By Hon Davies Mwila
The American civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr made a heartfelt plea:
“We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there ‘is’ such a thing as being too late. This is no time for apathy or complacency. This is a time for vigorous and positive action.”
I believe that Zambia is confronted with ‘the fierce urgency of now’, in which ‘apathy or complacency’ by any Zambian poses a serious danger to our democracy as well as to everything that defines the best of who we are as Zambians, including our values, our brotherhood, and sisterhood, our humanity, our nationhood. While the majority of us still profess and act in a manner that is consistent with our national creed of “One Zambia, One Nation” under God, there are some among us who make a living by driving a wedge between us along with tribal, regional, the opposition party and ruling party lines. These people who practice these politics forget the toxicity that their modus operandi bring to our politics, which in turn hamper poverty reduction and development efforts. These practitioners of toxic politics – who are still my brothers and sisters – forget or seem not to realize that we are Zambians first and foremost, and therefore, we must all focus on what is of benefit to all Zambians be they opposition, ruling or non-partisan, and regardless of tribe and region. It is with the above wider perspective, accompanied by a deep sense of the _‘fierce urgency of now’_, that we must work collectively as a people to move Zambia forward; first and foremost, by uprooting the ugly scourge of toxic politics, which hampers the achievement of unprecedented levels economic development anywhere in the world.
In view of the above, this deep sense of urgency should be focused and directed at addressing the faults lines which want to deeply engrave themselves in our body politic.
Chief among these faults is the unwelcome and dangerous indulgence in toxic politics by some politicians in Zambia. I brand them as ‘toxic politics’ because such politics are cancer that eats away societal values of humanity, unity, and solidarity; which in turn breeds apathy, instability, violence and hopelessness; and which ultimately breeds poverty and underdevelopment. As we know, poverty and politics again start feeding those earlier symptoms, resulting in a ‘vicious circle’. This cannot and should not be our society and destiny. Zambia deserves better.
Therefore, as Zambians, partisan or non-partisan, we all have a shared responsibility to actively participate in completely uprooting the scourge of toxic politics in Zambia which is manifested through fake news; exalting regionalism and tribalism; being violently disagreeable; agitating polarization (zero bipartisanship) and deliberately choosing to be blind to any good done by Government, as well as an acute case of being unable to offer any credible alternative national development policies but instead, they have majored in “NO” to anything and everything no matter how good it is for the citizens such as roads, schools, airports, hospitals.
Definitely, this is toxic politics and there is nothing noble in them at all. As a Christian Nation, Scripture categorically commands to forsake ill-will, toxicity and indecency in everything we do include politics, when it says: “with goodwill (not ill-will) doing service (doing everything), as to the LORD, and not to men” (Ephesians 6:7).
We must remove toxicity in our body politic which is manifested through violent conduct and language, and vain endeavors to paint development (roads, hospitals, schools, etc.) as corruption or something bad.
Doing so will bring about development-oriented politics and give Zambians the development promised to them in the Vision 2030. This development which is being ‘black’ or something akin to evil is not development for the PF Party, it is development FOR all Zambians – partisan and non-partisan, young and old, and Zambians everywhere.
This fight and commitment to completely uproot the scourge of toxicity out of our body politic involves every Zambian at every level and in every place. This is because, this will accelerate the attainment of Zambia’s inclusive development as espoused in the 7NDP and Vision 2030; but also, this will enable all of us – partisan, non-partisan, civil society, investors – to “live peaceful and quiet lives”, to borrow from scripture (1 Timothy 2:2). This is one important aspect of sustainable development, an environment that ensures peace, stability, harmony, unity, collective effort, honesty, decency in the practice of our politics.
Zambia has to do this now; it cannot wait for tomorrow. For, Zambia is now facing the fact that ‘tomorrow is now today’.
In this sense, ‘patriotism’ in present-day Zambia has taken a far deeper meaning, which among other things, should mean that all Zambians should not act indifferently to toxicity in our body politic which manifests itself through falsehoods, tribalism, regionalism, violence speech and conduct, and an acute failure of offering credible policy alternatives or commendation to Government where it is due by some in the opposition. No patriotic Zambia should indulge in apathy or complacency by tolerating and feeding on fake news which labels development as corruption, or the toxicity of politics which points our people to the dangerous trappings of regionalism and tribalism.
Part of patriotism in today’s Zambia also means the citizen should understand the roles and responsibilities of leaders of political parties, and demand that from them. Part of patriotism should also mean the citizen remains aware that ‘leadership is not merely positional’, but more about ‘influence’. Therefore, the patriotic citizen ought to ask him/herself what norms, ideas, vision, behavior, worldview is a particular leader ‘influencing’ or ‘inspiring’ in our body politic? Is sh/e inspiring peace, stability, unity, collectiveness, and development?
