Zambian Government Spent K12.7 billion on Specialized Foreign Treatment

Twelve point seven billion Zambian Kwacha, at current  dollar exchange rate, translates into US$2.54 million. For a small and poorly managed economy as Zambia, the amount spent in 2009 is substantial and if well appropriated to the health sector, unfathomable improvements to our health sector could be achieved.

It is such a shame that plural politics came with huge downside with it such as mismanagement, financial impropriety and abuse of office. A parallel can be drawn between UNIP and MMD leadership inasmuch as management of public funds is concerned. While MMD leadership chooses to spend hard-earned dollars on rushing sick MMD party politicians to countries such as the UK, South Africa and India etc for specialized treatment, UNIP had a sense of compunction to have its leaders including Super Ken treated at the UTH.

What is baffling to the majority of Zambians is the myopic tendencies and belief that sick politicians will receive miracle treatment  when treated in the mentioned technologically better-off countries. While it is true that these countries medically better equipped, it is important to understand why they have technology. Simply put, these countries have invested time and financial resources to attain the levels of development that they have. This goes without saying that Zambia can make sensible advancement in the field of medical technology by making purposeful investment in the health sector. Therefore, the ZMK12.7 billion the government spent on getting its politicians treated in foreign countries did not add value to our health sector but contributed to bettering health institutions of the mentioned foreign countries. If there were visionary planning in place, the government could have invested the US$2.54 million on acquiring advanced medical equipment for the UTH. The government could put a purposeful programme could be in place such that a similar or equal amount could be annually invested in the health sector over a period of five years. This approach will help raise the level of medical technology at the UTH.

It is important to appreciate that improvements in the health sector must be coupled with measures to address the well-being of medical professionals. A large number of Zambians doctors are now based in foreign countries where their knowledge and experiences are valued most. The lack/or the absence of attractive conditions of service has caused serious brain drain in Zambia to extent that the doctor to patient ratio was at a appalling low of 12 doctors per 100,000 patients by 2006. The health sector is in serious need of investment if the leadership can commitment itself to ensure sector is adequately equipped. Therefore, flying politicians to foreign countries for specialized treatment will not help Zambia in the least. Such actions by the leadership are extremely detrimental to the development of Zambia's health sector.

RB as Sole Candidate????

Here we go again! RB is the sole candidate? Wow...is it MMD, is at it again. It sounds like all the MMD manoeuvres are being borrowed from the old UNIP trickery archives that kept super Ken on the throne for almost three decades. At this time and era, how can a civilized or uncivilized society allow one person to intimidate and manipulate the Party and its entire membership that he, alone, is the right person to run this country, a country that boasts of many educated citizens. No one can argue that UNIP is back in power, albeit through the back door. We don't expect politics to be any different now especially that the man at the helm is a staunch UNIPist. It's not surprising that he has even allowed back his "brother" William Banda, from their UNIP days, to act silly and be a public nuisance once again.


On RB's sole candidature, it is alleged that the provincial executive committee (PEC) petitioned the national executive committee to adopt RB as the sole candidate. Certainly, one does not expect very much or even a little from PEC, let alone from NEC. Look at the composition of PEC and NEC and you will understand the problem. It's a wonder what they have seen or see in that leadership that has failed to deliver on its promises since coming to power after the demise of Levy. One explanation may be the level of corruption in the system that makes each one of them feel that they owe support to RB so that, in return, he can shield them from prosecution over some the scandals they are inextricably wedged. There is definitely no sense or sensibility in the way they want to impose RB on the masses once again. We trust that the Almighty will listen to the cries and prayers of progressive Zambians to keep this man out of politics.

Congratulations to Zambia BlogTalk Radio!

On the occasion of the Zambia Blogtalk Radio's first anniversary, which falls on Sunday, May 16, 2010, in the cut-throat airwaves scenario, The Lusaka Gossip has the liberty to wish the awesome Zambia Blogtalk Radio team a Happy One Year Anniversary and urges the team to continue delivering competitive programming that has made their show a cut above the crowded airwaves and a must tune-in every Saturday for the multitude of Zambians and other nationalities all over the world. To Nathan Nkhama, Titus Natala and Rodger Chali, The Lusaka Gossip urges you to keep up with your indomitable spirit to continue conveying news and programs without fear and without malice to one and all. Cheers!

Zambia Blogtalk Radio Celebrates first Anniversary!

By Patson Musumali

Introduction

This is a radio that is taking the world by storm; Zambia Blogtalk Radio aired its first internet radio waves to the Zambians at home and in Diaspora on May 16th, 2009. This unique digital Radio station, versatile and global, has since then not tarried to serve the Zambians at home and abroad. The radio has a freedom passage associated with the internet and so one can say another era of freedom has been born.

Background

Zambia Blogtalk Radio was pioneered by four gallant Zambians ; Rodger Chali (Alberta, Canada), Operations Director; Nathan Nkhama (Dallas, Texas), Executive Director; Titus Natala (St. Paul, Minnesota), Communications Director; and Beston Chitala (Akron, Pennsylvania). Listening to these Zambian men with the passion to positively engage this great nation of a cheerful people, they have harnessed the limitless and distance free abilities of the internet to inform, educate and to affirmatively transform the image of Zambia. This radio show, which airs its programmes from both Canada and the USA, is a look forward to every Saturday. It requires versatility and cooperation between people and bandwidths to ensure smooth running and as such has proved very coordinating and informatively useful between Zambians in the Diaspora and their homeland.

