Quibbling over trivialities
It is true, as suggested by social commentator, Dr. Kaela Mulenga that after so many years of uninterrupted peace and tranquility Zambians have lost a sense of feeling of the dangers inherent in such vices as tribalism. We are taking things for granted because we no longer see the by-product of conflicts that could cause serious national conflict and disruption.
He suggested that tribalism was one such danger which could easily upset the peace and tranquility of the nation and yet many Zambians thought the possibility of war as being farfetched. The lack of experience of war means that we did not know how to hate war but tended instead to court it in our speech, actions and mannerisms.
This analogy of tribalism can be taken to other situations where hate speech has become the norm rather than the exception.
We quibble over trivialities, dramatize issues and engage in divisive debates that are devoid of truth and substance.
In Russia President Vladimir Putin was yesterday sworn in for the 4th term.
Elsewhere German Chancellor Angele Merkel was also sworn in for the third term. In China the term limit has been removed thereby allowing current President Xi Ping to rule indefinitely.
In Uganda, President Museveni’s rule has been extended to an indeterminate period following the removal of age restriction.
In Zambia we are quibbling over whether or not our President has done a term or not to qualify for a second term.
Similarly some countries such as Venezuela are in such serious economic throes with the totally insane inflation rates as a result of economic mismanagement which has seen severe shortages of essentials resulting in mass immigration.
Venezuela is on its knees with a huge debt burden which is unlikely to be paid. In nearby Kenya the IMF had to take serious measures against the government including the suspension of a facility to force substantial fiscal consolidation, lower the deficit the country was facing.
Kenya’s total debt had risen to about 50 percent GDP from 42 percent in 2013 as it borrowed locally and abroad for major infrastructure development including the Port of Mombasa and a railway line to Nairobi.
In Zambia we are yet to present a proposal to the IMF but already pundits, critics and naysayers are already predicting that Zambia will fail and default on its loans especially repayments for the Eurobond. Our local experts present ridiculous debt scenario to appease critics and their international sponsors.
Others have predicted mayhem, if President Lungu stands in 2021. All these dire predictions are being made by Zambians many of them with the support of some international organization’s which have taken partisan stances to Zambia’s steady progress towards development and economic stabilization.
Some media have taken upon themselves the role of perpetual purveyors of doom and never for once acknowledging that great strides have been made and much more can be achieved if we as a people can unite and champion common causes enumerated within the various development goal strategies.
We can of course maintain our present divisive trajectory that will result in further strife and God forbid disintegration as a nation.
The present divide where almost half of the nation is not represented in our legislature by dint of regional division is one such telling danger which will ultimately compromise national unity and cohesion.
This divide need not have arisen if it were not for rabid power politics that have taken on ethnic dimensions that must be checked in good time because those fanning it have the means, resources and capacity to cause tremendous harm to this country, putting millions of innocent people into harms way.