By Hjoe Moono
We have talked about the state of the economy and governance in general. Today, we seek, from you, the reader, decision maker and opinion craftsman, your indulgent reception of our sentiments on this occasion as we attempt to voice on the current national debate regarding the constitution.
Firstly let us state from the on-set that our current government, the PF government, which is the off-shoot of our own choices from the opposition parties of 2011, is expected, and should be supported, after introspection within itself regarding the expectations of the people with regards the constitution, to have a just claim to our confidence and unyielding support.
While the current state of affairs surrounding the constitution debate seem to provide political capital for interest groups outside government, especially the opposition political parties, let us not forget our national responsibility as citizens, whether in the ruling party or not, to have respect for the current government’s authority, and our duty to comply with its laws, which have governed us before the current regime’s rise to power.
To the government, there is a dire need and call from seemingly most citizens, for the government’s need to be aware, and we remain confident that the government is aware that one of the key fundamentals of our political system is the right of the people to make and alter their constitution of governance. However, until changed by an explicit and authentic act of the whole nation/population or by its representatives, our current constitution remains sacred and obligatory upon all Zambians.
We have heard, and read media reports of some chiefs from a selected region disagreeing with the draft constitution (which is yet to be made officially public) and vehemently rejecting it (as reported by a private newspaper). We feel that it is rather unfortunate that a matter of national importance such as the constitution should be left to be determined by a minority group of individuals or party ignoring the national desires and aims.
We have also heard the Hon. Minister of Justice emphasise that the constitution is just one of the many projects the PF had in line for the Zambian people. While this is adorable, it may be prudent that our government realises that the constitution which the Zambian people are advocating for is one that will outlive all parties and leaders. One that will reflect not a party ideology but a national ideology. As such, it must be differentiated from a PF party programme and be made a national programme, one where non-PF members are expected to participate and lay forth a stronger foundation for the future of our nation. Such a constitution has been elusive since 1964, but now, more than ever, the PF as the government in power has the greatest opportunity to set Zambia on a path never seen before. Let us not let this great opportunity evade us as it did the MMD.
Let the issue of the constitution be an all national matter, rather than that of a party. With that in mind, if the PF handles this in an ill manner as it is currently being perceived, it will be deemed to be a party that will have put the will of a political party in place of the will of the nation, Zambia. The PF leadership may further be deemed, and perhaps rightly so, to have been a party that was initially highly ambitious preaching what the nation needed and managed to grab for themselves the reins of government, and destroying afterwards the very instruments and support which have lifted them into the domain of power and governance.
Notwithstanding that, we have every belief and confidence, that we as the general populace ought not to perceive the PF in such light, and as such, we ought to give them the support and confidence they deserve to deliver and protect the constitution, a people driven constitution. For us to move as such, however, it is important that public opinion on the working of government with regards the constitution is enlightened. The government would do well, as requested consistently, to provide a clear roadmap on the state of the constitution which has already been submitted in draft form and has been accessed publicly, albeit unofficially.
Calls by some traditional leaders to reject certain clauses or the entire draft constitution as reported in the media should not be entertained by all Zambians. Furthermore, we should not entertain leaders and groupings, whether political parties or NGOs or indeed publications, be it public or private, which excite a belief that there is a real difference of local and regional views in our vast and diverse nation.
One of the greatest dangers to our already well knit society is the expediency of political parties, NGOs and newspapers with vested interests and subnational leaders to acquire and sustain influence in particular regions and audiences and then misrepresent the opinions and ambitions of other regions and audiences. The ensuing misconceptions, hurt, mistrust and dislike from such misrepresentations have the potential to distance or breed hatred among those who ought to be bound by already existing friendly affection.
With that in mind, let us all accept that a government for the whole country is indispensable to the continued unity and development of our oneness as Zambians. No alliances nor pacts, no matter how strict and strong, based on regional bases can be adequate substitutes to the government.
The calls for alliances we are hearing in the opposition will inevitably fall after experiencing the interruptions all alliances and pacts have experienced in our country, those arising from greed without a clear plan for the nation ahead.
With all the above said, let us also add that we have to work together nationally, irrespective of our origins and orientation otherwise we won’t be able to solve the problems that affect us all in our country. I think it is important for people to learn from the lessons of our past, and make sure that we are in fact making ourselves a better country out of it, and not turning backwards.
We need to endeavour to make our country a place we can all be proud of and happily pass on to our children and our grandchildren. We all have the privilege of living in a diverse country, and such diversity should be cherished by all, for if well harnessed, it will make possible a life of extreme happiness and no regrets by all for all.
Our forefathers collectively fought racism. The independence we enjoy today in Zambia was a work of joint national effort irrespective of tribe or region of origin, gender or any social orientation, but of common dangers, suffering and ultimate national success. Our forefathers fought colonialism as one.
