A government that silences protest doesn’t protect democracy – it protects itself from democracy.
Lusaka, Mar. 16 – Protesting in a democratic state is not just a right – it is the very heartbeat of democracy itself. When governments stray from their promises, when leaders forget that they serve the people and not the other way around, it is protest that shakes them from their slumber.
Also Read: Democracy Isn’t About Winning Elections – It’s About Letting People Shape Governance! True democracy goes beyond ballots and power struggles; it prioritizes serving the people through inclusive governance. When politics focuses on humanity and cooperation, it fulfills its purpose as a vehicle for national development, not partisan division.
It is through the power of protest that citizens remind those in power that democracy is not a spectator sport – it demands participation, resistance, and the courage to speak truth to power.
Nelson Mandela, a towering figure in the struggle for justice, once declared:
“It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that the son of a mineworker can become the head of the mine, that a child of farm workers can become the president of a great nation.”
While Mandela was speaking about education, the essence of his words rings true for protest as well. Protest is the education of the powerful – it teaches them the limits of their authority and the will of the people. Without it, governments grow arrogant, leaders become deaf to the cries of the oppressed, and democracy turns into mere decoration, a hollow shell of its true purpose.
Also Read: From Economic Crisis to Constitutional Circus: Hichilema’s Misplaced Priorities! Instead of fixing Zambia’s collapsing economy, President Hichilema is busy plotting constitutional gymnastics to safeguard his political future.
In a true democracy, protest is not a crime – it is a duty. It is the force that topples injustice, dismantles corruption, and ensures that those who wield power do so with the consent of the governed. Any government that fears protest does not fear disorder – it fears accountability. And any leader who suppresses dissent does not seek peace – they seek control.
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