Double standards by Zambian moralists
BY DAVIS MATAKA
I HAVE this week decided to share some of the very valuable responses I have been receiving from avid readers and followers of the column.
Please kindly note that the return addresses of the contributors may be withheld to protect them from abuse.
Mr Mataka, I entirely agree with you that the major institutions in this country that claim to uphold morals have played double standards on the issue of Lusaka Diocese Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu’s sister. I would cite the Catholic Church to which Mr Sata belongs and some media as examples.
I tell you; if those revelations were about Rupiah Banda, former president Frederick Chiluba or any senior MMD official, you would have seen the kind of editorial comment.
What do they fear?
Maybe they are adhering to the old adage that; “those who live in glass houses should not throw stones”.
I’m sure you have heard a lot of isms surrounding some of these people!
What about the K1.2 billion scandal?
What is Transparency International Zambia saying about it?
Where does Simon Kabanda stand on this issue?
Why is Lee Habasonda quiet?
The Bembas say “Umulandu taubola”.
Therefore, the passage of time cannot stop anyone from probing this matter.
The cobra’s response to the accusations raised a lot of questions to me.
The man admitted that he was imprisoned but he did not tell the nation why he was sent to prison.
The Man denied being married but accepted that he is the father of the two children of course outside wedlock.
Shocking!
When news went round that Jacob Zuma was coming to Zambia for the Ncwala Ceremony, people stood up to sensitise Zambians to guard their daughters against this man.
Shouldn’t the same be done against Mr Sata especially that the lady in question is far much younger than him?
Please Mr Mataka write one article in this line.
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Davis, I am a keen follower of your feature articles in the national newspaper, the Times of Zambia.
I wish to particularly commend you for a very incisive and balanced article on the issue of leaders’ infidelity.
This is a very important topic which some sections of our nation want to play down, when it suits them.
The Post has just published a response from the Catholic Church to former president Chiluba’s Press conference on the issue of ‘president Sata receiving Holy Eucharist given the revelations’, which I find very scattered as it brings into the picture too many people and organisations that were not connected to the Chiluba/Sata story.
The response has brought in the late president Levy Mwanawasa, UNIP, the Anglican Church and King Henry VIII. This is a rather scattered response and reveals deep-rooted differences, which are growing in the country.
This is not good for a country as good, peaceful, and pleasant as Zambia is.
Where has all this hate come from? Is it not very curious that of the clergy that are anti-Government and anti-president in the name of criticism, two are foreigners and the rest come from one ethnic background?
This is not good for Zambia, with our motto of ‘One Zambia One Nation’.
The youth of this country are being initiated into a dangerous culture of hate and unpalatable language in the Press. A few years down the line, we may begin to see this unfortunate and bad culture emerging in our homes, work places, schools, bus stations and even in churches, where authority will be treated to such language and complaining becomes the order of the day, which the few senior citizens are giving as example.
Those who genuinely care for this country would already have noticed that there is a pattern emerging where those who shout or attack others the loudest are being treated as heroes by the young and old.
Please, Davis, continue the good work of giving balanced journalistic coverage of national issues.
Many people are being helped to see through the barrage of negative propaganda against authority and at times even against this good country.
Let us promote politics based on issues and development for the good of posterity.
G. TAMBULUKANI CC
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Dear Davies Mataka, I just want to acknowledge your good writing skills. I read your article ‘Leaders’ infidelity and public life’ and found it a good read.
All the best. Regards,
ANNA LT Webmaster
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Hi Davis, I am an ardent reader of your articles and I must say I really enjoy them. Keep the spirit. Regards
VICTOR CJIMUKA sent from my Blackberry smart phone from Zain Zambia
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My big man I am a trainee journalist at Evelyn Hone College in the third year and on internship with Northwestern water and Sewerage Company limited.
I’ve got a keen interest in your feature articles and the way you analyse issues critically and giving your own version. Your article of today makes a good reading; please continue to educate us, especially to a person like me who is still learning.
Have a good day.
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I have read your feature with the title ‘The misplaced attacks on Chiluba’ in the Times of Zambia.
I think that as a journalist you need to inform us citizens. By your article, you have withheld alot of information that could be the reason (former president Frederick Chiluba) has a bad name today.
People believe what they read in the papers and if you withhold some information about others just because it is perceived private, you will deny the people (a chance) to make the right choices.
Public figures have no private life. They have to lead by example and be careful with what they do. If they are found in uncompromising situations, they should be exposed. You are just informing your people about their leaders.
How can you fail to expose politicians who are homosexuals and those who are so abusive to women?
So it all goes to you as a fault. You are trying to defend Chiluba, but the same immoral people you are protecting are the ones who have spoken so badly about Chiluba. If you want us to make the right decisions, you should forget about privacy and expose these people so that we can know who they really are.
Thank you.
JACOB SABUNI,
Lusaka.
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My friend, I did not know your brains were MMD-driven for sure even a young Zambian knows the guy stole public funds I can’t tell you how much pain, I feel when I hear about Chiluba. He caused a lot of pain in my family so I am so disappointed in you, after reading your article I think you are just like him you don’t want to see development in Zambia you just want to see corrupt leaders in the Government but let me assure you Zambians are not taken for granted.
