“True patriotism is standing by the Constitution, not a leader who disrespects it!” – Ibrahim Traoré.
Lusaka, Mar. 26 – We analyze issues not to appease those in power, but to safeguard the soul of our nation. President Hichilema is not a king, nor is he above the law – he is a public servant, answerable to the people. Respecting him out of fear is a betrayal of our democratic values.
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Respect is not a birthright of the presidency; it is earned through fidelity to the Constitution. Hichilema has instead trampled upon it, twisting its provisions to suit his political interests rather than upholding and defending it as he swore to do. In doing so, he has disrespected the very office he occupies, and as a nation, we are under no obligation to respect a leader who disrespects the Constitution.
True patriotism demands that we put the country before Hichilema. We owe him support only to the extent that he serves Zambia faithfully. And when he fails – when he prioritizes power over principle, self-interest over national interest – it is not just our right but our duty to withdraw any vestiges of respect.
The Constitution is supreme, not Hichilema or any future President. It is therefore unacceptable that public officials pledge allegiance to an individual rather than to the supreme law of the land. This flawed practice has emboldened Hichilema’s delusions of grandeur, making him believe he is greater than the very document that legitimizes his authority. But he is not. And until he learns to respect, uphold, and defend the Constitution, he does not deserve ours.
Also Read: Hichilema Breaches Constitution: LAZ Sues to Oust ‘Illegal’ Auditor General! Dr. Ron Mwambwa is 66 years old – well past the constitutional age limit of 60 for the Auditor General. Yet, in a move that defies both logic and legality, President Hichilema went ahead and appointed him anyway!
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