WHY ARE WE LAUGHING AT MUNDUBILE REGARDING HIS POSITION ON THE BOZ RESERVES?
By Chishala Kateka
I noted, with amusement, a News Diggers post which read “Mundubile dull, says Musokotwane, as netizens mock candidate over forex reserves “ignorance””.
Firstly, I really believe that my former classmate at UNZA, Musokotwane was misquoted and did not use the word “DULL” because, I know that he would not be dull enough to call someone else dull, he has always been a gentleman!!
Secondly, a nation/state comprises of many aspects, political, historic, economic, social, cultural, legal and governance. When you limit yourself to only one aspect, the economic, and disregard the others, you will create an imbalance. It is critical that as you make decisions relating to the nation, you take into account all other aspects as well. In order to have a balanced society, we should never ever just look at one aspect, of governing the nation.
It is that complex and fine balance of all the aspects that determines the perceived success or failure of any leadership. Putting too much stress on one aspect only, is what breeds discontent. Succeeding in one aspect alone, at the expense of other areas, can not be deemed to be seen as success.
This is what Brian Mundubile was saying. He is saying “You boast of having huge reserves or savings and yet your children in the house are starving, ill dressed and complaining!! You cannot, as a right-thinking parent, see your children malnourished and yet you have money in your bank account and go around boasting that you have saved $6 billion. Even though saving for future eventualities is important, you must meet your current obligations!!
Just pay those salaries ba GRZ!!! People have worked and deserve their just dues. There has to be a balance – whichever way you look at it.
26 June 2026/////
To think that you were his classmate ABSA Zambia Board Chair and utterly support such a sentiment shows how far you have fallen. First you actually sat down with a man who gave his family assets beyond his means. Now you support such non sense.
Madam…you can not say you can lead this nation period…
Speaking up for a man that has said criminals will be released when we are struggling cause they stole. Explain how Malanji aquired that Helicopter? Madam you now seem incorrigible…please sit down and keep quite. You have no idea how damaging your statement is to personally and the poor Zambian….
It is disappointing for Ms. Kateka to downplay the importance of reserves and essentially advocate for spending reserves on maybe subsidising fuel or mealie meal. At least that is what I can surmise from her argument.
It is not correct to say that the government is focusing on foreign reserves accumulation to the exclusion of seeking to lighten the cost of living burden. The social cash transfer for the vulnerable members of society has been substantially increased both in financial terms and number of beneficiaries. The government can only do so much. To expect the government to spend the reserves on subsidies is being shortsighted.
PF had that kind of approach to governance and the result is the economic mess we are in. In their final days, the treasury was empty and we could not get fuel or electricity on credit because our credit worthiness was zero. Subsidising the cost of living has short legs. Finally you will run out of money anyway unless the economy is doing so well that the the income is well ahead of the expenditure (subsidies).
Our biggest challenge is that we always seek the easy way out. Unfortunately, there is no easy way out of the economic mess PF put us in. We have to rebuild the economy one brick at a time.