Remember what happened in 1991 will happen again next year.
Watch, you will see behind bars those who are involved in corrupt practices. So if you want to face me come to Manda Hill I am always there.
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Dear Davis, first I should admit that the debate, or more aptly quarrel, between former president (Frederick) Chiluba and PF leader Michael Sata and UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema is too interesting to ignore. I’m not surprised, therefore, that you could not resist the temptation to comment on the matter in your column of 23 February 2010.
In response to Sata’s comments that people on the Copperbelt are angry with Dr Chiluba for ‘stealing’ somebody else’s wife, you ask: ‘How can anyone ever steal an adult from another without consent’?
I’m not sure whether you see the double-meaning in your question: you seem to suggest that Regina Chiluba’s former husband, as an adult, consented to having his former wife ‘stolen’ by Chiluba. Or one could interpret your question as to imply that Regina Chiluba, as an adult, consented to being ‘stolen’ by the former President.
Whatever you meant, I think you missed the deeper meaning of Sata’s comment (which you describe as ‘outrageous’). I believe the real point in this matter is the issue of State power and, more specifically, whether Dr Chiluba might have used State power and privilege as President at the time to win Regina’s heart.
Remember the relationship between Regina and Dr Chiluba came became public knowledge before the latter left State House.
In other words, the issue is about how one party (Chiluba) could possibly have (ab) used State - bestowed power and privilege to his personal advantage to entice another party (Regina) about whom the circumstances of her divorce are still unclear.
(you must have heard rumors about how Regina’s former husband in Ndola suffered depression after their divorce or how the man was allegedly quickly promoted at his company, supposedly as a State House - induced ’reward’ to compensate him for the loss of his wife and to make him remain quiet!).
I strongly resent Sata’s swashbuckling and uncouth style. And for that he has never, and will never, be my personal preference for our republican president, regardless of what his acolytes think of him. I assume that because of his limited grasp of the English language and his addiction to populism, Sata could not clearly articulate what he meant about Chiluba’s marital issue (such in articulation is common with Sata anyway as evidenced by a lack of a clear and precise articulation of his party’s policies and programmes). All Sata could do was to use a term (‘steal’) more familiar to himself and his supporters, perhaps a literal translation of the word in his native Bemba language. His point was rather a hint at a possible abuse of State power and privilege by Dr Chiluba while in State House in the process of enticing Regina for marriage after his own divorce from Vera Tembo.
Some people frown on workplace love relationships, partly because if such an affair involves a superior and a junior there is often a possibility of the former using the corporate that s/he holds to force the latter into the relationship (with the junior fearing punitive action such as dismissal or demotion if he / she rejected such love advances).
Could this have what happened between Dr Chiluba and Regina?
Regards
GUNDUZA GADAMA, Lusaka
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Dear Davies
Hello, I don’t know how to salute you, I would wish to, but you did not indicate your name in Times newspaper. Yes, in respond to the tales you’ ve given, it’s bias for even one to start to comment; hence I won’t go further. But, I am going to say this one things, that in this world we are living, we are here to serve each other, to help and be a blessings to whose are less fortunate.
Examine your own life if at all you can count any good you have done to common Zambian, I mean those not related to you!
Let not defend any manner or vices harmful to human morals.
Anyone who have benefited from corruption does not deserve to be called human...how many people have died because there was no medicine, because money to purchase drugs was stolen, worse still what about teachers who can not teach because they have to do something else to make extra income on expense of the children. Whilst, those who have robbed Zambia send their children abroad where they are attending dearly schools.
Can you accept that there has been corruption in Zambia? Have you been to court yourself for allegation that you stole? Why haven’t you been taken to court? The answers are obvious, its because you did not stole, so supporting anyone whom your conscious tell you they stole is not good to any person of sound society.
So let those who have stolen face God’s wrath, you may remember the story of the King of Babylon called Nebuchadnezzar how he lived like wild animal because of insanity.
So, no one is great before God, who knew Saddam Hussein could be kicked out and his life taken from him by hanging.... dying death of a criminal when he was king of might Iraq. This goes to tell you when fully time of God has come, no one can be smart.
I thought, you read through this, and reflect on your epitome.
Blessings,
Just read your article on Misplaced attacks on Chiluba. Fantastic once again, continue your excellent reporting.
MWILA
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I find your articles in the Times newspaper very misplaced to me. Are you an MMD cadre or their mouthpiece? Be objective.
Concern reader
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Hi Dave,
I am writing from England.
Saw your article and I loved every word. Well analyzed.
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Boston M
You don’t seem to get it sir; the nation will never forgive FJT for stealing State funds. You say he is innocent until proven guilty, why is he trying to dodge the London judgment if he has nothing to hide? that is all that we Zambians see. No amount of Press briefs or politicking will hide that question. I think RB misjudged the mood of the nation on this one.
Again, if he is not a thief, and has nothing to hide, why didn’t he prove him self innocent in the London judgment???
You really hit the nail on the head with your articles. Keep it up!
CHARLES TEMBO
For your Comments:
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Telephone 01-235450
