Who Should Be the Next Zambian President?

Eleven of our fellow citizens are contesting the Republican presidency in the forthcoming by-election, and they are already on the campaign trail touting their visions for our beloved country. In this Press Release, I wish to outline some of the many ways in which we can assess the potential for each of the candidates to contribute meaningfully to our quest for a more democratic, a more peaceful, a more affluent, and a more egalitarian society.

I discussed many of the other ways which should guide us in making a decision concerning who we should vote for during the forthcoming by-election, including the need for contestants to have a practical agenda, an implementation schedule, and a summary of sources of funding to supplement existing and traditional sources of government revenue.

Elements of Good Governance

Firstly, we should ask who among the eleven presidential candidates has the potential to adopt and institutionalize the elements of good government—that is, accountability, transparency, the rule of law, genuine citizen participation in the running of a country’s government, and a free press.

This is an important quest to ask because “poor governance”—that is, governance whereby a country’s state apparatus is not sufficiently guided by the principles or elements of good governance—can create opportunities and incentives for corruption. It can do so by engendering a state of affairs in public administration where there are no stringent benchmarks for curbing, exposing, and/or penalizing malfeasance.

Let us examine what each of the elements of “good governance” entails.

1) Accountability: Availability of a mechanism for ensuring that office bearers are directly and fully liable for the outcomes of their decisions and actions, and the appropriation of resources assigned to them.

Do the candidates have provisions in their political parties’ constitutions that require holders of elective positions to be accountable for their actions, and do the constitutions stipulate the kinds of interventions, as well as disciplinary measures to be taken against office bearers found to be wanting in this regard?

2) Transparency: Public access to information about the state, its decision-making mechanisms, its current and contemplated projects and programs, and its external sources of funds—except for state secrets and matters relating to public officials’ right to privacy.

Judging from their previous work-related behavior, have the candidates been generally “transparent” in their dealings with other members of their political parties, and with other segments of Zambian society? Have their political parties been forthcoming in providing information requested by any segment of Zambian society?

More than ever before, we need a government that will embrace “transparency” as one of its core elements of good governance, mainly because, with respect to the fight against corruption, countries which have enacted pieces of legislation guaranteeing greater access to public information are known to be more efficient and less vulnerable to corruption.

According to David Banisar of the United Kingdom’s Freedom of Information and International Privacy Program, the success of countries like Finland, Norway, and Sweden in the fight against corruption is largely attributed to laws which guarantee access to public information adopted by such countries.

3) Rule of Law: The existence of non-discriminatory laws and law enforcement organs of the government that are efficient, impartial, independent, and legitimate.

Judging from their previous work-related behavior, do the candidates have the potential to abide by existing laws and regulations within their political parties, as well as abide by existing national laws and regulations?

4) Citizen Participation: Availability of channels and mechanisms through which the citizenry and non-governmental institutions can directly or through representation have an influence on governmental decision-making processes and the behavior and actions of public officials.

In this regard, we should ask whether the candidates have demonstrated the capacity to enlist the inputs and genuine participation of their subordinates in making decisions within their political parties and/or business entities.

5) A Free Press: There is also a need to assess the candidates’ potential to embrace freedom of expression and a free press as important elements of democracy.

In this regard, we need to continue to ask our national leaders to put an end to what Omolo J. Ochilo of Kenya has described as a situation whereby large segments of the mass media are state-owned, under tight controls by the government of the day, and the virtues of individuals’ rights and freedoms are subordinate to those of the ruling party and the state.

It is undemocratic for the government to continue to preside over large segments of the mass media that operate as tools of leaders of any given political party that gets the people’s mandate to form government!

