Party defections will never go away; at least that’s how it seems every election cycle. The rituals and resources spent on wooing defectors if spent on sinking bole holes in shanty compounds, painting schools in rural areas, providing roofing schools in villages, should have been a reminder to all of us that we are our own worst enemies than the colonizers. Truth be told, we are living in a country whereby more resources are spent on politics than improving the lives of the poor among us.
I want to draw your attention to us (as a people) moving from simply talking about ending party defections to doing something that’s relevant.
Preconceived notions of Africans as being lazy, wasteful, and/or always asking for a handout from donor nations to do things they can do for themselves is etched in the minds of our own politicians. It’s etched in the psyche of just about our current politics, and what’s disturbing is that it is even etched in the minds of many voters. Sadly and sinfully, we have allowed the actions of a few selfish politicians to give representation to the masses that our political system is nothing but a circus. Let me say it this way: why have we allowed the same people who are experts at destroying and pillaging Zambia’s resources to convince us that they know how to fix the economy when they switch political parties? Why would you support a candidate relatively uncritically and unconditionally when he/she has never done anything tangible for your community?
[pullquote]why have we allowed the same people who are experts at destroying and pillaging Zambia’s resources to convince us that they know how to fix the economy when they switch political parties?[/pullquote]
This concept falling for defectors every election season is both ridiculous and corrupting to the future of Zambia’s economic and political growth and prosperity. Unless we undo this thinking, our hard earned freedom from colonialism will not be able to thrive today, nationally, and internationally.
Let me pose this to you: Why is it that Zambians voters continue to patronize defectors that don’t do anything for them or develop their community? I’m at a loss for words. Could it be the fact that our current political system has been operating with a slave or colonial mentality – accustomed to receiving nothing from others (defectors) that don’t even care about the voters?
Not only in the business community do we demand better services, we must demand better results from those within the political system too. Campaign lies that cause us to degrade and demean ourselves will never do any good in helping change the perspective the global village has on us and about us.
Defection rituals are like reality or circus shows, most definitely a joke. Is it really necessary to make yourself look like a fool to make a living in politics? It’s fair to say that I’m not talking about every politician out there, but there needs to be a sense of self-love and self-worth to not sell out or prostitute oneself from one party to another just to make ends meet.
In order for Zambia to deal with the whole issue of defections, we can’t merely pray it away as some Christians want you to think and believe. We must address it mentally, emotionally, and physiologically. We must have an open dialogue in the churches, schools, social media and homes to explain to each other why we must not be marginalized and devalued by politicians who don’t care about us. In addition to this, we must undo the negativity and low self-esteem we come to accept as normal towards one another. Think about it for a moment. When we participate in the foolishness of bringing each other down for reasons pontificated by defectors, it opens the door for other peoples to treat us as stupid.
We do have more people of goodwill and many stakeholder voices to bring about change and I’m urging all of them to reach across the party ideologies to engage in intellectual policy discussions this election season. We know the problem of defections affect all parties, now it’s time to educate our fellow brothers and sisters in ending this sickness. Will it be easy? No it won’t. Will there be opposition? Of course. However, the struggle to end defections is a never-ending process. Remember, if you’re not part of the solution, then you’re part of the problem.
Sadly and shamefully, some of these defectors have been with more than 3 political parties in the last 5 years. Let’s face it – the greatest threat to Zambia’s security and future is not inflation, foreign investors (Chinese) or lack of hardworking Zambians. It’s not people coming from neighboring countries (Rwanda or Congo DRC) for opportunities. The greatest threat to Zambia is the unity (collectiveness) of like mindedness. Think about it for a moment. If Zambians once again like they did pre-independence came together as a united nation, the following things would happen: 1. we will own and control the businesses and politics in our nation, 2. we will create generational wealth for our children and our children’s children, 3. we will eliminate the slave mentality complex which seeks to empower defectors to profit from our political system, 4. we will promote and elevate our own political discourse, and 5. we will control the image of how we portray ourselves to the outside world.
It’s time for Zambian to stop living from election cycle to another. Living at the mercy of the current political system will forever keep us locked up emotionally, physically, and psychologically to the mediocre dreams and selfish political ambitions of the defectors.
Lastly, I would sincerely say, lazy dreams don’t amount to anything but poverty. Defectors are lazy vision killers and destroyers as they don’t have their own bigger dreams except to feed their bellies and political egos. We can learn a lot from the wisdom words of Proverbs 6:6-11 “Go to the ant, you lazy person; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler, yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep? And poverty will come on you like a thief and scarcity like an armed man.
