By Hon. Given Katuta Mwelwa, MP
Chienge Constituency
Not because I don’t love my country, but because politics in Zambia has become something else. We stand before people, promise them everything, and deliver almost nothing. We speak beautiful words during campaigns, but after elections, those same people can’t even reach us. We drive past them in expensive cars while they walk in dust and hunger. What kind of leadership is that?
We sit in Parliament and watch laws being passed that take away the freedoms of the same people who voted for us. Laws that silence voices. Laws that punish anyone who speaks the truth. And many of us, even when we know something is wrong, stay quiet. We fear being arrested. We fear losing our seats. We fear being insulted on Facebook. But at what cost?
Right now in Zambia, if you question government decisions, you are seen as an enemy of the state. You are insulted, you are arrested, you are followed. It doesn’t matter how you speak—whether respectfully or boldly—they find a way to silence you. There is no more room for honest disagreement. It’s like if you’re not clapping, you’re a target.
As a woman in politics, it is even worse. You are not just attacked for your ideas—you are attacked for your gender. The first insult they throw at you is “hule,” even if you are a mother, a wife, or a daughter who has never lived a careless life. They won’t debate your points. They go straight to attacking your body and your dignity. They want to reduce you to shame, to make you feel like you don’t belong. This is the pain many female politicians carry in silence.
Just look around. We have leaders today who spend more time avenging than leading. If someone didn’t support them before, they are punished now. If someone speaks out, they are visited by the police. The fear is real. Even journalists are now afraid to report freely. The Church is quiet. Civil society is quiet. Artists who once sang about justice are now silent.
We promised to be servants of the people, but many of us have become masters. We promised to protect the Constitution, but now we watch it being torn apart by those in power, while we say nothing. Just recently, we saw Bills being pushed that will weaken our democracy and remove checks and balances. And the worst part? Some of us in opposition are too divided to stop it. We are busy fighting each other while the country burns.
Sometimes I ask myself: What are we doing? Is this what our ancestors fought for? Is this what people like KK and the freedom fighters imagined when they gave us independence? No. They dreamed of a Zambia where every voice matters. A Zambia where no one is above the law. A Zambia where leadership means service, not power.
But here we are. Arresting people for speaking. Threatening citizens who simply ask questions. Using institutions to punish opponents. Mocking the poor with policies that don’t touch their lives.
I regret being a politician in a system like this. But I also know that the only way to fix it is to speak up—even if it means being insulted, isolated, or jailed.
Zambia belongs to all of us—not to one party, and not to the powerful only. And until we start leading with honesty, humility, and heart, we will keep betraying the people we swore to serve.
I may regret the politics I see around me.
You are PF prostitute mp if you want you can go to Congo were you came from,no one will miss you.
The problem with this lady her need for every one to accept her bad behaviour or her opinions.When you refuse her,then democratic space shrinks for everyone
Madam, you went to South Africa and now you also want to become South African like other mourners
Infact I remember this lady staying in South africa between 1999-2004.I never thought she is this dull.She was studying the bible… or something like that. Thats the problem
Zambia is now a throwback-nation,a “planet “ of reptiles not even a “planet “ of apes!! You always resort to insults!!! Why Ba dala????
Ati “We stand before people, promise them everything, and deliver almost nothing.” Are you sure of what you are saying? Remove those ugly gogos so that you can see what they promised they have delivered. Please tell us what you have delivered in your constituency before you start farting.
In fact ,You can apply to be a Russian citizen if you want. We DON’T CARE!
Who cares. You regret being a citizen in a land of sanity, peace and unity. Shame on you who wanted Zambia to be a land of chaos, so that you keep keeping your fingers in public resources. Zambia and Zambians are too smart for that. And just go find a country of your own and create your own chaos there, create your tribe there, and create your own impunity there.
Zambians are normal, loving human beings. They are only taken for a ride by fools who do not even know where they came from. I love Zambia because is pure. It is what is what it is. Very normal.
Ba Katuta, the artists and the church are quite because we have a more humane leadership after the reign of terror by the PF.
How about the insults of one Why me, who is supported by the PF and labelled a freedom fighter by the PF acting president Mr. Lubinda? Is that the kind of silencing you are talking about? You yourself exhibited uncouth behaviour when you spat in a journalist at Parliament of all places. Was that kind of conduct befitting a reverend and MP?
Lead by example madam.
Ooops , is she the one who did that? OMG, yes indeed we have a leadership at constituency level in Zambia.
Given Katuta needs no permission to renounce her Zambian citizenship and assume that of whatever country she thinks or wishes she was a citizen of. It’s tragic for a serving MP to say words like that. If she really means it, perhaps it’s high time she resigned her membership of the Zambian parliament.
This is not the Zambia I recognise my dear sister. I grew up in a One party State and this is not one. We had brutal cadres and powerful Chaimani under UNIP. MMD came and gave us much freedoms but these were soon washed away by YOUR party my sister. It is PF pangas that took away our voices and choice of dress. The cadres were all over including the police. They did not only harass opposition politicians but even ordinary citizens were not spared of their ire. Today, we DO have freedom to talk. The problem is in_sulting that many in PF are used to using and that is why they end up on the wrong side of the law. As an MP, Munir Zulu had immunity to speak in the house but he chose wider publicity and libelled people. He must pay for that.
Choose another country and you will regret even more. Just do things that help you and others, not insulting as you have been doing.
Aba bamayo bena kuwayawayafye mwandini. And she is a reverend in some church, when thereis nothing reverent about her.
You are free to go to whoever accepts you.
Madam, it’s not too late, you can resign and renounce the Zambian citizenship. There are hundreds if not millions who would like to take your seat
You are extremely correct, but also look at the previous regime where all what you have said also applied in addition to being physically beaten by organized cadres who were protected by the very law enforcement agencies that were meant to protect us. The politics of this nation ought to reform, but most of the current politicians both in government and opposition still belong to the medieval politics of vengeance. So what we need is a systematic wipeout of those kind of politicians so that they are left in the terraces
Another moral degenerate who wants to cloak herself as some kind of saviour. Why do we allow such people to lead?
No self introspect and whats to give the impression is relevant?
What did you do to the journalist? That may help explain your calamity
Individuals like Given Katuta bring shame to society and fail to understand her responsibilities as a Member of Parliament and a political leader. Furthermore, Given Katuta has been reaping substantial allowances and a generous salary as an MP while contributing nothing to her constituency.
What has she done with her income to support the community or improve the lives of even one vulnerable individual in her area? An MP’s duty is to promote development within their Constituency and district. What developmental initiatives has she launched in her constituency that utilize the CDF to benefit the community? Given Katuta ought to feel embarrassed by her thoughtless remarks that she makes without consideration. It is regrettable to have leaders like her who continue to make unfounded claims and think in a backward manner.
What kind of a lunatic are you…
You wake up and sleep using Zambian Tax Payer Money from the Poor of the Poorest and You Regret Being Zambian…
How ungrateful can you be…
Your family is in Luxury because of the poor Zambians and you regret being One…
What kind of a People did this PF Monsiter create mwebantu…
She is a Double Tobela politician . She’s regretting being Zambian but enjoying the benefits of being an mp in Zambia. And she is also benefitting from whatever church she is a reverend. It’s a shame really, to have such people as our leaders. Do the honourable thing by resigning both your citizenship and mp . If you don’t resign then stop barking . You can easily cross into Congo which is very close to your constituency and become a Congolese today. Its that simple Katuta.