provide for its increased number of universities. With this, the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB) was set up. This meant that the little available resources were now to be shared among all these institutions. The bursaries that were previously given were no longer sustainable and a loan approach was mooted.

Under the loan scheme, accommodation and tuition fees are paid direct to the institutions and students only receive Book Allowances. And these are actually being repaid into the revolving fund allowing more students to access them. As I write this, the HELSB are calling for prospective students at Mulungushi University to apply.

World over, bursaries are very restrictive and not handled the way it was handled in Zambia. If anything, it was the connected and well-to-do that benefitted from it. So what was the purpose if a deserving student from shanty compounds could not access it but a minister's child got it?

Only a party such as the UPND that has warped thinking and a deranged mind would go about using Meal Allowances as a campaign tool. Let the UPND be honest and practical and show us how their free education policy would work in Zambia when even the richest nations on earth do not do it the way the UPND hallucinate about it.

I look forward to a time when students from Northern Technical College (NORTEC), National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Evelyn Hone College (EHC) and a host of teacher training colleges and nursing schools will access these loans.

Zambian education system is far bigger than UNZA and CBU.

=======================≠================

A 2021 ELECTION STRATEGY OR WHAT?

 *AE ELECTION STRATEGY OR WHAT?*

_Percy Mwale_

Just after the Patriotic Front (PF) completed its adoption process at parliamentary level, the nation has been treated to a Tsunami of independents declaring their candidacy. This year, we expect to see a record number of 'frustrated' aspirants going independent and this is probably a new experience for a ruling party.

From where I stand, Rashida Mulenga (Kalulushi), Zindaba Soko (Chipata Central), Emmanuel Jay Jay Banda (Petauke) and Binwell Mpundu (Nkana) seemed to be front runners in the primaries prior to the Central Committee selection process.

My personal opinion is that this scenario of independents is likely to produce atleast two (02) outcomes.

01. The danger in going solo is that this decision can send, and will send some independent candidates into political oblivion once they lose.

02. Some independents will send a strong signal to the powers that be that after all the Central Committee errored by not selecting them if they end up being victors.

What could have gone wrong for these candidates? Well, its only the Central Committee that can ably answer this question.

Was the Central Committee just trying to give favours to their colleagues by keeping some of these incumbents?

Maybe the Central Committee was not courageous enough to decide the fate of some of these top dogs and had to let them go to the 'cleaners'. Maybe they thought its better these incumbents get it straight from the electorates that they had outlived their usefulness. Maybe they can eventually retire from politics after an embarrassing defeat as an incumbent. The PF had this experience in 2016 when incumbents lost seats in Wusakili, Chimwemwe and Kantanshi constituencies.

But then, supposing it is a political strategy, who stands to benefit out of all this 'mess'?

The PF and its presidential candidate are poised to be huge beneficiaries from this 'independent candidate euphoria'. Why do I say so? 

This means that the PF will lose very few voters since the rejected and the adopted candidates will both campaign for the same presidential candidate. Again, Wusakili, Chimwemwe and Kantanshi are very good examples of the preaidential candidate benefitting from two strong parliamentary candidates. This has even the 2016 independent candidates in Wusakili and Kantanshi being adopted on the PF ticket in 2021. A confirmation of their strength on the ground.

Was this the strategy? If so, then Edgar Chagwa Lungu has outsmarted them all and is set to retain the presidency with a resounding victory.

The party with the best strategy, is set to emerge victorious post 12 August 2021.

Napita mukwai!

================≠===

YHWH The Source!

Many athe tmes Iek finer things which life can provide. I know I want more each  and every day of my life. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this except for one thing. 'It don't come easy!'

Work to earn a living and enjoy the sweet of your sweat.

And remember that there is a greater power beyond our comprehension. A power that enables us to make it. And that power is the supreme GOD YHWH!

An Open Letter To My President

An Open Letter To My President

Dear Sir,

Am greatly honoured that I could write this letter to you. Firstly, let me congratulate you on your resilience and tenacity, and wish you longevity. You have really shown that you can’t put a good man down.

Before I get carried away, let me highlight the main purpose I’ve written to you. I know Zambia is endowed with a lot of natural resources. And am also fully away that Zambia is faced with a myriad of challenges. Starting with our governance system, the quality and standard of living of her people, the benefits from our God given mineral deposits, etc. Am compelled to write knowing that you have proved to be driven by a very strong passion to see to it that every man attains a satisfactory standard of living. And that you strongly believe that it’s attainable.

On education, it is my hope that every child at school going age is availed the opportunity to enlist in school regardless of their geographical position and socio-economic status. And also that our education system shall deliberately be structured in such a way that every one attains a skill at the time of leaving secondary school. And that they can venture into self employment as and when they so wish. At the same time, those that want to progress academically shall never be hampered because of lack of adequate tertiary education facilities or out of reach fees. I also want you to consider coming up with a system of ensuring that being either in the formal or informal sectors shall be out of one’s choice and not compulsion. And on teachers, positive motivation in form of better pay, better housing and proper training is all they need to deliver.

Looking at health, you have done it before and I believe you will do it even better this time around. I don’t want to belabour in great detail because you have shown before how our medical institutions can be run effectively and efficiently. Our medical personnel need uniforms, housing, transport, etc. Our health institutions need proper and modern equipment and medical supplies. Need I say more?

On poverty levels, like you said the other day, that it would pain you to see your own children have three meals every day when the majority of Zambians are struggling to even have one simple imbalanced meal in a day. I know your early catholic teachings will be your guiding principles in ensuring that every Zambian shall have access to all basic needs.

