PRESIDENT VS PRESIDENCY

LAST week, I went on about the importance of Wisdom. Please where ever you are, if you have an opportunity to counsel/advise anybody, do not forget to talk about the centrality of Wisdom in human relations.

The President

So let’s talk about the Republican President, since this appears to be the most hotly debated title or if you wish subject. We have seen how hard and interesting the push is and has been for small presidents. The goings on in the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) is a case in point.

The FAZ example is good because the stakes appears to be quite high; so much so that even individuals holding Ministerial and Civic positions, have quietly added their push, pushing caution and merit aside. I wish them luck!

Here, the issue is about the Republican President. Formally, his or her name is preceded by the title “His Excellence.” The incumbent President, as I have indicated before is His Excellence, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, abbreviated as ECL.

Zambians elect any of their qualifying candidates sponsored by a Political Party to the Position of Republican President. The Republican President is a President for all Zambians, including those who have never voted for him and have never supported him. He is a President, even for Prisoners as long as they are Zambian citizens, legal residents and immigrants alike. He is a President, for tall, short, poor, rich, intelligent, dull, young and old etc; including those Zambians who are State visitors at Chainama Mental Hospital and other such facilities.

I would classify any Zambian insulting the President as a citizen, with diminished mental faculties, requiring love. I would even ascribe the same to any person of sound mind and capacity, and/but indulges in the practice of being discourteous and demeaning to the President. But as you know, ignorance of the law is no defense!

There is no question that the President is like any other Citizen. But, we have collectively agreed, that he or she stands taller than other citizens. For instance, where ever the President is in Zambia, the Orange Flag depicting the Eagle is hoisted and responds to the wind, signifying Zambian Peace, Love, Power and National Pride. (Zambian, underlined). He/she is Head of State. So I ask, how can a Head of State not be a “property” of the State?

This is apart from the fact that TAX PAYERS – whether they vote for or against, like they do for the entire government machinery, meet the official bills of the President. In return, the President serves all Zambians without fear or favor.

Let us not run away from the bare fact that the President of Zambia, like many others, is an office created by Zambians to serve Zambians for Zambia. So, in my view, all Zambians owe a duty and have a say on the President.

As a public confirmation of this reality, at all rallies and official engagements (whether by opposition of ruling party) the National Anthem is sung, with all standing and paying homage to Zambia. This is how serious National Symbols and State power is.

Let’s get it right: The State symbols and symbolism have nothing to do with the person of Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, as such. (This is how he is refereed to now and it will be so even when he leaves office). Yes, no doubt, the line is very thin! We may argue, but that is just how the State has arranged its protocols which underpin civilized nationhood. If you check and care to appreciate; the minute details of Statecraft, will reveal that the Vice President’s car, besides the motorcade, wears a Flag which is different from that of Cabinet Ministers.

Note that the first Zambian to be elected to the office of Republican President, is Dr. Kenneth Buchizya Kaunda. Then came Dr Fredrick Jacob Titus Chiluba, then Dr. Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, then Dr. Rupiah Bwezani Banda, then Mr

Michael Chilufya Sata and now, the incumbent, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. The international community and other Zambians must actually note that this pattern of leadership represents order, peace and stability; matching towards democratic maturity.

It is often said that “facts are stubborn”. True! You can never change the above reality, created by no other, but Zambians.

Lastly Zambians accepted and have since crafted a Constitutional order, which provides for the Constitution and other subordinate legislation. We have, as part of our democratic Agenda, collectively embraced the rule of law!

I have belabored the point before that democracy is not perfect. For instance, no right is absolute! Wisdom becomes a great campus to navigate through societal dynamics, which include a litany of emotions as we have seen over Bill 10. Trust me, there is nothing new! Zambian will go on and all I pray for is success, peace, love, unity and stability.

The Presidency

I call this the “center pivot of power”. Each country has its center; and it makes or breaks. For this reason, I have never understood why individuals take oath before the President or his/her delegate, only to repudiate such oath, arising out of political convenience. Why should a former Cabinet Minister be throwing stones at his or her former administration, when both (Him/her Vs government) owe a duty of care?

I am also aware of those who hold office only for convenience but do not believe in collective responsibility. This concern must be articulated simply because, when any such are part of the mighty Presidency and do otherwise, potential danger is imminent. (A Wise leader, will put up with political tantrums/gymnastics, but navigate the plane through the clouds and land it safely).

The Republican President is the Head of State and Government and sits at the helm of the Presidency. So who constitutes the Presidency? There are several layers. First the President and his Vice; who are supported by several professionals drawn from the general government machinery. Even at this level, there are circles of power and influence – formal and informal. Then there is the Second formal layer of power representing Cabinet Ministers, who are supported by Permanent Secretaries and other technocrats.

In between is a very powerful coordinating and controlling center, headed by the Secretary to

Cabinet. Note that the Permanent Secretary and Chief Executive Officers of quasi governmental bodies somehow answer to Secretary to the Cabinet, as well as other formal governmental bodies.

Here or there about, are the powerful security wings, who are the holders and keepers of State power! The commander in Chief happens to be the Republican President, as indicated above. Much can be said about this layer of State power, but suffice to state; it is another center of power headed by the Commander in Chief. It should be clear to all therefore that throwing stones that intend to disrupt law and order are a direct assault on security wings. (It was thus right and in order for the President to have taken an uncompromising stance on development that undermines security, in his recent address to Parliament).

The spider role and expansiveness of the President and Presidency is such that it reaches deep in all the ten provinces of Zambia. The President and Presidency is present in all districts of Zambia through relevant government structures and all the corners of Zambia – 752,000 sq kms; represent the country’s landmass and the Constituency of the Head of State or President.

In short, the Presidency is arranged by a long chain of authorities and functionaries, with different spans of control and power. It begins from the Apex, where the Presidency and his/her Staff sits and is supported by his/ her Vice President (the immediate in Command), Cabinet Ministers, Security Chiefs, Permanent Secretaries, Other Senior government officers and the list goes on till the lowest. That is the government machinery for you. It is more than the hierarchy of power outlined above because government, though transparent, operates on a need to know basis.

The Presidency is the bedrock of peace and National Unity. It is not expected that anyone in the broader picture, can conduct himself or herself in a capricious manner that undermines stability and National Unity.

There is plenty reason to understand and appreciate some of the pedestrian comments that are thrown around. These comments are really opinions and when they are carried in any media, that media house “takes over” and “owns the damage a reckless comment causes.”

I still have to get any explanation as to why, some Zambians connived and wotked with less informed souls that the Zambian government, had sold Zesco, the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, etc to the Chinese government. (It is the hate, and warped understanding of China, all because of propaganda that the world is reacting to the Coronavirus in the manner it is. We thought it was a Chinese problem until other nationalities begun to die in their backyards and not in China).

The Coronavirus pandemic highlighted here is a classical example of what happens when you base your decisions on propaganda, misinformation and disinformation regarding the President and Presidency.

It is very possible that a Zambian may choose to have founded or unfounded issues with another Zambian who holds office in government.

Freedom of expression must embrace truth!

See you next week.

We have seen how hard and interesting the push is and has been for small presidents. The goings on in the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) is a case in point.