To avoid an off-the-radar mentality after the just-ended Presidential poll in Zambia, one had to take a midnight drive around Lusaka on January 24, 2015. That is, to make a proper pre-2016 “reading of the tea leaves” soon after President Edgar Lungu was pronounced winner amid raucous crowds.
Regardless of who they voted for, every Lusaka resident should have driven, cycled or walked around their neighbourhood that night of annunciation. That way, you don’t have your head in the clouds and are not out of touch with reality. It keeps away incredulity.For, anytime you justify your condition, you give it licence to stay. It also helps one to avoid eating dishes instead of the dinner, as some unprofessional media houses are in the habit of doing. You don’t service a car that’s not working!
But which Edgar Lungu and his crowds will show up in Zambia’s 2016 elections? Will anything change much in 14 months’ time? Will “El Clasico” and his crowds ever fade so soon after enjoying their Indian summer? A crowd that is mostly in their 20s, with lots of fuel still in their tank to vote for long years to come, the blood and soul of the electorate, will they surely turn their backs on “Edeegar”(their pronounciation).
To those still unschooled in Lusaka’s street culture, “El Clasico” is Zambian President, Lungu’s pet name among the country’s ruling Patriotic Front(PF’s) passionate cadres, supposedly a punning of his “EL” initials. It’s Spanish for “the classic one.”A soccer-crazy nation that Zambians are, it is borrowed from the Spanish soccer duel of Real Madrid versus Barcelona. Indeed, in footballing terms, the phlegmatic persona of Mr Lungu is also a look-alike of Zambia’s late soccer maestro, Samuel “Zoom” Ndhlovu.
Will President Lungu curse his own favour after ticking every box? Will there be a cruelly ironic twist in 2016? They say everyone is as good as their last election but do voting patterns change ever so drastically in Zambia? If they did last month, it’s an exception to the rule, due largely to a stumbled giant, the former ruling party MMD, donating its votes either side of the divide.
Amid his immense popularity, it’s up to President Lungu to choose what gear he’ll play in at next year’s polls. Nobody wins the Olympics by mistake. It’s always talents, guts and glory. Success is always intentional and Mr Lungu must now run after his destiny. Quality is to the exclusion of coincidence.
The hardships he faced to get to Plot One, the things mired in controversy that left him wincing in pain: the name-calling, the enemy within, the savage determination by some PF leaders to block his Presidency at all cost, through evil schemes and at first time of asking, dismissing him as PF Secretary-General.
And through a counterfeit second elective conference, attempting a last-ditch disruptive belter, must all be an incubator to take him to the next level.
He will not look back to those hardships with any degree of fondness and yet through it all, God showed that when He opens a door, no one can shut. A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from God. Mr Lungu’s script is a lesson to all 2016 aspirants that there are moments when you choose the place and moments when the place chooses you!
UNBELIEVABLE
The night of his victory, those were unbelievable scenes; such a happy throng! What was on view the night he was pronounced winner was an intense, social and psychological catharsis after almost a week of tension in Zambia due to the uncertainty of election results. Anyone could have cracked under such strain. It was a heart-in-mouth moment with lots of to-ing and fro-ing around Electoral Commission of Zambia(ECZ’s) national results’ centre. A national bug of nerves was palpable. It was utterly forgettable.
The ECZ should never again subject Zambians to jumping through the same hoops of intense agony.Finger nails were chewed to the very quick. It was a dog-fight up to the wire in what seemed an eternity before Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda announced Mr Lungu as victor. “El Clasico” limped over the finishing line as opposition loser HH blinked first, in what was still a delicious finish for the winner, having kept the best for last.
It explained the joyous outpouring on the streets of Lusaka by the crowds to celebrate Mr Lungu’s victory. An intrepid crowd that wouldn’t bow to reputation as they danced and leaped on anybody’s car roof and bonnet in great celebration.
Here, the answer will ask a question as to what would have happened to such huge crowds if Mr. Lungu had lost. Would Lusaka and the Copperbelt have contained their pent-up rage if their “El Clasico” had lost or we would today be handling a bloody script?
