How will Sata be remembered?
Jubilee Centre May 18th, 2008
It is sad to be remembered for what one might have been. Mr. Michael Sata, the opposition leader of Patriotic Front, has tremendous potential. In the last six years there has not been an opposition party leader like him who has stood up and spoken out with such a spirited voice on behalf of the voiceless Zambians. As Mr. Mike Mulongoti, the government spokesperson confessed recently, Mr. Sata is a useful opposition leader. Mr. Sata has demonstrated great dedication in advocating for a free market democracy that does not concentrate starkly disproportionate wealth in the hands of a minority.
One other thorny issue Mr.Sata has been campaigning against has been that of evacuating sick senior government and prominent leaders at government cost for specialized treatment outside Zambia. Mr. Sata’s contention has been that the funds being used to send public figures to South Africa should instead be invested in equipping our hospitals with similar facilities as those being offered in South Africa. Mr. Sata’s campaign has won him admiration and mass political support among the poor urban Zambians who cannot access proper medical care.
Recently, Mr. Sata suffered a heart attack and was evacuated at government cost to South Africa for specialist treatment. The Post newspaper suggests that if Mr. Sata was not evacuated, he would have most likely passed on. The government must be commended for responding swiftly and for providing resources to enable Mr. Sata to be treated in South Africa. After being treated Mr. Sata has returned and is well.
Here are some questions for Mr. Sata: Is he still going to be a voice for many poor Zambians who have similar medical problems like he had but will never ever be evacuated to South Africa for specialized treatment? Is he going to be consistent with his campaign by refunding the money the government used for his medical needs so that it is used for the improvement of Kanyama Clinic? Is he aware that the funds that were used to evacuate him were paid for by the lowly paid teachers and nurses taxes?
Sata entered politics with a vision to spread the benefits of Zambia’s wealth to the majority poor Zambians. In the Bible we have a story of Samson who started life with tremendous potential and with powerful credentials to do a great work for God-to rescue Israel from the Philistines. To help accomplish God’s plan, he was given enormous strength. Samson’s failure was because he irresponsibly used the special gift God gave him for selfish purposes. Samson’s statement in Judges 15:11
tells the story of his life, I only paid them back for what they did to me. Because of his attitude, Samson neither strengthened his nation nor helped return his people to worship the true God. When all is done how will Sata be remembered? Will he be remembered for using the trust the Zambian people gave him to get his health and life back? Or will he be remembered for “putting more money into the pockets of Zambians?” Samson failed; however, at the end his life he recognized his dependence on God and was able to fulfill the purposes of God and today he is listed in the Hall of Fame in Hebrews 11. How will you be remembered?
Lawrence Temfwe
