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The Post Tells PF Government ‘You Are Doing Lots Of Things. Explain What You Are Doing’
TO govern is to communicate. It is not enough for those in government to quietly do their work. As representatives of the people, those in government need to continually explain to the people they represent, as far as possible, everything they are doing. This is the only way our people can participate in government programmes, in governing their country. Whatever the level of their contribution, a healthy democracy depends upon the continuing, informed participation of the broad range of its citizens.
Flash Back: President Sata On Facebook
But with the active engagement of individuals across the spectrum of society, our democracy can weather the inevitable economic and political storms that sweep over every society, without sacrificing the freedoms and rights that they are sworn to uphold.
Active involvement in public life shouldn’t be seen just to be about elections and the struggle for political office. Citizen participation in a democratic society is much broader than just taking part in elections. Of course, the electorate is the ultimate custodian of its own destiny. And as such it must ensure its function. At a minimum, citizens should educate themselves about the critical issues confronting their nation.
Democracy, as Abraham Lincoln once defined it, is government of the people, by the people, for the people. This means that governments should be as closely linked to the people as possible, arise from the people, have the support of the people and devote itself entirely to working and struggling for the people and the people’s interest; it means a government in which all the people participate.
Our government is doing many things but it is not explaining much to the people what it is doing. It seems as if our people’s participation in the governance of their country ended on the day they cast their votes. But democracy does not begin and end with elections. It means continuous participation of the people in everything that the government is doing on their behalf. This is the true meaning of democracy.
It is a growth in the confidence in the power of ordinary people to transform their country, and thus transform themselves. It is the growth in the appreciation of people organising, deciding, creating together. It is a growth in fraternal love. The greatest mistake this government is making is to think it can go on doing things without explaining to the people what it is doing.
People in Kaputa want to know what the government is doing in Sinazeze; people in Chavuma want to know what the government has done or is doing in Sindamisale. But today the great majority of our people don’t seem to understand, don’t seem to know what their government is doing or where it is headed, where it is going.
And no one seems to be taking the trouble to explain. Of course, some things the government is doing are not going well and probably there is fear or reluctance to explain that which seems to have been born twisted. It may be politically dangerous to explain to the people things that are not going well but which the people expected to go well. However, it is still more dangerous not to explain.
There is no need for the government to, in any way, mask problems or difficulties, mistakes, failures. They should instead hide nothing from the masses of our people. Things are not going to be easy and no one should think that there will be easy victories to claim. And as we have stated before, nobody should think that things are going to be easy.
We must all be prepared to meet difficulties. We have difficulties now, and we will have even greater ones in the future, even if we do things the right way – and we should do them the right way, even if it calls for our greatest efforts.
Those in government may think if they explain a lot of things to the people, their deficiencies, weaknesses or failures will become known by their political competitors and will be used against them politically. Yes, those in the opposition will try to make political capital out of that, but where will it take them? The economic challenges we are facing will not be solved overnight. What the government needs to do is to explain everything to our people.
Zambians are very understanding people and they will understand the challenges the government is facing and why it may not be delivering certain things as quickly as it had promised. But we should also know that in difficult times like these, it is necessary to avoid unilateral judgements, excessive zeal.
And it is also necessary to watch out for those who are too demanding, the demagogic champions who tend to crop up in such situations in order to divert attention from their own faults and weaknesses and pretend to be demanding when they are really opportunists trying to avoid being called on to account for themselves. There is need for our people to be demanding. They must demand to the utmost, but they must also watch out for those super-demanders. They must be firm but just in their demands.
Michael Sata needs to get back to the people in the way he used to do before the elections and explain to them what his government is doing and the challenges or problems it is facing. He has the capacity, the talent to do so but is not doing it.
The mobilisation of our people should not just be for elections. It must be a continuous process. The programmes the government is undertaking in many areas of human endeavour, including in the fight against corruption, need mass mobilisations.
This is so because without the support and participation of the great majority of our people in these programmes, nothing much will be achieved.
Michael shouldn’t think simply because he has appointed people to head districts and provinces then his work is done and he can sit in Lusaka and do other administrative work.
Michael needs to visit as many places as possible, explain to the people what he is doing and engage them to make a contribution. And talking to the people will enable those in government to purify or refine their ideas, policies and programmes. The people will make a contribution to all that they are doing.
Those in government must be able to integrate themselves with the masses in all things. If they spend their whole lives sitting indoors and never go out to face the people and brave the storm, what good will they be to the Zambian people? None at all, and our people do not need such leaders in government.
