The key pillars for national unity: President HH and former President ECL
By Allan Mulenga
ZAMBIA is at the crossroads that needs concerted efforts to redefine its political and national path. The desire for every well-meaning citizenry is to see a day when President HH & former President ECL will sit on the same table committing to sincere reconciliation, which reflects Zambia’s principles and values.
As a youth, privileged with the responsibility of contributing and commenting on the most topical issues in the country and outside, representing voices of fellow youth, such a moment shall re-ignite our sense of patriotism, love, and camaraderie.
This article, therefore prescribes the need for the current president, and the former to come to terms and initiate peace talks for the purposes of national unity and reconciliation, which shall enable prosperity far beyond the perceived.
As a country, we should all be proud of seeing mutual love existing among our political leaders despite differing at their styles of leadership and philosophies; the Almighty God has blessed us with. I dream of a Zambia that appreciates efforts regardless of political diversity; a Zambia that is development-driven as opposed to settling political scores; a Zambia, which realizes the need for practical and genuine dialogues in its approach towards solving problems; a Zambia, which prioritizes national interest before party’s agenda; inter alia.
Political diversity is inevitable; however, we should not allow ourselves to be divided for political reasons. We have liberated ourselves politically, and we should not allow domestic politics to divide us for the sake of political power. The youth in politics have an opportunity to learn from the experiences of those who have led before us, identified successes and failures – should give us the reason to ascertain the workable solutions to the goofs that have been committed in the past while appreciating fantastic scores.
People should not be using the failures of either the president to justify their hostility, there is a need to heal as a country and holistically commit to national reconciliation as opposed to what has been at play. Subjecting President HH or the former president ECL to insult for the purposes of satisfying one’s ego must be condemned; the presidency should be accorded some degree of respect.
The truth of the matter remains unchanged, no amount of hatred, insults or bitterness will erase the presidency of president HH, he is a legitimate leader, who was elected by the majority of Zambians – and we must all respect that regardless of political diversity.
The youth, and other people who parade themselves on social to disrespect the presidency should come to terms with reality and accorded the presidency the respect it deserves. We should not be proud of those speaking ill of leaders. Criticism is inevitable, however, there’s need to tailor our criticism in a way that appreciates diversity, and anchored on national values.
This does not suggest that leaders cannot be criticized; they should be criticized because that is the job they have chosen for themselves. However, the criticism has to be factual in its context for national building purposes.
Those in power may not look at things from the other side of the coin; therefore, with critical and holistic criticism they are exposed to other realities that needs concerted efforts. On the other hand, the same case applies to the former president ECL, despite losing power, and peacefully handing it over, we should never stoop low as a country and subject the former president to all sorts of insults.
These leaders need our support, and as a people, we have a role to play as regards reuniting the country. Political parties should be deliberate about a, language that does not reflect the principles and values of the country should not be used as a fundamental weapon to fight opponents.
Political fights have to be idea-based, as opposed to what has characterized our daily discourse. Politics should not be a field of people who have failed in other fields; it should be a noble profession for people of high caliber due to the service they are expected to offer to the country.
Shockingly, the opposite is the reality – I do not know if the reason as to why this is the case is that, the entry qualification into politics is low or else, however it is essential to underscore the need for credible and right people in the field.
