There is a story of a king who rode through town naked all because he was convinced that he was dressed in a material which only the wise can see. It was only the laughter of a child which made him realize that he had been cheated..
ZDDM has continued to say the last election was not free and fair.There was too much cheating, intimidation and indeed underhand methods used. The European Union observer team is the only one which like that child had the courage to tell the truth that the election was too dirty.
All the same we have accepted the falsehood because of our weak position but the fact which every Zambian will ignore at their own prey is that President Michael Sata and his government is heading for a very sad end if they fail to read the mood in the nation.
The seemingly small events which the media is underplaying may through this country in tailmil if we continue burying our heads in the sand. The Barotse issue, events in Mazabuka last week ,the merging Umodzi Kumawa ,shortages of medicine in the hospitals ,failure to pay farmers for the maize delivered last year, minibus drivers riots and CURRENT tension at UNZA.All this worsened by the failure of PF to deliver on their campaign promises makes Zambia a country sitting on a time bomb.
Federal system of government provides the only solution to the problems Zambia and indeed Africa is facing hence.
Zambia Direct Democracy Movement is therefore challenging the Patriotic Front government to allow the people of Zambia to choose the best political dispensation they want through referendum. It appears the most acclaimed multiparty system is failing the nation not only in Zambia but in Africa as a whole. This form of democracy is benefiting only a selected few especially those close to the corridors of power.
If we wind back in history, people benefiting from our multiparty confusion in Zambia are those that pressured Dr. Kenneth Kaunda to abandon the planned referendum in early 1990. Dr Kaunda wanted to give people an opportunity to choose the best form of democracy for the country. This was after the collapse of UNIP’s one party state.
Dr. Kaunda though of seeking indulgence from the people of Zambia on how they wanted to have the country governed. But due to pressure which was mounted on his government Dr. Kaunda cancelled the referendum and instead announced constitutional changes for a return to multi-party politics. Kaunda also set October 31, 1991, as the date for multi-party elections. It was then that multiparty politics found its way back in Zambia.
Had the people been given chance to choose the system of governance as planned by Dr. Kaunda then, they could have settled for “Federal System of Governance” and not multiparty democracy. They would have rejected multiparty politics because they had already tried it and saw it failing. In fact, it was the failure of multiparty democracy that led Dr Kaunda to think of the formation of one party state in Zambia in early 70s.
One of the main reasons why multiparty politics failed in Zambia was power struggle. Some people had already begun to think they were the only ones ordained by God to lead this great nation. This trend begin to divide the nation into regionalism and people began to identify and group themselves into tribal groups, the situation described by Zambian patriarchs as dangerous and hence the decision to impose a one party state.
The same trends that forced Dr. Kaunda to create Zambia a one party state are being manifested by power hungry politicians today. These individuals are already claiming they are the only one ordained by the almighty to be supreme rulers of this nation. According to them, there is no other tribe in the country that have leadership qualities but themselves. Even development is being limited to their region as though, people there are the only ones that need it.
Deriving from this point of view, we feel our continued stay in multiparty democracy is not safe for our country. This system of democracy is putting the unity we have enjoyed this far at risk. We feel the best form of governance this country need is federal system of governance but we don’t want to dictate or impose our wish on the people regarding the form of governance we feel is best for the nation. That is why we challenge the PF government to call for a referendum to allow people choose the kind of governance our country need.
We bet, federal system of governance will emerge victorious. According to our investigations, more than half the nation prefers federal system of governance. People we have spoken to have indicated that, they wanted federal system of governance because it will not only give people an opportunity to be involved in governance of the nation but will be an engine of development. With federal system of governance, development will be ensured.
Over the weekend we had a chance to interact with Civil society and Church leaders, a cross section of society and Senior Chiefs who attended the Ncwala ceremony in Chipata and all of them were for the idea of Zambia changing the constitution to facilitate the Federal system of governance before the country breaks down as indicated by the Barotse crisis, events in Mazabuka last week and indeed the surfacing Umodzi Kumawa and indeed the general lawlessness in the country manifesting as industrial strikes, minibus drivers riots and violence during elections.
The PF government came into power through violence and promises which it has failed to forfil and it should not come as a surprise if various sectors of society who feel cheated start to react.We can see them try to divert attention from their campaign promises to witchhunting but Zambians are wising up hence the need for President Sata and his government to rise and adopt this system as it provides the only hoe for Zambia.
I believe this is what all people need to see in the country. Development should not be concentrated to one place or region. Once this happen, people begin to complain. We can avoid the problem of concentrating development to one place by federal system of governance. This is the solution Zambia to problems of politics people experience in the recent times.
