Status Quo#1: Zambia in Lamentation Aftermath, Whither to?

Yes, the dark cloud has covered our nation again but every dark has a silver-lining.

We thank God for the grace and peace that abounds us as a people of this peaceful and truly blessed nation.

The aftermath mourning of HE. President Sata (MHSRIP) has presented before us nationals three main topical issues: an impending Presidential bye-election effectively 20months from next general election; secondly, the 2016 general election preparations for credible polls and thirdly, the mirage of the new constitution, its roadmap and the implied referendum.

How much does each of the above courses of action cost? Yes democracy is expensive but that does not mean we should not be cost conscious. And what opportunity cost are we foregoing by relegating the new constitution by choosing the bye election route? The new constitution is the elephant in the room! The draft constitution for the umpteenth time begs finalisation. Surely, shouldn’t we be talking constitution roadmap, the referendum mechanism and how to avoid the cost implications if possible? History has shown the constitution is the first casualty by all new elected presidents because the constitution vests so much power in the presidency.

We believe God through the status quo is once again beckoning us as a nation to move away from “business as usual” mentality.  Our renaissance will never come by itself but with reflection in our defining moments as currently obtaining. The above issues may prove counter productive if we allow taking our predetermined bye-elections route as the usual exercise amidst constraining circumstances. Countrymen, this is not business as usual if we are to ever embark on a course for that elusive progressive development.

Notwithstanding the current constitution requirement and the transition state we have found ourselves in, we have an opportunity to consider whether the bye election for a 20months President should come first before the new constitution agenda? The presidential bye-election like any unintended election especially is liability cost. The last presidential bye-election in 2008, led to the nation failing to host the All Africa Games, an opportunity cost forgone. The huge demand on resource allocation for a country-wide election is huge. Public resources abuse by the incumbent party can not be ruled out. How did Scott or PF finance its recent extended Kabwe conferences? Opposition political parties need resources to participate in the bye-election now and sooner than later in 2016 General election. At what expense should the nation remain in the state of prolonged electioneering mode?

The UPND president Hakainde was quoted on BBC in the early days of national mourning, that we have had had too many election since 2006 with huge costly implications and that is why a new constitution is a must. Like the prudent economic manager HH is, we too as a nation we should be putting our resources where the yield maximum profit. Is another presidential bye-elections too tempting to forgo especially for opportunists driven by self motives? Did we take pleasure in the so many constituency bye-elections engineered by PF? Lest we forget, this PF term this far has been characterised by so many petitions and bye-elections.  And if  PF loses, we can lest be assured all roads shall lead to the courts  for more petitions after this presidential bye-election as the new constitution remains on ice and 2016 fast approaching.

Surely does this look like business as usual? HH, Chipimo, Sj Chiti, Sj Lupupa, all Christians, Grand Coalition, NGOCC, LAZ, EIZ, students(but not stone throwers!). We need the voice of reason. We need inspiration from the throne of God. And we need a complimenting media that rises to the 4^th estate status which does not to just parrot groom and doom but to provide well guided research of issues at hand. A media that does promote mediocrity and triviality in pursuit of its own agenda that is devoid of nation interest and impartiality. This is not business as usual.

And herein lies the point of departure to go the transition government route as once suggested by Elias Chipimo Jnr., the NAREP president. The top agenda for that transition Government would be contracted by agreement on a high mandate to deliver the new constitution before into 2016 general elections. Country men, we can not fight so many battles in a short time which ironically turn to be endless. To the learned Chipimo and other professorial cadres this is the opportunity to seize and show mother Zambia it has educated sons and daughters who critically know what philosophically works. Maybe allow a PF lame duck government under a supervisory body of sorts like the Parliament. To the straight jackets, compromise is the basis consensus or win-win negotiations though trade-offs in a give and take spirit. Lets abandon elections that are based on the winner takes it all. That is why our campaigns tend to be personal than issue-based.  Lets open our spirit eyes. It is not too late.

This Presidential bye-elections also puts Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) at the centre of the credibility of elections and in fact cannot be absorbed of the so many bye- elections that we experienced in this PF term. The 2014 UNECA -Africa Governance Report has observed that elections in Africa are a source of conflicts. Justice Mambilima who was part of launch in Lusaka recently is privy to the research that cited polls in Africa for being at the centre for sectarian divisions, tribal or ethnicity lines and regionalism.  The question your lordship is, what has ECZ changed to enhance credible polls? Or has your commission acquired more teeth to bite in case malpractices? Is it by having more elections or activating the Zaloumis ERTC provisions which incidentally depends on the new constitution that will make your commission truly independent?

The financial offers from developed countries like UK, USA, Japan and others towards support our burgeoning democracy for electioneering process is highly recommended. However, we need education for democracy more than finances nor unintended elections in the long term. On that score, we are please asking: Britain, to tutor us how they can change the from Tony Blair to Gordon Brown seamlessly and do elections at their pleasure?; Japan, to show us how they call for snap election today and get the results tomorrow?; USA, to teach us how your presidential elections avoid runoff polls, is it by the design of your electoral college? And to Scotland, gives us a guide on how you debate a referendum passionately and vote without a single bloodletting incidence?

Countrymen, if our own constitution is restrictive to the progress on our democracy, then its more enslaving than the British Empire did. The independence liberty we claim for ourselves is but a don’t kubeba a long way from the past. What kind of constitution do we have that does not allows us the freedom of exploring alternatives even when we are agreeable to its eminent change? Why then are we fully geared towards such extravagant and divisive elections laced with potential conflicts without reflecting or weighing options? This cannot be business as usual. Are we captives of our own constitution? Talk about slave mentality! Man was not made for the law but law for man.

The balance between being reactive and proactive against a reflective approach to national topical matters will determine how we value the nation events before us. The spirit to see an opportunity for nation-building and statehood collaboration is what will accelerate a progressive developmental agenda front. We can change, its not too late.

Yes we shall emerge even stronger but we need to see change from not only political cadres but professorial cadres making headlines. We want to hear more from the Kyambalesas, Ndulos, Hansugules, Sangwas, University Dons and students delving into the interpretation or situating statutes in the current status quo and setting the agenda.

We end by stating a constitution making is founded on consensus building process as opposed to our elections that makes the winner take it all and leaves losers licking their wounds or if not, rushing to courts that are currently under Legal and Justice Reform indictment. Talk about a cycle of elections-petitions -courts -commissions -elections rhetoric trap! Is this the meaning of Democracy? Zambia whither to? It is not too late to reflect.

Posted by Kunda on December 25, 2014. Filed under POLITICS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.