ZAMBIA DEEPLY DIVIDED – HAABAZOKA
…appeals to those in government to heal the country or they risk failing to run the nation if they will continue to govern through the lens of regionalism, tribalism
“ZAMBIA has remained heavily divided since 2001! These divisions sometimes reduce, for example we were a bit united in 2011, then tensions escalated in 2016, they reduced in 2021 and now we have reached a point where people are openly talking about dividing away from Zambia,” Dr Haabazoka said.
“I would like to remind that talks over secession are treasonous in nature! In this case however, you can’t arrest the whole province. It might bring more unrest,” he said.
Dr Haabazoka, who is the former president the Economic Association of Zambia said the power to unite the country was in the hands of the people in government and that it was dangerous for citizens to begin identifying one another by political affiliation.
“You cannot develop a nation that is not pulling in the same direction. The power to unite lies with those in government! We can’t start using language like we have too many
PF people here or UPND people there or Socialist people.
A Zambian is a Zambian! Hutu and Tutsi speak the same language and just different by facial features! That’s what discrimination can do! Create enmity that leads even to genocides!” Dr Haabazoka said.
He said it had become dangerously clear that those who were identifying themselves with the UPND and those with the Patriotic Front (PF) had become different tribes and full of hatred against one another.
“They don’t mix! They don’t drink together and definitely hate each other. But these are Zambians…some of the same tribe. This division we are sowing will hurt us one day and so, it is the duty of those in government to unite the country.
How do you expect to develop Western Province when the people there do not wanna (want) work with you? How do you take development to Samfya when people from there are suspicious of you?
The starting point to development is first uniting the nation. That’s why KK (Kenneth Kaunda) emphasised One Zambia One Nation!” Dr Haabazoka said.
He advised that appointments into public service should be regionally sensitive, warning that the moment certain tribes began to feel marginalised, then those in government were creating problems.
“Lozis, Tongas and others have felt this discrimination before. Others are probably feeling it now. Retaliation is not a solution because tit for tat will only hurt those with less numbers.
Even in corporate governance, there is a principle to respect all shareholders whether minority or majority. That is the approach we should take,” Dr Haabazoka said.