By Henry Kyambalesa
In Zambia, it is not uncommon for a political party that is in power to engage in stale and rehearsed political campaigns designed to secure another term of office. Currently, such a political party is the Patriotic Front (PF). Among other things, the party and its leaders have started, or are likely to start, making the following claims:
First, that voters should not experiment with leadership. Unfortunately, some of the current crop of government leaders are deadwood and, therefore, do not hold the key to Zambia’s future. Besides, nobody is born a leader.
In other words, elements of leadership are not born out of the innate or spontaneous attributes of human nature because, as studies of child precocity and personality development have concluded, all human beings are born with a blank slate of mind—a mind that is devoid of the concepts or constructs that reflect the values, attitudes and behaviours we all tend to ultimately exhibit.
Moreover, of what use is a political party that has failed to address the socioeconomic problems and crises facing our country and its people after having been in power for 10 uninterrupted years—problems and crises which include high levels of poverty and inequality, declining gross domestic product (GDP), unsustainable levels of externally secured debts, and worsening corruption ranking by Transparency International (TI), among numerous other socioeconomic problems and crises?
So, rather than make socioeconomic conditions in the country better than they found them, PF officials have instead made them worse. Unfortunately, some of our fellow citizens will parade themselves on August 12, 2021 to reward such officials and their political party with another term of office without even thinking about the socioeconomic hardships they have endured over the last 10 years—hardships which will continue to haunt them over the next 5 years if the ruling political party is granted another term of office.
Second, that they need more time to complete ongoing development projects and programmes. However, the people expect that any new Republican president would be obliged to adopt and implement projects and programmes initiated by previous administrations which are designed to benefit communities nationwide. And this is the way the government has been administered in Zambia thus far, and it is the only way in which all democratic countries worldwide are administered as a matter of fact!
Besides, there is a need to acknowledge the fact that most of the ongoing development projects and programmes at any given time were started before the ruling political party assumed the instruments of power, and are partly or wholly financed by multilateral institutions, and/or bilateral cooperating partners like Canada (CIDA), China, Denmark (DANIDA), France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Japan (JICA), The Netherlands, Norway, Sweden (SIDA), the United Kingdom (DFID / FCDO), and the USA (USAID).
Third, that voters should not vote for presidential candidates from political parties which do not have a majority in Parliament because they will not be able to pass new laws. Well, any new Republican president should be able to run the country with existing laws, even enact some essential pieces of legislation which are likely to garner the support of the majority of Members of Parliament.
Fourth, that voters should not vote for presidential candidates from political parties which do not have a majority in Parliament because such candidates will have problems in the appointment of government Ministers, since the Republican Constitution (Amendment) of 2016 requires that such Ministers be appointed from elected Members of Parliament.
Well, a president-elect who wishes to trim the current bloated government to fewer Cabinet-level portfolios would not be encumbered by this; he or she would nominate 8 deserving citizens to Parliament and appoint them as government Ministers, and then figure out how to fill any remaining Cabinet-level portfolios—possibly by “poaching” a few MPs from other political parties.
With respect to Provincial Ministers, we need to provide for the administration of provinces by elected governors rather than by Provincial Ministers.
Fifth, that voters should vote for Parliamentary candidates fielded by the ruling political party because such candidates will have ready access to funding. Well, all MPs have access to Constituency Development Funds regardless of the political parties they belong to, and any additional funds allocated exclusively to ruling party MPs are not likely to be lawful.
Sixth, that voters should not expect development to take place in their areas if they vote for candidates from opposition political parties. Really? We need leaders who recognise citizens’ right to vote for candidates of their choice without being threatened that their communities will be excluded from the development process if they do not vote for candidates fielded by the ruling political party.
After all, elected political leaders are given the mandate by voters to be in government with the expectation that they would serve all citizens irrespective of their political views, political affiliations, ethnic extraction, religious convictions, and/or who or which political party or alliance they decide to vote for.