A patriotic citizen must understand that a leader can positively influence, which I call ‘positive leadership’. Also, leaders can negatively influence, “negative leadership” also known us reactionary leadership and negative forces. Much of our current opposition find unanimity in the class of reactionary and negative forces; a gang of reactionary forces who, like Frantz Fanon said, belief in “using the people against the people” to achieve their selfish, narrow-minded goals. These opposition leaders who practice and bring toxicity in our body politic are those the Holy Scriptures describe as, “having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? (Mark 8:18)”. These opposition leaders have forgotten or turned a blind eye to the terrible outcomes of bringing toxicity in a body politic in any country, as it brings about stunted development, poverty, instability, violence and misery. But does toxicity care if this were to happen? Or, is this the outcome which toxicity of the larger part of Zambia’s opposition wishes upon the Zambian head? Preaching and practicing toxicity by the opposition is not punishing PF, it is punishing the decent Zambian father and mother, and the child.
Just as leaders have responsibilities, so does the ‘followers’. As patriotic citizens first and foremost, followers should look at what and who benefits Zambia as a whole – not their party, region or tribe. Zambia First and Only. For a follower; it starts with knowing and understanding his/her society and where his/her society is headed based on concrete programs clearly espoused in a Party Manifesto, which large opposition parties such as the UPND has not managed to put together until now. The follower as a patriotic citizen should seriously ask, if not by mere rhetoric, what guides the UPND’s agenda? How do they hope to “develop” Zambia without an articulate plan through a UPND Manifesto? How does their so-called “fix-it” plan lookout without a plan defined in a UPND Manifesto? Without saying much, it has been said that “failing to plan (a Manifesto), is planning to fail”. In this sense, UPND failing to put up a party manifesto means they are planning to fail Zambia! That is not the alternative any follower as a patriotic Zambia should support regardless of tribe or region!
Yet, these reactionary forces and toxic politicians would still dare trivialize the relevance of a Party Manifesto. But, this follower as a patriotic citizen must by right expect his/her opposition leader to bring about the best of who we are as a people – ‘One Zambia, One Nation, under God’. A society that does not glorify negative and reactionary forces and leaders. A society that collectively has no stomach for tribalism, regionalism, violence, hate speech and painting development as evil and corrupt. If the follower as a patriotic citizen finds that his/her opposition leader stubbornly continues to indulge in toxic politics of divisions, fake news and violence; then the follower has a responsibility to act against such negative opposition leaders and forces, and heed the Scriptural admonition and “leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14, NIV).
*When Development Is Called An Evil: The Destructive Effect of Toxic Politics and Intransigent Forces*
Although unconscionable, toxic opposition politicians and other intransigent forcers hope for and at times, actively campaign for, the entrenchment of poverty, misery, hopelessness, violence, tribalism and divisions in Zambia. These negative forces in opposition have an unconscionable narrow-minded goal to cause and/or hope for mass suffering and stalled development, then use that as stepping stones to attain their self-centered ambitions: power for the sake of power. This raises serious ethical questions because humanity demands that no human being should hope or work to see poverty, stalled development and divisions in society just to score cheap political points. It is this same power-hungry and a reactionary lot that has formed an unholy alliance to relentless a crusade of lies and antonyms, where development means underdevelopment, and good becomes bad. Such cannot be called an opposition especially if they consistently fail to offer any objective criticism by offering credible development policy alternatives. Yet, our opposition fails in this and instead start dealing in antonyms of calling development as underdevelopment, and progress as retrogressive. By so doing, Zambia’s opposition has succumbed to toxic politics, and failed to heed Jorge Luis Borges’ admonition that, “do not talk unless you can improve the silence”.
Blinded by their poverty of ambition which hopes to gain political mileage out of people’s suffering; these toxic opposition politicians – who are still my people – have a method behind this. It is said that there is always a method to the madness. And the method behind this madness by the opposition is their hope that by calling development as underdevelopment, and progress as bad; then the PF Government will surrender and stop implementing its Developmental Agenda as articulated in the 7NDP and Vision 2030. By hoping for misery and poverty, these toxic politicians forget that they are essentially branding themselves as missionaries and lords over misery and poverty – classic prophets of doom!
By labeling development as underdevelopment, and progress as corrupt and bad; these reactionary forces inadvertently make themselves the chief enemies of development and progress in Zambia – the enemies of progress!
To the above, the questions which must be asked are:
1. How should the ‘followers’ of these negative opposition leaders as well as the general public respond to this opposition-inspired toxicity in our body politic?
