EMBRACE DIVERSITY
POLITICAL players must embrace unity in diversity and depart from character assassination as the country draws closer to the campaign period for the 2021 general elections.
It is time for politicians to strategize their campaigns which should be free of toxic undertones as the political temperature is rising each day that passes.
Currently, the atmosphere is tense such that if elections were to be held today, there would be intolerance while malicious falsehoods would be the order of the day.
There is so much mistrust among political nemesis.
Zambia has since independence been known as the oasis of peace not only in African but the world over, having transitioned through six presidents peacefully.
Additionally, Zambia was among the first countries that positively responded to the wind of change from late 80s to the early 90s and peacefully re-introduced a multi-party political system.
Yes, the 27-year rule under UNIP came to an end along with the communist economic set- up.
It is against such a backdrop that politicians should strive to remain peaceful and tolerant towards divergent views.
Politics must not be an avenue through which to settle scores neither must it be an occupation, but a vehicle through which individuals should offer selfless service to the country.
Players on both sides of the political divide must thus focus on serving the larger majority and not prioritising self and narrow interests.
Therefore, the focus for all genuine political players must be realigned so that ultimately service to the people can take precedent.
Once the political focus has been realigned, political discourse will naturally centre on substantive issues.
Petty discussions will be consigned to the political archives along with incorrigible characters.
There are so many topical issues that need to be addressed with levelheadedness such as the Constitutional Amendment Bill number of 2019, COVID-19 and its impact on the social and economic outlay of the country.
Other issues are the crippling external and domestic debt as well as issues affecting the youth such as moral decay, rising unemployment levels and loss of family ties. Therefore, all the above and other issues must be debated and settled in an amicable manner, putting national interest first.
All outstanding issues must be ironed out and then shift focus to the campaign for the 2021 general elections or else the country risks getting into next year with the same depressing woes.
Leaders in PF, MMD, NDC, UPND, FDD and other parties must get magnanimous enough to sit down and thrash out sticky issues instead of issuing alarming statements in the media.
At the moment, Zambians are yearning for solutions to the many challenges confronting them.
Unproductive political debates are just working to irritate the masses that are highly expectant of progressive discourse aimed at seeking solutions.
It is expected that rouble-rousers, spoilers and other political misfits will withdraw to the back seat and allow serious political players take centre-stage.
Evidently, some people have thrust themselves in the political arena as hired guns while others are simply job seekers, who are ready to shout any political slogan even if it does not make sense.
PURSUING JUSTICE AND EQUITY WITH INTERGRITY