Zambia Needs A Brand New Direction, Certainly Not The Archaic M'membe Or Edgar Lungu Paths!

M’membe and Lungu failed to run their institutions. We have to be a special kind of intelligent people to consider them in 2026.

By Mpandashalo Mwewa.

Lusaka, July 20 – For a country as wealthy as Zambia to be dependent on handouts, one must accept that there’s absolutely a failure of mindset! As Paul Kagame once said, we we need to mobilise the right mindsets, rather than more funding.

Also Read: Silence in the face of injustice is complicity! An examination of the Western response to the abduction of MP Hon. Emmanuel Jay Banda and the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi exposes a troubling pattern of apathy and complicity.

“After all, in Africa, we have everything we need, in real terms. And yet we remain mentally married to the idea that nothing can get moving, without external finance. We are even begging for things we already have!” – Paul Kagame.

At the time that Zambia needed new leadership in people like Dr. Chitalu Chilufya who are the true connoisseurs of policy development, we saw a self centred President Edgar Lungu concoct the Honeybee scandal. Who benefited from the useless political fiasco? It was the UPND!

I have always argued that what Zambia needs is a new home bred governance system that must prioritize development over politics of patronage. Honestly, what has Western multiparty democracy brought to Zambia apart from endless intra-party and interparty power transitions, resulting in inefficient governments and social chaos, because it prioritizes the immediate needs of the political elite over those of a nation united with a purpose to develop?

When I warned my followers about the dangers of voting for a political novice such as Hakainde Hichilema with no track record in public affairs management, my write-ups were described as being motivated by hatred.

But imagine a world where travellers would be the ones to employ pilots through a democratic vote. Planes would be flown NOT by the best qualified pilots but by anyone who offers the best campaign speeches such as:

▪️ If you vote for me, you will always fly first class.
▪️ If you vote for me, you will be served with the best meals and drinks of your choice.
▪️ If you vote for me, your family will be entitled to free tickets during the Christmas and Easter holidays.

Today, then, as Dr. Sishuwa Sishuwa’s article recently stated, let’s reflect on how haters can describe Hichilema’s performance when it comes to the bigger national issues, such as:
▪️ safeguarding our cherished democracy,
▪️ getting the best out of Zambia’s mineral wealth,
▪️ respecting the constitution and the rule of law,
▪️ fighting corruption beyond political rhetoric,
▪️ genuine promotion of national unity and equitable distribution of appointments to public service positions,
▪️ sorting out the cost-of-living crisis and the deplorable conditions of life for most Zambians!

Zambia must grasp the fundamental truth that the stewardship of the nation’s socio-economic development cannot be entrusted to just anyone. It is paradoxical that while professional bodies in Zambia enforce stringent academic qualifications, they remain under the questionable management of a flawed political system.

Zambia stands to gain invaluable insights from China, whose political framework is distinguished by a robust meritocracy. This system ensures that the Chinese government is helmed by well-educated and experienced officials, meticulously selected and advanced based on merit.

Over the past decades, this meritocracy has enabled a cohesive policy framework that systematically addresses complex socio-economic development challenges in China. Although not without flaws, this political system is finely tuned to the Chinese ethos. The Chinese political elite have judiciously absorbed lessons from the West, adapting and localizing Western ideas to suit their unique context.

Also Read: Zambia’s Multiparty Democracy: A Hollow Celebration, Exposed by Hichilema’s Rise to Power! Democracy should not be reduced to manipulated voting as the case was in Kabushi and Kwacha by-elections. Democracy should, instead, represent sensible forms of citizens’ participation.

About The Author: Mpandashalo Mwewa, currently the Chief Editor at Woodpecker’s Digest, formerly held the same role at Zambia Reports. Known for championing Pan-African education reforms with a focus on critical thinking, he employs journalism to instigate social transformation.

About Our Advocacy: Woodpecker’s Digest, an online platform, provides analyses and commentaries on pertinent issues of national interest, complemented by articles focusing on personal development and health. Journalism is a powerful tool for driving positive socio-economic change!