To be our best and free Zambia from the chains of our modern-day Zambian post-colonial masters-defectors, we must say to ourselves, enough is enough.
By Nsambila Mbolela a native of Mufulira, Copper-belt
Mbolela from Mafkeni! Are you still in Mufulira or defected to somewhere else?
I agree though with most of what you say here …
True but have you asked the question that if UPND closed off defectors, would they ever form government? The answer is NO! So PF would continue ruling forever. Actually PF wouldn’t have formed government if they were not even aided by defectors within the MMD system who ensured that PF won the election. Actually even MMD wouldn’t have snatched power from UNIP if the same UNIP people were never allowed into MMD. I think defections are like the American endorsements were people stay in their party almost permanently but endorse whoever appeals to them in that election. Though true our politics are primitive but that is the only way to change the status quo with the levels of education of the masses that are pathetic.
The entire political system in Zambia is about defection: MMD was formed by UNIP defectors, PF, FDD, UDC, PP, Rainbow Party, etc. were formed by MMD defectors.
UPND on the other hand was not formed by a defector and the incumbent president is not a defector. What you should know is that in Zambia, the political ideology is very similar that is why all political parties cannot outline any ideological difference. That said, it only leaves us with the strength on the Head. We have seen 3 heads lead MMD in three different ways, with each way impressing differently on the masses. Levy stood out to be tops. PF has been lead in 2 ways, and the 2nd is the one the masses are currently experiencing. I would say Sata could have been better but the incumbent has much to be desired. UPND can only…
BRILLIANT ANALYSIS BROTHER NSAMBILA. A VOTER’S MIND SHOULDN’T BE DECEIVED TO THINK THAT BECAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL LIKE MAJOR MOONO OR KAVINDELE HAS MIGRATED TO PF AFTER BEING BOUGHT WITH A LOT OF MONEY BY POWER HUNGRY LUNGU, THEN PF IS A GOOD PARTY,NO. WE ALL SEE THE SUFFERING THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE ARE GOING THRU, ALL BECAUSE OF POOR AND STEALING LEADERSHIP WE HAVE IN PF GOVERNMENT. THESE THIEVES HAVE SIPHONED OUR MONEY FROM THE TREASURY. THEY HAVE FATTENED THEMSELVES BY LOOTING OUR RESOURCES ON DAILY BASIS, AT THE EXPENSE OF MILLIONS OF THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE. LUNGU HAS PLANTED HATRED AMONG ZAMBIANS. LUNGU HAS MULTIPLIED CORRUPTION IN OUR COUNTRY. LUNGU IS SIMPLY A VERY BAD LEADER WHO DOES NOT DESERVE TO SERVE IN SUCH A HIGH PUBLIC OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF A COUNTRY. WHY ARE WE ZAMBIANS SO CHEAP IN…
The writer does not understand the tenets democracy. This is the power to choose who to support. The writer should know that in democracy party cadres (i.e. a small group of people specially trained for a particular purpose or profession; a group of activists in a communist or other revolutionary organization; a member of an activist group) are just like common citizens, they want the group they support to bring benefit to their livelihood.
So who should judge another who and when to support. We cannot be stuck to one party even when the boat is sinking. It is time to abandon the sinking dugout canoe.
PF is excited about Cosmos Moono without knowing that he has actually been sent by HH to defect to PF so that he can be reporting back to UPND on internal workings of PF. HH is always a light year ahead of PF thinking.
One of HH’s spies has been appointed to the PF central committee while another is a known phone call recording artist.
@ MAMA , the founder of UPND was first MMD and was at the verge of being elected councilor in Bauleni the something went wrong and he ended up forming his own party called UPND. Just some updates.
TRUE..TRUE…TRUE. Nice piece
Guyyy something was MMD minister and killed all his pigs to steal money, Vice President for PF and now UNPD. are these Defectors not overthrowing UNPD? Miles something, PF, DF, ALLIANCE, UNPD and now says noone will stop him from standing as a Presidential candidate. I love the story
There will always be Guy Scott, Miles Sampa, Cosmas Moono, etc. In Masebo’s words “if HH shifts from the promises he’s made to the people I will move again”. The question Mbolela poses is what role are you playing as part of the collective? Are we going to leave the politics to the few circus performers or are we going to stand up & claim what belongs to us. Man is by nature a selfish being. Look at the amended constitution eg ECL claims he’s given us what we wanted but if you look at the fine print the whole thing is about his self preservation.
Italian president you left Lima party which he himself guy Scott the crooked and stupid white man formed after he was fired by ftj.ftj fired him after he crooked the entire country that their was a swine fever and everyone must slaughter their pigs and get compensation from government, he slaughtered his but he was counting including the ones that were not born and paid himself.