Those celebratory numberless crowds of mostly youths, male and female, gave one a perspective of 2016. To those of us who were in the diaspora when Mr Lungu’s late mentor, Michael Chilufya Sata won, the spontaneous celebrations in January were in fact a prototype of 2011 when the late Head of State was pronounced winner.
Night had turned to day at that late hour of darkness. The moment Mr Lungu was pronounced winner, the jubilant crowds choked the streets of Lusaka en masse. They blocked roads. There was no way for motorists on Great East Road.
No shortage of new compositions, either. As it was a nearly moment for HH, they mocked him in song saying “HH amwa doom” which when roughly translated simply means (HH has been put to a political sword). Indeed, one man’s sunshine is another man’s shade. At that midnight hour, some crowds even headed for the Heroes Stadium ahead of inauguration the following day. They couldn’t wait.
State House was besieged by Chawama township residents who walked a long distance singing “Tenzolila Sata, suyu Lungu awela,”(With Lungu’s victory, we’ve been comforted after the death of Sata).
Had Mr Lungu himself driven around Lusaka incognito, behind tinted windows, he would have rubbed his eyes in disbelief, enthralled at the massive support from the people.
It’s an amazing front-seat to reality and some gauge as to whether 2016 will be a big ask for Zambia’s opposition or whether the seemingly impossible is attainable.
IDEA
Not just Mr Lungu should, once in a while; all politicians must drive around Lusaka incognito (it is rumoured Zambia’s First and Second Republican Presidents used to do so) in order to have even the foggiest idea of what is happening. Visit friends, Godly Pastors for prayer, visit family, opposition leaders and respected political analysts in order to make a rain check on certain policies.
Taking a drive around the city is a necessary fact-finding errand to separate fact from fiction, truth from hearsay, reality from illusion, voice from echo, acceptance from denial and objectivity from subjectivity—as did some of us, the night of annunciation.
It gives you a measured view of 2016 which you cannot get when reading some media house news. And when you do your own research drive as did some of us on the night of annunciation, it was a slam dunk for Mr Lungu. The rest is silence.
That is why, for now, until sometime next year, the nation needs rest from electioneering fatigue. The rancid election campaigns took their toll and the ECZ, except for frequent parliamentary and council by-elections, must allow for an emotional rest-cure from electioneering.
Even those planning the ritual of going up and down the country to ‘thank’ their voters must hold their fire and just allow time for emotional healing and circumspection. In fact, insisting on another campaign without soul-searching by anyone, could lead to implosion within their party rank and file.
It happens in the USA and UK; they allow for time to govern and to be governed until next election period. Not every year is election year if politicians are truly there to serve the people!
After all, the January 20 election was a by-election and not a general election for which huge swathes of land must be covered to ‘thank’ the voters. It can only be a campaign gimmick for 2016.
Coupled with a marketing truism of Emotional Intelligence(EI), the Bible’s Micah 6:8 sums up what President Lungu should do to succeed beyond 2016: “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
Break that Scripture up by its comas and you have a rich package of advice for rulers: Do what is just (for it is just to provide what populations need around the country, and it is just to deal evenly with persons wrongly punished and those wrongly rewarded); show mercy; walk in humility; honour Jesus Christ as your God. Rulers who fail to do this have no excuse because, as the Scripture says, God has shown them what to do!
It’s all hands to the pump for Mr Lungu especially if he keeps his inauguration promise; “I never want at any one time the Zambian people to regret voting for me.” Success will quickly beckon if the promise is continually on his radar.
By Samuel Ngoma
The Author is a UK-trained SADC region Political Communication Consultant, Election strategist, veteran Zambian Journalist and former diplomat to the EU.
It was a tense election, hopefully we avoid apathy and El classico will once again Kolopa!!!
Stop dreaming. Chagwa Agwa wont deliver victory to PF again. Start looking for a healthier candidate and start campaigning now. This visionless patient is going nowhere.