Issued by:
Edwin Sakala
National Coordinator
ZDDM
P.O Box 34553
Lusaka Zambia
Phone: +260 977 621 364
E/mail: [email protected]
Barotseland Crisis! ZDDM Says ‘REFERENDUM To SAVE Zambia From COLLAPSE’ added by on
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Yaba its the poiltician whose analysis of issues is shallow!
som1 xplain 2 me…wat is federal governance?
This article could have made great reading, but for its grammar, spelling and coherence, it is hard to read and understand. Do you have proof-readers before you publish? Remember this site is accessible worldwide and with such English, it will not be long before you have fewer hits(visits).
shalow indeed. i knew it was an easterner. this country wud ve been worse had MMD won worse stil HH. sakala! just accept that the PF is in power and they need our support and prayers.
Indeed federalism is about representative democracy. Shall we have leadership at all levels in the Zambian society. Let us stratify the expance of our land into at least the current ten autonomous regions. Let us have governments at the regional level and all district levels. Shall we have provinces to plan for themselves. Let the regions prepare and manage their own budgets. Let the Regions also devolve and cede some of theirs powers to districts below them, and so on and so forth, right through to the smallest units of governance. Its true previous regimes failed go bring development because of holding too much power centrally. This government must liberate the people of Zambia. For instance, if Barotseland was allowed autonomy by Britain, why are fellow Zambians being so cruel as not to allow them freedom,independence and autony with an United State States of Zambia or the Federal Repulic of Zambia, which arrangement every region in Zambia may wish to have as well? Shall this current government give power to the people, please!
multi-party democracy is very important and this issue of one party state should be kept in the past, zambia has moved on since those days. i would also like to remind the PF that only 1 million people voted for them out of 13 million zambians and so they should not get too comfortable.
I have read and reread the BA64. No where does it say moving out of present day Zambia. However, the people of Western Province are being cheated by a few power hungry individuals. The winner in the restoration of BA64 will be the Litunga not ordinally Lozi’s, Nkoyas, Luvales in Western Province. let us tread with care this issue. whagt Western Province neds are good roads in their sandy plains, employment, schools, hospitals, collages, industrialisation etc.
At last we have a political clown. We have been lacking one since we lost Alexander Saimbwende and Chama Chakomboka. A piece of advice to Mr E. Sakala, stop using a typewriter. Use a computer with word processor. It will automaticaly edit your work. Tumfweko has no editors. We need you ambuya.
i think this country is just too small for that.we should not just bow to few selfish leaders from western province who do not understand the barotse agreement.
Fedral system is the way foward.We however must realise that under a fedral goevenment the states with less natural resources will be the least developed and therefore equal distribution of wealth throughout the regions will be imposible (even in the current system its lacking). Fedral system is the epitomy of capitalism so for all those fellow capitalists lets go division of Zambia into states each with its own house of representative and a powerful gorvenor!!
I totally agree with my colleague who has put a suggestion that Western Province needs alot of developments.Schools,Hospitals,roads and above employment.
Government should also look critically at the Mongu/Kalabo road.From UNIP days and MMD days we have lamentably failed to build a good road across the plain despite billions of ZMK being released.Can 24KM take 47 years to put up a road across the plain?If Katima bridge was built with those nice pillars across the Zambezi then where is the major problem
@Tonga Bull which school did you go to? What an embarrassment you are to yourself. I mean you say only 1million Zambians voted for our present government and not 13million weh chikopo weh! For your own info you empty tin sit down and ask how many people in the population are eligible to vote. So exclude children, foreign nationals who are not eligible to vote, people that did not register and just ask yourself as well if you are normal. I suspect you are the only problem is that you are either just dull by choice, birth or the schools you went to failed you or worse still, you suffer from a disease known as IGNORANCE which seems to affect most tongs people, like HH I therefore excuse you.
ignore at their own prey ???? WTF
Edwin,
Can you go and visit nigeria just for a week and research on Federal system of running a government.Am sure that will give you a clear insight of what you have published
Sakala, u re another spoilt brat. Waisting precious time to write nonsense. U must be ashamed of yourself. Go back to school.
We are all tired with the barotse issue let the lozis keep quiet and fodge ahead with thier lives, only the rich guys are the one pushing this issue,95 percent of the zambian people are not in favour.IF they will be civil war in zambia regarding the barotse issue who will suffer , i guess are the poor guys and the rich will fly out of the country…..Lets think wise…ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION…….
Typhas, go to the internet cafe and google federal system of governance and spare us time. ignorance is not a privilege! if u want to hide info from …. put it in writing, he will not read!!
Dear Mr Sakala,
I wish to say your suggestion is a very important issue to consider as an input in the new constitution and I would advise you to use proper examples when arguing your case. Avoid using a particular incident as a reason why federal system of governance should be tried in Zambia.