2. How should the ‘followers’ of these negative opposition leaders as well as the general public respond to this opposition-inspired campaign of antonyms to call development as underdevelopment, and progress as bad – all in the evil hope that PF Government will be discouraged to implement the Developmental Agenda espoused in the 7NDP and Vision 2030?
The followers of these negative opposition leaders and other reactionary forces must heed the Scriptural warning, and immediately _“leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit” (Matthew 15:14, NIV).
The Author is the Ruling Patriotic Front(PF) Secretary-General
You my friend are a bunch of the very toxic people you write about .In fact i don’t even believe you truly believe that’s an accurate representation of the opposition but yourselves .Toxic lot!!!
A mouthful. I cannot agree with you more, Mwila.
Now prepare for the assault from toxic deads.
Is there any thing like negative opposition leaders? So why would you tell cabinet ministers and PF members of parliament that they will go to prison if they don’t work hard to win the 2021 general elections if they are not criminals? Learn from Mugabe, Gaddafi, Omar al-Bashir’s … mistakes.
People who repeat themselves so many times are usually boring like this article. What is toxic is when your cadre shoots another in the head with a pistol and then you go ahead and label your opponents as toxic. It is you who is toxic who can’t admit it when you are wrong.
For you to repent, you have to first realise that you have sinned.
With these money-hungry politicians, violence will never end. We have politicians like Davis Mwila who cannot survive outside govt hence the violence.
Iweeee chikkala chobe, you have that dog Sunday Chanda in your bedroom, why don’t you start by discarding it?? That female imbwwa Mumbi Phiri also need to be thrown away. She is still in Kaoma, in same underwear for 3 days. What are those dirty PF things doing in Kaoma.
Then go state house and bundle that dog Kaizer, go throw it away.
Toxic PF
All what you have written should have been written by your wife, whom I respect.
Ba Davies, mwali abantu 10 years ago, I met you 3 years ago in Mansa, and you changed into a styupid hyena with a piece of PF bone in your mouth. People fear you in Mansa, I was shocked!!
One cannot help but wonder if PF officials are normal. They need to be taken to chainama.
Iweeee chickala chenu, you have that magot Sunday Chanda in your bedroom, why don’t you start by discarding it?? That female imbwwa Mumbi Phiri also need to be thrown away. She is still in Kaoma, in same underwear for 3 days. What are those dirty PF things doing in Kaoma.
Then go state house and bundle that imbwwa Kaizer, go throw it away.
Toxic PF
All what you have written should have been written by your wife, whom I respect.
Ba Davies, mwali abantu 10 years ago, I met you 3 years ago in Mansa, and you changed into a styupid hyena with a piece of PF bone in your mouth. People fear you in Mansa, I was shocked!!
Bauze boss. Party of fires. UNELECTABLES and Party of Tribal Union. “If HH were president, Zambia could have been like Germany in 10 years!” INCOMPOS Group 4s.
Just finish your term and go away. We don’t care where you end up after that, History matches on dead or alive but rest assured there is no space reserved for you in our pages of history. Thanks for ruining the economy clueless thugs.
Ba Chama who wrote this article for you???????????? The tone of the article and the real you is totally different………..Sorry to tell you that you are one who is a TOXIC………………..
@Musa…indeed I agree with you. Who wrote this article for this dull man. Could it be Sunday Chanda plagierism?
@PM: I think it is him. Although the english is good, the content is childish. It is just blaming opponents and playing holly. The childish and combative content proves it is him.
Six points indeed. Who wrote this article for you sir? Careful, we might ask you to read it aloud. Lol..
There is no way this article was written by Davis Mwila, I see Sunday Chanda in this article.
Iyee kanshi ba Mwila ba lishiba uku lemba! Na tola umu pamba.
The problem is with your Party and your govt which has paralyzed the Police and allowed Cadres to whirled GUNS in their political assemblies, a thing that has never happened in the passed govts. This all problem of criminality of Cadres can finish with one word from Edgar Lungu to deal with any unruly cadre regardless of being PF or UPND without mincing his words. Zambia is a peaceful nation the problem is with those in Power, How can you go as a civilian with a GUN to a political gathering? What is the JOB of Police. Shame on GOVT for failure to be impartial on these matters
Very true, indeed Kambwili is vulgar and and hyper but he is NOT a negative politician. And without any malice, I would like genuine UPND supporters to anwser this question: Is it UPND as a party that you support or is it the toxic HH? If its UPND as a party, on what basis? If its HH, there is everything wrong with you because clearly the man has managed to put you in captivity, in bondage. In fact, in the entire African history, its only UPND that has managed to keep someone at its party apex despite losing 5 important elections. The consequence of which, every person that has exercised their right to vote in the past dont even waste their time looking at his picture when voting next. Why waste your vote on the unelectable, bitter, hateful and a hypocrite?