Essentially, the mass media in a democratic society should perform a multitude of functions, which are cited by Ken Auletta, Omolo J. Ochilo, and many other authors to include the following:

(a) To serve as a watchdog to the three organs of the government – that is, the judiciary, the legislature and the executive;

(b) To inform the public about issues which are of national interest;

(d) To influence public opinion through impartial, balanced and fair analysis of issues which are of national interest;

(e) To serve the economic system through sponsored advertisements designed to bring buyers and sellers into contact with each other; and

(f) To serve as a medium for entertaining the public through: (i) comics, humor columns, crossword puzzles, sports coverage, and other forms of entertainment provided by the print media; (ii) movies, comedy, music, sports commentaries, and other forms of entertainment provided through television; (iii) music, comedy, sports commentaries, and other forms of entertainment provided through radio programming; and (iv) video games, music, sports coverage, and other forms of entertainment provided through the Internet.

6) Other Considerations: We also need to assess each of the eleven candidates’ inclination to seriously consider ethnic interests in the distribution of power, educational facilities, health services, and so forth. Besides, do they have a disposition to accept and tolerate interest groups as important constituents of a functioning pluralistic society, and are they likely to have respect for parliament and have regard for it both as a body of people’s elected representatives and as the supreme legislative organ of government?

The Matter of National Unity

Secondly, we should ask who among the eleven presidential contestants is more likely to meaningfully function as the glue that will bind the members of our beloved country’s 73 tribes into one Zambian family.

Many of the tensions and bloody conflicts that befuddled the global community during the latter part of the 20th century were generally a result of lack of national unity in affected countries, including the devastating losses of property and human lives in Ethiopia (1984-85), Sudan (1987-88), Burundi (1988), Somalia (1991-92), Rwanda (1994), Kosovo (1999), and East Timor (1999).

The human crises in war-ravaged countries like Angola, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of Congo need not be overlooked either.

Disunity, tensions, and subsequent conflicts among a country’s people can be attributed to a diversity of causes, including bigotry, religious extremism, ethnic or tribal divisions orchestrated by selfish political and traditional leaders, and lack of consideration by political leaders of ethnic and other interests in the distribution of power and resources in any given country.

Political, religious, military, and traditional leaders in Zambia can, therefore, play a significant role in fostering harmonious relations among the country’s citizenry.

The Role of Bona Fide Citizens

Thirdly, we, as citizens of a democratic country, can individually and collectively play a vital role in the process of creating a peaceful and stable political atmosphere by being open-minded when considering the candidates and/or political parties that should deserve our votes. During elections, for example, we need to put personal, ethnic, and partisan interests aside and reflect more seriously on the goals political contestants promise to pursue during their terms of office if they get elected.

Several goals should be expected to be on the agenda of every aspirant for political office and should constitute the bottom line for assessing the quality and vision of all candidates. These are:

(a) Provision of accessible and quality education, vocational training, and health care;

(b) Creation of an economy that is innovative, productive and internationally competitive;

(d) Creation of a truly free and just legal system that is committed to the preservation and protection of the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals summarized elsewhere in this chapter;

(e) Provision of essential services and facilities, including an efficient transport system, adequate public safety and security, and improved supply of public utilities;

(f) Promotion and preservation of cherished traditional and cultural values, including the promotion and consolidation of national unity in a country;

(g) Conservation and protection of natural resources so that they can last from generation to generation;

(h) Restructuring of the government machinery so that it can be more responsive to the development needs of our beloved country without over-burdening taxpayers; and

(i) Generation of a foreign policy whose overall goal is to work hand in hand with other peace-loving nations in creating a more tempered global community.

How a political party or candidate intends to achieve these goals, considering our country’s limited financial and other critical resources, should be the overriding reason to align oneself with the party or candidate. A patriotic citizen—one who has the interest of our beloved country at heart—would be at pains to succumb to personal, ethnic, partisan, and/or other parochial interests.

Besides, it is essential for us to remember that the free and fair elections that normally ensue from having a democratic system of government should not be conceived of as ends in themselves; they are intended to afford each and every one of us the opportunity we deserve as citizens to elect people who are both competent and willing to spearhead the process of improving our livelihoods.

The Role of Armed Forces

And fourthly, what should be the appropriate role of Zambia’s armed forces in maintaining the viability of the country’s nascent democracy?