Issues like one tribe ruling other tribes does not hold any water, because Eastern Province for example has produced more than three vice presidents and even when it comes to organisations, there are more people from eastern in leadership than any tribe. Take a survey and then derive your conclusion. Leadership should be looked at on a broader sense than just on the position of President. Kaunda ruled , is he a bemba, my answer is no! Chiluba ruled, also not Bemba , Levy not Bemba , Banda not Bemba and now Sata is Bisa.
Look at the vice presidents, christopher Tembo, Godfrey Miyanda, Grey Zulu and Lupiya Banda all from the same province. So when you speak about development what is there in Northern Province which is not found in other less developed provinces. Lusaka , Central, Copperbelt have some developments because of their locations and activities due to the presence of industries.
So Mr Sakala , please understand that politics are about strategy a party uses to go into government. No single party world wide went to the people soliciting for their votes without a promise of what they will offer in return. Only simple minds would imagine that PF would change or meet all their promises overnight. At times I wonder how on Earth people like HH would also make such conclusions knowing too well that its practically impossible to fullfil all the promises in less than a year. Wake up Mr Sakala, democracy is capitalising the weakeness of your opponent and use it to your advantage. If PF has failed and continue to fail in all areas promised , then come 2016, the same people who voted them will remove them, simple.
You may not like Sata as a person but he is the President now and tomorrow who knows maybe it will be Mr Sakala or Mr HH and the trend will continues, some will like him and others will not. Allow PF to make as many mistakes as they can so that come 2016, the people will do to them what they did to MM.
President Sata is an old man who will not remain there forever but we need him now to clean the rubbish which people like you or HH have no courage to take. When people begin to refrain from corrupt practices then know that we will take power when all hands are almost clean.
HH you are still young and develop strategies for the next elections, do not waste your time joining baseless demands. If you succeed to have Western Province removed from Zambia and other chiefs will demand the same and in the end HH will rule only Southern and you Mr Sakala will rule Eastern and GBM will rule Northern. In the end , you will have more crisis than Barotseland per say.
Sakala kindly research before you sit on your typewritter other than giving bogus data which you yourself cant even understand…these guys from the west are being pushed by power angry,disgruntled and selfish chaps like HH,shame on you ba bantustan na HH wenu…you never rule this great nation as long as you remain a ka regional bantustan club
The information Sakala has so inaccurate. There is no unrest in the Country to warrant what you are saying. Please stop inciting people
some pipo are failuers. How does one come out and say only 1million pipo out of 13million pipo voted for pf. Does he mean even children under the age of 18 voted. Beside, even those above 18, not everyone voted. Get your statistic correct. Visit ECZ or its Website
Yebo Musonda uli chiyanga, just because you are tired of eating baboons you want to come here and talk nonsense, foreign nationals are not counted during the census and all zambians have political opinions even those who are ineligable to vote, Just accept that 1 million people doesnot represent even close to quater the majority.
Tonga Bull, Statistics has just failed you, and should not blam Musonda for that. how many votes did that ka political under5 get. just to remind u we did get the results for three provinces when pf was declared winers.
Lozi people,please it’s farming time.go and cultivate.we are tired of this issue.stupid lozis.who do u think you are
How you attribute the Kulima Tower Strikes, The Unza riots and the Siavonga Fiasco is just beyond me. Apart from the Siavonga unrest, all the problems existed before the PF came to power.
On the other hand I believe fedaralism is the way to, however the average Zambian cannot comprehend what federalism entails.
Ba Tunfweko muli fipumbu mwabe misula! Bakonto mashinsha yenu! Why do you block my comments! Kano twatukana?
On the Barotse Agreement, Mr. Wynter Kabimba was as clear as day yesterday as to the Govt’s Stand and the Legal position. It may not always work but sometimes ignoring the problem makes it go away. “All one, Strong and free Zambia” let those words mean something.
Tonga Bull! Loud and empty! Did u do any Arithmetics at primary? Dulo, dulo!
ZDDM u are useless,where were u when mmd was commiting terrible sins against us.In pf we can strike and not be harrased by govt,we can go to govt media and be given platform,we can say anything against pf.
@TONGA BULL now I know you are dull by choice for real.I thought you would redeem yourself but you have just gone on to prove one of my theories. @ BIG MARSTER @ CHINVINDINVINDI people like Tonga Bull are natural born vikopos. The guy has no shame.Awe sure please help educate him mwe.
Alicia have manaz,respect is needed here who do you think you are too?This is a big issue,you seem not to understand things ayi fuck u 2.
You ought to be at UTH D block. Your article has no substance.
Research your work before showing your ignorance to the public.
