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‘Spending Hundreds Of Thousands Of Dollars On Dr Kaseba Is An Insult To Zambians’
Dear Editor,Kindly see the article below. I will appreciate your support in getting it published.
kk
The developments that surround Dr. Kaseba Sata’s accommodation are highly unsettling. In the nation where the majority lives on less than a dollar a day, I am shocked at the huge bill — K2, 246,547 and still counting—the careless PF. government paid to accommodate Dr. Kaseba at Number 8 Reedbuck.
I fully sympathize with Dr. Kaseba and her family on the death of President Sata—may his soul rest in peace and rise in glory. That said, I think the commentary on her housing situation is highly misplaced—it betrays the sense of reason. Dr. Kaseba and the late President Sata did not live at Plot 1 until the late 2011, hence the question, ‘What happened with their properties across Zambia?’
The UPND Member of Parliament Gary Nkombo’s question on why the PF. government was failing to take care of ‘former First Lady’ is cheap politics at its worst. Nkombo as an opposition leader should have questioned the of wastage of public resources as opposed to encouraging it. In my book Raised Hopes, Shattered Dreams, for example, I argue that Zambia has already borrowed more money under the PF administration than the UNIP and the MMD reigns combined—something the World Bank has finally accepted. When the owners of the borrowed money start chasing us for their dollars, the poor will suffer the most. As for politicians, they will continue to lead their lavish lifestyles.
The housing of Dr. Kaseba at Number 8 Reedbuck is disgraceful and immoral. President Sata did not come to State House from Bauleni or Msisi compound! We also paid for the Satas’ expensive clothes, food, toilet issues, and even salt; we increase President Sata’s salary three times in less than three years. He also qualified to receive his pension. Well, I shouldn’t complain – it is perfectly legal—after all she is the former First Lady!
Spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on Dr. Kaseba is an insult to millions who can hardly send their children to school or buy life-saving drugs for their sick children. As a nation, we need to stop robbing of public coffers or what I have termed ‘legalized stealing’—that is stealing through entitlements. When are we going to have the poor people’s President and First Lady, who will denounce this form of robbery on moral grounds? It is not long ago when former First Lady Maureen Mwanawasa claimed her husband’s benefits and $1000 per month was nothing to her. But we all know that President Mwanawasa declared properties worth millions of dollars including farms and a multi-million dollar home in Kabulonga—well that money does not count!
It is unfortunate that we have accumulated so much debt; we can’t pay civil servants, pensioners and farmers on time; we can’t create new jobs; we can’t even provide medical care to all Zambians, yet we can spend millions on one individual! I admired Dr. Kaseba’s commitment to combating poverty among women and children (another reason I believed she would have been a better president), but her luxurious stay at Number 8 Reedbuck says much about her values and judgment.
Finally, politicians like Nkombo and all opposition leaders who see nothing wrong with spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on one individual need their heads examined. Dr. Kaseba is not the only widow who needs accommodating – she is just among millions of widows in the nation and unlike President Sata, their husbands were unemployed or under employed. They equally need government support, which unfortunately they can’t get since in the heads of politicians like Nkombo, they do not need taking care of. Dr. Kaseba, please keep your integrity—you were not born in Plot One!
Rev. Canon Dr. Kapya John Kaoma
1 Desmond Avenue
Watertown, MA 02472
Posted by Kunda
on July 2, 2015. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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New Educated Zambia©
July 2, 2015 at 8:55 am
The pf have never , will never and won’t care about you or i. They are not here to make your lives better except to fatten themselves and their families. Zambia credit has just been downgraded because of poor economic management. There is lack of accountability. In 2016 vote upnd
observer
July 2, 2015 at 9:01 am
it seems you have a bone to chew with Dr kaseba why do you choose to put her in the negative light before the people?what does the law says about her situation is it her own liking to find herself in this way?have the heart chap bakutuminefye?
kapya kaoma
July 4, 2015 at 8:11 am
She is not the only widow my friend. In any case, she had a house before coming to State house!
observer
July 2, 2015 at 9:02 am
it seems you have a bone to chew with Dr kaseba why do you choose to put her in the negative light before the people?what does the law says about her situation, is it her own liking to find herself in this way?have the heart chap bakutuminefye?
Vampiro @ ONYX POWER
July 2, 2015 at 9:43 am
I can only believe this when I see the bill not assumptions.
Vampiro @ ONYX POWER
July 2, 2015 at 9:46 am
Which lodge in the world can charge $60 000 a month. Even the most expensive city in the world doesn’t charge that much.
poly
July 2, 2015 at 10:07 am
@Rev Canon Dr Kapya John Kaoma- you appear to be as confused as your long title and name.Firstly, are you assuming that Dr Kaseba knew how much was being paid for her accomodation? If yes,then your flimsy presentation may make some cloudy sense.If not, then just shut up and concentrate on whatever you can do better or else you are wasting space.
From my point of view, this is a case of nichekeleko by the irresponsible officials.Meaning, the said rentals were deliberately overstated that the person making the payment also received another payment in return.
The spartacus
July 2, 2015 at 10:11 am
Spot on well articulated nothing to add or subtract..nasuba na vassilin pamilomo @ 8 Reedbuck go round th country en see hw people struggle to make a living, why can’t some people emulate th late princes Diana who left th luxury at Birmingham palace fo th sake of th poor in Africa..
Hello Haters
July 2, 2015 at 10:26 am
BLOG FROM YONDER.
