Pilato wrote:
DOING THE RIGHT THING
As we watch the new government continue to settle in, it is also important to remind them of certain hopes and expectations the people hold, beyond the promises made on the campaign trail. Much of the focus is on theft of public funds, fraud and corruption and as Zambians we should never relent on that but continue to demand our resources back and accountability of the new government at every step. However, there were a lot of wrongs done to Zambians by the PF regime beyond those things. A wrong done to a person living in some rural part of Zambia is still a wrong. That man or woman deprived of an opportunity or the child deprived of a life, all those are wrongs that should be corrected. Some we’re teachers, service men and women and even ordinary citizens. It is not every wrong that was as high profile as the attempted grabbing of Copperbelt Energy Corporation, the killing of the Post Newspaper and the shutting down of Prime TV. Others are low key but still very important because behind those action, there are people with names. Individuals and companies that suffered for merely being run properly or on the mere suspicion that the owner was President Hakainde Hichilema, when in fact not.
One would think a free functioning media is a prime tenet of democracy which should be protected, supported and invested in but what we saw under the PF was sponsored destruction of the media. It’s good to see that President Hichilema has particularly committed to correcting that.
A company like CEC holds a rich history, not for the history books but something Zambians have benefitted from for more than 60 years. A business upcoming Zambian entrepreneurs can learn from and aim to outdo. Anyone who has taken an interest in finding out about CEC knows that thousands of ordinary Zambians, including pensioners, continue to benefit from its success. Not only because they collect a dividend but also because CEC consistently pays taxes which every Zambian should benefit from as long as that money is not being stolen or going into the wrong hands and it also invests directly in its communities by supporting football, health, educational and environmental sustainability. As for the dividends, theZambian government is a large shareholder in that company so when an individual collects their small dividend cheque, the government has a much larger, fat cheque to cash. Who wins, ultimately? Zambians!
I’m here to remind the new government to let Zambians continue winning. To stand with us, the people, in making decisions and taking actions that don’t harm individuals and companies, communities and organizations whether small, big me regardless of where they are located. I like the policy direction being indicated so far and shall continue to watch and remind.
The Post couldn’t be saved. Prime TV was resurrected. I believe CEC can be prevented from further harm. When individual Zambians legally thrive, eventually Zambia will collectively thrive. Then, we will see less poverty and injustice.