By Gray Soko
It has become characteristic of Zambian politics that at election time there are defections mainly from the opposition to the ruling party seeking re election. Although some of these defections are stage managed to demoralize the opposition, it is also true that some people defect because they want to secure their wellbeing by aligning themselves with what they believe will be the party in power. The reverse is now happening with members of the former ruling party defecting to the PF.
The ruling party has in the past been accused of using public institutions such as FRA, ZRA, DEC and ACC to squeeze political opponents out of business. There have also been claims that perceived or actual political opponents were denied business contracts with government institutions. In this situation therefore some people chose to throw principles to the wind for survival by publicly denouncing parties they had fervently supported and joining the ruling party. Some leaders like BY ditched their parties and stood as parliamentary candidates on the ruling party ticket whilst others like Sakwiba Sikota subordinated their parties to support the ruling party.
Hardly a month after the PF won the elections, former die-hard opponents of the PF mainly from the MMD have wasted no time to denounce their parties and defect to the PF. In one case one such official has been challenged by his former MMD comrades to deny the fact that he has defected simply to run away from his problems with the FRA. Some of the defectors even claim their former parties have no vision for Zambia.
These defections call into question the morality of some of our political leaders. It is doubtful they are in politics for service to the people, rather, they are in politics for their personal ambitions. It would be better therefore if such defectors were not given so much attention but asked to quietly to prove their credibility to the people. There are “leaders” who are swinging from party to party like monkeys jumping from one fruit tree to another.
It is also important that public institutions that have previously been perceived as tools by the ruling elite to settle scores with political opponents are made professional and non-partisan. Indeed President Sata said as much when he swore in the new ACC boss. If these institutions become partisan, they create favourable conditions for corruption as they will be covering up the wrong doings of the ruling elite and in the process their own. One dramatic turn of events following the PF victory for example was NAPSA making a public demand for unpaid rentals and setting bailiffs on their MMD tenants. One is bound to ask what quid pro quos existed between the MMD government and NAPSA before the elections.
There should be nothing undignified being in opposition. If the opposition parties are truly based on sound principles and are there for the good of Zambia, there is no need for the spate of defections to the ruling party. Of course there can be genuine conversion to other ideals but what has been happening is more of opportunism. Those in opposition should also not spend their energies scheming “exhaustion strategies” to frustrate and wear down the ruling party but rather articulate the legitimate grievances and aspirations of the people so that together with the ruling party we have balanced development and negate conditions such as high poverty and unemployment levels which could create internal threat and instability.
Typical of Zambian politics.Thats why we dont develop.We still have the same old old politicians running the country with no new ideas at all.
‘Politics of the belly’ as George Mpombo would say!! Zambian politicians do not have that quality called ‘SHAME’ and will jump from ship to ship to satisfy their personal short term needs and wants. Remember Edward Mumbi? Watch this space and see what he will do next!
We the citizens and voters need to start rejecting people who clearly and openly show that they are into politics for their bellies only
are need to probe them . let not take zambian pipo for granted . plz zambia let us adviz PF accordingly , where they make a mistake w have to challenge them . we voted them for a period of 5 years not 90days in power, the concept of 90 days is not important for now but the question are they going to fufil their promises . REMEMBER , national issues are to be taken seriously and as long as there is political will things will move and benefit zambians unlike the way we started doing under MMD . May the soul of MMD rest in peace , All i can say its never too late for Sata to correct or reverse the appointment of questionable job for MWAMBA . SATA we know him and for sure he will deliver , jst give him time .
Well said could not have put it better myself, wish we had more people
Contributing sensible Points like yours. Good day
nice article mr Soko.
There is no molaity in Zambian politics. Its like a party in power is treated like a small god by bootlickers. There is a lot of bootlicking in Zambian polotics and this is not good for democracy. Just “overnight” those who were insulting PF when in opposition have now becoema darling of PF. Examples; Kavindele, Katele and many others who now have a soft spot towards PF for reasons we all know. Imagine if MMD had won the elections, will these lunatics continue being nice to PF?
Its a situation of sebana wikute. They have no principles what so over and have no pride. How can a normal person turn around and embrace the very person they insulted. We need decency in the politics of our Country not this rubbish
Crosstitution!
shame on them. they are power belly politicians. thats why can not develop
lets them defect if its the last thing they can do in this life
bamuselela kwakaba
Defection are common even among British politicians, some do it out
of principle, others do it out of greed so let’s not tar every politician
with the the same brush!