What Zambia needs is a political leadership that listens attentively to the views of the people and lets them have their say. If what they say is right, they ought to welcome it, and they should learn from their strong points; if it is wrong, they should let them finish what they are saying and then patiently explain things to them.
Our politicians in government must be like seeds and the people must be like the soil. Wherever they go, they must unite with the people, take root and blossom among them. Our leaders in government should set an example in being practical as well as far-sighted. For only by being practical can they fulfil the appointed tasks, and only far-sightedness can prevent them from losing their bearings in the march forward.
Every politician in government must be brought to understand that the supreme test of the words and deeds of a leader is whether they conform with the highest interests and enjoy the support of the overwhelming majority of the people. But again, this can only be known and understood if there is meaningful engagement with the people.
The Post
Posted by
nyatu
June 29, 2012 at 6:30 pm
its ok
nya
June 29, 2012 at 6:33 pm
better than stellin
kojak
June 29, 2012 at 7:42 pm
Well said,The Post!! This is why I believe no news agency currently in Z will be able to match the decisive and focused nature of The Post Newspapers. Because they can call a spade by its name! I actually trust this paper more than any political party in our Zambia today! Viva The paper that digs deeper
Tupac
June 29, 2012 at 8:08 pm
Thanx M`membe,it’s only those chocking with envy that can say they have failed.Criticise where it is due mathafackerz not anyhow like psychiatrists.These Morethan Mad Dogs left the country in a mess so let us control thingz mwamvera?Maporo yanu bafikala.
mathhews katebe
June 29, 2012 at 8:29 pm
Tupac, you are an imbecile and a good-for-nothing nincompoop. Whatever shit you’ve written above applies to you as well.
steve
June 29, 2012 at 10:14 pm
By telling PF that there is so much that they are doing, is already being biased. From the statement it looks like only Mmembe knows very well what the PF are doing which the rest of the nation does not know apart from power shortages. Mmembe wants the govt to to like they are doing something. by road contractors were already paid before the election. where there is change, we will not need to be told change speaks for itself!
hh
June 29, 2012 at 10:25 pm
Rubbish. Who can u blindfold.
masauso
June 29, 2012 at 11:05 pm
the post idiots also
His Excelency Ukwa CNP
June 29, 2012 at 11:43 pm
If nothing is happening, what would be there to explain?
Government are doing NOTHING and equally have nothing to explain, unless you want us to be telling you about ’90 days’ but all of you now know it was a song, ok.
Chimbwi No Plan
June 30, 2012 at 1:08 am
Bravo Post and Bravo PF. You have started on a good note. Keep it up.
bob
June 30, 2012 at 3:08 am
I like the wat post aticulate issues,kip itup ba post and continue reminding them.
Holy
June 30, 2012 at 3:22 am
U think u can brain-wash us with yo biased Post Paper. Actions speak louder than words. If they’re workin, we’ll b able to c. No nid for them to explain. We want more working & less talkin.
Unbiased
June 30, 2012 at 4:56 am
What are they doing? The govt would have been the first ones to trumpent their successes or atleast report on progress towards success had there been easy examples. Its an open secret that the post is no longer above board. The post will always try to sugar coat their critisism of the current govt as opposed to merely stating things the way they are. Indeed the govt needs to start making wide consultations for buy in as opposed to unilateral decisions. Look at decisions related to the financial sector made this year – boz policy rate, zmk rebasing, SI33, capitalisation etc. Whilst these may be good in theory, their hest implementation coupled by lack of wide consultation could result in unintended consequences. Viva zambia.
John wayne gacie
June 30, 2012 at 5:05 am
His excellency ukwa cnp and steve, u two go very well togather like a pair of goat’s testicles. 1. How long have we been crying 4 a constitution? There’s finally hope 2. Freedom of info bill? 3. Decentralization is finally in motion. 4. IFMIS has been finally applied. No mo stealing by civil servants. 5. Women are being uplifted thru major appointments. 6. Rebasing of kwacha. Which musokotwane admitted that mmd were trying to do for 6 years. 7. Normalizing relations with angola, cheap supply of fuel is coming. All this in less than a year. U two chaps just go and **** each other up yo asses.
