The current narrative of discussing political opponents instead of facing the real challenges slowing our progress is a very cursory and superficial approach to addressing the critical need to eradicate poverty and disease in the nation.
Lusaka, April 21 – In a very embarrassing turn of events for the former ruling party, the UPND has grabbed Katilye Ward in Lupososhi Constituency of Northern Province by a huge margin, polling 1,081 against the Patriotic Front’s paltry 132 votes, pushing the PF fourth on the table behind the SP and CFP in the area that should be the PF home ground.
This, fortunately, will help the PF to avoid frivolous political debates ahead of its national conference to choose its next leader by reflecting on whether the influence the party should have in any region should be about any specific individuals or its composite message to sustainably attain the national agenda on poverty eradication.
This result should, once again, make it clear that rebranding the party should focus more on repackaging the original message and the face of the party than it should on the desire by any specific group of individuals to float a person of their choice to galvanise their political positions.
One can draw parallels with the MMD which has had an enthusiastic and charismatic leader, in Dr. Nevers Mumba, but void of its original message and face in the eyes of an average Zambian, rendering the party obsolete on the political stage whose agenda has long shifted from debating multiparty democracy to bringing food on the table.
With the confounding experience that the nation has gone through with President Hichilema, who vigorously promised to deliver the best single malt whisky, so smooth, connoisseurs and newcomers alike would delight in it, only to show up with a container of Kachasu which left Hon. Gary Nkombo with no other option but to pour it on the ground, promises will no longer be enough, going forward.
Also Read: Zambia is in a crisis – Chishala Kateka.
They say, once beaten, twice shy. The people of Zambia will now insist on leadership with a proven track record of public service that has harnessed enough experience to help the nation navigate through any unprecedented social, political and economic development challenges.
Slowly, people are realising that politics should not be a self preservation tool but a vehicle for development. “What practical solutions for an ordinary child in rural Zambia is the party bringing to the table?” is one question that will determine the future of the Patriotic Front.
I must admit that I admire the political philosophy that Hon. Dr. Chitalu Chilufya has so far exhibited, one of competing at the level of ideas, understanding that political opponents are a necessary variable to finding sustainable solutions to our various social economic development challenges.
“For those of us in politics, let us reflect on the substantive value of public service and come to an understanding that politics must not be a platform for perpetual acrimony, but a competition to serve,” he reiterated, urging fellow politicians not use politics as the currency of exchange for acrimony but a platform to serve people.
Also Read: Don’t throw away watermelon seeds – Dr. Chilufya.
Political opponents are entities that change all the time, shifting their positions as new pieces of information proving them wrong emerge, which just goes on to explain why politicians change political parties. In other words, the only constant about political opponents is change, as they seek to respond to the ever changing people’s aspirations.
So the current narrative of discussing political opponents instead of facing the real challenges slowing our progress is a very cursory and superficial approach to addressing the critical need to eradicate poverty and disease in the nation.
Isn’t it funny how we have not learnt anything from paying attention to career politicians who are ready to say anything we want to hear? The need for visionary leadership to drive a life changing political agenda to address our social economic development challenges should not be underestimated.
We need leaders who must put human well-being first and then design policies that support economic transformation and lead to equitable growth, which will ensure decent jobs, good service delivery, improved health, and other social economic services.
The Patriotic Front would not have lost to the UPND had it realised that it needed a new policy direction. Instead, Zambia was subjected to politics of self preservation where some peoole thought the Honeybee hoax would ensure that their source of personal sustenance, President Edgar Lungu, remained the PF president, which was the case. But what is the use of winning a battle but losing the war?
The 2026 leadership contest will, consequently, be about practical economic policy formulation that places Zambians at the centre of every economic development initiative and the Patriotic Front rebranding exercise must take this into serious consideration.
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