Media Statement: Urging the UPND Government to Reconsider Party Member Compensation
September 3, 2024
The current economic challenges facing our nation demand prudent and responsible leadership. In light of the prevailing economic hardships, I call upon the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government to reconsider its decision to compensate party members for past grievances. This practice sets a dangerous precedent that could have far-reaching consequences for our nation’s future.
Compensating individuals based on their political affiliations or past grievances undermines the principles of fairness and equity that should guide our governance. In a country where millions of citizens are grappling with poverty, unemployment, and a lack of basic necessities, the priority of the government must be to alleviate the suffering of the majority, not to reward the few.
If we continue down this path, where does it end? Should we then consider compensating all our freedom fighters who fought for independence, all Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD) members who suffered during the UNIP era, or all Patriotic Front (PF) members who experienced hardships under the MMD government? Should every PF member who feels aggrieved today be compensated as well? This would not only be financially unsustainable but would also foster division and resentment among our people.
Zambia stands at a critical juncture. We have an opportunity to break away from the politics of the past and move towards substantive, issue-based governance that puts the needs of the people first. Let us focus on building a nation where justice, fairness, and economic opportunities are available to all, regardless of political affiliation.
The UPND government has the chance to open a new chapter in our nation’s history by prioritizing the common good over partisan interests. I urge the leadership to abandon this compensation scheme and instead channel resources towards programs that will uplift the lives of all Zambians, particularly those most in need.
Zambia’s future must be one of unity, fairness, and progress. Let us not squander this opportunity by perpetuating a cycle of political retribution. Together, we can build a nation where every citizen has a fair chance to succeed, and where our government serves all its people with integrity and accountability.
Sunday Chilufya Chanda
Member of Parliament, Kanchibiya Constituency
We now have a new breed of millionaires in Zambia.
The Zambezi millionaires.
I am sure the next president after 2026 will also make sure all his tribesmates are made millionaires as well, just to balance the equation.
Wako ni wako culture.
Vote wisely in 2026.
You’re just a dog. When you were beating up people didn’t you know the consequences? Why didn’t you tell your President to stop it?
Mwanya mulelapila because you’re stupid in the first place
Vote wisely vote for HH7 in 2026/31
Indigo Tryol always talking P*nyo pako. The President doesn’t sit in courts of law to influence or direct judgement in favour of UPND members. Learn to be objective sometimes PF Mambala iwe. Yes we shall again vote wisely for HH in 2026. You continue massaging your unpardonable PF sins malume.
This should have been addressed to the Courts of law, but I doubt if it would have any influence on rulings relating to compensation of individuals who deserve such compensation.
These out of court consent agreements involving UPND cadres is a source of grave concern. If there is need to compensate them, let it be after each case is heard through the courts of law.
The short cut the UPND government has taken is a form of abuse of the legal process and will one day come to haunt the UPND.
Explain how the legal process was abused?
Consent judgement when there is a premea facea case, is abuse of legal process?
These cases like the “extra judical killing cases” are not contestible. Why waste the court’s time if the State was wrong? Lets be serious and make a difference between the “Party in Government” and the state. Those party members are individuals, who can sue and have rights. Their rights were infringed on, just like those crying persecution have the right to sue the state. Its the state actors, those acting for the state that should be held accountable for the reckless discharge of law if they cost the state. Because we dont the state, bears the brunt.
Lets not dismiss the abuse when one’s rights are abused.
Sunday Chanda you are the only sensible person remaining in pf. What you have said is very true to the core. Kudos Mr. Chanda.
So separate and independent arms of government driven by the rule of the law should be thrown out?
This kind if warped thinking trying to short circuit issues is what got us into this mess. Thinking borrowing from a bottomless pit will sort out our problems. Such a thing does bot exist.
Next you will tell us criminals dont need to go to prison for crimes.
Mr Sunday Chanda, your submission sounds nice and responsible.It struggles to serve expenditures of funds on already troubled budget.But Mr Chanda how about the rights of individuals who felt victimized and arrested for nothing and the inconveniences they passed through.The court determines the genuineness of the complaints, those that have no facts and doesn’t hold any water are thrown out.This is like the civil servants who lost jobs on victimization basis.They were asked to apply to the public service commission and we saw not all were readmitted in the public service.If what you are submitting is about just scheming to empower UPND members by the party then that is absolutely wrong.Otherwise we have seen situations where the Attorney General and erring public servant are sued together, meaning the public worker is sued as an individual for deliberately causing the inconveniences knowingly or by negligence.This was happening way before UPND came to power.This happened in MMD government.
It is unfortunatel the precedent has been set. We don’t dispute that many political opponents suffered at the hand of pf regime. It is not only UPND who suffered others went through pain as well. Dr M’membe, suffered, Kalaba also went through untold humiliation under PF. And many more parties and individuals went through pain.
And as Hon. Chanda has let’s not make it as if it has never happened before. In UNIP time many people were detained and suffered under the one party regime, the UPP members, trade unionist including FTJ, and many more but the compensation was not anything like this. By the way including grabbing of companies in the name of nationalisation eg EC milling and many more. Of all cases the one I remember is thst for Chiko Bwalya.
I’m not encouraging political brutality, but there’s one thing we should agree and accept Zambia was born in 1964, not 20110r so. We are slowly getting limited getting limited to political life of 2011 to date PF vs UPND and now UPND vs PF.
Zambia has been there before 2011, politically, economically, socially, let’s look at the general picture of Zambia.
ZAMBIA IS BIGGER THAN UPND OR PF.
We can’t get limited to PF UPND life or UPND PF life NO NO.
The courts have past cases of political brutality let them make refences and have fair judgements not emotional ones.