As Edward Shils maintained, there is a need for military officers, intelligence officers, and the civil police in our country’s armed forces to consider themselves as being part of the “technical-executive intelligentsia,” who, together with politicized intellectuals (that is, civilian leaders), should play the role of guarantor of political stability, honesty, and discipline in government.

A major requirement in performing such a pivotal role in our country’s quest for sustained peace and stability is for members of the armed forces to be apolitical and non-partisan, and for civilian leaders to have constitutionally guaranteed control over all branches of the country’s armed forces.

Therefore, Zambia, like any other peace-loving nation worldwide, needs the services of a military establishment that is administered by a cadre of men and women who are adjudged to be patriotic, apolitical, well-disciplined, and professional in character in its quest for sustained peace and stability.

However, it would be unrealistic and imprudent to expect armed forces to be apolitical and non-partisan in serving under civilian leaders in our country—and in any other country, as a matter of fact—in the absence of a system of governance which provides for peaceful removal of flagrantly corrupt, extravagant, despotic, nepotistic, and/or grossly incompetent government officials.

——————————————–

The author, Mr. Henry Kyambalesa, is a Zambian academic currently living in the City and County of Denver in the State of Colorado, USA.

Posted by Kunda on January 2, 2015. Filed under POLITICS. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

37 Responses to Who Should Be the Next Zambian President?

barose activist

January 2, 2015 at 9:29 am

thanks for your article because lungu has all these & dats why ifintu ni lungu.
- Bange-man (Khayaman)
  
  January 2, 2015 at 10:06 am
  
  Indeed Infintu ni Lungu, but UMUNTU NI HH.
  Na mafi yonse fintu.
  - Mr Scrutinizer
    
    January 3, 2015 at 7:00 am
    
    Check how UPND cadres were received by violent PF!
    This is the Ilungu Zambia wants?
barose activist

January 2, 2015 at 9:34 am

u cant win an election with allucinations & day dreaming _ go & teo hh wat u see roads are being built, salaries of c/servants are beta, kwacha is being rebased, districsts created . . . .
barose activist

January 2, 2015 at 9:36 am

if hh will win, then why panicing ba upnd cadres. go back to watch dog _ tribal site
- Bange-man (Khayaman)
  
  January 2, 2015 at 10:08 am
  
  Whose panicking? Tumfweko is also a tribal bemba site.
  - kakolwe
    
    January 2, 2015 at 10:29 am
    
    But tumfweko dear @Dobo-man, allows discenting views an posts to stay. At watchimbwa, every post that does not support HH is erased within 5min. That is called living in Utopia: the imaginary UPND victory land.
  - Ken
    
    January 2, 2015 at 6:00 pm
    
    Why is UPND supporters so upset in their speech. I know the answer alreday. kikikikikiki I am PF!
Jane Mulenga

January 2, 2015 at 10:10 am

This is how HH will win the elections and become Zambia’s sixth President and Zambia’s best President ever!!!

1. Win Lusaka HH =50% , Lungu’s 40% Others 10%

2. Win NW HH= 60% , Lungu’s 25% Others 15%

3. Win Southern HH =70% , Lungu’s 15% others 15%

4. Win Western HH = 60% , Lungu’s 30% others 10%

5. Win Central HH= 45%, Lungu’s 35% others 20%

6. C/Be Lungu 45% HH 35% Mumba 10% others 10%

7. Nothern/Mcnga Lungu 40% Mumba 30% HH 20% Nawakwi 10%

8. Luapula Lungu 40% HH 30% Mumba 20% Nawakwi 10%

9. Eastern Lungu 55% HH 35% Others 10%

Total

Hakainde Moses Hichilema =45%

Edgar Muhammad C Lungu = 38%

Nervas Sekwila Mumba 10%

Others 7%: God be…
- kakolwe
  
  January 2, 2015 at 10:39 am
  
  @JaneHildaNatasha BwalyaMulenga, glad to note that you have a memory of a warthog. Yesterday you said HH 78%, by evening your HH was at 80%, the other day it was 49%!! Sweetheat, Syphilis in its advanced stage affects memory. Seek treatment quickly. We are in the Lungu year!
  Tell your Hakainde not to stop campaigning for the 2016 General elections. We will still need to eat of the proceeds of 90s privatisation.
  - Bange-man (Khayaman)
    