@Tonga Bullshit/Dung 5,164,176 were eligble to vote i.e registered voters if a 1 million voted for MSC then yo HH got 300thou then in fairness U failed to campaign for yo HH. U chose to contnue spewing trash on the internet instead of going out into the field to mobilise support. Yo HH each time he went to other region to campaign he was always receiving a cold shoulder. He would quickly get to Southern Province to campaign there over and over again. As for Sakala he is a misguided missile who wants to cause alarm without checking his facts. Sakala u a looser get on with yo life Shaa!
Zambians why do we believe in blaming our fellow being? Please we should learn to be patient ba muntu ataaaa!
The problem with we Blacks is that we always choose to look a goat in the mouth and pulling each other down.This is primitive hence our failure to advance.Sakala has presented a new idea and all the thinking people should consider the issue a hand instead of ever behaving like educated CALLBOYS.fHAME TO YOU AND THE bLACK RACE which always want to pull each other down SHAME
pf will want to bring about gayism since they love doing it..hahaha
Those of you who are asuming that i am for UPND, where is your proof, how do you know i am for UPND. get facts before you write about things you do not know about.
Federalism has worked quite well in India for example…its worth exploring here, the way we have explored democracy! The size of the country doesnt matter…Nigeria is far smaller than Zambia, geographically…the reason Nigeria’s general governance record has been bad is largely attributed to corruption inclined to military regimes! However, the issue of tribalism cannot be ignored in zambia esp nowadays! Thats why even democracy is becoming a paradox! The issue of natural resource distribution does not count as the case of well-to-do federal republics stands to testify; e.g the USA. Maybe Mr. sakala has a good case afterall!
Writer appears to confuse himself: multi- party and federal system. The two are not mutually exclusive…
Writer appears to confuse himself: multi- party and federal system are not mutually exclusive…
@Tonga bull, One does not need to sit face to face with you to know which political part you affliate to. You are a coward, u want shun your own part becoz of criticism you have received from your fellow bloggers. PF until the end. we will not hide it from you.
The article is nicely long,but it has no substance…i describe it as profane and vain bubbling by closed minded chaps who are busy trying to cause cheap braggadosial in the country…Give the Government time to settle…this is a country not your bedroom…..development of a nation is long term,it cant be realised in a blink of an eye…look at the MDG’S,they were launched a long time ago and yet not all the goals have been attained. Lets offer positive criticism…
Tonga Bull koma you are bullshit indeed. Kolwe ne chi pato. You truely need to be eaten but kuti twa luka.
Can you honestly ask anyone what the proof of your tribalism is? (i.e belonging to UPND – because it amonts to the same, really). Ma rubbish !!! get your facts right before you go ranting about eating baboons…. you cow-dang-lover, keep trailing your cows and you will never have fresh thots…always thinking of bull shit…it’s in the name !!!
ZDDM its not even 6 months since PF took over govt ba fikala. PF is busy trying to clean up the mess MMD left and ur busy saying rubbish fimatole imwe bafikala fyenu. go to hell you idiots
Pipo of zambia why owez equate yoselves wit de USA,ifya kutamba nokumfwa be very careful mwe mbushimwe ubu ebupuba you are just like a YOYO I’ve nothing much to say right now but inside me iam burning about all what other blogers ve posted just wait
Mr. Sakala’s statement that we need to move from a multi-party democracy to a federal system of governance is not correct. Fedral governace system goes hand in hand with multi-party democracy. The two can not be seperated. However, the best way to govern any country for that matter is to decentralise power. South Africa for example has a system where people elect which party to run the affairs of their province. Western Cape is governed by the opposition Democratic Alliance while the rulling ANC governs other provinces where it won the elections. It’s the same in the U.S and many other developed countries. It used to frustrate me that while PF had won Lusaka, Copperbelt, Luapula and ofcourse Northern provinces, it was the party that had lost the elction in all these states that continued to govern. what kind of democracy is that? yes, lets go back to fedral system but maybe call it “Decentralisation” coz “Fedral sounds abit old”. Then each province will have a powerful governer, parliament and it’s own laws to govern them. It’s the easiest way to develop as a country. Letting people at local level get involved in governance.. though all of us will be under the “United States of Zambia”.
Percy ulatontonkanya
Ba zambia this is not a big issue ZAMBIA AS A NATION is the big issue here, so do yourself a favour by keeping quiet this is not sudan were you wake up and start divinding the nation because of yourselfness.
like Alicia has said its farming time go and cultivate
you are just worsting your time with this issue.
For your on information you LOZIS good for nothing an agreement can either be honoured or not in this case it
will not be honoured period.
ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION NOTHING LESS NOTHING MORE.
YES LETS GO THE REFERENDUM WAY,U WILL SEE HOW THESE CHAPS WILL BE HUMILAITED. THE LITUNGA CLAIMS LAND THAT DOES NOT BELONG TO HIM…. WEN DID THE LOZIS CONQUER NTHE LUVALES, LUNDAS, AND OTHERS