Surely, we should be ashamed of ourselves today to begin to fight one another on the basis of the language we were introduced to at birth; on the basis of our exposure to education, and on the basis of our traditional beliefs and ethnicity.
We still have many common enemies that attack and kill us all, these: Hunger. Poverty. Disease and illiteracy. Just as we collectively fought racism and colonialism, we should feel compelled to fight these, and not create a further enemy in the name of ethnic regionalism, which seems to be the new drug on the market. Let us avoid the cool danger of tolerating such even in our thoughts.
While it seems to be the last resort of defence for many in public discourse, such have a tendency to raise unnecessary and imaginary tensions in our well blended and crafted society. You have no idea just how many things in common we have compared to the perceived difference we create. Let us all work on our commonalities to better our country, our society, with genuine unity.
Post and pre-election, the policies and programmes of the victor party and government affects us all, and if positive, these must be supported by all, and if negative, they must be condemned by all. These are the checks and balances that are the responsibility of us all, whether in government or in the opposition, irrespective of race, gender, education status or region of origin.
We must not allow interests groups with an agenda to discredit the positive development emanating from the current government, and likewise, we must not allow those that spearhead and support government programmes and policies that may not yield positive benefits to the majority of citizens.
But as we speak for and against our government, let us not do so with moderation, let us speak, with strong conviction, with the loudest voice of support and criticism we have in us. It is the only way a listening government will hear us, if we do not have one that reads. Remember, Zambia will outlive us all.
This the most uniting article I ever read from a Zambian. Indeed let us prepare this country for young Zambians being born even today. Whichever region one comes from, what is important is that we are Zambians. Let us not personalize the issue of the Constitution. A good constitution will be the base for fighting all the ills, such as poverty, diseases, illiteracy and many others. The initial step is a good constitution to fight these ills and not the other round. I hope stakeholders to the process of enacting the constitution will read and appreciate this article. You have made my day.
Very colloquial: “Firstly let us state from the on-set that our current government, the PF government, which is the off-shoot of our own choices from the opposition parties of 2011, is expected, and should be supported, after introspection within itself regarding the expectations of the people with regards the constitution, to have a just claim to our confidence and unyielding support.”
Only a retard can support a gang of thieves masquerading as a government
True! True! We need our constitution now.
What a brilliant article! Its well written in a balance manner to cater for all interest groups in our imaginary divided country due to political expediency. It outlines exactly what we need to adhere to as we fight our common ever elusive enemies; Hunger, illiteracy , disease , and crime. These enemies are far more dangerous to us all than the artificial and imaginary enmity we create out of tribalism and regionalism as perpetrated by Mmembe and his past paper.
Much as we accept that we ought to support the PF in its efforts to better our lives, we must not let our selves be indoctrinated with absurd ideals meant to protect the PF political elite to commit crimes with impunity.This country belongs to us all and no tribal grouping should claim to be better than the other politically.
That said we should not relent in our fight to have our constitution, the only document of law that will guarantee a conducive environment for us all irrespective of which tribal or political inclinations we belong to. The new draft constitution is an equaliser we need right now to ensure that no individual abuses any form of political power with impunity as is the case with Sata and his PF.
Sata has a chance to turn his political fortunes around if he listens to the demands of his ultimate employers the voters , more especially the poor by doing the right things for the right reasons not for political expediency.
By engaging all the stake holders in an honesty debate the current government can manage to reduce the escalating price of essentials and reduce the cost of living crisis.
@Wanzelu and others. I have been alive for more than half a century. other than in political njuga, I yet have to meet anyone who claims to be superior because of their ethnicity. Or else how come many Bembas are just as happy to marry theirs sons and daughters to Luvale, Lozi and Tonga young people and vice versa. Today it is most common to have Mulenga Kazhazi, Moono Lungu, Mutale Habeenzu etc.
I salute the author of this unification treatsie. Let us be wary of politicians who shout tribalism the loudest but sleep with wives from the so called ‘bad’ tribes. It reminds me of a certain private media owner who until recently was married to a lady from a tribe he has apartheid like labelled bantustan! The hypocrisy….is amazing but also destructive.
75% OF zambian’s can neither READ nor write , how do you expect them to understand a CONSTITUTION Let alone even to pronounce this word how many can pronounce it and U call it a national ISSUE? no this issue is to be handled by few Elite in this CASE THE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE, EXECUTIVE AND USELESS MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, then go flat out to VILLAGERS TO EXPLAIN MALAMULO ABOMA LA ZAMBIA
Official statistics at the CSO indicate that more than 60% of Zambians are literate. Also that Zambia’s total population is distributed as follows: 60.5 percent (7,923,289) were in rural areas and 39.5 percent (5,169,377) were in urban areas. Therefore the critical mass of the population is literate. Whether they are interested in reading the constitution is a different matter.