After the ECL collapse (fainting), RB association, Mutembo Nchito humuliation, New Constitution U-turn, fall of the kwacha, fuel shortages, loss of members to Rainball party. HH is taking it in 2016.
All rotten parties are packed in the East. This time it has come early. kekekeke.
Highly placed sources from Pretoria say the medical team cannot conduct the recommended advanced throat cancer surgery on Lungu as they also have limited facilities for such a delicate operation and the patient (Lungu) is also diabetic and old age meaning the wound would not heal.
“Without discriminating with people living with HIV/AIDS, Lungu has also been plainly told that his CD4 count is very low and his viral load is too high because he seems to have neglected daily HIV/AIDS treatment. South African doctors and intelligence officials now deem it politically sensitive to undertake further treatment on such a high profile person,” sources have revealed.,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
This time around 2016 . it will be KOLOPA.COM. watch the space.
Tribalism disgusts me ,that is why am going back to vote for Lungu again.Our Nega nega counterparts taught us how to vote.
Your last paragraph will not be accepted by the s@t@nist as usaul. They hate scripture to the core. All they believe is hhhhhh chabe
Chagwa Agwa is a witch. No wonder he carries a strange walking stick. He’s about to sacrifice one of his Ministers so he can leave hospital himself. Changa’s collapse has delivered 100,000 votes to HH. Who wants a patient for President? Zambians are already regretting having voted for this patient. This article seem to be coming from someone with victory hangover.
There are more critical issues for you to write about at the moment than the election victory celebrations. Dat chapter is closed u should have written about how we can address key challenges like escalating dollar prices, fuel shortages and the ever rising cost of living.this article is irrelevant at best and *****ic at worst. Its a long and boring article in future spend your time writing on issues that are affecting zambians at the moment.
With this kind of melting economy and high poverty level in streets n rural areas NO way I can vote for lungu.
Nonsense, what are you trying to imply?
These are the balanced articles Zambia needs. We miss you Samuel Ngoma!
Useless article praising a sick president. Your sick president wont even be available to file his nominations. He will be gravely ill in ICU. PF has a lot of sick people. This is a cursed party in making which has made the economy sick too.
Another job seeker, Zambians always follow where the wind is blowing hence the picture presented on announcement of you ‘EL Classico’. I bet it would have been the same if HH was announced winner. Cant you see that they are happy the Kwacha is dying so they can use the dollar like Zimbabwe? ‘Ukwa lolomwela’ (where the wind blows).
Ati UK- trained,,,, no wonder you are so clue-less in your article
EXTREMELY BORING ARTICLE. LACKS SUBSTANCE LATER ON SOPHISTICATION. THE ARTICLE IS JUST ANOTHER PIECE OF SUB-STANDARD LITERARY WORK.
You are a liar, Samuel Ngoma! “EL” in Spanish is the pronoun for “THE” in English. EL CLASICO simply translates into The Classic, normally used when two giant footbal teams such as Barcelona and Real Madrid play against each other.
Guys, this article is a wonderful professional piece. This is powerful analysis and Ngoma is on point because that is what happened. He is just describing what he saw and that’s proper objectivity. It’s a balanced article in which he is giving sound advice to President Lungu, nothing partisan about that! As for Miguel, Ngoma has outwitted you because he has said in the article already that “El Classico” is a punning of Lungu’s “EL” initials and that doesn’t mean the full name. Punning is punning. Ngoma is too smart for some of you, the article is written in damn good English than all the Post reporters and Watchdog put together! This is world-class Journalism.
Ni El Clasico Chagwa chabe all the way, keep dreaming otherwise those who have time to waste. There will be problems on the way, some deliberately put in the path of El Clasico to make him fail but tuka sova together naba kateka besu abapelwa, plus naba Lesa besu!
What a rubbish and poorly written article!
This is an excellent commentary.
It is certainly better than the self indulging rumblings of that silly chap holed up in USA, PhD….( forgot his name….), the one that writes like a cheap novel.
