NEVERS MUMBA WRITES:
POLITICS:
While multiparty democracy entails a tangle between the ruling party and the opposition, it should never slip into unreasonable toxic politics that eventually hurts the ordinary citizen whose interests we claim to represent. Politically, Zambia is in a bad place and headed in a wrong direction. We call on all political players to reconsider our ways and return to responsible politics.
We are all agreed that life has become unbearable for most Zambians, but we must also not behave as though this is the first time Zambia has faced economic challenges. The UPND must not be shy to inform the Zambian people as to the source of our current economic woes and the several interventions they are making to mitigate these economic problems. Effective communication is cardinal in maintaining peace and order in the nation.
Zambians from the four corners of our nation are facing huge social challenges. The cost of living has negatively affected the very weak of our society. Families are disintegrating as a result of social pressures. The youth continue to struggle to find a way they can stay alive under the economically troubled times. Statistics reveal that suicide rate amongst the youth has risen to alarming levels. Jobs are hard to come by. Although these challenges are not only restricted to Zambia alone, it nevertheless contributes to instability in the nation.
The high cost of essential commodities like mealie meal, cooking oil, foodstuffs has aggravated the social status and security of the nation.
Any party in government that finds itself in this situation will face relentless criticism. To day, the UPND continues to suffer the backlash of this anger from citizens but lethally packaged by opposing political leaders.
UPND needs to have an ongoing conversation with the nation and create hope that if we all hold together, we shall see a better tomorrow. UPND must generate hope in the midst of despair. Leaders are dealers in the commodity of HOPE. Beyond hope however, UPND must pull all their resources together and find a short term solution to mitigating the high cost of mealie meal while waiting for a long term solution. THE CURRENT STATUS QUO CANNOT BE SUSTAINED IN 2024.
While multiparty democracy entails a tangle between the ruling party and the opposition, it should never slip into unreasonable toxic politics that eventually hurts the ordinary citizen whose interests we claim to represent. Politically, Zambia is in a bad place and headed in a wrong direction. We call on all political players to reconsider our ways and return to responsible politics.
We are all agreed that life has become unbearable for most Zambians, but we must also not behave as though this is the first time Zambia has faced economic challenges. The UPND must not be shy to inform the Zambian people as to the source of our current economic woes and the several interventions they are making to mitigate these economic problems. Effective communication is cardinal in maintaining peace and order in the nation.
Zambians from the four corners of our nation are facing huge social challenges. The cost of living has negatively affected the very weak of our society. Families are disintegrating as a result of social pressures. The youth continue to struggle to find a way they can stay alive under the economically troubled times. Statistics reveal that suicide rate amongst the youth has risen to alarming levels. Jobs are hard to come by. Although these challenges are not only restricted to Zambia alone, it nevertheless contributes to instability in the nation.
The high cost of essential commodities like mealie meal, cooking oil, foodstuffs has aggravated the social status and security of the nation.
Any party in government that finds itself in this situation will face relentless criticism. To day, the UPND continues to suffer the backlash of this anger from citizens but lethally packaged by opposing political leaders.
UPND needs to have an ongoing conversation with the nation and create hope that if we all hold together, we shall see a better tomorrow. UPND must generate hope in the midst of despair. Leaders are dealers in the commodity of HOPE. Beyond hope however, UPND must pull all their resources together and find a short term solution to mitigating the high cost of mealie meal while waiting for a long term solution. THE CURRENT STATUS QUO CANNOT BE SUSTAINED IN 2024.
DEMOCRACTIC SPACE
The health of any democracy depends on the free exercise of the God given Freedom of speech. Freedom of expression. Freedom of religion. Freedom of assembly and association. Right to equal protection of the law.
These are freedoms that must never be denied to any Zambian. These are fundamental rights regardless of political party or tribe. MMD will never abandon its fight for the protection of these rights. We therefore urge government and all state institutions charged by law in safeguarding these rights to do so in fairness and in the fear of the Lord. Any suspension or abrogation of these rights will always fuel instability and lawlessness in the country.
I wish to comment on the mantra, “SHRINKING DEMOCRATIC SPACE.” The UPND government has been accused of having shrunk the democratic space in the nation. We are of the view that this mantra is inappropriately used and a misrepresentation of the current situation. You can only shrink something that was in existence before. In our case, democratic space had been suspended and frozen in the PF era. MMD is ready to testify in any court having been one of the leading victims of suspended democratic space under the PF. In our view, the mantra should be, “UPND please “RESTORE THE SUSPENDED DEMOCRATIC SPACE.” Our assessment is that the freedoms existing now are incomparable to what existed under the PF. Democracy is an ongoing experiment. We cannot claim that all the freedoms are available to everyone at any given time. It is for this reason we must always keep fighting for what belongs to us. Where any of our freedoms are infringed upon, we must raise our voices or take the recourse of the law and go to court in order to stop the injustice.
The MMD shall insist on the full restoration of all freedoms in 2024 as enshrined in our constitution.
The health of any democracy depends on the free exercise of the God given Freedom of speech. Freedom of expression. Freedom of religion. Freedom of assembly and association. Right to equal protection of the law.
These are freedoms that must never be denied to any Zambian. These are fundamental rights regardless of political party or tribe. MMD will never abandon its fight for the protection of these rights. We therefore urge government and all state institutions charged by law in safeguarding these rights to do so in fairness and in the fear of the Lord. Any suspension or abrogation of these rights will always fuel instability and lawlessness in the country.
I wish to comment on the mantra, “SHRINKING DEMOCRATIC SPACE.” The UPND government has been accused of having shrunk the democratic space in the nation. We are of the view that this mantra is inappropriately used and a misrepresentation of the current situation. You can only shrink something that was in existence before. In our case, democratic space had been suspended and frozen in the PF era. MMD is ready to testify in any court having been one of the leading victims of suspended democratic space under the PF. In our view, the mantra should be, “UPND please “RESTORE THE SUSPENDED DEMOCRATIC SPACE.” Our assessment is that the freedoms existing now are incomparable to what existed under the PF. Democracy is an ongoing experiment. We cannot claim that all the freedoms are available to everyone at any given time. It is for this reason we must always keep fighting for what belongs to us. Where any of our freedoms are infringed upon, we must raise our voices or take the recourse of the law and go to court in order to stop the injustice.
The MMD shall insist on the full restoration of all freedoms in 2024 as enshrined in our constitution.
No comments:
Post a Comment