Seventh, that one can never become president unless he or she is meant to be. No, in a democratic country like Zambia, an individual can become president through genuine and competitive elections. Only in pseudo democracies and totalitarian states would a citizen become president if he or she is meant to be—that is, through coronation! And
Eighth, that Vision 2030 will bring salvation to Zambia. I doubt it. Such a Vision is going to be a mere dream and an empty political campaign tool if we cannot elect new political players who will immediately and seriously start to address such issues as education and training, public health and sanitation, sustained food security, public infrastructure, decent public housing, corruption and other forms of criminal activity, and meaningful development in rural areas, et cetera.
By the way, sound long-term planning—including Vision 2030—is essential to our country’s future, and to the wellbeing of future generations. However, such planning should be balanced with the needs of our generation because in the long run, to paraphrase economist John Maynard Keynes, we are all going to be dead!
In fact, the “long run” can turn out to be a very, very long time indeed! For this reason, there is a need to elect political leaders who have devised a practical schedule for implementing some of their short-term and medium-term policies, projects and programmes to strike a balance between our needs and expectations, and the needs and expectations of future generations.
Apparently, the Patriotic Front—the ruling political party—and the party’s officials have not even stated their short-term and medium-term policies, projects and programmes. And they have not provided a schedule for implementing any of their contemplated policies, projects and programmes.
I understand that the UPND Alliance Media Team will soon make available a schedule for implementing some of the Alliance’s contemplated short-term and medium-term policies, projects and programmes.
I challenge other political parties which are going to field candidates in the forthcoming elections to do the same so that we can examine the viability and practicability of what they intend to do to improve the livelihoods of the common people if they are given the mandate to form government.
In passing, I wish to extend a brotherly piece of advice to President Edgar C. Lungu to publicly denounce statements by some PF wayward stalwart(s) that Muchinga Province is his “bedroom,” and that they “are always ready to take care of the bedroom, to even kill the cockroaches as well as the rats that enter [the] … bedroom.”
Our country is a unitary State; any member of the Zambian family, therefore, is free to visit, live, work, and/or canvass for votes anywhere within its boundaries—including Muchinga Province. The late Mr. Michael C. Sata, former Republican president, did not demarcate Northern Province to create Muchinga Province as a “bedroom” for any individual or political party.
I stopped taking this Kambyalesa guy seriously when he thought our Kaizar Zulu here is the real one. Go to hell with your Under 5, akapitilila nafuti.
In Zambia, it is not uncommon for a political party that has lost over 4 elections to engage the services of an ugly man to write dishonest propaganda articles.
As for kawasaki above, you are naively ignorant. To you its unbelievable that I can be blogging here when social media is the future of politics. Because I was a vpn with a UK IP address to protect my security, you take it I am not real. There is a lot of ignorance here. You and this ugly author of this useless article are alike in many ways. You are both ignorant
You should try your best not to take anything trolls say seriously. No matter how poorly they behave, remember these people spend countless unproductive hours trying to make people mad. They’re not worth your time of the day.
The PF didn’t compose the song ” mu Bemba ngu satana” that’s widely played in UPND strongholds, or should I say in Tonga speaking communities. Jack Mwiimbu has been an MP for Monze Central for 20yrs now, what’s there to show? The only Bill he supports in Parliament is one that seeks to increase salaries and allowances. By the way, as Chief Whip he receives perks equivalent to that of a Cabinet Minister. When it comes to dirty campaigns the UPND are more guilty, no wonder they don’t take journalists with them when they go into Southern province villages. The UPND tactic is to cause misery so that people can rise against govt, but they’ve failed because Zambians are more smart. You can write as much as you wish but facts remain the same, Hichilema will lose the 6th time
Tell us why some people were beaten in Southern Province because they did not vote for UPND? Is that not a sign to say Southern Province is UPND bedroom. Stop behaving like you are better than any other party.
Look at your face, it says alot about your support and let each and everyone decide which is they are bedroom.
You will definitely see what are results and the pattern of voting.
Who is going to win when it comes to tribal voting.
Go and tell Tonga’s to vote for PF before you come and talk bedroom.
No shame in losing rigged elections. Even these upcoming rigged elections could be lost. Stupidity is stealing something you have no use for. PF rigs elections just to destroy a country. Shame on you! You mueller people, promote tribalism, steal public funds, and all the bad things!
