Post by subsaharanite on Oct 1, 2011 23:35:26 GMT 3
September the 23rd 2011 became an important day to the 'snake kingdom' specially the Zambian venomous spitting king cobra, one Michael Sata conclusively took the big sit as a winner of a hotly contested presidential elections, thus figuratively ushering in the reign of the King cobra. For a man who was once a Police officer in the Zambian force and a London railway platform sweeper, victory did not come on a silver platter. Born 74 years ago, he has been involved in politics for over 45 years, having served the Zambian public in different political levels, more specially as one of the longest-serving ministers. His quest for the 'King' post started 10 years ago after his frustrations on the nomination of Levy Mwanawasa as the 2001 presidential candidate for movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) party by the then outgoing Zambian Leader, Fredric Chiluba. He quit the party and formed the Patriotic Front (PF) in which he challenged Mwanawasa but lost miserably. He suffered yet another defeat in 2006 at the hands of his nemesis Rupiah Banda. The cobra slithered on to fight another day as evidenced by his recent triumph.
For a man who was once appointed to a portfolio-less ministry just because Chiluba wanted him to increase his influence within the then ruling MMD party, he has been described as a blustering, self-confident, politically cunning and forceful in character albeit lack of strategic thinking. While then, he his said to have had a following of thugs that controlled various public transport quarters. He could use these extortionists to bludgeon high-profile politicians who were against the then leader Fredric Chiluba. This 'populist poppycock', is known to take radical and sometimes ill-advised and decisions that more often than not cost him politically. In 2007, he excommunicated half of his party's parliamentarians over disagreements on the National Constitutional Conference.
He once promised to nationalize foreign owned companies and he is an ardent supporter of Mugabe and his land grabbing policies that have seen white Zimbabwean farmers lose their land. He particularly harbors a long-standing grudge against the ever influential Chinese presence in the Zambian economy more so their interests in mineral exploitation. He has however retracted from this stance notably for political reasons. He is remembered for being the principal force behind the Zambian constitutional amendment in the 1990's that saw former President Fredric Chiluba ran for presidency for a third term. He his believed to have done this in the hope of obtaining a political favor and support from the former, perhaps he expected Chiluba to endorse him as the party leader for MMD in the ensuing elections that could have most likely resulted in him becoming the next Zambian leader. As it came to pass though, Chiluba instead chose Mwanawasa has his successor.
Sata's, supporting cast is largely composed of experienced politicians who have weathered through the political dynamics in Zambia over the last four decades. These seemingly cunning politicians are willing to overlook Sata's, shortcomings for their own political survival. It remains to be seen whether the spitting cobra will reward these supporters with plum ministerial positions within his government. It is believed that he has received funding from Taiwanese donors, ostensibly for his anti-Chinese stand. The embattled Zimbabwean president is also thought to be one of his bankrollers as well as some corrupt Indian bank owner. Sata's age will most likely influence his choice of ministers; he is likely to select his age mates or those he deems ready to articulate his often not so brilliant political agendas. It is expected that young leaders will not be part of this team.
The reign of the King cobra might have started and we are already seeing its effects. First, the Zambian Kwacha lost ground against major currencies as foreign investors, particularly the Chinese and the Indians, fear lose of their already existing interests in Zambia following Sata's earlier statements. Everyone his taking a wait and see attitude. The venomous Cobra has already stroke its first political victim -Lusaka Province's MMD chairperson William Banda. The latter has been arrested over corruption related charges but it is clear that this one of the cobra's pollitical vendetta against the former regime. His predecessor Rupiah Banda, has expressed fears of his arrest. It is widely expected that Sata will arrest several members of MMD. The cobra's tongue has already spitted out a myriad commissions that will investigate corruption allegations that would most likely be used to convict his adversaries, more so in the outgoing government. His venom has spread to the Zambian central bank, firing its head who is widely touted for his monetary policies that saw stability and growth of the Zambian economy.
Sata's win largely aided by votes from young Zambians within the urban areas as well as poor country dwellers within the copper mining regions did not come that easy. He promised sweeping reforms that include raise in the minimum wage, jobs for the unemployment, distribution of 'Zambian wealth' justice and a corruption free regime. For a man known to be pragmatic owing to his down to earth and practical approach in execution, it is expected that he will quickly institute several directives that would appear to fulfill his promises. His vendetta with his political nemesis may also act as a derailment to the execution of his agenda. It is however expected that he will soon realize that meeting the electorate's demand will not be easy.