This article has been written by a PF cadre.We need every vote in UPND.Why didn’t you stop Sata from receiving defectors,now you want to say defectors should not be followed.Chwamila Galu kuluma Mbuzi.PF and Lungu should go full stop.
For you guys from SP, everything constructive is PF… I hope you stay opposition forever.
I agree with this piece…. it touches key issues that are relevant for Zambia!
BRILLIANT ANALYSIS BROTHER NSAMBILA. A VOTER’S MIND SHOULDN’T BE DECEIVED TO THINK THAT BECAUSE AN INDIVIDUAL LIKE MAJOR MOONO OR KAVINDELE HAS MIGRATED TO PF AFTER BEING BOUGHT WITH A LOT OF MONEY BY POWER HUNGRY LUNGU, THEN PF IS A GOOD PARTY,NO. WE ALL SEE THE SUFFERING THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE ARE GOING THRU, ALL BECAUSE OF POOR AND STEALING LEADERSHIP WE HAVE IN PF GOVERNMENT. THESE THIEVES HAVE SIPHONED OUR MONEY FROM THE TREASURY. THEY HAVE FATTENED THEMSELVES BY LOOTING OUR RESOURCES ON DAILY BASIS, AT THE EXPENSE OF MILLIONS OF THE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE. LUNGU HAS PLANTED HATRED AMONG ZAMBIANS. LUNGU HAS MULTIPLIED CORRUPTION IN OUR COUNTRY. LUNGU IS SIMPLY A VERY BAD LEADER WHO DOES NOT DESERVE TO SERVE IN SUCH A HIGH PUBLIC OFFICE OF PRESIDENT OF A COUNTRY. WHY ARE WE ZAMBIANS SO CHEAP IN…
Likewise a voters mind should not be deceived to think that just because GBM, Sampa, Mulenga Sata, Scott et al that have gone to UPND have done so out of honesty… this artical actually points to them as there have been more defections to UPND than to PF…. wake up voters!!
I hate people who want to put their points across using capital letters. I see you as a loud mouth standing on top of an anthill shouting for all to hear. I usual don’t bother to read these comments. If you are going to put a point across, small letters are cool and will get you noticed. Just saying….
We have a lot of potential candidates in the 15million of Zambians than recycling the same Guy Scott, Sylvia Masebo, GBM, Namulambe, Capt Moono (timid mouse) Keiht Mukata etc etc. HH was stuck with Costa Mwansa’s question, “what will HH do with these pipo he once called cr…..ls? What about the MP’s who have kept the party’s name going all this time? There will be more defections either way, that is why non of the parties (apart from FDD) want to announce who they have adopted in the various constituencies, they are fearing defections.
Those not defected in UPND will go to PF (in HH’s strongholds) to cause confusion, equally those left out from the ruling party will go to the opposition. Circuit serving the poor Zambians, no, its about self.
this true its probably why we won’t see any young leaders…….its like musical chairs, the worst thing is none of this people every learn from their previous mistakes….just like our current finance minster(at least he is retiring)
This is the reason i will vote for PF.sontapo mune epo wabomba.
PF tiye nayo boi
What’s the cost of defections on democracy and economy? Answer is opportunity cost to use good willed men and women capable of transforming Zambia. Some of these defectors minds are so breached, sanitized and decolorized with lies that they don’t know when they lady told a truth.
Defection from a politicak angle is the answer to government change. Full stop.
Time to be fed more political proverbs! To some of our politicians, politics has become the only source of lavish survival. Alternative is… why are ex- Ministers turning into near destitutes within a short period of time? Our economy is politics based, period! Time to have a relook at country’s priorities.
Apart from Defectors, the other evil is politicians who do not seem to go away. Take people like Vernon Mwaanga, when are they going to retire from politics completely? They are still out there making noise. Chikwanda was Minister of Finance in 1974. He is Minister of Finance in 2016. There must be something wrong with that picture. Guy Scott is must be about 82 years old. Yet he still wants to continue as a Cheer leader in a party. He has risen to the position of VP in the land, yet he still wants to be in politics. Ofunanji?
Just came from Mufulira, its a very dirty town, a ghost town in fact. Something needs to be done urgently even if it means trying out new leaders until we find the right ones with the right formula.
If that evil exists then we should also look at the evil of lack of new Players in the political field…. and our culture of how we perceive younger people in politics. These older players will not just go away easily lets leave with it ……….. its our energy and participation that will displace them period !!
bhuyt