Friday 24 June 2016

Cameron's resignation, an example of true leadership!

By MacPherson Mukuka *In Lusaka*
British Prime Minister- David Cameron
Hours after over 17 Million (51.9%)UK citizens voted to leave the European Union against over 16 Million (48.1%)who voted to remain in a referendum, the country's Prime Minister has announced his resignation and called for fresh leadership.
Mr. Cameron has not resigned (Will officially step down in October) because he wanted, but because what he stood for before the referendum has not come to pass... that is true leadership.
In his brief speech in the aftermath of the referendum, Mr. Cameron noted that he was part of the process but the result has gone the opposite of what he wished for his country.
" The country has just taken part in a giant democratic exercise, perhaps the biggest in our history. Over 33 million people from England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar have all had their say. We should be proud of the fact that in these islands we trust the people for these big decisions.
"We not only have a parliamentary democracy, but on questions about the arrangements for how we've governed there are times when it is right to ask the people themselves and that is what we have done.
"The British people have voted to leave the European Union and their will must be respected.
"I want to thank everyone who took part in the campaign on my side of the argument, including all those who put aside party differences to speak in what they believe was the national interest and let me congratulate all those who took part in the Leave campaign for the spirited and passionate case that they made.
"The will of the British people is an instruction that must be delivered. It was not a decision that was taken lightly, not least because so many things were said by so many different organisations about the significance of this decision. So there can be no doubt about the result.
"Across the world people have been watching the choice that Britain has made. I would reassure those markets and investors that Britain's economy is fundamentally strong and I would also reassure Britons living in European countries and European citizens living here there will be no immediate changes in your circumstances.
"There will be no initial change in the way our people can travel, in the way our goods can move or the way our services can be sold.
"We must now prepare for a negotiation with the European Union. This will need to involve the full engagement of the Scottish, Welsh and Northern Ireland governments to ensure that the interests of all parts of our United Kingdom are protected and advanced. But above all this will require strong, determined and committed leadership.
"I'm very proud and very honoured to have been Prime Minister of this country for six years. I believe we've made great steps, with more people in work than ever before in our history, with reforms to welfare and education, increasing people's life chances, building a bigger and stronger society, keeping our promises to the poorest people in the world and enabling those who love each other to get married whatever their sexuality, but above all restoring Britain's economic strength. And I'm grateful to everyone who's helped to make that happen.
"I have also always believed that we have to confront big decisions, not duck them. That is why we delivered the first coalition government in 70 years, to bring our economy back from the brink. It's why we delivered a fair, legal and decisive referendum in Scotland. And it's why I made the pledge to renegotiate Britain's position in the European Union and to hold the referendum on our membership and have carried those things out.
"I fought this campaign in the only way I know how, which is to say directly and passionately what I think and feel - head, heart and soul.
"I held nothing back, I was absolutely clear about my belief that Britain is stronger, safer and better off inside the European Union and I made clear the referendum was about this and this alone - not the future of any single politician including myself.
"But the British people have made a very clear decision to take a different path and as such I think the country requires fresh leadership to take it in this direction.
"I will do everything I can as Prime Minister to steady the ship over the coming weeks and months but I do not think it would be right for me to try to be the captain that steers our country to its next destination.
"This is not a decision I've taken lightly but I do believe it's in the national interest to have a period of stability and then the new leadership required.
"There is no need for a precise timetable today but in my view we should aim to have a new prime minister in place by the start of the Conservative Party conference in October. Delivering stability will be important and I will continue in post as Prime Minister with my Cabinet for the next three months.
"The Cabinet will meet on Monday, the Governor of the Bank of England is making a statement about the steps that the Bank and the Treasury are taking to reassure financial markets. We will also continue taking forward the important legislation that we set before Parliament in the Queen's Speech.
"And I have spoken to Her Majesty the Queen this morning to advise her of the steps that I am taking.
"A negotiation with the European Union will need to begin under a new prime minister and I think it's right that this new prime minister takes the decision about when to trigger Article 50 and start the formal and legal process of leaving the EU. I will attend the European Council next week to explain the decision the British people have taken and my own decision.
"The British people have made a choice, that not only needs to be respected but those on the losing side of the argument - myself included - should help to make it work.
"Britain is a special country - we have so many great advantages - a parliamentary democracy where we resolve great issues about our future through peaceful debate, a great trading nation with our science and arts, our engineering and our creativity, respected the world over. And while we are not perfect I do believe we can be a model for the multi-racial, multi-faith democracy, that people can come and make a contribution and rise to the very highest that their talent allows."
"Although leaving Europe was not the path I recommended, I am the first to praise our incredible strengths. I said before that Britain can survive outside the European Union and indeed that we could find a way."
"Now the decision has been made to leave, we need to find the best way and I will do everything I can to help. I love this country and I feel honoured to have served it and I will do everything I can in future to help this great country succeed. Thank you very much."
"I love my country, and I will do anything to be part of its decisions and development, but this result is not what I expected." he said.
Now the UK Prime Minister has showed the world what a principled and morally upright leader needs to do in such instances.
Very few of the World's leaders can and will do what Mr. Cameron has done.
The Moral of his resignation and lesson to learn.
Never remain in office if you have failed to live by your promises or the things you wished to happen have gone the opposite way... it if not failure, It is called respect for oneself and the people you lead.
Narrowing it down to Africa, I think and believe our African leadership has much to learn from Mr. Cameron.
They need to know and learn that there is more to keeping your morals as than finishing a term of office under compromised circumstances.
We all know power is sweet... but where will be the sweetness of power if you command people who don't believe in you anymore.
What sort of leadership will you have if you have failed to accept that your ideas no longer conform to the will of the majority.
It is better to always leave in peace and live a peaceful life because of making a right decision than to be made to leave and be made to suffer for failing to make a right decision.
Pressure is free, take it of leave