For a man who owes so much to the Zambian electorate that hold him as hope to a better future, it remains to be seen whether his actions will match his venomous tongue. He clearly has a gargantuan task before him. He obviously has no time considering his predecessor was only given five years. Sata might have metamorphosed from being an old, spent force within the past regimes into people's champion, but clearly, it wont take long before the real serpent brings forth its ugly head. His checkered past leaves many to wonder what to expect from a man who has been in the government for such a long time. Previous regimes may have tempered with the Zambian republic, but its my believe that if the King cobra decides to dance to the vendetta tune, he may have no time for improving the lives of the Zambian people. He should desist from posing for retaliatory sideshows. Rupiah and Chiluba are now in the past Zambians know what they stood for, lets see what a cobra can do otherwise come 2016, the public will force him to swallow his own venom.
For a man who was once appointed to a portfolio-less ministry just because Chiluba wanted him to increase his influence within the then ruling MMD party, he has been described as a blustering, self-confident, politically cunning and forceful in character albeit lack of strategic thinking. While then, he his said to have had a following of thugs that controlled various public transport quarters. He could use these extortionists to bludgeon high-profile politicians who were against the then leader Fredric Chiluba. This 'populist poppycock', is known to take radical and sometimes ill-advised and decisions that more often than not cost him politically. In 2007, he excommunicated half of his party's parliamentarians over disagreements on the National Constitutional Conference.
He once promised to nationalize foreign owned companies and he is an ardent supporter of Mugabe and his land grabbing policies that have seen white Zimbabwean farmers lose their land. He particularly harbors a long-standing grudge against the ever influential Chinese presence in the Zambian economy more so their interests in mineral exploitation. He has however retracted from this stance notably for political reasons. He is remembered for being the principal force behind the Zambian constitutional amendment in the 1990's that saw former President Fredric Chiluba ran for presidency for a third term. He his believed to have done this in the hope of obtaining a political favor and support from the former, perhaps he expected Chiluba to endorse him as the party leader for MMD in the ensuing elections that could have most likely resulted in him becoming the next Zambian leader. As it came to pass though, Chiluba instead chose Mwanawasa has his successor.
Sata's, supporting cast is largely composed of experienced politicians who have weathered through the political dynamics in Zambia over the last four decades. These seemingly cunning politicians are willing to overlook Sata's, shortcomings for their own political survival. It remains to be seen whether the spitting cobra will reward these supporters with plum ministerial positions within his government. It is believed that he has received funding from Taiwanese donors, ostensibly for his anti-Chinese stand. The embattled Zimbabwean president is also thought to be one of his bankrollers as well as some corrupt Indian bank owner. Sata's age will most likely influence his choice of ministers; he is likely to select his age mates or those he deems ready to articulate his often not so brilliant political agendas. It is expected that young leaders will not be part of this team.
The reign of the King cobra might have started and we are already seeing its effects. First, the Zambian Kwacha lost ground against major currencies as foreign investors, particularly the Chinese and the Indians, fear lose of their already existing interests in Zambia following Sata's earlier statements. Everyone his taking a wait and see attitude. The venomous Cobra has already stroke its first political victim -Lusaka Province's MMD chairperson William Banda. The latter has been arrested over corruption related charges but it is clear that this one of the cobra's pollitical vendetta against the former regime. His predecessor Rupiah Banda, has expressed fears of his arrest. It is widely expected that Sata will arrest several members of MMD. The cobra's tongue has already spitted out a myriad commissions that will investigate corruption allegations that would most likely be used to convict his adversaries, more so in the outgoing government. His venom has spread to the Zambian central bank, firing its head who is widely touted for his monetary policies that saw stability and growth of the Zambian economy.
Sata's win largely aided by votes from young Zambians within the urban areas as well as poor country dwellers within the copper mining regions did not come that easy. He promised sweeping reforms that include raise in the minimum wage, jobs for the unemployment, distribution of 'Zambian wealth' justice and a corruption free regime. For a man known to be pragmatic owing to his down to earth and practical approach in execution, it is expected that he will quickly institute several directives that would appear to fulfill his promises. His vendetta with his political nemesis may also act as a derailment to the execution of his agenda. It is however expected that he will soon realize that meeting the electorate's demand will not be easy.
For a man who owes so much to the Zambian electorate that hold him as hope to a better future, it remains to be seen whether his actions will match his venomous tongue. He clearly has a gargantuan task before him. He obviously has no time considering his predecessor was only given five years. Sata might have metamorphosed from being an old, spent force within the past regimes into people's champion, but clearly, it wont take long before the real serpent brings forth its ugly head. His checkered past leaves many to wonder what to expect from a man who has been in the government for such a long time. Previous regimes may have tempered with the Zambian republic, but its my believe that if the King cobra decides to dance to the vendetta tune, he may have no time for improving the lives of the Zambian people. He should desist from posing for retaliatory sideshows. Rupiah and Chiluba are now in the past Zambians know what they stood for, lets see what a cobra can do otherwise come 2016, the public will force him to swallow his own venom.