    January 2, 2015 at 11:16 am
    
    Ba Kolwe libange lyamusango shani upepa? Come to me man. I will give you nice one.
- Chumi
  
  January 2, 2015 at 8:17 pm
  
  @ Jane Mulenga,your analysis is not true. Lets look at the figures from the current ECZ voters register
  countrywide.CENTRAL=483,790 C/BELT=845,439 EASTERN=600,098 LUAPULA=408,791 LUSAKA=796,687 MUCHINGA=269,139 NORTHERN=434,478 N/WESTERN=315,588 SOUTHERN=617,461 WESTERN=394,617.
  If by any miracle HH gets 100% vote in his strongholds(N/WESTERN,SOUTHERN and WESTERN)he will only end up a total of 1,327,666 out of the total voters 5,166,088.
  If Lungu manages just an average of 60% vote in the remaining 8 provinces he will definately win, considering that he cant get zero vote from these three provinces
kakolwe

January 2, 2015 at 10:50 am

The man who meets these requirements is Brig Gen Miyanda. But abakaamba has failed to sell himself. The next best is EL. Abena Hakainde satanism yapitilila!! If the man changed national wealth into personal wealth as an appointed liquidator, what more ngamwamupanga president!!! Eeeehhh! He will even personalise the Zambian lakes & rivers!! Lwenu baZambia if you make that mistake!!
Edgar Lungu is OUR man.
- Bange-man (Khayaman)
  
  January 2, 2015 at 11:20 am
  
  Surely are you this stupid to think like a 2 yr old mate? I can’t believe I am reading this from a person who is even able to write. Get deliverance soon my friend. Umungulu ubi. That seed of lies PF have inculcated in your damaged brain against anything HH or UPND, will lead you to destruction. Get deliverance Mr. Kakolwe.
  - kakolwe
    
    January 2, 2015 at 11:56 am
    
    O-LORD GOD, ALMIGHTY!
    DELIVER ME (AND ZAMBIA) FROM THE HAKAINDE SATANISM AND GREED
    DELIVER ME FROM THE UNTHOUGHTFUL UTTERANCES OF HILDA JANE POLITICAL PROF AND HER MATE GANJA-MAN”
    and a still small voice said:
    “My son, thou art loosed. The nation whose people have cried unto me & they have dedicated their country to my name, shall in no wise be ruled by a satanic free mason. Go your way & be joyful!!!”
    Wow!! Thanks, Dobo-man for your advice. Am free of hakaindeee. Viva EL!!!!!
    - AMENO MAFUPA
      
      January 2, 2015 at 1:48 pm
      
      I am praying for you dear.
      - kakolwe
        
        January 2, 2015 at 2:57 pm
        
        But I just got delivered!!!
  - Ken
    
    January 2, 2015 at 6:20 pm
    
    I am sure your lamentations can even echo in your own brain that its you Dobo who is mungulu. How, at your age cannot see that EL is people chosen.
Carrington Zamaya

January 2, 2015 at 11:59 am

HH will never rule here in Zambia because he will retire after 20th January.
VAMPIRO

January 2, 2015 at 12:02 pm

Hh was chief liquidator who made zambians poorer and himself richer. He is from rags to stinking rich. I for one can’t trust my vote on hh. It’s either he stole money thru liquitions or he got it thru satanism. I am comfortable in my live but thru genuine hard work
Renee

January 2, 2015 at 12:18 pm

When TB Josua has prophesied, I know its true. Lungu is next President.

