Opposition political parties should provide checks and balances

ZAMBIA reverted to a multiparty state in 1991 under the leadership of late Frederick Titus Jacob Chiluba fondly referred to as FTJ.

A multiparty state is one where there are many political parties participating in the governance system of the country’s affairs. This is important in that people will stand to benefit if things go well.

The common feature in a multiparty system of governance is that the divergent views will be at play. Having said that, it is evident that the opposition political parties will not support everything that the ruling party does.

In an event of the ruling party doing things that do not please the people, it is the role of the opposition parties to provide the checks and balances. This is important by virtue of making the ruling party accountable. Providing checks and balances entails making justifiable criticism so that the ruling party can put things in the clear perspective. The ruling party can rectify its mistakes and do the right thing.

However, it is unfortunate that some opposition parties don’t mean well by criticising the government of the day for the sake of doing so. There is no political sense to oppose everything the ruling party does. In another vein, it is not right for the ruling party to refuse every piece of advice offered by the opposition. Serving people is the main reason for the existence of the various political parties in the country. The point worth noting is that Zambia is bigger than any political party.

What is certain is that there can only be one ruling political party at any given time mandated to run the affairs of the country. Suffice to say, no one should usurp power to ascend to the national leadership, the presidency. To narrow it down, the opposition parties should always strive to contribute towards the governance of the national affairs. They can do this by making credible criticism that is to say they should offer tangible solutions. On the other hand, the ruling party should accommodate the good ideas from the opposition.

When the opposition and the ruling party mutually work together for the benefit of the people, unity and economic development will be achieved.