Voting pattern due to politicians failure to confront regionalism-student body

The student body says the voting pattern in the just ended polls shows a failure to confront the evils of using regionalism to win votes.

Prince Ndoyi the ZANASU Vice President said the fabric of the country’s unity has been deeply injured by the type of regional politics politicians have continued to subject the public to.

“As the Zambia National Students Union (ZANASU), we are salaciously submerged in a conundrum of shock at how the recent elections have exposed us as a nation. This has shown what was deeply entrenched in the type of politics we have practised over the years, and politicians are to blame. They have dared not to confront the evils of using regionalism to win votes but have espoused to opt for convenience over prudence.

“The fabric of our unity has been deeply injured by the type of regional politics we have been subjected to by politicians, we have eroded the love citizens shared with our appetite for power,” he said.

And Mr Ndoyi has commended President Elect Edgar Lungu for accepting that the country is divided and his commitment to ensuring that it is reunited in the aftermath of the general elections.

He said the commitment shows a great acceptance and responsibility as a leader.

He also commended losing UPND presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema for showing maturity in upholding peace by calling on his supporters to remain peaceful and united.

“We would like to commend President Elect Edgar Lungu in his own words yesterday at his thanks giving rally were he said, “we have a duty to unite this country and I will do it myself,” this shows a great deal of acceptance and responsibility as a leader.

“We also would like to commend Hakainde Hichilema for his maturity in upholding peace in his own words he said, “to our members, our supporters and our sympathizers I thank you once again and I am asking you to remain United,” this shows leadership in holding the nation together.

“We would like in the strongest terms to condemn the negative comments on social media platforms both from UPND and PF supporters because they just show how backwards people are,” he said.

He added “As a nation we must know that elections come and go and these elections are neither the first nor last therefore we as a nation yet again need to understand that the principle behind democracy is upholding the diversities of mindsets, respecting the differences in opinion and accommodating everyone with equal measure. People still posting things on social media like “Chikubabe, Chikonkomwikate, Bakabolala, Losers, etc” shows the level of political immaturity and lack of understanding of what democracy is. In this moment when the perceived “loser” is in pain or feeling deprived, the winners need to embrace and console the others in humility and love, knowing that they both were fighting for the common cause.”

He further called on President Lungu to embrace all Zambians regardless of were they come from.

“From the voting pattern it shows that there is still a lot of work to be done. Zambia can only succeed if we are all moving in the same direction, that all regions are included on the agenda of governance. Preaching one Zambia one Nation means, you and me despite being different are a brother and sister to each other. Any party in govt will not only lead the people that voted for them but even those that did not, and hence we must quickly put these elections behind us and work.

“Our advise to the President Elect Edgar Lungu is that your fight was to serve the people of Zambia not with an Iron fist but with equality and love, whether they were PF or not, therefore like you have already committed yourself embrace us all. We urge the general public to understand the values that come with democracy and also being in a Christian Nation, this is the time to remember those values and stand by them.

“In conclusion we warn everyone that do not be used as a tool of violence but be used an an example of a good citizen. Refuse to fight for anyone, refuse riotous behaviours, refuse violence, refuse being used as a tool to break the peace that our forefathers fought so had to get from our colonial masters. We have said time and again, that never will you ever see party leaders in the forefront throwing stones at their perceived opponents, then ask yourself why should you? Zambia is governed by the Constitution which has laid down ways of expressing our grievances and that is the route which we must all endeavor to use to dispute anything. Why stone someone? How does that benefit you? We must continue to show the world that we are a nation that is better than that mediocrity,” he said.