Very well reasoned Dr Kyambalesa. The points are on cue. Sadly, our people are not so clever as Simon Mwewa said recently. That is why Zambia is fertile ground to ‘men of gold’ conmen. Many of them have direct access to State House where they give false prophecies about one man as being ‘the divinely chosen one.’ If God appoints leaders why don’t we just gather in churches and pray and fast for 40 days until we see the rod of the anointed one bud with flowers, instead of voting! It is sad to see cheating and rigging being attributed to God! What blasphemy!
He is s Kongolese nganga.Deport him to kissngani
According to the UPND supporters, 2006 the PF rigged, 2008 the PF rigged, 2011 the PF rigged, 2015 the PF rigged, 2016 the PF rigged and 2021 the PF will rig. Let’s all clap for the PF!.
We made mistakes to make HH president in next 40 days.I
us in diaspora will lose money, the kwacha will be strong, so we will lose on our dollar.
Let useless PF continue so we continue benefiting.
Henry, you are at sea when it comes to political thought and urgument. Stick to your academic field. Don’t be an armchair footballer. Leave Trumpland and come and square off with real Zambians or Congolese people.
PF is a better party today. They have have shown that they will never sale our resources for a song like MMD did. They have increased power generation and soon Zambia will be exporting power, Through cassava-oil projects-like PF is both putting more money in your pockets and saving $. We do not want HH because he is no different from Chiluba, Mwanawasa and Banda. PF is relating well with neighbouring countries in terms of infrastructure development. We need Zambians and our resources to develop Zambia. Henry Kyambalesa, HH is no good for yourself, your children and grand children.
Kyambalesa miscalculating as usual. Read the situation correctly and choose with sound analysis and choose the winning side.
CANCEL THE ELECTIONS…… TOO MUCH VIOLENCE …TOO MUCH COVID
Bwana KZ, human beings can best be described as being “different” or “unique” in terms of their facial features, heights, weights, skin colour, and so forth. The concepts of “beauty,” “handsomeness” and “ugliness” are consciously or otherwise adopted by each and every individual from the enduring and shared views and perceptions of members of a society in which he or she is raised—in Zambia, China, Japan, India, Peru, Saudi Arabia, and elsewhere. Therefore, it is more appropriate and realistic to describe ourselves in the following ways: “I am different,” or “I am unique” or “there is no other person in the entire world who is exactly like me.”
It is easy to attach adages applied with bias of one using them only to justify the unjustifiable! Think of “The devil you know is better than the angel you do not know” so its okay to keep suffering punishment under the devil than try to know the angel! “The new broom will sweep cleaner but the old broom knows all the corners of the house” then what good is knowing all the crevices and corners when the house will get dirtier as dust will accumulate for the old broom’s bristles are spent and misses the dirt! “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.” of course there is resistance to new ideas for the changing times by an older generation wallowing in the glories of the past! To get the kind of guard dog one would want to have is to rid the old dog and get a puppy to raise under…
“Kaizar Zulu,” you keep repeating and hallucinating about the number of times HH has not succeeded in scooping the presidency like a 5-year-old. Our brother the late Michael Sata lost to Mwanawasa and Banda before he ultimately won against Banda. And all over the world, there are numerous examples of contenders to the presidency of their countries who lost a number of times before they ultimately won. You are under no obligation to respond with trash to any of the articles that appear online, or are you? So, you think you are contributing meaningfully to the debate at hand by citing the number of times someone has lost to someone else? Give us a break!
I have seen first hand the mood of the people on the Copperbelt. They want change and they want it like yesterday. Anyone in PF attire is actually getting ridiculed on the sideline.
Sata, eventually won because his song was clear and understandable. It had nothing to do with a wind of change like in the case of Chiluba. HH has no song. All he has is a strong Southern Province vote and nothing else. LAZ, ECZ please do not ban me. I am just honest.
….”how to fill any remaining Cabinet-level portfolios—possibly by “poaching” a few MPs from other political parties”.
Did I hear Kyambalesa talk about UPND getting PF MPs?? Are they not against PF poaching?
We don’t have have UPND ministers because it is a sin to accept a ministerial position. Laughable indeed.
@Mercury
There is never a time in Zambia that the elections were never rigged. There is every shame in losing and every time the UPND candidate goes for elections, he says it is his last attempt only to resurface when he loses: claiming sympathy votes, every time reality downs