Wednesday 22 June 2016

SORRY- MTN TELLS CUSTOMERS, ZICTA.

By MacPherson Mukuka in *Lusaka*


MTN HEAD OFFICE IN LUSAKA

ZICTA Director Technical Services Mofya Chisala (r) talking to MTN Zambia CEO Charles Molapisi (l)




MTN Zambia has apologised to its customers over the concerns arising from the Sim registration and validation exercise the service provider has been conducting.

MTN Chief Executive Officer CHARLES MOLAPISI says the service has taken with great concern the complaints customers have raised over continued receipt of messages from the service provider giving an ultimatum to have the sim cards registered despite customers have registered  their cards.

Speaking in a briefing when ZICTA inspectors led by Director Technical services MOFYA CHISALA paid an impromptu visit at MTN offices in Lusaka on Wednesday , Mr. MOLAPISI said it is not the intention of his organisation to inconvenience its customers.

Mr. MOLAPISI says he will ensure the organisation reduces on the number of messages it sends to its customers.

He has however indicated that the sim registration and validation exercise is remains a critical component of the organisation saying that it is the only way customer details will be clear.

He says all customers in the data base are registered but the company wants to ensure it has correct details for every customer.

And ZICTA Director Technical Services, MOFYA CHISALA has demanded that the mobile service provider works on its gaps in the sim registration process and avoid sending messages to customers unnecessarily.

Mr. CHISALA says the telecommunication regulator has decided to act by visiting the service provider after a public outcry over MTN's tendency of sending messages which have been termed as nuisance.

He has urged MTN to openly tell ZICTA any technical challenges the organisation is facing in order for the two parties to chat the way forward.

Friday 10 June 2016

Zambian wins WWF International President’s Award

 By MacPherson Mukuka *in Lusaka*
 
Zambian Brighton Kaoma receiving WWF International President's award from Yolanda Kakabadse
© Steve Felton / WWF

Zambian Brighton Kaoma won the 2016 WWF International President's Award for climate and youth empowerment work
© Steve Felton / WWF
 Zambian climate leader and youth empowerment advocate Brighton Kaoma has won this year’s WWF International President’s Award for his efforts to educate, and give a voice to, youth about the environment.

The award is the global conservation organization’s top accolade to recognize outstanding leadership in young conservationists from around the world.

Growing up in the heavily polluted mining community of Kitwe, Kaoma started running a weekly radio programme as a teenager to enlighten his community on pollution and how they can protect themselves from climate change.

In 2010, Kaoma became a Child Ambassador for his community with UNICEF’s Unite4Climate Zambia programme. His mandate was to train young people to train others in a ‘pay it forward’ concept on issues of climate change adaptation, mitigation and advocacy through community radio. Kaoma was also appointed Global Youth Ambassador with the Children’s Radio Foundation in June 2015.

“I am very proud and honoured to receive this award and it inspires me to continue working with children, teenagers and communities to address the social and environmental impacts of climate change,” said Brighton Kaoma. “I believe economic growth is not enough. We need inclusive and sustainable growth that prioritizes the most vulnerable and makes the protection of our planet a real priority. If you empower young people with a voice to speak about what matters to them, we will see a generation of change and ethical young leaders.”

Kaoma, now 22 years old, is studying Environmental Education at the University of Zambia and is a Cambridge University Alumni under the Leading Change programme.

He is also Co-founder and Executive Director of a youth-led non-profit radio and leadership organisation called Agents of Change Foundation in Zambia. This organisation has trained over 200 youth reporters who produce radio shows directed at their peers and the wider community. Agents of Change Foundation utilizes youth participation to tackle climate change and other community issues by giving young people leadership skills, the ability to network with each other, and access to opportunities.

“Brighton is a passionate and dedicated youth leader, a shining light, who engages young people in innovative ways, empowering them to take the lead in sustainable development at community, national and global levels," said Yolanda Kakabadse, President of WWF International. "The leadership of exceptional young people like Brighton has the power to transform communities and societies for the better. What Brighton has done is remarkable and his vision for the future is truly inspiring."

The 2016 WWF International President’s Award was presented in Livingstone, Zambia during the organisation's Annual Conference. The award acknowledges and encourages outstanding achievements of young people under the age of 30 who are making significant contributions to nature conservation. Nominations are invited annually via WWF offices around the world.

Source: WWF GLOBAL

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