HARRY KALABA, WILL HE JUMP OR BE PUSHED?

HARRY KALABA, WILL HE JUMP OR BE PUSHED?; MY RESPONSE TO THE ZAMBIA WATCHDOG ARTICLE! –

“We can no longer fold our arms in silence and watch the impunity of those that make the essence of governing a mockery.” This is an extract of the words of Honourable Kalaba in his 2018 maiden speech.

Firstly I wish to commend the Honourable Minister for making such a brave comment full of wisdom and good will. Good leaders take responsibility when things are not right. When President Lungu did an on the spot check in Lusaka over the long weekend, he openly accepted that the Lusaka City Council had been sleeping. That was good leadership. In the same spirit, Hon Harry Kalaba in his new year’s message acknowledges that corruption had been on an increase.

In accepting the wrongs in 2017, Hon. Kalaba he made a very powerful and precise statement which gives direction moving forward “The year 2018 is yet another opportunity for all of us to Rally behind all the honourable men and women in Government and outside Government who have been championing the crusade against corruption and add our voices to those that have resolved to come in public office with clean hands.”

The watchdog has alleged that Hon. Kalaba has received millions of dollars from Kosovo, Morocco and Rwanda over his push for Diplomatic recognition. It is further alleged that the ACC is investigating Hon Kalaba regarding this matter. What a petty matter we are talking about.

I think we have matters right now that are more crucial and important for us as a country to discuss. People are still dying in hospitals due to the outbreak of cholera in Lusaka. Poverty levels remain high across the country. What Hon. Kalaba said in his maiden New Year message can shift this country if taken seriously. Reading his statement carefully I get the sense that he is the type of individual who is not scared to speak the truth. He is not a ‘Yes Bwana’. We need such kind of people to surround President Lungu.

Hon Kalaba has also been accused of positioning himself to take over presidency from President Lungu.  The truth is come 2021 PF shall have a vacuum which will require someone to occupy. If Hon. Harry Kalaba is the one God has appointed to take over then no man shall stop it.

I hope that the PF can soon settle down and reduce this debate of who takes over from president Lungu while Zambians are waiting for them to deliver what they promised us during the campaigns in 2016. When the time is right we shall know who the successor is.

I know that some people within the PF have been in the forefront of dividing their own party by making other senior

members to appear holier than other. Such politics won’t provide solutions to this country’s challenges. I urge politicians to start thinking using their heads and not emotions. It is always a problem when people want to use emotions to react to matters that are of national interest.

The in-fighting in the PF may as well expose weakness in the leadership of HE President Edgar Lungu. He must therefore put a stop to this kind of behaviour from his party officials, by not allowing any member of the PF who spreads falsehood concerning the party leadership. I urge the PF to unite now than ever before if they want to secure victory in 2021.