Michael Sata at the Gates of re-entry into Earth

Sata arriving at the Airport far right Geoffrey Mwamba

By Dr. Munyonzwe Hamalengwa

Only Jesus Christ is said to have  arisen from death and come back to earth. He is said not to have stuck around too long to be seen by more people other than his closest allies.
Now imagine arguendo, rather for the sake of argument that Michael Sata reappeared at the Giant Gates of Re-entry into earth and stood there. This is not hard to imagine because both major camps in this political campaign are invoking the memories of Michael Sata and claiming that the other side has betrayed his vision. They both agree that Sata had a vision which now stands betrayed.

Lungu with Dr. Kaunda and Rupiah Banda at the Heroes Stadium

Sata would survey the two camps majestically. On the one hand, he would see President Edgar Lungu. He would approve. That was my choice. Then he would immediately see Rupiah Banda. Hadn’t that guy’s immunity been removed? Isn’t that the guy who tear-gassed me? Didn’t he unleash the POA on me and the PF? What is he doing there? Didn’t he lose the 2011 election? He has weaseled his way back to continue enjoying the fruits of state? What happened to the criminal and corruption charges facing him? If this isn’t betrayal I don’t know what is. You can’t lose an election and then continue to rule, not indirectly but directly like Rupiah Banda is doing.

The horror would continue registering on Sata ‘s face as he continues surveying the Lungu camp. There is Dr. Kaunda. That is okay. I brought him in though now people are saying one party state started creeping in as a result. People are saying the PF government is like one party state.

RB with Dora

But look there. Why on earth would Dora Siliya be there? Didn’t she insult me and thought I was a horrible person? No way. What is going on here? My God, isn’t that the former priest Frank Bwalya? Didn’t he insult me also? I know in politics there are no permanent enemies but permanent interests but this is too much. I mean this is beyond the pale. This is MMD government in power, a government that I caused to lose in 2011!

Sata would now dwell on the economic front before moving on to survey the other side and  making up his mind who to endorse. They finished some roads quite okay. But they haven’t finished or even started the bottom road from Chirundu to Livingstone. That was my centre piece to dispel the notion that I was tribal. Choma is almost the way I left it, no headway in finishing the reconstruction of a real provincial capital. What happened to the money that I had allocated? I am satisfied with the tremendous construction that has gone on in Muchinga, Luapula and Northern provinces but more could be done to alleviate the continuing suffocating poverty. The Mongu- Kalabo road whose blue print was started by the MMD is complete. That is great. There is no way they could have messed that one up.

But look. There is darkness. I never left any load shedding. Where did that come from? I hear that billions of kwacha has been lost by the business community as a result. There has been no dent in poverty levels since I left. I see some road networks here and there but poor people are hardly beneficiaries of these few roads. Shanty compounds and poverty therein continues to be an eyesore. Prices of everything have gone up. This has left no money in people’s pockets, the central plank that enabled me to secure victory. The constitution is half-done, that was never my plan. You either have a full constitution or no constitution at all. I am glad I was made to fire Wynter Kabimba.

Sata would now gaze at the other camp. Of course Hichilema would still be there. No surprise there.  I am not surprised GBM is there too. He resigned while I was president. He resigned on principle. But look who is also there.

HH welcomes Mulenga Sata while Dr Scott looks on

This is serious. Guy Scott was with me from the beginning. He has now jumped to this camp of this young man whom I used to quarrel with. Is this a fair exchange or replacement? Banda for Scott? My trust lieutenant! Oh, my son Mulenga Sata is even there too? What is going on there? Wherever  I was, my son was. I am getting alarmed with the PF.   I can’t believe it, even my nephew Miles Sampa is allied  with Hichilema.

HH greets Dr Kaseba while the two Vice presidents looks on

Now I am dying, even my wife Kaseba has endorsed Hichilema?  Whatever it is, that is not the political alignments that I left. Or expected. Something really paradigmatic shifting has  happened to the PF to cause this political tsunami! Is it continuing lack of no vision thing? The PF I left is no more! Who has inherited it I don’t know. What I know is, I am not sticking around here at these giants gates of reentry. I am outa here. To be continued.

Dr. Munyonzwe Hamalengwa teaches law at Zambian Open University.