Nothing offensive nor politically, cadre-like challenging. It’s, dare I say it, ‘Balanced.’ A very rare thing in political commentating by Zambians. No hysteria or drama-rama. It’s like Selma the movie in a miniature version.
Nice comparison Samuel – Zoom and EL, they just look like brothers – wow!!! Coming to your commentary – we pray that the Lord gives EL Classico strength. He saved our country from wolves – we will support him through and through. Besides, he seems to be making the right decisions so far. Once the impasse with the mines is resolved and the Kwacha stabilizes, you will see the turn-around. We need EL Classico.
Samuel Ngoma my dear friend. If I were you, I would lie low. It is such articles that make it difficult to employ you. From the time you were recalled, you have sold your convictions just for an appointed that keeps alluding you. In this article, you have used flowery language to market EL but very short in substance and realism. Why have you chosen to ignore the margin of EL’s win to help your analysis for the future? RB even won by a much wider margin but list 3 years later! Also remember EL’s personality was covered up in exaggerated ‘anointed’ music. This time he will be judged on account of performance. Why do you ignore this factor is a critical determinant? What about EL’s health and what is now being revealed by his statements? Samuel. Try to nature; you are over 50!
Besides Samuel, stop praising yourself using self created bloggers. What balance is in this article; tell me one? Balanced articles rarely position the author’s opinions which are fully manifested from beginning to end. You have writing flare to your credit but you are no longer the same in judgement from the time MCS recalled you.
What? Samuel the intercessor can write this? You have consistently desired and campaigned for Christian leadership in government. You have been consistent a person worth of leadership should be far removed from even fermented tobbwa. What has happened for you to sink this low? Anyway, to answer your question, both top candidates commanded reasonably huge crowds and that’s why they were neck to neck. Young people will now register and majority are desperate for jobs. Does this El Classico offer this prospect? There lies your answer and the story ends.
SELLING A SOUL FOR A MORSEL OF BREAD FROM EL.
THE AUTHOR IS SCAVENGER OR A VULTURE BIRD THAT WANTS TO EAT MEAT THAT HAS BEEN VICIOUSLY HUNTED AND KILLED BY REAL HUNTERS. DURING THE ELECTION TIME HE WAS IN HIDING COE THAT THE BATTLE IS OVER ARTICLES OF GROLIFYING OR RATHER PROJECTING EL HAVE STARTED APPEARING.
OUR ORGANIZATION HAS CONSISTENTLY SUPPORTIVE TO EL THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN. WE CONDEMNED THE CARTEL AND THE GUY SCOT THING.
TO REAP WHERE ONE DID NOT SOW IS THE WORST FORM PLUNDER.
As I say. It is very much Zambian to be fo0led.
You are really trying hard to show your paymaster that you are really for him. We want someone who will do work accordingly and making decisions without the influence of his campaign financiers. Look at our economy today; we need a person with a vision on how the economy should be run and not on how beer should be drunk and how momas should be entertained to successfully contract ailments which eventually render one bedridden and earn the presidential salary while lying on a hospital bed and squandering money meant for development on medical bills.
THERE IS NO NEED TO SUGAR COAT THE CV. WHO DOESNT KNOW THAT U WORKED FOR TMZ THEN PRESS ATTACHE IN SA AND LATER ON MOVED TO BRUSSELS UNTIL RECALLED. THATS ALL.
Hi all. This is Samuel Ngoma, the author of the article. As a believer in Christ Jesus, I don’t take kindly to curses and false accusations for they are Satan’s, the accuser of the brethren along with his agents. Truth is my pillar throughout the 30 years that I have been in the Journalism profession. I love the light, I hate darkness. I humbly ask the following bloggers; JJP, Curious, Think Tank of Zambia, Jean, Palapata, Webman and Vinsyaz to contact me with their real and not pseudonyms. They have accused me of promoting some partisan insignia, they seem to have beef against objectivity and I ask them to kindly contact me on email: [email protected] or phone my mobile: +260 966 587162. Let them be as transparent as I have been and truly identify themselves and contend with me.