POSITIVE VIBRATIONS
Impact of extremism on Institutions – Part II
NO 175
ASI wrote last week, the scourge of radicalism, “is a dilemma born out of extremism or fundamentalism. Extremists will not see anything wrong in promoting and supporting a wayward agenda. If anything, they will be quite comfortable to call t another r endly’
name, representing a familiar programme.”
Last week, I indicated that what I have reproduced earlier, is part of the problem in our land. Without going out of our borders, an example of an extremist or fundamentalist is the late Adamson Mushala.
What was the Mushala rebellion all about? What did it achieve? More important, what was the material and human cost of this rebellion that went on for so long?
Angola had its fair share of rebels in a political movement called UNITA, led by the late Dr. Jonas Savimbi. That civil war left many innocent souls maimed! Nigeria is struggling with Boko Haram, Sudan was host to the Janjaweed Militia. The US had its double bite of the racist Ku Klux Klan and the opposing Black Panther movement. The list goes on.
Most of these examples were seized with political problems borne out of dangerous emotions of superiority or inferiority (sic) complexes. (Those who followed Rhodesia’s racist Prime Minister Ian Smith
will recall his statements to the effect that “Not in my life; will a black man rule over me.”
We all know that the Lancaster House talks and the battle of Chimurenga, proved Ian Smith wrong. He ate humble pie, making the point that extremism, no matter how protected, is futile and a danger to truth and humanity).
It is interesting and of great importance to note that these man-made extremist/ fundamentalist movements; were arrested and stopped by the powerful stamp of legal processes, supported by the rule of law. Remember, law is not what you want it to be, but what it is!
So, from where I stand, I do not see any alternative to strong institutions and the rule of law! No man/woman, no matter how sophisticated can ever argue or think that he/she is more powerful than the State. (Well; this type of damaged thinking is not unavailable. Some think it is possible. But this thinking is extremely faulty, fallacious and an example of unreasonableness).
Today, I would like us to examine our persona and character. Our belief systems and our practices; inclusive of how we relate and deal with public good. I have taken this route because, I have come across quite a few human beings who when clothed with power and authority, do not change their way and manner of interacting and doing things. They remain humble and sometimes get abused by the heartless!
I am also beginning to suspect that our society in general tolerates and somewhat accommodates corrupt and strange practices, such as greed, larceny and irresponsibility.
Some of the people, who oppose Government or attack individuals serving in the government, do not do so out of genuine and patriotic concern. Their strategy appears to be making the guys in the government look bad.
In this way, they reckon they can win the hearts of the less informed and take over the government machinery to do the very things they condemn, when outside Government. I have seen it over and over! It is a meaningless narrative of deception.
We need to put the record straight though and not be drowned in the pedestrian understanding or views. Strictly speaking, there is nothing such as the Kaunda government, the Chiluba government, the Mwanawasa government, the Banda government, the Sata government and the Lungu government.
This just refers to an era or epoch. The correct term, which we could use in the current era is the Lungu (HE. ECL) Administration, or the government of the day.
Rebels without a cause!
These are many. They have different characteristics and different agendas. They are willing to go to any length, inclusive of manufacturing lies, deception and disseminating false information, to achieve dubious goals. US President, Donald Trump calls it fake news and others such as the mainstream media, call it negligent reporting or “gutter Journalism.”
Some rebels are in academia, where the apex is Professor Emeritus wrapped in accolades of acclaimed results and achievements. Some are business gurus who have harvested justly or unjustly.
Some are accomplished gangsters of note. Some are members of serious cults and justify their ways. Some are pretenders, like a hyena in sheep’s skin and form a significant ensemble.
A good number of our people are on the receiving end of cruelty. Our people are mostly good guys. A friend of mine in Atlanta, United States once said, “Ngande, good guys come last.” I suspect he was right to a large extent!
The media in general has been in the front-line exposing ugly scenes and incidents, such as graft, sectarianism, money laundering, and prostitution, out-right theft, bank robberies, forgeries etc. This is almost every day of the week, the year... What does this mean? Can we say that we have been starved of information in this era of information explosion?
Of course, we have a problem with fake news as well as the exhibited irresponsibility on the Information High Way (social media). The major concern is this: Given all the rot and challenges we know, what are we doing and why are we swimming with sharks or indeed moving in a jungle, home to lions and other dangerous animals?
My take is that part of the problem is that we en oy finger pointing. e point fingers at the leadership, in particular the President and his Cabinet. We forget about the rest of us. That each of us, has a duty and there are expectations of what each man and woman must contribute to society.
Reports from known institutions point to the problem of corruption among police officers. ell and good. ho offers a bribe and who refuses to ensure that their car has valid insurance, that each driver has a valid licence that each driver observes all the traffic rules The list goes on.
Attendance at our churches on Saturdays and Sundays are quite impressive. The pews are mostly full to capacity and actually many churches are expanding. In these churches are members of society – some who are tasked with carrying out major assignments for our country. The preachers have talked about wrong doing and addressed vices such as corruption. This immediate last paragraph is an indictment to Zambians and the Church in particular. How can we be such a prayerful lot, a peace loving Christian nation but deep in reported wrong doing, such as graft? It simply does not add up!
When individuals, who form part of an institution, are severally and individually involved in wrong doing, NO institution can carry out its mandate effectively. So, the short end of it all is that the strength or indeed weakness of an institution begins with the individual self.
From this angle, I do not agree at all with anybody who ridicules the Presidency. I do not agree with anybody who chooses to undermine the health, integrity and strength of Zambia by careless talk and defamatory remarks against political leaders.
This is more so since some of the detractors are also actually vying to provide leadership to this country. It may make sense for a politician or civic leader to criticise but/and not undermine the country or its leadership through manufacturing false information, ineptness and in unfortunate instances issuing hate based insults.
Again, I ask, if one makes undermining institutions a pre-occupation and strategy by “recruiting” followers and soliciting support, how can we have strong institutions? What does such a hostile, dangerous and unreasonable strategy mean in concrete terms?
There is absolutely nothing wrong with any person expressing themselves in any manner they choose. The riders of reasonableness and the four corners of the law, stand as a guide all the time! For avoidance of doubt, the law is never designed to protect or promote any individual, but society. The law is just as much for the individual as it is for society. Proponents of strong institutions must see the central position of the law as a tool that can in many ways moderate our society. In this respect, and this respect alone, it does not and will not help for the powerful institution of the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to be caught up in political upheavals.
For LAZ to be a force and anchor of law reform, it must use its Constitutional right to litigate, sparingly and with great caution in favor of public policy. I make this statement cautiously and with the full knowledge that there are many ways of resolving disputes.
One becomes a rebel without a cause, when they engage in any activity, which is not only dubious but an activity which offends stability/humanity. Yes you have a right to dress as you wish, but society imposes a standard on you and that is how it is.
When government makes its budget through the Treasury, there is no budget line for theft or any other illegalities. The immediate implication is that whereas theft is actually a crime and therefore illegal, it is not expected that an officer, who is actually a Trustee, will cheat.
What was the Mushala rebellion all about? What did it achieve? More important, what was the material and human cost of this rebellion that went on for so long?
The media has been in the frontline exposing ugly scenes and incidents, such as graft, sectarianism, money laundering, and prostitution, out-right theft, bank robberies, forgeries etc.
See you next week. Comments: ngandem12@ gmail.com Cell/SMS 0977776191