KAMBWILI: A Buffoon For Minister?

Three months is enough to assess the competence of any officer, public or private, and if the same barometer is used to measure sports minister Chishimba Kambwili’s performance in government the man fails the test with disgrace.

A BUFFOON OR MINISTER? Kabwili (left) with FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya at Afcon

Kambwili was first appointed to the position of minister in charge of foreign affairs in September but his undiplomatic behaviour forced his boss to make early reshuffles. He was transferred to the Ministry of Labour and Sport.

Barely two weeks or so into that appointment, Kambwili had to be re-gigged in order to keep him away from sensitive national issues. Before long, he is back in the news, not for good reasons, of course.

In 90 days, Kambwili has antagonised diplomats and moved on to investors, now he is headed to football officials.

Of all the ministers currently serving Kabwili has grabbed the most headlines for nothing but wrong reasons. This is no coincidence.

This is the Kabwili that is also representing Roan constituency is the house of laws. His brief background in public office is nothing but highly uninspiring. If he is not on stage with diplomats, it is investors and now football officials.

Such a politician is not fit to be minister but a member of Zambia One Comedy at the Lusaka Playhouse. He is better treating us to some rib-cracking jokes on stage than administering important national issues.

With very little or no understanding of football issues, Kabwili has decided to jump on the bandwagon and issue not only misguided back fuzzy statements to back FAZ president Kalusha Bwalya at the upcoming election on March 31.

No one can argue; Kalusha was 1988 African Footballer of the Year. The only player in Southern Africa, a feat Clifford Mulenga attempted to emulate in 2007 but only as African Young Player of the Year. Kalusha, by any standards, had an illustrious football playing career. Alas, he failed as coach. He is FAZ president at the time Zambia emerged winners of the Africa Cup of Nations.

Those that conveniently chose to ignore the great detail will credit Kalusha for Zambia’s success at the Africa Cup of Nations. Not that he does not deserve a portion of the credit; he is that one man who was in the right place at the right time. Congratulations are in order.

And these are facts no one can dispute. Conversely, it can’t be disputed Kalusha is presiding over one of the least inspiring FAZ executives when it comes to transparency and accountability. His arrival to take up administration in Zambian football has raised a lot of questions that deserve critical analysis and answers. The questions raised by those that gave him the mandate need adequate answers.

These are questions that councilors will need answers for in the run up to the annual general meeting to make their decision. They need to know how referees will be funded, the details of the MTN, SuperSport, Nike and television rights.

Issues of television rights, illegal player transfers and prize money from the Africa Cup of Nations must be table to these councilors because they are responsible shareholders on how these funds should be distributed.

That’s why these FAZ officials don’t need a whip from Kabwili to decide who should lead them in the next four years. If anything Kabwili’s main interest should be make sure that causes of anarchy are well taken care of.

Kambwili has ignored the fact that poor organisation of elections leads to serious disputes of the outcome. If the FAZ elections are not transparent, free or fair the outcome is detrimental to the game and these are some of the issues Kabwili needs to start addressing through the National Sports Council of Zambia.

Unless he is among the beneficiaries of proceeds from the Africa Cup of Nations, which is a clear indication, Kambwili should show that his interest will not be anarchy but an election that will be hailed by all.

Kambwili is part of a Cabinet that is claiming to demand transparency and accountability but his action are contrary to the “corruption, accountability and transparency gospel” being preached by his Cabinet.

Is he suggesting that his icons, in this case Kalusha, should not be accountable to public funds? In Kambwili’s wisdom or the lack of it, if you are an icon you are at liberty to abuse public fund and still be re-elected?

Or in Kambwili’s wisdom, an icon should be allowed to transfer players, minors for a matter of fact, illegally without scrutiny?

If that is Kambwili’s interpretation of anarchy, he must be an apology of a minister who is not even fit to be a district commissioner.

But since he occupies that position, Kambwili will do well to call for transparent, free and fair FAZ elections.

For instance, Kabwili should ensure that those who are supposed to be returning officers do not belong to any FAZ party contesting elections so as to promote an election outcome that will be free of dispute or anarchy.

By making noise like Kabwili has decided to do and taking sides ahead of the AGM, the government official is not only disgracing himself but creating confusion that he may have problems dealing with.

Kambwili should know, if he doesn’t, ask how the previous government attempted to deal with problems in FAZ. If he is going to exhibit carelessness and behave like a clown instead of a government official, he will be blamed for fuelling confusion.

If the previous government behaved like Kambwili, Kalusha would not be FAZ president and Zambia could have had problems going to the Africa Cup of Nations where the country recorded her first title.

For once, Kabwili has an opportunity to redeem himself from being a misfit at foreign affairs and labour, by showing he is not a buffoon displaying his ignorance in the forest on issues he is pretending to be an expert on when he is actually behaving like a paid piper.

Kitwetimes.com/bolayathu

Posted by Editor on February 24, 2012. Filed under LATEST NEWS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry