By Henry Kabinga
Recent political events confirm that this country is tottering on the precipice of anarchy. The ruling party is totally divided and in disarray with this deep division extending to Cabinet, the highest executive organ of Government. Intra party violence within two major political parties is on the rise, our very existence as a peaceful nation is under threat.
It is against the above background that I welcome the statement by the Opposition members of Parliament to support a Government of National Unity via the endorsement of Hakainde Hichilema for the presidency of Zambia in the January 2015 election.
A national unity government in the two years leading to the 2016 elections is very desirable, nay, imperative under the current circumstances. The three years of PF rule have been the most divisive and antagonistic Zambia has ever seen and the current malaise is as a result of this.
These years have seen very high levels of regionalism, ethnicism, tribalism and nepotism (for the first time since independence, not a single Cabinet Minister came from North Western Province, a serious indictment on the PF). Governance in general has been very poor with mediocrity in the administration of Government institutions the norm.
A national unity Government can start the process of healing the country of the ‘violence, insecurity and mediocrity in leadership’ that the MPs in their statement alluded to. Hakainde Hichilema has promised an inclusive Government. His current campaign slogan ‘Zambia United’ is very apt for the current confusion Zambia is in.
It is appropriate that the idea of an inclusive Government that Hichilema has promised to bring is being supported by members of Parliament. Cabinet under our current constitution is appointed by the President ‘from among members of the National Assembly’. Hichilema, even by force of circumstances, will have to appoint a Cabinet made up of more than one political party meaning that all parties represented in Parliament stand a chance of being appointed. Here I would think even PF MPs can be brought on board if they are corrupt free and hardworking.
The idea being proposed above is in contrast to Elias Chipimo’s proposal of an interim ‘neutral’ or ‘non-partisan’ President. Chipimo’s novel idea though appealing is simply not supported by our current constitution and is a nullity ab initio, as our learned friends would say. Zambians should start to think of the January election as one ushering in an interim phase prior to the 2016 election when all parties can compete independently.
It is my submission that an inclusive government will start the process of healing the country, reduce the bottlenecks that a minority presidency may engender, and most importantly, will guarantee that a new, people driven constitution is ushered in before the 2016 Presidential and General election.
This is Hichilema’s undertaking. We all need to support him on this.
Thank you for this Mr. Kabinga. Any well-meaning Zambian will agree with this article. Fight for peace my fellow Zambians. Vote #FlightHH2015.
Definitely we voting for HH.
No, Thank you. Not until one has majority votes, majority number of MPs in Parliament, then you would be right. National unity can only be led by the candidate with majority votes. Let’s hope HH gets that, that’s welcome. But not as per statis quo today. Remember BY, he stormed Zambia Campaignwith his riches but never made it. Shouting alone is not good enough yet. Win the hearts and minds of majority voters then you get majority votes upon which you can make pronouncements of leading a coalition government.
Well I totally disagree why should we all support someone who wants to sell our country to foreigners.? We only have one Zambia, thus, we should guard our country at all costs…we need to scrutinise every candidate thoroughly be it Lungu or HH. We should not be emotional when making such decisions rather be rational.
So ba Henry I say no to your suggestion. If HH wont tell me why he is different from the rest am not voting for him…that’s 21 votes lost as I will influence my family.
It is delusional to suggest that HH is the man to lead a Government of national Unity particulary through the trying times between January 2015 and September 2016. It is simply too short a time for him particularly that he has never had any experience on running a Govt.
We cannot dispute that even the greatest CEO will have to take time to understand the ethos of any new organisation. Govt is no different and HH will need a lot of time and I imagine it will be Snr leaders that he will be relying upon for councel.
HH has interests beyond 2016 and we cant ignore that he will spend much time thinking about that and positioning himself for that and fighting PF and MMD while with the least MP’s in Parliament.
Any objective person would suggest RB for any Unity Govt. Makes sense
You’ve gotta love Zambia and Zambians – the only country I know of in Africa which can practically run itself without a sitting president and the military doesn’t take over! Pass the popcorn please, I’ll join you watching the drama unfold…frankly I don’t give a crap who takes up residency at “Plot 1” as long as the nation doesn’t descend into anarchy and civil war!
My kind of a Zambian.
Yes HH’s government will be like National Unity, but what HH means is a “Inclusive Government”. We may take few from PF, such as minister of foreign Affairs will be CHIKWANDA, our malume.
