Inside operations
of the
Rupiah Banda Administration |
Iceberg tip of the Banda Administration
We should start with what everybody knows. On the positive note Banda was a freedom fighter and was in the forefront in the peace process of Angola. Sad to say Savimbi died without signing the ceasefire that saw the end of the conflict.
Rupiah Banda is yet to record a true positive gain in anything he leads. Though this worries most of us, we wonder why the masses do not react to this. Perhaps he is just a likable fellow, or is he? The late president (RIP) was known for picking passive people to deputise him. This would make him seem active. Most Zambians had not heard RB's voice until President L.P. Mwanawasa passed on. To date, his memorable moments are when he sacked two of his MPs and when a monkey did what most of the people just thought of.
In the world, RB has not visited the places he thought he would visit as a president: White House, 10 Downing Street, The Forbidden City in Beijing seems to remain forbidden for him, Berlin, St. Petersburg, Paris, to name a few. We wonder why he is not invited by these countries who love Zambia so much. Well, if he cannot even open a summit of Heads of State in His own country, what can he talk about with these world leaders or their junior officers. We'd think this is the time he should spend visiting all corners of Zambia.
He seems to be less busy than any president we have known. But he is busy. Busy pleasing cadres who helped him in the campaign. RB is a pleaser of individuals and not masses. Anyone close to him would have the bliss of a lifetime. Whilst the Doctors and the nurses, the teachers and the unionised workers are crying for increase in salaries, the RB administration is hearing them but their hands are tied. Tied by the quest to please a few cadres who say they did a lot to help him (mark this: not helping the country, but RB and MMD inner circle). And how is he helping them, well one answer can be found in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Hold your seats because this bean is spilling out. Sources close to the president say they are worried about how Mr. Banda is sending cadres to foreign missions. Currently the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is one of the ministries that is less productive for the country and does little to bring in investments, citizen services abroad and promotion of the country in foreign lands. Yet still, it is one of the highest spenders of the highly earned foreign exchange of the country. RB is sending a lot of cadres or their children to the foreign missions mostly because he has to be seen to make decisions, at least in the inner circles.
The problem here is: for one diplomat in Washington, New York, Ottawa, London, Beijing, etc, the RB-MMD government is spending over $8,000 USD per person per month in salaries, accommodation and allowances (i.e. more than $96,000 USD/annum per person) This budget is more than what USA, UK, France, Germany, Canada is spending on their employees. Now, these are our donors and we beat them in spending. This is not because the houses are expensive to rent or food is expensive, but because Cadres or relatives have to be pleased. The donors help us using the taxpayer’s money and we want our people to live as kings in their lands. As if this is not all, back home, if this diplomat was working for the government, their salaries still continue flowing. Besides, the governments pays for their children's school fees, that is ranging from $30,000 - $50,000 USD per year depending on the country. This is education allowance for up to three minor children.
Do the math. $8,000 can be a good annual salary for 8 civil servants in Zambia. If at one mission they have 8 diplomats, then we the Zambian people are spending $64,000 USD minimum per month for workers only, excluding Chancery budget.
Some sources in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs say, "Everyone would like to go in Foreign Service because that's where the easy pension money is. The work there is very relaxed and most of those in foreign missions do not have anything to do. It is some sort of a paid vacation actually. The government does the payment. It is good to have a president who has no clue. But to get in, you have to know bachikulile or someone in the PS's office, it is faster that way". Currently there is a trend where people are transferred from other ministries to the Foreign Affairs Ministry as a gateway to the foreign missions. Many have gone already.
NB: there are people dying of poverty in our country. Hospitals do not have up-to-date equipments. Schools are below par. Roads, energy, water, services etc. Shall we say more. |
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Political Parties in Zambia |
UPND/PF
When individuals are not adopted for positions in the MMD, they go to UPND/PF. This is not a party but a collection of disgruntled MMD sympathisers. We could name names here but we all know that whenever MMD calls for any of the people from UPND/PF to join them, they rush back. Talk about Teta and the others. Trace their political careers.
UPND/PF smells like MMD. M. Sata is the bricklayer of MMD. He knows what goes on. He knows why he cannot challenge MMD and win. They are his friends. He is the most senior MMD member and don’t be fooled, Sata cannot let his baby down. PF is just a show, but the truth of the matter is PF and MMD are like husband and wife on separation after a mini fight but still madly in love with each other. If PF would be in power today, you will see a lot of MMD opportunists defecting to PF.
HH and UPND cannot challenge PF or MMD. The formula is: PF is a subset of MMD. By UPND joining forces with PF, they are directly joining the bandwagon and therefore, a one party state is born. UPND have their own secrets to hide. The foundation of which lies in Anglo America and the quest for the mines. HH and the privatisation business makes him a toothless leader who, for the sake of holding his secrets in the bag cannot openly challenge anybody on a political scene, verbally or in policy. He remains therefore less charismatic.
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Corruption versus investors |
Hillary Clinton - Clean up your act
Zambia is also part of the countries that need to clean up her act. I like the three points she mentioned about what makes a true economic progress. First, rejection of corruption: This is one clearly evident problem in Zambia. Recently, a corrupt Minister in one ministry is considered eligible to lead another ministry. In broad and highlighted statements President R. Banda is embracing corruption and the whole country looks on. Dora Siliya is exactly what US Secretary of State was talking about.
Second, enforcing the rule of law. The class-infested society as Zambia has become, has seen people becoming the untouchables. We shall not dwell in detail about this but not even the MMD has the calibre as a party in itself to lead its members and the nation by the rule of law.
Third, delivering results to it people. On this, Zambia look around you. First they do not make plausible promises mostly because they do not know what governance means. They campaign without laying down their economic plan, their plan for education, their social development plan etc.
The Zambian leadership is weak and every transaction and decision they make is tainted by corruption. There are no checks and balances to ensure that those who make decisions on behalf of the masses do so considering the people who put them there in the first place.
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