POSITIVE VIBRATIONS NO 120 The Crux of the Matter
WHEN all is said and done; whether rainy, cold, sunny or dark; what Zambians yearn for, is a peaceful country, which country affords each and every citizen the opportunity to grow. President Edgar Lungu, has emphatically said that, “nobody shall be left behind.” This is the spirit and the way to go in unison. The COMESA Heads of State summit last week approved and ratified Ms Chileshe Kapwepwe, as the new Secretary-General of COMESA. Ms Kapwepwe, with an illustrious career locally and internationally, is being called to duty beyond the borders of Zambia. It is a rare fit of success that must cheer all Zambians, and in particular, all who support the Women power Agenda. It took her predecessor many years growing the entity and my expectation is that, barring nature, she will leave COMESA only when it has grown to be a very powerful entity. During this time, she deserves and requires our unflinching support to fit and expand the shoes of Sindiso Ngwenya. A holistic development, which puts emphasis on merit is the crux of the matter. By my count, Ms Kapwepwe joins the ranks of powerful women who have been called not only to make the numbers but to Africa, make trades a difference with in itself the way and say, its neighbours. It includes those with a different will value have to system. engage She and experience inevitably power is an economic broking, entity. although But COMESA who says there I am are particularly no politics in cheered economics? with this a seal appointment on my understanding because it that places beyond the gender equilibrium/reality, there is a clear emphasis on merit driven engagements. I am certain Zambian professionals or the intelligentsia needs to come to the table and ensure that a colleague/peer succeeds. My point is that intellectuals cannot and should not continue to sit on the fence and condemn this and that as though they have been officially banned from engagements of relevance and livelihood!! The world revolves around trade and commerce. According to an independent source, COMESA (Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa) is the largest economic trading block in Africa. It had until last week; 19 member states (now more) and with a population of over 389 million people (now more) and an annual import bill of around US$32 billion (now probably more) and an export bill of US$82 billion (now probably more). Given the problems of infrastructure in Africa, these figures, in particular those of populations, are probably and most likely, more than that given. Zambia, as the host country of COMESA has a duty to ensure that the COMESA trading block, grows from strength to strength. After all, the ultimate is to collapse all African regional trading blocks, into one. This stems from an equitable realisation that intra African trade, is critical to dealing with imbalanced global trade. Indeed, there is no doubt that Africa has one of the largest markets – which explains the well documented scramble for the continent, (described with several negative tags). Ms Kapwepwe like her predecessors has been invited to the table to decisively work and cooperate with other economic giants in dealing with what I consider economic terrorism. As they say, the longest journey begins, with a step and it is worth noting that the most powerful office in Zambia, that of President, has endorsed the first step, making delivery through the Zambian window, possible. With the little that I know about international politics, the appointment of Ms Kapwepwe is good for all Zambians. It has several snow- balling trappings and as a Zambian political dessert; it honours one of the country’s political giants, Mr. Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe. It is up to Zambians, to get the best out of the fact that the COMESA Secretariat, is one of the stable contributors to the Zambian Treasury! So much of the new developments at the COMESA Secretariat, the crux of the matter that we all must deal with is the expected holistic development of our region and specifically our country. This takes us to the place of real politics. Where decisions are made or not made. However we define it, it is the location of civic engagement. We have the mayoral by-election in Lusaka and we also have by-elections for the vacant Council chairpersons and others. The campaigns have intensified, yet after we vote tomorrow, only one person or candidate will carry the day. This is the power of democracy. It makes it possible for literally anybody to seek to contest positions, such as Councillor, Member of Parliament or indeed President. We must collectively address the aspect of additional costs by the Treasury as a result of the need to accommodate all candidates, whether time wasters or not. Ultimately, the people decide and I guess that is the major consideration of administrators of elections. There is a case for this issue of “free for all” to be addressed from both a technical and political point of view. Public policy cannot be seen to shy away from addressing instances, where and when democracy appears strained by personal choices and programs! Lusaka, clearly is a stronghold of the Patriotic Front because as reality holds, all the Councillors but one, (who just resigned from his party to join the PF) are PF Councillors. Whoever emerges as a mayor, would have to face the fact that apart from the PF candidate, Mr. Miles B. Sampa, the other opposition candidates, such as Ms. Saboi Imboela and Mr. Kangwa Chileshe will have to face the reality of working with Councillors that take political “instructions” from another party – the PF in particular. Local government is the local representative of central government. Delivery of services by the government is carried through local government. In this case, Councils. Given the political realities of the last 15 years or so, it is clear that effective delivery of services is affected and effected when there is an unbroken line of representation. The PF campaign of all the great campaigns, presents a strong unbroken chain and highly supportive of continuity. But, the choice is for voters and as it were, I can only advise. It is said as a political joke of a “three-piece suit” representing the President, Member of Parliament and Councillor. And, that is the reality. We see the awkwardness and disaster of wearing clashing colours of a different trousers, a jacket and a waist coat that goes with another terrible combination of a green shirt, pink tie, red socks and yellow shoes. This is the mess we would be bringing to the Zambian body politic at the civic level, if people’s choices as promoted by opposition political party players, defy commonsense, in preference for me, me and me (not national but constitutional). As a critical aspect of civic participation, we should not take local elections lightly. It is something that we should think carefully and act rationally. It is not about party A, B or C. It is what we must get out of our political investment that we made in 2016, and how we may best maximise and optimise. We have seen, heard and learnt about the challenges that the Patriotic Front government has faced in those Councils which are dominated by other political parties that are opposed to whatever the Patriotic Front does. I would care less about opposition domination per se. It only becomes a challenge and issue of serious concern, when domination becomes antagonistic and hostile. A hostile group, would see no reason in disrupting a national process because, that national process is not in synch with its desired outcome. So, these are some of the issues that the electorates, where the byelections, will be taking place must face. It is a democratic process that responds to our laws. My take is that these by-elections are a test not necessarily for the popularity of a political party; but more so whether Zambians have reached a stage where we understand that there is a difference between a national general election and a by-election. We know too well that in a by-election, nothing much changes because it responds to political and legal convenience. In a general election, we vote for everybody. We vote for the President, now inclusive of a running mate, we also vote for the Member of Parliament and Councillor. In the 2016 general elections, the Patriotic Front Party emerged victorious followed by the United Party for National Development (UPND). I will not talk about the other losing participants until they improve their showing on the Zambian political stock exchange. If I had my way, I would have recommended that the elections of this week be between the ruling PF and the opposition UPND. The UPND has always trailed and come a second to the PF and its participation would be good to gauge its readiness and ability to improve its showing in the upcoming 2021 national elections. We all know; the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) is in an alliance with the PF. All other political views considered, I would advise that the pact continues beyond 2021. Notwithstanding thorns of campaigns, winners will soon celebrate! See you next week. Comments: ngandem12@gmail. com Mobile/SMS 0977776191 and 0955776191