WHEN news about the death of President Michael Sats started filtering through, I dismissed it until Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska announced to the nation.
I am really devastated and shocked to learn that a great man who loved the poor people is no more.
The humble man who brought a lot of development in the three years he served Zambia as President is no more.
It is indeed painful and sad to lose a great man like Mr Sata. I will greatly miss Mr Sata. May his soul rest in eternal peace.
TIMOTHY KAMBILIMA
LUANSHYA

Don’t politicise Kariba tragedy

I WISH to pass my heartfelt condolences to the family of the 25 pupils who died when the banana boat they were traveling in capsized on Lake Kariba.
As they are put to rest on Wednesday, we as a nation truly know the loss we are faced with.
It is, however, very disappointing and unethical for some political opportunists to make this a campaign tool instead of mourning with the families.
We seem to be engulfed more on politicking at the expense of solutions and that is what makes us lose out on political mileage.
Who surely takes desire in deaths or accidents? Let us be sober enough even as we aspire for high offices of Governance for people to know that we are worth being leaders.
A leader should always strive to give alternatives and solutions than always demonising.
Wisdom Muyunda
CHINGOLA

Contractors’ behaviour unpatriotic

IT is sad to learn that local contractors have been auctioning their 20 per cent contracts under the sub contracting policy to foreign contractors. This is not only embarrassing but an indication of how unpatriotic some Zambian contractors can be.
Our contractors and Zambians in general should know that the reason why Government has initiated this beautiful programme was not only to empower local contractors financially but to see to it that their capacities and expertise improve.
If the capabilities of our local contractors are built then they can apply for bigger contracts that will entail that profits derived from both bigger and small contacts will be kept in the country to provide more jobs for our many unemployed youth.
How are Zambian contractors going to qualify for bigger contracts if they cannot build their capacities from smaller contacts? This is daylight robbery that rides against Government policy. This trend should not be encouraged and should be stopped by formulating stiffer laws that will prevent this fraud. Culprits should be blacklisted.
We are tired of being called a trading country and Government thought we could slowly move away from being called a trading country to being a contracting, industrial and manufacturing country.
It will be difficult for us to improve other sectors of our economy if we allow this greed and lust for money to continue.
John Noel Lungu