Let us give our govt the chance to work, truth be told PF being in
govt is going to make alot of ground and have the majority we need in the
House.MMD is dead and another opposition party needs to come up, the rest are baby parties
As some bloggers have pointed out above, it happens in other countries too. Nothing special. However, a strong opposition is required in Zambia to give checks and balances. Defections undermine the opposition.
stick to one party plz bane but zed is full of comedians, fools, *****s, stupid people, opportunists masquerading as principled individuals.
I really agree with Sokos’ analysis and the likes of Mwamba are shameless to accept a job from HE MCS who they called all sorts of name. Mwamba is a friend and at one time he said unpalatables about the current president and now he has lobbied for a job in exchange for what? This criminality has to come to a stop! People must have principles and avoid selling their souls for money. If Mwamba reports to the PS office in Northern Province without being harrassed I will be very disappointed! : (
great article. But the problem is not the individuals, its the ruling party. They are the ones that encourage this behavior.
We do not have ideological politicians in Zambia. When MMD came into power all the socialist-humanists like Sata himself joined the capitalist band wagon. Now that the MMD is out, they are all jumping out like cockroaches scumpering for cover when one switches on the light. No political party in Zambia stands on principles. Even UNIP, under Tilyenji Kaunda does not know what it stands for. In actual fact, the UNIP manifesto is now PF’s. Is there any wonder why KK is feeling smug?
the problem is not only the ruling party’s but he voters as well, people need to see this, we need a lot of civil education in our country,I like the way Zambians are waking up. if all the news media become objective like the post and helped to bring out these individuals, question their morality, if we had a ZNBC, which, would bring these people on TV phone in programmes, so people can tell them what we think of them, it would help.
That is the game we call politics.You have to survive.It will be very difficult to do business in the PF government if you belong to the opposition.So to survive get into the boat of ‘Morden Noah’ who used to smoke kaponda once upon a time.The opposition also needs spies.So you can join the PF as the opposition spy.We need more leakages.I learnt that from the King Cobra.That is how he survived upto the day he landed into State House and is making more mistakes(which we have to defend according to Winter Kabimba) from the shock of winning an election.DONT KUBEBA!!!!!!!!!!!
What a terribly biased nonsensical article whose purpose is to arouse the less intelligent. Some of us the elite shall restrain from commenting I am afraid.
Thanks
#3 Lundazi Dweller is absolutely correct that we the electorate should take a position and reject Politicians who defect for personal gain. It happens to often in Zambia to bear any credability. Anyone who defects within an election year- before or after should be viewed as such and rejected. Politicians are supposed to be folk of high integrity and moral principles and should be subject to higher standards of expectations. Zambians are generally taken for granted and indeed the electorate laugh along and make a story of it instead of questioning and rejecting such men and women.
Many Zambians opt to go into politics for the sake of easy deceptive way of earning money. Most are not morally principled. Even ba Sata and Guy Scott +the Kabimbas & Co are merely in the business of amassing wealth when the season favours their political crops.
chipimo we bembas are behind u and will never allow any non bemba speaking tribe to rule zambia.we are who decide who to be the presdent of zambia.we shall use all none bemba tribes to suport chipimo and give them small postion.it now very clear that we were born to rule
“Swinging from one fruit tree to another fruit tree ” like masebo, she’ll lose now 24 Nov. Useless thing!
number 23 you are truly a and f***cked up n a tribalist who told you that this country belong to bembas only the fact that we zambians gave cobra the presidency do not mean that bembas are the only ones who can rule us.shut up if you have nothing to write this shows that your mind is swallow and rooten
Quite a shallow article. Anyway, seeing the moral bankruptcy in politicians, the only way forward is to legislate that MPs should not switch parties the way they currently do as it is costly to tax payers. The elected position should belong to the party that sponsored the defecting MP, so that when he defects, the party can just replace him or her without by-elections. I hope the new constitution will contain such a line. Once defections at MPs level is made so economically unattractive, cadres at lower levels will be wiser, albeit free to defect. But certainly not at tax payer’s expense.
politics of poverty pa Zed…
Only a Bemba can be president in Zambia! what a country?