Mr. President, our economy does not have a lot to write home about. I know some people have claimed that we are a middle income nation. I believe that that status is simply on paper and not in reality because our people have not experienced any meaningful change in how they live. Following up on this, our nation’s main source of income right now is mining, which is a diminishing resource. I shudder to think and accept one simple reality that these minerals we boast about will one day come to an end. This is why I strongly urge you Mr. President not to listen to some selfish individuals serving their own selfish egos. We need to get the very best out of our copper, gold, cobalt, uranium, manganese, emerald, etc.

Since the demise of Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM), our mining towns are a shadow of their past. The mining companies must ‘give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar’. It’s now or never. The government must get enough tax from the mines, miners must be given better salaries and general working conditions, the companies’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) expectations must clearly be defined and not left to mine owners to decide. We are their masters and so we must give them our terms.

The other thing that troubles me a lot is the state of our media. I am just one person among the many that felt injured by the amount of propaganda and hate speech that was disseminated. We are all tax payers and we deserve better. We deserve to be given full information on all issues of public interest. No one individual has the right to choose for us what we must watch, listen to or read, especially in our public media. Mr. President, kindly do us a favour in quickly reforming the media sector by establishing the stalled Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA).

Lastly Mr. President, I look forward to the restoration of dignity in every Zambian regardless of their political or religious affiliation, ethnicity, tribe, language or culture. I look forward to every Zambian uniting for important national activities. I know that very soon, we shall be commemorating Independence Day. I long for that day when PF, MMD, UPND, NAREP, ADD, ZED, FDD, UNIP, HP, NMP, etc shall sit and celebrate together. I hate to think that such important national activities shall be politicized by letting cadres control and run affairs. Make this once again, a land so free and proud.

Let me not go on an on because there is a lot to write about. And I know you are very busy trying to constitute your cabinet which I trust shall be a winning team capable of upsetting tables.

Looking forward to your practical response to my letter. God bless you, your family, our government and our Zambia!

Yours Faithfull Patriot,

Percy Mwale

The New Look Cabinet for H.E. Michael C. Sata 2011

Just My Thoughts!
As I sit to think and ponder, my thoughts linger on who H.E. Michael C. Sata is thinking of being in his first cabinet. These are only MY thoughts.
1. Vice President - Inonge Wina
2. Defence - Winter Kabimba
3. Finance - Bob Sichinga (Nominated)
4. Foreign Affairs - Given Lubinda
5. Home Affairs - Kennedy Sakeni
6. Justice - Mumba Kapumpa (Nominated)
7. Mines - Chishimba Kambwili
8. Health - Joseph Katema
9. Agriculture - Guy Scott
10. Local Government - Emmanuel Chenda
11. Labour - Fackson Shamenda
12. Works & Supply - Yamfwa Mukanga
13. Energy & Water - Wilbur Simusa
14. Tourism & Environment - Richard Musukwa
15. Commerce - Nathaniel Mubukwanu
16. Education - Nkandu Luo
17. Sports - Miles Sampa
18. Community Development - Jean Kapata
19. Science & Technology - Rayford Mbulu
20. Transport & Communication - Willie Nsanda (Nominated)
21. Information - Lambwe Kachali

HOPELESS 2011: WHAT SHALL BECOME OF THIS NATION?

People that occupy the two highest offices in the land have just injured my political and economic expectations for 2011.

President Banda recently confessed that nowadays when his cabinet and MMD NEC meet, they discuss nothing else except elections. Listening to all his speeches during the MMD provincial conferences has convinced that RB's only agenda for next year is personal - to get back into State House.

Recently Vice President Kunda was on the Copperbelt. His only preoccupation was destroying Messrs Sata and Hichilema. ZNBC is there to confirm this. To make it worse, they even used GRZ vehicles to go round publicing MMD party activities. What a shame!

My worry is: Are we going to get any development activities from this government? Or it's only elections?

By the way, what has happened to RB's promise in 2008 that he'll only complete the term of his late brother Levy? Power is indeed sweet, twafikwako!

The FAZ Critsis: A Test For The Petitioners

Being an ardent soccer fan, I've keenly followed the FAZ crises starting with the time a few coucillors wanted to impeach the FAZ President Kalusha Bwalya over some alleged misdeeds in his administration. That chapter was closed - albeit in a candy coated sucipicious reconciliantion.

I don't want to believe that a people can harbour so much hatred for it's leadership that they can want it removed regardless of the cost involved. I've refused to accept that Kalusha, the man we all cheered on the soccer field, has become so out of touch with the realities of Zambian soccer.

Surely, there's no smoke without fire. I guess the November 26 group has a basis for their arguments. I guess they need to be heard.

Am very skeptical with the November 27 date. Why did it take all that long for Kalusha and his camp to hearken the voice of the councillors? Is it just an issue of Tom and Jerry? And what is FIFA role and interest? Is it to simply prop an indivividual they love or the game in general? Has FIFA taken time to study the two camps' points or they had their minds made up irrespective of what anybody says against Kalu?

My advice: FIFA must stop being hypocritical in their dealings. They should not blindly support Kalu when it's clear that the FAZ constitution has been raped.

Just last week, FIFA cleared two officials of corruption but suspended and fined them. What nonsense is that?

Kalu must realise that he does not possess the monopoly of knowledge and wisdom. He must listen to opposing views. Zambian soccer was there before Kalu and shall certainly outlive him.

The onus is on the councillors that have petitioned. The cause you began is not for the faint hearted. You risked your reputations with your fellow affilliates and fans. Your reputations will forever be dented if your fight is prematurely aborted. Zambians will never trust your motives ever again.

By the way, who's the boss between FAZ councillors and FAZ employees (Mr. G. Kasengele & Mr. E. Mwanza)? They've been threatening their employers, the councillors with disciplinary action.

Next weekend is a defining moment in Zambian football. But will it be on November 26 or 27?