We may keep Yamfwa Mukanga for ministry of public works
And go to MMD and offer that Mutati some of thing we will come up with. Remember there will only be 16 ministers. So its tight basa!!
Mu Zambia kuti wapena. I’ll come back after the wrangles!
hahahahahaha
You are thinkinking like me
@ Gone West, I am coming with you, can I have a lift please?
You must be living in cuckoo land, not peaceful Zambia, with your apocalyptic treatises, Kabinga.
BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF INSIGHT. AND I BELIEVE THAT ALL ZAMBIANS ARE WAITING FOR 20 JANUARY 2015 POLLS TO USHER TO USHER IN HH’S UNITY GOVERNMENT. ALL ZAMBIANS ARE BEHIND THIS MANN HH WHO IS THE ONLY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE PREACHING UNITY AND POLITICAL HEALING IN ZAMBIA. VIVA HH VIVA!
HOW CAN UNEXPRIENCED PERSON LEAD THE UNITY GOVT.HH IS NOT SUITABLE FOR THAT AND HE WILL NEVER BE SUITABLE FOR THE UNITY GOVT, MAY BE IN MAZABUKA.
If HH canot lead unity government, who is your choice, Lungu or Sampa, RB or Nevers, FB or Chipimo…………….?
Please enlighten us why not HH?
@ Greatest,
Tribalism will kill you, yes it is very loud if one reads in between the lines of your article. Why do you have so much hatred for others? You are not even in Zambia and so you not feeling the pinch of the poverty most Zambians are wallowing in due to the current economic down-turn. Pls think with your brains for once and try to contribute positively. You may be one of the lucky few benefiting from the current family forest pseudo-govt, but remember that every Zambian needs to be able to provide for his/her family. Think my friend think.
Zambia NEED TO HEAL FOR SURE. PERSONALLY I am not happy with the TRIBALISM SATA had “awakened” into this COUNTRY.
In Chiluba there was NO TRIBALISM BUT uyu mambala(RIP) brought all this fight.
I am even failing to study properly for my End of Semester Exams.
I will FIGHT TILL the last drop of my blood.
katondo boy.
Why are you always attacking in the next zambian president HH came janury 2015.HH has really given your guys a big problem.Just tell the voters what your DRUNKEN MASTER ON LUNGU will do for this nation.
i cant even compare your lungu to HH.HH can feed the our PF ,even employing LUNGU and pay him batter than his current pay.We have taken note of you and came January 2015.we shall …… u
There you go, its not attacking. Tell me why we should vote for HH… I will tell you why I will vote for Lungu, he has been tried and tested. He has experience and also very humble. Approachable and listens to people. When did you last hear HH following other people’s advice.? does it mean HH is never wrong.? Since HH came on the political stage what has he achieved.?
@ Big L
Lungu tried and tested? Can you amplify please. It sounds like Lungu “tried” Stolichnaya and “tested” Pushkin and afterwards settled for Zhubrovka?
As to HH imposing discipline to his party, just imagine if PF had somebody like him at this particular time?
Lastly, when did late Sata (RIP) listen to anybody?
@Ales are talking about Sata or Lungu here.? You see, these names you keep calling Lungu are clouding your judgement. If talk about Lungu vs HH, Lungu has been your acting president where as HH zilch, Lungu has served in government whereas HH zero, Lungu has and is MP while HH has never even been a ward counsellor. The list goes on buddy so let us not even go there.
I agree with this selfless patriot in the name of Kabinga Mpande. Unity is the first ingredient of achieving our noble goals as a nation. Once again, I’m very proud of the selflessness being exhibited by some of our leaders like Mr. Mpande and others. Let us support HH in this election. He will ensure that the best citizens of this soil come together from every region to work for mother Zambia. I thank you!
Sorry, but you must be confusing me with someone else. Mr. Kabinga Pande is Kasempa MP while I am Henry Kabinga. All the same, thank you for your kind words of encouragement. We only have one Zambia and must jealously guard our peace and unity.
kindly include some examples of where a goverment of national unity has worked
Northern Ireland, Zanzibar
Republic of South Africa
PF until 2016. May be even further depending on how Lungu performs in these 2 years. Hh is not ripe no matter how riches he has. This is a reality. I know many of u won’t like this. But wait until 20/01/2015
@ Dikky
Lungu is READY to lead Country? Please, can you explain why?
I first suggested this idea of Government of National Unity (GNU) and I think it’s the best option for Zambia at the moment. There has been so many problems arising from the time Zambians where denied information about the illness of the late President till the time of polarisation of the political system especially the executive. These issue are not going to go away after the January elections. To think that the election will heal the Nation is naïve. Post elections will just bring out more of what is currently under the carpet. There will also be challenging and disputing of results to contain with. A GNU might be a better option to deal with what might have gone wrong pre-Sata and deal with the groundwork to prepare for elections for 2016.
Very very dully rubbish Rants. You are contradicting yourself man, how can one HH accept a National unit government when he himself has never agreed to be led by any other person besides him? His Party UPND only recognizes a Tonga as the only person who can be its president…and now you tell us that HH leads the National Unit government? Rubbish.
Don’t you know that Lungu is the next president whether you like it or not? It pains but that’s the truth.
Go hang Henery. Just ineffectively keep endorsing him..shaaaaa.
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.
And HH did make wise choice not to be led either by the Old Crook Banda and Sata (RIP).
FACTS are clear, Banda squandered his predecessor good will and re-introduced corruption which swayed electorate to support PF. PF actions in the past three years are there in plain view. Tribalism, nepotism, perpetual breaches of fundamental rights, corruption, theft, deliberate politicization of judiciary, inefficient Parliament, incompetent policing…………………………….
Why should HH make alliance with the people which have failed when in charge of the government?
Ba Henry I have a suggestion for you, how about UPND and any other party e,g MMD join hands and HH is offered Vice Presidency. Do you think HH will accept that.? despite his UPND having less MPs which should naturally make him second, he will never do that. He always wants to be the head instead of sometimes compromising for the sake of mother Zambia. HH has too much ego and therefore he can never lead a unity government.
Which faction of MMD and which other party?
Why are you always trying to disregard possibility of HH wining election?
Do you prefer continuation of PF regime just because you have issue with HH?
Ales no no I have no problem with HH except he doesn’t look trustworthy to me, he has never been tested, HH has no experience even on local ward level. So crucify me if am wrong.
but pf cadres are really dull you read their contribution you just conclude that they are fearing that they are going and end up in prisons when pf is said to be a tribal party because it has only bembas in its cabinet and foreign mission that is not tribal. upnd has a balanced tribal set up and you call it regional tribal party surely let us do away with tribalism viva hh viva upnd come 20 january 2015 then a miracle
mweba amano kaili kumiteka nafuti
WHY IS IT THAT WHENEVER POLITICAL PARTIES UNITY ONLY ONE PERSON WANTS TO BE THE PRESIDENT AND THAT IS HH? JUST IN THE RECENT PAST, POLITICAL PARTIES AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER EXCEPT UPND, WHAT REASONS DID THEY GIVE? TODAY THE SAME UPND WANTS POLITICAL PARTIES TO WORK TOGETHER AND WHO ARE THEY SUGGESTING TO BE THE PRESIDENT? THE PROBLEM IS THAT SOME PEOPLE THINK WE HAVE ONLY ONE PERSON WHO CAN LEAD ZAMBIA WHICH IS WRONG. SOME OF HIS TRIBESMATES HAVE ALREADY STARTED BOASTING THAT NOW WE ARE TAKING OVER AND POSITIONING THEMSELVES FOR SOME POSTS. LETS WAIT AND SEE BUT I HOPE MANY WONT BE DISAPPOINTED. ESPECIALLY CADERS.
It is difficult to see how this idea of unity government can work, while the opposition are orchestrating anarchy and division in the ruling party. HH has created an image through his actions in the period MCS was president. Then there is the South African cartel. Who will trust those associating with that cartel? The unity government is a pipe dream. In reality, the political scene in Zambia will unravel, setting the scene for the 2016 election. A new party will be born which will challenge the status quo. HH will retire from politics.
If HH has what it takes let him lead and on start depending on anyone. Unity government is an illusion when you don’t have national representation.
Hon. Jean Kapata, Minister of Tourism & Arts is a Lunda from Mwinilunga, North-Western Province. The author was not truthful on the aspect of “no cabinet minister from N-W province”
By government of national unity you mean rallying behind HH? The author doesn’t seem to live in Zambia. If he did he would know that unity has failed in PF and it has failed in MMD where each party has two factions and they are in court, with Sampa taking it all the way to the Supreme Court. How then can it work on a national scale, especially uniting behind HH? Come on guys, there is nothing wrong with these guys competing, so let the best losers lose.
@Henry Kabinga, keep on dreaming!