John wayne gacie
June 30, 2012 at 5:45 am
Unbiased, i feel no urge to insult u like i did with the two idiotos above. I hear yo point. But keep in mind, sata was elected by zambians primarily on one strength-he is a ‘doer’, ‘man of action’. This is why musokotwane wil neva condemn him for rebasing, coz mmd have been trying to do it for years. He is on it within months of his reign. With regards to dedollarisation, this a very necessary move, to consult over what? Any progressive economy has measures that seek to protect its currency. This wil bring respectability and strength to the kwacha. Besides mmd tried to apply it a few years ago, thru one of their sharpest ministers-mutati. But it was half-hearted and no one took them seriously. For the private sector who are complaining, they wil adjust, coz in the long run they know it wil be good for them. Before sata can think of creating jobs, pliz allow him to sort out the economic fundamentals. The crying u are hearing are just ‘labour pains’, we are going to have a baby soon. So there’s hope mr. Unbiased.
kakolwe
June 30, 2012 at 6:28 am
the kolwes thot the man was bemba & wished to hit back for havin been eaten to extinction on North Zm. (I just used the Janet c thought)
kakolwe
June 30, 2012 at 6:36 am
Sorry previous comment meant for next topic.
tt
June 30, 2012 at 6:41 am
@john wayne gacie, insults are not necesary on developmental isues especialy that each one of us are jst puting across our opinions and what we have observed, about civil servants stealing, wait until us, the pf come out of power, then, thats when you will hear who has stolen what. Every gvnt has its own ups & downs and so lets make use of the criticisms as pf which are given by others to make us even a most prefered party by the majority zambians. Thanx.
mwaba mwinji
June 30, 2012 at 8:39 am
ITS TRUE,DECISION MAKING REQUIRES CONSULTATION;it gives no or small room of making mistakes.even in a home,husbands needs to consult there spouses,even tho there can be other situations where u can just do and then inform your partner.ITS IMPORTANT FOR SATA AND THE PF COMMUNICATE THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE ARE FOR THE NATION AS A WHOLE BUT NOT FOR PF.THIS IS WHAT MAKES OFFICE OCCUPANTS GET VOTED OUT.READERS MUST NOT BE DICTATORS BUT SPEND TIME IN LISTENIG.
mwaba mwinji
June 30, 2012 at 8:43 am
ITS TRUE,DECISION MAKING REQUIRES CONSULTATION;it gives no or small room of making mistakes.even in a home,husbands needs to consult there spouses,even tho there can be other situations where u can just do and then inform your partner.ITS IMPORTANT FOR SATA AND THE PF COMMUNICATE TO THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THE DECISIONS THEY MAKE ARE FOR THE NATION AS A WHOLE BUT NOT FOR PF.THIS IS WHAT MAKES OFFICE OCCUPANTS GET VOTED OUT.READERS MUST NOT BE DICTATORS BUT SPEND TIME IN LISTENIG.
jali
June 30, 2012 at 9:57 am
It seems only the Post knows what Lots of things the PF goverment is doing. It is also clear that the goverment itself does not know what it is doing and they have nothing to explain about. Is the Post suggesting the existence of CNP tendences in the PF goverment or what?
Honestly, it is difficult to point what exactly this goverment is doing and the road map it has taken.
His Excelency Ukwa CNP
June 30, 2012 at 7:56 pm
The POST themselves can explain if there is anything government is doing.
I mantain there in NOTHING govt has to explain, if there was they would happily do so.
Winter
June 30, 2012 at 9:26 pm
Post and PF govt you are all lies……………
Oswardkatenda
June 30, 2012 at 9:36 pm
Post,bravo! Indeed pf is doing alot only demons in HH and these thieves in mmd can’t say so even if they had seen.
Pulamasaka
July 1, 2012 at 10:55 am
pathetic failures..
Wanu Ngwee
July 1, 2012 at 5:38 pm
Ba Tumfweko your moderation of bloggers’ postings is baseless and biased!
abby
July 1, 2012 at 5:53 pm
BA Fred meembe, just pay back the money you owe us, actions….not explanations, you have lost track.
am a serious PF DIE HARD.
July 1, 2012 at 7:59 pm
What silly mmembe licking should outline what pf is doing and not saying pf should tell the people.
kakolwe
July 1, 2012 at 8:21 pm
The biggest entertainment would be to see HE MCS try to consult His not so Excellency HHover developmental issues. Question is would some of you opposition politicians be ready to advise the pf govt? Thought you are the guys that have vowed not to work with the ukwa- cnp govt? Make up your minds plz
am a serious PF DIE HARD.
July 1, 2012 at 8:43 pm
the end of the game will be the opposite of how MMD ended. MMD was with the public media up to its death. and no matter who the public media beat the drums for MMD in the last ellections the MMD sunk..the end of PF will be PF sinking with Mmembe. watch the space.
GunnerME
July 2, 2012 at 1:42 am
Bravo to The Post & M’membe, you are a team of real substance! Keep it up!!!
boom!
July 2, 2012 at 1:15 pm
u hv swallowed my post
boom!
July 2, 2012 at 1:19 pm
ba tumfweko hv u been hacked into.I want 2 see my post.