Dashboard Freedom

Unstoppable is this freedom and innovation of news through fibre optics seems to be the new way of guaranteeing hundreds of thousands of Zambians and sympathisers globally, at home and in the Diaspora, the freedom of expression to dawn this era of personal and collaborative liberties on which many nations have built their growth. As long as one has a phone or computer, they can make every effort to take part in the discussions within up to the peripherals of the Radio Station and before the dashboard manager-call waiting. What of the new technology? Voice over Internet Protocol, (VOIP) with so many varieties of free phones over the internet, Skype, VOIP, TESCO internet phone-UK, etc these phones are free from PC to PC and on phones to some countries including the USA one of the two bases of this radio show. What press freedom is better than this for Zambia? The freedom to be free is even broadened as callers have an absolute choice to make what they think known to global listeners on Zambia Blogtalk Radio and say how they feel about what’s going on in their country and making positive comparisons. Even just to make a contribution in discussions within the freedoms and comfort of their homes.

The Path and fame

ZBTR has sampled a variety of agendas and Zambian topics ranging from sport (golf ) with Madalitso Muthiya, (soccer) with Dennis and Ponga Liwewe and others, to politics, including other significant Zambian portfolios such as First republican President, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, Minister of Finance, Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, BOZ Governor, Dr Caleb Fundanga, ZDA Chief, Mr Andrew Chipwende, FAZ Chief, Kalusha Bwalya and Celebrity Broadcasters such as Frank Mutubila, Maureen Nkandu and many others. The significance of this radio show is, obviously, its ability to free discussants from the psychologically inhibiting physical presence, eliminating the dynamics of body language and consequently affording a genuine focus on ‘issues rather than tissues’.

Highlights and Collaboration

Zambia Blogtalk Radio partnered with the Zambia Diaspora Connect to air an e-conference on ‘identity and skills’ and ‘Doing business in Zambia’ in October 2009. This successful conference continued on Google groups and as a result has brought synergies including an agenda in the African Diaspora Forum in the World Bank attended by Chasaya Sichilima. The radio has also embarked on linking experts to discuss solutions to Zambian Challenges through summits which have become popular in bringing experts together and offer them a liberal forum to share ideas on challenges facing Zambia. A ZDC/ZBTR initiated Education Summit, was held on the 16th of January 2010. The aim was to feature organisations in the United Kingdom interested in empowerment through education and other related positive life changing strategies through public and private partnerships. Another was a Health Summit featuring medical doctors from both urban and rural districts in Zambia and provided a liberal forum for doctors to interact and share progressive ideas. An Energy Summit also brought together energy experts to share ideas in the midst of an executive of a successful company called Grameen IT-Mr Islam. ZBTR has the capacity to connect resource personnel from their office phones or mobile phones to the show all over the globe. Despite inhibiting international call costs and which means some countries may find it costly to call, ZBTR has called participants from Zambia, Europe and Asia to enable them participate in the radio shows. The role of ZBTR in positively engaging the Zambian people cannot be over emphasised. Visit us also at www.zambiablogtalkradio.com to learn more about our past shows.

As a mouthpiece for citizens in the Diaspora

ZBTR has become a Zambian Diasporan citizen’s mouth piece as evidenced from the recent shows. Dr. Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika, in her capacity as Zambian Ambassador to the USA, gave an opportunity to the Zambians living in the USA to ask her questions on various issues affecting them whilst in the Diaspora. Dr. Nevers Mumba too, in his capacity as Zambian ambassador to Canada and some Caribbean Archipelago Islands, spoke to the Zambians in the Diaspora on ZBTR. An opportunity to speak to the citizens in those lands was availed and well received. Zambians had an opportunity to clarify a lot of issues through these programs that are being referred to as Ambassadors’ Forum.

Ms. Mwangala Zaloumis, the chairperson of the National Constitution Commission (NCC), had an opportunity to speak to the Zambians in the Diaspora via Zambia Blogtalk Radio. Issues such as dual citizenship and a broader representation on the constitution from members of the Diaspora were discussed.

Motivation and the future of Zambia Blogtalk Radio

The motivation behind the sustenance of ZBTR has been purely the love for Zambia the motherland which has throughout its twelve months of existence been funded by the personal resources of its founding members. In the words of the ZBTR Executive Director, “Every generation has its own ‘struggle’. With the growing Zambian Diaspora community, we face a unique struggle and ZBTR is the voice of that struggle.”

Election campaign Violence in Zambia

Once again we are awakened to the sad realities of crude Zambian politics which are characterized by violence and untruthfulness on the part of those vying for political office. A perfect example is the pre-election campaigns taking place in Mufumbwe that have been marred by violence unbefitting for the ocassion, time and era.

In Zambian politics, the powers that be are always pregnant with evil intentions to intimidate and distabilize the opposition especially when it is all too clear that the opposition is holding sway in the electioon campaigns. With the security aparatus on the side of government, the ruling party is trying by all means to orchestrate violence in order to scare away opposition supporters from campaigning freely. If the Government and its party are popular as they claim to be, we would like to see the the police clamp down the violence that is perpetrated by illiterate MMD cadres. One sometimes wonders whether there is any difference between those instigating their cadres to commit violence and the cadres themselves. As a matter of fact, many in the current ruling leadership were party cadres before they became office bearers and it is therefore easy to understand that their mindsets are not different from those of their cadres.

It is about that the Zambian leadership started to condemn violence in the strongest terms and direct the currently partial policemen to be impartial. The Zambian police need more training to understand the need to be proactive in carrying out their duties without aligning themselves with the ruling party.