Vote on conscience, not tribe or cash, voters advised
By Thandizo Banda
THE Catholic Church has advised Zambians to reject tribal politics, slogans and inducement in form of money to elect leaders ahead of the August 13 general elections.
The church urged voters to instead weigh character, integrity and commitment to the common good ahead of elections as they go to cast their ballots on August 13.
In a pastoral statement on choosing leaders in conscience, faith leaders the church said citizens should look beyond slogans, tribe or region, and beyond any inducement offered for their vote.
On point number 17, the statement appealed to the voters to examine the character and integrity a candidate had shown over years instead of merely in a campaign season and to prioritise a leader’s dedication to the common good of the whole nation rather than to self, family or faction.
The church said judgment should also be based on a candidate’s record on justice for the poor and vulnerable, including the unemployed, the indebted and those struggling with the rising cost of living, as well as their respect for the family, for human life and for freedom of worship and conscience.
It warned citizens to choose politicians with a record of fostering unity rather than exploiting tribal or regional division.
Basic competence to govern responsibly should be the guiding principle.
The message comes as political parties intensify campaigns with rallies, road shows, dangling Constituency Development Fund (CDF) and handouts across provinces.
In the statement, the Catholic Church noted that no candidate would be perfect, but where differences existed, conscience obliged voters to prefer the common good over bribe, personal gain, convenience, kinship or ethnicity.
Despite coming under attack from some players in the political space for its uncompromising positions on governance and human rights, the church has remained the voice of the voiceless.