We are aware of schemes to weigh him down. You Won’t succeed.
Geoffrey

January 2, 2015 at 12:35 pm

Yah, source of HH’s riches is not clear – how did he become rich?
Hajende

January 2, 2015 at 12:57 pm

Chino chindi, Lungu ulapanga sense. Lungu ndiye utulayanda, period. Hatuyandi maUnder 5! NgatuVotele Edgar Lungu namadevelopments alabudilila!
AMENO MAFUPA

January 2, 2015 at 1:49 pm

Akuibepeni ify fine. You allowed ukuyumfwisha bwino ba pf.
chanda mwaba

January 2, 2015 at 3:53 pm

These politicians are all the same..they move feom one party to another. .wake up people..the only good president we had was mwanawasa who didn’t tolerate corruption..that man had a vision..Zambia has developedso much bcz of him..abashala mafiyekayeka nokwiba thats what politics are all about in Zambia nomba..wafwa naine njoine ..lol
william T

January 2, 2015 at 4:01 pm

Leadership is God given,HH is Moses wanomba while Lungu is our JOSHUA to take us to the promised land which is Plot ONE.HH will certainly do much better this tme around but no match to Lungu, viva Lungu and shame to critics like, Muvi tv and their baseless opinion poll together with daily reports on unpaid farmers by FRA,GBM and Masebo, your criticism is giving Edgar Joshua Lungu more solidality votes, Bravo Miles Sampa for recociling with Lungu.
bonse reposted

January 2, 2015 at 4:16 pm

not hh he’ll didvede zambia into barotse crap,ifintu ni lungu
KILLER

January 2, 2015 at 5:18 pm

Bembas seem to be the ones supporting tribalism and yet bembas and your mbuya,s have failed to proved to be good presidents, LENJES PROVED TO BE GOOD LEADERS TALK OF GREAT LEVY MWANAWASA SC,WHO CAN BE COMPARED TO HIM, CHILUBA , SATA AND BANDA. NON OF THEM SO STOP BEING STUPID COZ YOU ARE THE SAME BEMBAS WHO MADE ZAMBIA TO BE POOR TODATE. VIVA HH YOUR BROTHER MWANAWASA PROVED TO ZAMBIANS.HH PRESIDENT FOR ZAMBIA COME 20TH JAN
blackbull

January 2, 2015 at 5:26 pm

unless tpo take over from cobra you wrote this artcle with a view to tell lies the truth which now majority of zambians have chosen hh is the answer pf was rejected long time ago before king snake died the one who told us that his ministers are useless . let them deny this . prof you have seen thier stupidity on how to decide to take over from cobra. to hell with pf forward with progressive party to take zambia forward hh man of the people go west east north or south name it.
PanAfricanist

January 2, 2015 at 5:37 pm

EL
Ken

January 2, 2015 at 6:21 pm

I love this article.

Please allow me to print it and distribute to Zambians on other media.
20.01.15

January 2, 2015 at 8:36 pm

HH has no ability to unite Zambians.Edgar is the only candidate who is able to achieve that,others will take all resources in one province
20.01.15

January 2, 2015 at 8:50 pm

HH want to put the good tribe of Tonga into disrepute.Let me tell u how thieves are.Those that are poor thieves they steal small items e.g a chitenge,shoes etc but RICH THIEVES STILL PROPERTIES WORTH MILLIONS.EL even if he was to steal from govt coffers it could probably a 2million kwacha rebased or less,but if its this proffessional thief HH he can steal above 200million kwacha rebased since to him a 2million is like pocket money.Do not put yo resources at risk
nkonde Edwin

January 2, 2015 at 9:55 pm

Ba DANNY PULE BALIKWI?
Humble PF

January 3, 2015 at 7:17 am

A leader who says that he wants to be President because his tribe is marginalized is a dangerous leader.

BEWARE OF SUCH A TRIBAL LEADER

AND THAT LEADER IS …
PanAfricanist

January 3, 2015 at 12:36 pm

I will vote for Lungu on the 20th Jan. In 2016 i will vote for HH subject to him (HH) maturing politically in the next 9 months.
PanAfricanist

January 3, 2015 at 12:52 pm

It was funnie to see Moron or Moreeen and Mutale Namupango crying like babies after a street fight with PF cadres. Pakwana ubunga tapaba insoni. Moron, Mutiti and Namupango know this better. This is a start. More is coming.