We WANT THE CONSTITUTION WE HAVE PAID FOR WITH OUR TAXES! NOW!
Sata, you and your PF must go on National TV and National radio and tell the Zambian people exactly HOW, WHEN, and WHERE you are going to give us the the CONSTITUTION as you promised!
No more LIES, CHEATING, DELAYING and BLAMING OTHERS. This is the job we employed you to do.
If you are so USELESS that you cannot do such a simple thing as receive a document months after it has been published on the internet, GET OUT of State house.
YOU ARE FIRED!
Out bust and tempers does not pay. The reality is the govt has no money to sponsor a refurendum. It is amazing some people were complaining of waiting money on the Tech committee, after the draft, demand for inactment is overwhelming but without thinking of the cost.
Thanks Hjoe. To others read and understand. Ignorance is not a defence.
This is a GREAT ARTICLE EVER WRITTEN in reccent past. Its interesting. Wht a Unifier ???
@ Mutale Sengelebwe thts a Great analysis.
Have a Great day. You ve made my day.
History shows how whites came to Africa,grabbed land,extracted minerals,sold people as slaves etc. Many of these vices are still rampant even today e.g KCM. We`re too docile or perhaps too peaceful. Any person of influence be it black or white can exploit and enjoy our wealth as we watch.If we were white folks, Sata would be in the history books by now. Our DNA and brain structure was created to obey. “Sons of cain”. That`s why we accept a religion which the whites themselves have trashed and yet they convinced us to accept it. Africans need DNA alteration if we are too think and act like our counterparts in the developed word. Even Sata knows this, and am sure he is not moved at all by this constitution talk. From 1964 , all we have done is talk and no action. Why?.our DNA is very…
I salute the writer for the time and effort invested in the article. However I hope he lives among us here in Zambia and understands well that the PF government is arrogant and does not deserve our respect at all. As the old saying goes RESPECT IS EARNED, through noble ways.
Today we have an extension of the PF – the Post newspaper – inciting division over the constitution by picking on a negligible article in the draft constitution and spurring chiefs to reject the entire document that cost the nation a fortune in time and finances. This is the most stupid thing any serious Zambian can ever do to this country. If Mmembe and his colleagues in PF have a second country they should leave an intact and respectable Zambia to us who only have Zambia as our motherland.
us who voted for PF are not complaining about the constitution but why ba opposition ba katolela
It should not surprise anybody that the author of this article is a Daniel Monkombwe-type of conciliatory Tonga. Had he any Bemba blood running through his veins, he would have been more of a straight shooter.
There is no question as to what is at stake – a constitution, full stop! Demanding for this constitution is not a crime. This ‘KWA AND KWE’ type of beating about the bush is gullible and is what distinguishes a Tonga from a Bemba.
The chiefs yapping against enactment of the draft constitution are just a bunch of useful *****s who have been participating in the constitutional review process for their bellies and pockets. Had it not been so they would have realised that the Article in question has always been there in the draft constitution even during the national and provincial conventions. Why see it now?
They also need to be reminded that even now land is vested in the President. Had it not been so the recent decree by the PF government stopping chiefs from alienating land would have been of no effect.
Another issue they should note is that what the Past newspaper or Mmembe in particular is not telling them or they are so dull not to see article 297. (1) of the draft constitution leaked by the Watchdog says…
…….”Land shall be delimited and classified as State land, customary land and such other classification,as prescribed”. This article and others on land are linked to the lands Act which stipulates how land is administered.
Above all these yapping chiefs are really dunderheads because they don’t even know that section 3 of the Lands Act, Cap 184 already vests all land in Zambia in the President.
By the way let them tell us which constitution they are referring to since the President and his cohorts are saying they have not yet received the document and the one leaked by online media is said not to be the final draft by the TC.
Bembas seem to have the knack at getting what they want by asking for it unabashedly. By contrast, Daniel Arap Monkombwe clan’s Achilles heel is their frenzy for archaic diplomacy.
Nkumbula’s gentlemanly was his undoing. Ironically, Kapwepwe wrested the vice-presidency from Kamanga by marshalling Tonga support, a feat no Tonga is able to replicate.
Mazoka was a stalwart in UPND. While he was unfazed by cheap diplomacy; and not known to have been a victim of its ill-devised entrapping, Chiluba, a Bemba did outwit him and snatched his hard-earned presidency by rigging.
Take away the 50% + 1 clause from this new constitution and you will see a smiling Sata giving you the constitution tomorrow. It’s the math in this constitution that is his dilemma.