I AGREE with Father Frank Bwalya for his compelling revelation that opposition attempts to drive a wedge between President Edgar Lungu and the Bemba-speaking people by insinuating that former President Rupiah Banda was running the Government have failed.
I Patriotic Front (PF).
Some online publication, confuses culture and politics inherent in Northern and Eastern Provinces.
It is so obsessed with United Party National Development (UPND)’s ethnic type of politics, it forgets ethnicity’s negative effects.
When one reads its articles about the PF looking for a nexus between the culture of Ngoni and Bemba-speaking members and any such negative effects in the ruling party, none is found.
Instead the publication draws on cultural differences between the Easterners and Northerners to justify a ridiculous assertion.
Its articles are also rather condescending to the UPND.
So what right does UPND have to question President Edgar Lungu’s closeness to the former President Rupiah Banda and their friendship?
If they wish to be friends, to treat each other as comrades, that is their own choice.
Besides, the former was heavily supported by the latter in the January 20 by-election in which the UPND presidential candidate lost.
One wonders when this online publication will turn its attention inward and take action to investigate itself.
I hope Fr Bwalya will continue to update his fellow PF members on the important issues he’s raised.
Concerned Citizen

Councils are cornerstones

THE assertion by President Edgar Lungu that councils are the cornerstone of this country in as far as service delivery is concerned when he was swearing-in Local Government and Housing Commission chairperson Christah Kalulu could not have come at a better time than now.
The councils are surely closer to the people and the employees should therefore, be seen to be of service to the people of this great nation all the time.
Councils should not only be associated with plots or land issuance at the expense of other important services.
Council officers should not be seen to be scrambling for land only but be seen to be working to bring sanity to their communities.
The right and qualified personnel should therefore, be in every strategic position to help equip them with this call.
The challenge thrown to the chairperson by the President will ensure that all council officers are treated equally in as far as plot apportioning is concerned.
Lack of this equity is what has brought a lot of dubious activities and unplanned land acquisition by residents as junior council officers want to benefit also just like their seniors have done.
Junior officers have many a time cried foul over plots allocation and yet they are the field workers who deliver services to the communities on the ground.
Concerned
citizen

State working hard on roads but…

THE Government has generally worked hard to improve our road network and our towns and cities are looking much better, but the garbage and uncontrolled littering is not helping matters.
Take Chingola for example, the road from Zesco substation in Riverside to Nchanga North all the way to the Matelo Primary School roundabout has just been done plpand it is very good and smooth.
But as you travel on this new road to the roundabout, you notice uncontrolled garbage dumping by residents alongside this beautiful new road!
Chingola Municipal Council, please arrest this trend before this now important access road is lined with garbage.
The Environment Management Authority should also be encouraged to work with the relevant ministry to put in place relevant legislation and enforcement to check garbage dumping and littering
We can make Zambia clean, but it will take effort from everyone.
Johnny M Kaweme
Kitwe