Dear sir
Rev Canon Dr, mmmhmmul, sorry about that sir, was just trying to clear my throat, i know you have a big heart for you country that’s why you are miles away from home, but i would like to appeal to you to be mindful about some articles that you put forward online, they are a recipe for all night long vulgarity championships,in order to create a harmonious environment in our country, and to appease would voters, a blog from yonder should go like this:to THATS WHY WE LOSING A LOT OF VOTERS, WITH INSULTS LIKE YOURS#
Bulye bobulye kalombo the king, may your cheeks continue to glow mwetumwetu, bulye kalombo, tell us oh king which economy in this world can surpass your Intelligently run economy, oh king bring your feet so that we can fyompa your vimbombo oh king, the loadshedding is a necessity oh king, thats why uncivilized Europeans in past used to refer to Africa as a dark continent, why should we change a name which rightly define us oh king who lives for ever, oh king over expenditure and kaloba ndiye bling bling, oh king how will the rest of world know we got swagga, oh king our ancestors used to swing Spears and during traditional ceremonies it’s a must, why should someone find fault when we swing machetes during campaigns, oh king culture has to preserved, bulye kalombo, bulye.
The spartacus
July 2, 2015 at 10:36 am
@ploy Dr kaseba is a learned person, she was much aware of clauses in th tenancy agreement by virtual of being th occupant..
GLOBAL
July 2, 2015 at 11:05 am
Thi is nonsesnse from this reverand who is abroad exposing his ignorance. Dr Kaseba is entitled to those benefits.
emmanuel
July 2, 2015 at 11:11 am
rev canon dr.
you are an idiot living in the diaspora.
to me you have talked about a lot of issues you are not privy to on first hand data.
New Educated Zambia©
July 2, 2015 at 11:13 am
this is 2015 you fool. one needs not to be phyisically present in an area in order to have an understanding of issues on the other side. Welcome to the era of technological advancement.
observer
July 2, 2015 at 11:55 am
ba nezi nashininkisha eco abaice bamwebela.what do you expect from people who always read papers like mwingimfumu. when you read you even think there is war in the country, but to the contrary.what era of technological advancement are you talking about.
Chief advisor of social media
July 2, 2015 at 12:32 pm
It makes sinse some how.
kayula
July 2, 2015 at 12:34 pm
certain positions go with certain benefits. How much does a bank governor get? is that anoyher insult to zambians. work hard and be one
kayula
July 2, 2015 at 12:39 pm
Even in your home there those who get more than the other. Do you know what she went through to form PF and win election? Form your own party and win elections we shall give you
kapya kaoma
July 4, 2015 at 8:09 am
That is why we call it public service–it is not a money making machine–Dr. Kaseba was working until the last three years. They did not live under the tree but an expensive home. Please think through before comment.
Jow Mumbuna
July 2, 2015 at 2:49 pm
I am in entire agreement with Mr. Kaoma. I was also very shocked to read about Madam Kasabe’s demands. I was going to have respect for her if she had accepted one of the houses she was offered to by this shameless PF government. And if she had offered the house to accomodate street children. People like Mrs. Kaseba are shameless, unsympthetic characters who never care even if one of their relatves would complain of hunger. So long as they can barricade themselves in big mansions and fill up their stomachs with poached game meats and then fly to South Africa for medical checkups and expensive shoppings, then they are happy. A revolution with KK like disciplined rule must once again return to serve the poor. And late this corrupt,opportunist pseudo leaders like Kaseba be rehabiliated and learn what it means to live in poverty like 90% of zambians.
BMW X5
July 2, 2015 at 3:44 pm
NONSESNSE
kapya kaoma
July 4, 2015 at 8:10 am
It depends!
brave
July 2, 2015 at 5:03 pm
all this just make wonder… like one complains why mrs sata was removed the house rather other the money.. what can one do?
Mwansa
July 2, 2015 at 5:43 pm
Rev, as someone has put it, Dr Kaseba was merely using her entitlement and its unlikely she even knew how much was being spent on the rentals. You attack her, leaving the corrupt civil servants and their PF masters. There are a lot of Zambians living in rented houses paid for by their employers but that does not mean they do not have houses of their own. Most have even in the very cities where they are working.
Are you suggesting Kaseba went and looked for that accommodation? Didn’t you hear cabinet explained that they have a standing arrangement with the lodge for accommodating incoming and former first families? Is it her fault if probably half of that money is ending up in some civil servant’s or politician’s account? You are a reverend and a doctor in what? In confusion?
kapya kaoma
July 4, 2015 at 8:07 am
BaMwansa, thanks for your comment. I am the author and would like to remind you that you are missing the point–the First Families are not coming from nowhere–they all have homes in which they have lived for many years. In terms of your question about my doctorate–I guess you can google me up!
Munthu
July 2, 2015 at 10:54 pm
4 a number of times am disapointed with pf government (edgar’s way of thnkng) as youths we r still hopeless,very soon they will be coming 2bring more lies.upon my living mum i cant make another mistake 2vote 4pf again.jobless,8years 4rm high sku wit good results no money 4 colleges,2get bussary is coruption.they recruited cops,coruption.this must be the end of pf.
New Educated Zambia©
July 2, 2015 at 11:00 pm
We hear your cries and mourn with you. It is saddening to see intelligent people such as yourself going to waste beacuse this government does not want to utilize your skills. In 2016 if voted in we promise to make you guys priority. Please give us your vote in 2016. we thank you
club zero
July 3, 2015 at 7:23 am
Money,politics its the only thing pipo knws in zambia,ni mu war zone
Andy
July 3, 2015 at 7:47 am
There’s sense in his article
ichintu2o11
July 4, 2015 at 4:06 am
Nez live in a real life not dreams…upnd will never rule zambia especially under ka hh….
Venus
July 5, 2015 at 9:34 am
It was her entitlement to be accommodated by the state as widow of a sitting president irregardless of personal property.