By Oliver Chisenga
IT’S now becoming extremely difficult for many to ascribe the honourable title to Lumezi Independent member of parliament Munir Zulu, says Gregory Chifire.
He says Zulu is a very poorly raised boy.
Commenting on Zulu’s recent verbal insults on Kantanshi PF member of parliament Anthony Mumba, Chifire noted that it is not the first time Munir has been involved in verbal tirades.
In a leaked audio, Zulu showered unprintables, undressing Mumba without reservations.
“An honourable member of parliament must at all times exhibit honourable behaviour. The Bembas say that ubufumu bucindika ubwine. But Munir’s behaviour falls short of that,” Chifire said.
Chifire, a human rights activist, said Zulu must realise that he is no longer doing student politics at NIPA, but that he is now a member of parliament with a lot of people looking up to him, especially those in Lumezi where he comes from.
“He is now a national leader, a supposed role model to many. Munir needs to take it easy. Money is not everything. Respect for God and fellow human beings is important. Life is like a wheel that is rotating. It puts us at different positions at every given time in life. At one time, we can be on top of the wheel but there is no guarantee that we shall always be on top. Being a ‘big boy’ in society matters less. There have been bigger boys than him before, but never went out insulting others, Chifire counselled Zulu.
Chifire, the Southern African Network Against Corruption (SANAC) executive director, schooled Zulu that the secret of life belongs to God Almighty.
“I stand in awe to realise that after 58 years of independence we are still producing MPs that engage in such uncultured behaviour. If president [Kenneth] Kaunda’s generation of youths that got us independence behaved in the manner that we are seeing today in some of these youths who are holding leadership positions, certainly they could not have achieved what they achieved,” he said.
“Munir needs a serious introspection. He must realise that pride is a forerunner to a great fall. He needs to realise that his audience comprises citizens and non-citizens alike of varying age groups, professions, religions, exposure and other demographic orientations. He should know this better especially that he comes from a rural constituency where people are conservative. What he speaks in or outside parliament must be a reflection of the collective wishes of his constituents.”
Chifire wondered how many people Zulu is going to insult.
He added that Zulu is a poorly raised boy who missed out on the rich family values from the rural constituency he represents.
Chifire suggested that his family sits him down to teach family values of respecting elders among other things.
“All of us have been his victims. In no time he will realise that he had insulted everyone. We are even made to wonder about his upbringing. Surely his family needs to sit him down. He is sure a very poorly raised boy,” said Chifire.
“Where we come from we are taught family values of which respect for others, especially elders, is paramount. But Munir has no regard for anyone. We are beginning to wonder what sort of representation he is offering for the people of Lumezi.”