CIVILITY A MUST

WITH about five months before the country holds the general elections, politicians must discard toxic language and embrace civility to the hilt.

In the past, it has been a trend in the political circles for players in opposite camps to be throwing mud at one another during campaigns, resulting in violence and sometime death.

This time around, therefore, politicians in the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and those in the opposition parties must make a paradigm shift in the manner they conduct campaigns and party membership mobilisation.

It does not make much sense for a politician to get to the podium solely to throw invectives at political nemesis without any mention of development.

Therefore, political players should only expound developmental initiatives that resonate with the majority Zambians.

Firstly, leaders across the political divide must appreciate that the cost of living has skyrocketed with February inflation standing at more than 22 percent while the exchange rate is almost K22 to US$1.

It is also true that performance in critical sectors of the economy has been below par because of various factors exacerbated by the outbreak of Covid-19, which has continued exerting pressure in the health sector and elsewhere.

In particular, the tourism industry has been hard- hit because of reduced tourist inflows while exports have also plummeted because of low production and lockdowns in many countries.

Since the productive sectors are not performing well, employment opportunities have also been constricted, thus pushing poverty levels upwards.

These are the issues the politicians must be unraveling and explaining the way forward with plausible solutions.

It is time the politicians and citizens alike raised the bar in politics and public affairs as there has been too much off-target discussions.

The sticky issues can only be discussed and resolved in an environment devoid of hate-speech, malice and violence.

It is for this reason that all Zambians must only engage in constructive politics to push development forward.

In the past, time has been lost on unproductive political quarrels while disagreements have also taken much of the time even on straight forward issues.

Therefore, politicians must commit themselves to upholding peace and all tenets of democracy so that, for once, public discourse can proceed without insults.

In fact, the Republican Constitution has prescribed how political parties should conduct affairs in a manner that is civilised and all-embracing.

Article 60 (2) of the constitution states that a political party shall promote values and principles and also have a national character; promote and uphold national unity.

The article further states that political parties shall respect the rights of its members to participate in the affairs of such a political party.

Obviously, in so doing, members of the party must express their rights without resorting to diatribe against their opponents.

It is important, therefore, for all political players to acquaint themselves with the provisions of their party constitutions and the contents of the Republican Constitution.

It is also important to respect the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and all pieces of legislation pertaining to political campaigns and elections.

Some politicians have been unjustly attacking the ECZ in an attempt to undermine its integrity; this must be stopped forthwith.

They are not in competition with the ECZ but the other political parties.

A LUSAKA girl and her mother have been told that they will be tried by the High Court over a case of abortion.

In this case, the girl aged 17 and a Grade 11 pupil of Twin Palm Secondary School, is charged with her mother, Elizabeth Chinyama, 34, for abortion. It is alleged that the girl aborted her pregnancy, which was between six and eight months after Chinyama gave her some noxious stuff to terminate the pregnancy.

It is also alleged that after the abortion, the accused persons, both of Kalingalinga compound, put the foetus in a small bucket but it died as the bucket had blood and water.

In the first count, particulars of the offence are that the girl, being with a child and with intent to procure her own miscarriage, unlawfully administered to herself a noxious stuff on December 31, 2020, contrary to Section 152 of the Penal Code Chapter 87 of the Laws of Zambia.

In the second count, particulars of the offence are that on the same date Chinyama procured for her daughter a noxious thing, knowing that it was intended to be unlawfully used to procure the miscarriage of a child.

The two yesterday appeared for mention before Lusaka Magistrate Nsunge Chanda who explained the charge to them, saying the offence they are facing is only tried by the High Court and that they will wait for instructions from the Director of Public Prosecutions for committal to the High Court.

The case comes up on March 17, 2021 for another mention and possible committal to the High Court; and the accused persons’ police bond has been extended.

DESPITE business sentiment scaling to four- month high, Zambia’s business pulse slid to a six month low, according to the February Markit Economics report.

Business conditions deteriorated to a greater extent in February, driven by pandemic related factors and a weakened exchange rate widening input costs for manufacturers.

February Stanbic Bank Zambia’s Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) plummeted to 47.1 from 47.7 in the previous month, the lowest since September last year.

“Hopes that conditions would improve following the end of the Covid-19 pandemic supported confidence, with 17 percent of respondents signalling optimism,” the survey revealed.

Key drivers of the retreat included second viral wave strain resulting in ecosystem supply disruptions under the shadow of a currency depreciation.

The report revealed that February was characterised by lack of money in circulation also impacting output.

Activity fell at a substantial pace, and to the greatest extent since last August. The PMI indicated that both output and new orders decreased at a faster pace, mainly linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.

“On the price front, the PMI said, cost inflation remained relatively muted despite upward pressure from ongoing currency weakness.

“It indicated that business confidence remained relatively muted despite ticking up from that seen in December 2020,” the survey indicated.

Falling new orders meant that companies were able to work through outstanding business, despite delays caused by