Zambia needs a leader who puts the nation’s welfare before their own

By CORRESPONDENT

THERE is a well-known story which amply demonstrates the wisdom of the Biblical King Solomon. The king was asked to rule between two women both claiming to be the mother of a certain child.

Calling for a sword, Solomon declared his judgment: the baby would be cut in two, each woman to receive half. One mother did not contest the ruling, declaring that if she could not have the baby then neither of them could, but the other begged Solomon, "Give the baby to her, just don't kill him!"

The king declared the second woman the true mother, as a mother would even give up her baby if that was necessary to save its life. This judgment became known as an example of profound wisdom.

However, the real hero of the story was the mother who would rather give up the child than see it harmed, passing a true test of faith, love and devotion.

In October 2014, after the death of President Michael Sata, there was a tremendous power struggle behind the scenes about who would take over the reins of power. It was obvious to almost everyone that Edgar Lungu was Sata’s chosen successor and had the constitutional right to assume the presidency for the duration of the upcoming presidential election campaign.

Nevertheless, when it came time for Lungu to pay his respects where President Sata was lying in state at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre cited the above Solomonic episode as an example of why he must step aside. He said that national security concerns and the welfare of the nation was more important than his own personal political ambitions.

“I love the people of Zambia….I therefore wouldn’t want to risk the peace we enjoy by holding on to power,” Lungu said, as he handed over the instruments of power to then-Vice President Guy Scott.

There is a reason why Zambia has remained one of the last few peaceful and free bastions in Africa. It is because we are blessed with leaders like Edgar Lungu.

Of course our president is not infallible but it is clear that as a good and faithful Christian, with the Bible and its teachings constantly by his side, our president is led on the right path.

The same can not be said of those who oppose him. Some, like opposition leader Haikande Hichilema, do not put nation first, but their own narrow and deficient agenda.

A case in point is the well-known international political standard that an opposition leader is free to attack the government and its policies at home but stands by their country as true and loyal ambassador when abroad.

When we as Zambians show our face to the world, when we seek greater international trade, relations, tourism and support, we must do it first and foremost as patriotic Zambians.

Hichilema should be a Zambian advocate before he is the President of the United Party for National Development.

He is also becoming more and more vociferous in actions against the government, reinserting the dangerous spectre of tribalism back into our body politic and inciting against anyone who stands in his way, regardless of the consequences.

In other words, while Lungu has demonstrated that he is the mother in the Biblical account who puts the welfare of the child before their own desires, Hichilema, it would seem, would act as the other mother who did not raise her voice at the ruling to split the child in half.

Hichilema would rather see our nation torn asunder and ripped apart even if it meant he would receive the keys to State House.

Lungu on the other hand acts as president for all Zambians, ensuring growth and development as much in areas that voted against him as in areas that voted for him.

This is what should be taken into account by Commission of Inquiry into Voting Patterns and Electoral Violence chairperson Munalula Lisimba as he tours the country.

When he was in the Dundumwezi constituency of Kalomo, the local leader, Chief Chikanta, commended President Lungu saying he was the first Zambian leader to answer the people in the Dundumwezi region’s demands for development.

Mobile communication towers, the chief pointed out, have since been installed and are operational in some parts of the constituency alongside with the upgrading of the Kalomo-Dundumwezi road which will be an all-weather standard one with the funding of the African Development Bank under the Climate Resilience project.

This is Lungu’s testament of dedication to his people. Regardless of whether there is political capital to be gained, he will raise the development level of the whole country.

This is the difference between a leader and a politician, and the difference between one who would rather wield no power but live in a united and progressive Zambia and one who would rather grab power even if the cost is a splintered and undeveloped nation.