Drawing from a profound childhood chicken lesson, I share my perspective on President Hichilema’s flawed grasp of democracy. True glory comes from overcoming opponents at their strongest!
By Mpandashalo Mwewa, Chief Editor.
Lusaka, Dec. 22 – Growing up, my mother had a peculiar way of teaching life’s greatest lessons. For every term I topped my class, she would reward me with a sumptuous grilled chicken – a prize I cherished dearly. But one year, a brilliant girl joined our school, outshone me, and dethroned me from my academic pedestal. My beloved tradition of chicken rewards became a distant memory. Then, in Grade Six, fortune smiled on me when my competitor fell ill, and I reclaimed the top spot. Yet, to my dismay, my mother refused to celebrate my victory, insisting we wait until my rival was back to her best before crowning me a true champion. That lesson has stayed with me – a hero earns their glory by defeating opponents at their strongest.
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.
This principle, unfortunately, eludes President Hakainde Hichilema. As a young opposition leader, he projected an image of civility and democratic ideals, a refreshing promise of change for Zambia. But as President, his actions have betrayed that façade, revealing an authoritarian streak that undermines democracy and stifles dissent. Hichilema’s rule is less about fostering dialogue and unity and more about silencing critics and rewarding loyalty, even at the cost of justice and national cohesion.
The President has systematically dismantled the space for opposing voices. Critics, whether from civil society or opposition, are often arrested under trumped-up charges, while his supporters, no matter how vile their rhetoric, enjoy impunity. This is a democracy where hate speech is weaponized selectively, and victims are denied justice. How can a leader claim to unite a nation while sowing division through tribalism and suppression?
Hichilema’s rise to power was fueled by the hopes of a nation yearning for a new direction, yet he has squandered this mandate by creating a “rules-based system” that serves only his inner circle. NGO leaders were co-opted into government roles, critics were silenced, and political reform was shelved in favour of consolidating power. His leadership has mirrored the same authoritarian tendencies he once opposed, proving that power, when unchecked, corrupts even the most promising of leaders.
In a nation as diverse as Zambia, tribal politics is a ticking time bomb. Hichilema’s inability to rise above these divisions casts a shadow over his presidency. What kind of leader views democracy through the narrow lens of favouritism, allowing tribal and partisan lines to dictate the rules of engagement? Such governance is not only unsustainable but dangerous for a nation striving for unity.
As I echo Dr. Chitalu Chilufya’s call for a new political reform agenda aimed at fostering collaboration between opposition parties and the Executive, President Hichilema must understand that people will not take me seriously if they see me urging them to work with a dictator because the right thing to do with such a person, in the interest of patriotism, is to get rid of such a person.
Also Read: Prescription for Progress: Zambia’s Policy Cure Lies with Dr. Chitalu Chilufya! Dr. Chitalu Chilufya, the former Minister of Health, has been honored with the prestigious Zambia Medical Association (ZMA) Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024. Zambia’s ailing development needs policies that put its people first, not foreign interests.
It’s clear, nonetheless, to say that Zambia needs leadership that fosters collaboration, not suppression. Patriotism demands that we reject dictatorship and push for a government that upholds the principles of democracy, justice, and equity. President Hichilema must remember – true leadership is earned by empowering, not silencing the people. Without this, his legacy risks being one of betrayal, not progress!
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