Every Zambian needs to know the truth, and now. Just what is the really identity of the man who holds Zambia's highest post?
Unless we resolve this mess now and forever, we are bound to make the mistake we made over President Kenneth Kaunda.
It's shameful and inexcusable for an entire nation not to have known that Kaunda did not renounce his Malawian citizenship until late into his 27-year reign. Of course, some people knew that but chose to keep quiet for their own selfish reasons.
This shameful history is bound to repeat itself if we are not honest with each other.
Just as Zambians are being asked to toughen themselves in the changing economic order, so must they be bold enough to confront the man who is at the helm of the country. Yes, every Zambia worth of his green national registration card, must be interested in knowing just who is Frederick Jacob Titus Chiluba.
For some people _ especially those that are living off crumbs from the government tables, _ it's not important whether Chiluba is Titus or Jacob.
What's in a name, some ask? Everything, especially if the name holder is the president.
Just ask President Chiluba's press secretary, Richard Sakala, who last year sent a formal letter to the media throughout the world advising them on the correct names of President Chiluba. He stressed that President Chiluba would like to be known as Frederick Jacob Titus Chiluba and not as Frederick Chiluba or Frederick Titus Chiluba or even Frederick Titus Jacob Chiluba but as FREDERICK JACOB TITUS CHILUBA.
So, it is shocking to learn that the National Registration Office which documents every Zambian, has the president's name as Frederick Jacob Chiluba.
Even on Internet, President Chiluba _ in another State House document _ categorically states that he is Frederick J T Chiluba born on April 30, 1943 in Wusakile Township in Kitwe to Daina Kaimba and Jacob Titus Chiluba Nkonde.
That's why when the Supreme Court considers the petition challenging President Chiluba re-election, the justices must go beyond just deciding whether the elections were fair or not. They must also go beyond deciding if Chiluba lied about his birthplace and heritage. The justices must ignore political pleasure and pressure to secure us a good foundation for Zambia's posterity.
True, whatever happens Kaunda and Chiluba will go in Zambia's history books as the the first and second presidents of the country but the justices owe it to Zambia to let us know if once again a foreigner holds Zambia's highest position.
We can't change history but we surely have the power to chart our future as a nation.