By Fr Frank Bwalya (EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – GIZ)
Get Involved Zambia (GIZ) wishes to add its voice to the current debate in Zambia regarding appointment of “party cadres” to public service or government positions.
Before we state our position, we wish to make it clear that our understating of a “party cadre” is that he or she is a fulltime and devoted member of a political party who spends a lot of personal time and even resources in organizing and campaigning for their political party. We think this is the original good meaning.
Unfortunately, the term “party cadre” acquired a very negative connotation under the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) regime. It came to be associated with violence, incompetence,corruption, abuse of authority, intolerance, human rights violation and partisan narrow mindedness, to mention but a few.
Given the original good meaning of the term “party cadre” it is our considered view as GIZ that there is nothing wrong about appointing party cadres to public service or government positions as long as they possess the required qualifications. Such party cadres should also have a record of competence and they should be committed to national goals that transcend narrow partisan interests.
However, we wish to categorically state that belonging to the ruling party in itself should not be a qualification and neither should it be a disqualification. As such, we see no problem with President Michael Sata appointing loyal party cadres who organized the Patriotic Front (PF) and campaigned for this once minority party under very hostile conditions.
It should be appreciated that these party cadres fully share in the vision and programmes of the PF as expressed in their party manifesto which is the basis for the social contract that the PF party has signed with Zambians that gave them the mandate to govern.
It is not true that the practice of appointing cadres doesn’t happen elsewhere in the world. The truth of the matter is that it happens everywhere including India, America, England and many other so-called advanced democracies.
We think that even those who are against this practice today would do the same if given a chance to form government.
Against this background, it is our considered view that we need to insist on qualification, competence, professionalism and patriotism.
However, we oppose appointment of party cadres to constitutional offices such as that of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and Solicitor General.
We also oppose appointing cadres to senior civil service positions such as that of Secretary to the Cabinet. Moreover,we believe that it is wrong to appoint party cadres to head vital state institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).
We are happy that President Michael Sata has not gone against this.
Finally, we urge Mr Sata to ensure that he embraces every principled Zambian who is ready to support his PF-led government. He should always conduct himself as a statesman and love everyone including those that want him to fail.
foolish PF cadre still cannot see that his party’s shelf life is fast approaching as people realise that they were short changed in voting for the bunch of failures who did not have a programme of action when voted into office
Balanced views.
thanx cadre bwalya
Spot on baShifwe!
Eerrh,Bwalya you & PF stand accused of the same.PF’s partisan political interests have led to a downgrade by Fitch,incompetence is making Sata reshuffle the cabinet every other month,intolerance and abuse of authority has led PF to unprecedented witch hunt and you have semi literate unqualified folks like Sata & co running the show.Tell him everything can’t be done “with immediate effect”,Oh,btw you need to be charged for animal cruelty for beheading a chicken.Now go take the big log of self righteousnes outta your eye first Mr Hypocrisy.Nuff said.
If not party cadres then who else. When you campaign you do that as a team. That team gives people the clue as to how the government would be coz its from those people that the president would choose who to work with. What is not allowed is belonging to a party only as a qualification. Father Bwalya has said it all and also the appointed people should strive to serve the nation not the party. Education and experience usually eradicate this in people’s mind.
“it clear that our understating of a “party cadre” is that he or she is a fulltime and devoted member of a political party who spends a lot of personal time and even resources in organizing and campaigning for their political party” We dnt nid these pipo cause the only thing they do is obey anything they are told by da party without thinkin 2wice about it!That z y they PF themselves were against putting them into any positions!Bt lookin @ th fact tht ths party find it had 2take advice frm any1,it is best that such type of pipo occupy these positions.
The so called downgrade is related to the repossession of Zamtel that was fradulently sold. Lets discuss more important things than the group that is corruption inclined.
fr frank bemba bwalya we dont need u to explain to us who a party cadre is what we need from you is to pray for the president and nation atlarge,shame on u,u father without a child hell is waiting 4 u anyway the devil has he’s own follower’s let someone who studied governance xplain to us what is meant by party cadre not you good for nothing gay father.
Father Bwalya who does not know who a party cadre is? Even your self you are a party cadre including your favored president Sata is a party cadre…what can you tell us, just get back to the pulpit or renounce and get married
Almost a good attempt to justify a wrong Fatherless Bwalya but contradictory and shallow
Imwe mwe Bantu, Fr. Father is merely expressing his knowledge and stand on the subject. Why not agree or disagree with maturity. Why comment parallel.
Shallow & too general. There are specific posts people are talking about. Why not address those directly. I have a lot of respect for Catholic priests but this is below par on sincererity. This is like noise from a drowning man hanging on to a reed.
faz bwalya i lykd u bt yo support 4 z rong hz med me hate u lyk hell.ur idid loosin yo intergrity.get back 2 jehova quickly coz ur headn to hell.
Judge the words, not the vessel. These are among the wisest sober words of this dispensation of Zed politics.
Excessive allegiance and loyalty to a political party causes problems. Better let your allegiance lie with the nation. Parties come and go but the nation is forever. Support your party, but don’t let your life come to an end just for a political party.
When you look at his facts separately, you could develop a picture of rationality, but put all his rhetoric together and the picture coming is that of a PF cadre justifying his expected share of the spoils.
Talking about digging a ditch, then digging it deeper hahahahahaha. He should have read the BIBLE: when you keep quiet even when foolish people perceive you to be wise. Father Bwalya heed our advice.
Yakunyokola Njala ..busy campaigning to MCS so that when you are given a Job, its justifiable, iam sure soon MCS will appoint this man.