To PF, its very simple, people…
……and to you malinso and other PF members…..
Is it lungu , who despite spending $17 billion on so called development , Zambia under him and pf has never seen the levels of tribal devisions , political violence, corruption and debt , is it lungu or the promise of money in your pockets after 3 months that you support ?????
contd
To Patriotic Front, PF, its very simple, people will evaluate you in 2021 based on WHAT you promised them in 2016 and NOT what someone has fabricated against you during your tenure of office. So, the game is for you to lose otherwise when you deliver as promised, believe you me, no matter what others say, you will continue in the driver’s seat. So just up your game and dont keep your eyes on steering wheel, hammer through development delivery of goods and services, period. And remember this, every time well spent on you tasks, means achieving your goals. As the rains approach, plan NOW and NOT later because its a game changer. Aim to bring the price of mealie meal to K45 next year, continue with infrastructure development crusade, empower Zambians in participating in all these and…
Where naimwee ba malinso ???
These are clueless thieves lead by lungu , where 48 mansions miraculessly built them selves ……
contd
As the rains approach, plan NOW and NOT later because its a game changer. Aim to bring the price of mealie meal to K45 next year, continue with infrastructure development crusade, empower Zambians in participating in all these and ensure Zambia does NOT ever experience the so called load-shedding ever again in its history.
Ati as the rains approach …….game changer ?????
Hehehehe
This is what happens when you have pompwes who support you.
Failour, corruption and mismangment of the country seem normal.
You are now relying on the rains for everything ?????… …..even after indebting us to some $17 billion ?????
Mwila it is PF and lungu who lead in toxic politics…….
What do you call banning HH from donating a gen set to a hospital in
What do you call banning UPND donating maize meal to needy citizens ??
What do you call banning HH the freedom to tour Kafue town recently ???
We all remember lusambo declearing kapushi as no go areas for CK and other opposition, we all remember lusambo and kapoyongo banning opposition leaders visiting a burnt market in CB
For a party in power having spent so much money on development , you are pathetic to be relying on violence to keep you in power…..
HAZALUZA HAGIAN, definitely!
Disarm your cadres then shut up and sit down
Give me government power, government coffers, term of five years and artificial intelligent to keep track of distribution of wealth and see if I will worry about opinions.
THE SG HON MWILA IS CORRECT THERE IS A LOT OF COMPUTATIONAL PROPAGANDA URGENTLY IN ZAMBIAN POLITICS AND IT WILL INCREASE TOWARDS 2021 UPND SECRETARIAT HAS BEEN TO BE THE HIGHEST SOURCE IN THOSE CYBER TROOPING STATEMENTS THAT MUST QUICKLY BE
ADDRESSED AND RESHAPE THE MINDS OF ZAMBIAN
WE HAVE SEEN THE SAD EFFECTS OF COMPUTATIONAL PROPAGANDA IN ELECTIONS AND TOWARDS ELECTIONS AND THE EFFECTS HAVE NOT BEEN GOOD FOR MANY OF THOSE PARTIES AND COUNTRIES
SO UPND AND OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES MUST BE MONITORED AGAINST ENGAGING IN CYBER TROOPING OR COMPUTATIONAL PROPAGANDA ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE 2021
THEN PRIVATE FIGHTS AMONG ST UPND AND PF CADRES OVER INFLUENCE AND LADIES MUST…
MUST BE TREATED IN THE MANNER THEY ARE AND NOT BE SEEN AS A FIGHT BETWEEN UPND PARTY AND PF RULING WE HAVE OBSERVED MOST OF IT IS BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL CADRES FIGHTING OVER USUAL LADIES AND NOT POLITICAL OPINIONS
MOST OF IT VERY PETTY AND EXHIBITS LEVELS OF UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT POLITICS SHOULD BE
You kaizer zulu he firing pistols in public and you left him. we are not going to hear anything from PF now. you failed us yours come 2021 kuya whether like it or note muka sebana.
Davies Mwila can’t write, although the drivel in the article suites he’s rhetoric, I don’t think he has the patience and intelligence to structure a paragraph.
Nice try Davies but we won’t be fooled(except Sharon) into thinking you have suddenly become smart.
Davies Mwila can’t write, although the drivel in the article suites he’s rhetoric, I don’t think he has the patience and intelligence to structure a paragraph.
Nice try Davies but we won’t be duped (except Sharon) into thinking you have suddenly become smart.
“we must work collectively as a people to move Zambia forward” Davies Mwila,2019
I agree. Ni Zambia Forward.
PF should be concerned with not having an eligible candidate to stand as President in 2021. Time is running out yet they still in lala land thinking the law supports their current dream candidate. The populus will have the last LOL.
Loving this quagmire.