Thursday, March 28, 2024

Competition should be based on ideas and party manifestos, SACCORD

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The Southern Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes SACCORD has advised opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy MMD and fellow opposition United Party for National Development UPND to stop their bickering and concentrate on selling their parties on a more productive platform.

SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Cheembe says though competition is health among political parties it cardinal that they do so without compromising their effectiveness in providing checks and balances to the government which is one of their co duties as government.

Mr. Cheembe also says competition must be based on ideas and manifestos which help all political parties distinguish themselves from one another and afford the electorate an opportunity to make an informed decision as to which political party is best able to address their challenges and needs.

He adds that political competition must take into consideration certain demands of democracy such includes providing checks and balances to the government.

“It is therefore important that as opposition political parties compete among themselves they do not lose touch with this very important function that they have of keeping checks and balances.

“As SACCORD we would like to advise both the opposition MMD and UPND to ensure that competition among themselves does not compromise their effectiveness as regards checks and balances on the Government of the day.”

Mr. Cheembe also noted that competition will either win them votes or lose them hence the need for the opposition evaluate on what kind of competition they would like to engage in.

“SACCORD would also like to advise that competition among opposition political parties will either help them win or lose voters. It is therefore imperative that the pros and cons of competition among opposition political parties is considered so that parties understand the benefits of such competition.

In the final analysis should opposition or political parties continue to compete it is important that Non Violent Communication (NVC) is exercised so that the language used is friendly to the electorate and helps them understand the differences between all the political parties on the political scene which helps the electorate participate effectively in the country’s democratic dispensation,”Mr. Cheembe said.

2 COMMENTS

  1. Good message. If anything both MMD and UPND need to rebrand and refine their ideologies. This is because MMD’s ideology i.e. “to usher in multiparty in Zambia” is in the rear view mirror because we have driven past that, so it is no longer relevant.
    UPND need to clearly define in a short phrase or in one sentence how it intends to drive “National Development” differently from the other Parties past and present for it to be clearly understood. For example, whenever one talks about Heritage Party, the Village Concept comes to mind and that is brilliant.

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