By Field Ruwe
The PF has thrown itself into a whirl of self-destruction. President Michael Sata, the Pied Piper has taken a wrong turn and is leading his followers to their own doom with far reaching-consequences. Here is a man bestowed with authority, and yet even with all the power at his disposal, he is unable to lead like the hero he is. He has never looked so compromising, vulnerable, and beatable. He is a good example of “all that glitters is not gold.” We are learning that as much as tenacity [stubbornness, doggedness, boorishness] can be a gift, it can become a curse as well. In this case, it has triggered a contagion of mayhem in the PF and left its members in a collusive relationship.
Sata’s recent divisive remarks “I am not desperate for endorsement” tell it all. His utterances show a weak leader pushing his stewards, die-hards, and zealots over the cliff. No leader rejects and embarrasses his most faithful supporters like Sata has done. He has taken the wind out of Geoffrey Mwamba, Willie Nsanda, Chisimba Kambwili, Robert Chikwelete and their fellow “endorsers” and left them betrayed, shamed, dejected, and devastated. They have found it hard to understand why he has sided with Wynter Kabimba, a man they perceive to be his destruction, and rewarded him and his “successors” with a sense of victory and hope.
[pullquote]They have found it hard to understand why he has sided with Wynter Kabimba[/pullquote]
It is this act, and his fatal entanglement in the Bemba chiefdom that makes him a one-term president. But Sata is right: the opposition is fragmented and weak. The PF house is on fire and the fragmented Zambian opposition is helping put the fire out, a clear indication that it lacks skillful, and quick-witted political strategists who can handle Zambia’s shrewdest political tactician, here referred to as King Cobra, and deny him a second term.
What the weak and fragmented opposition can learn from Sata-the opposition leader
Let me say this; siding or supporting the ruling party is damn. It is a mediocre way of doing politics. In fact, opposition leaders who agree with their rivals rarely win elections. For ten years, King Cobra applied the survival value of intransigent politics. He was totally intolerant of the MMD. Back in 2009 when nurses went on strike, Sata used pictures of a mother in self-delivery posture as a weapon of attack. When there was a shortage of fuel, he picked up a jelly can, queued at the pump, and blamed RB for the crisis. When RB made trips abroad, he accused him of misusing taxpayer’s money.
Here are Sata’s own words of November 3, 2009:
“His presidency [Rupiah Banda’s] has just been full of crisis upon crisis and frequent presidential trips. Zambians must know that as he enters his second year, it will even be worse because the man doesn’t even care. He only cares so much about the presidential jet so that he keeps traveling all over.”
That was King Cobra in his time. He took advantage of the slightest mistake by the MMD, made capital out of it, and took it to the poor and the desperate because he knew they rally behind politicians who do not compromise. Similarly, no leader in the opposition should compromise with Sata, not even render an iota of sympathy or empathy. As Sata grapples with broken promises, his party’s restlessness and incongruity, and his authoritarian decisions, the opposition should be pouring gallons of paraffin on the fire and stripping him of his magnetism. That’s how the institution of democratic politics works. You take advantage of your opponent at his moment of weakness, beat him, and only compromise at legislative level.
In search of leader who can make Sata eat his own words
This is the time for the opposition to unite and front a leader who can take center stage, rise to the level of national exaltation, and make Sata eat his own words. The opposition lacks such a base activist who can make speeches bemoaning the wrong done by Sata to the Bemba kingdom and call for the Bembas in the country to rally behind him in calling for Sata to gazette Paramount Chief Chitimukulu.
The president’s surprising endorsement of Kabimba and the “successors” has led to speculations that Sata is ensnared in the secret concords and illegal business deals with Kabimba thus his failure to expel him from the party. The opposition vanguard should take advantage of this and bring afore allegations that Sata and Kabimba are directors of Ilunda Chalo Investments Limited and expose the activities of the company.
Such a leader must also expose the “Fourth Republic”—the party within the PF, that’s if at all it exists, and convince the disgruntled “endorsers” to jump ship and join the opposition. The question is; is there such a leader in the opposition? Is it possible one could rise among them and excel in 2016? Yes. Who is it? Good question. Let’s look at the frontrunners in the opposition.
Hakainde Hichilema
Leading the pack is Hakainde Hichilema. In all fairness he has made some credible inroads and stands a better chance than most. Born June 4, 1962; Education: BA. Economics and Business; MBA Finance & Business Strategy; Current Position: President of the United Party of National Development (UPND). He is Sata’s chief worrier and target. After his 2009 kumbaya moments with Sata at the height of the PF-UPND pact, Hichilema understands Sata better than other opposition leaders. He knows there is not much venom left in his fangs.
But Hichilema’s opponents describe him as an infantile politician driven by self-interest and spite. They say that when he refused to accept the vice-residency in the PF-UPND brief marriage of convenience, he came out as a power-hungry egocentric politician with an undemocratic “be it me or be it none” presidential ambition.
The major setback though is that the “tribal and ethnic leader” stigma still has its claws deep in his flesh. His pillars of support are still embedded in the predominantly Tonga ethnic ground. Up to this day, running as a UPND candidate is perceived by many as running on a Tonga ticket. The good thing is he has realized his party needs a diverse support base if it is to succeed and he is trying to do something about it. His recent successful Mandevu rally is making many people across the country to give him a second look.
Nevers Mumba
Next is Nevers Mumba. Born May 18, 1960; Education: Associate Degree (Diploma) in Theology; Current Position: President of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD). They say he loves power, prestige, and prerogative, and wears his “Dr. Nevers Mumba” blue band like King George. The problem is he is standing on a turbulent melting iceberg mired as he is in internecine squabbles. It is clear he has not been fully embraced by MMD keepers, some who are getting frustrated that he is not using enough of his “Evangelical charisma” to resurrect the party. Others have been suspicious of him right from the start. They have labeled him a sheep in wolf’s skin and quit.
But his clashes with president Sata and his frequent trips to the jailhouse are helping. Prison is the baptismal tabernacle for every future president in Zambia, unless handpicked like Mwanawasa and Banda. With this experience, Mumba has become courageous and dare challenge the incumbent. Having said this, Mumba must not be cuckolded by the recent few parliamentary victories in Eastern Province. The voters are not necessarily supporting him but are rallying behind their favorite candidates. What he urgently needs is a national formula, and a fresh leadership style now, or he risks becoming irrelevant.
Elias Chipimo
Next, Elias Chipimo Jr. Born September 3, 1965. Education: B.A. Civil Law. Current Position: President of the National Restoration Party (NAREP). Though brilliant, liked by the young generation, he has a long and arduous way to State House. He comes out as gullible, susceptible, and an appeaser. As earlier intimated, the strategy of appeasement does not work in chaotic Zambian politics. Sharing the suffering consequences of the PF and urging the president to address them is a trait synonymous with third-rate personality parties. Receiving and accepting praise from the ruling party is a bygone gesture common among conciliatory, consensus-seeking, and compromise-oriented leaders. If Chipimo wants to defeat King Cobra, he has to adopt a tough style of leadership and become combatant, forceful, and preemptory.
There is no enough space for the rest of the moribund parties. Let me put it crudely; they do not deserve mention because most of them, including General Godfrey Miyanda, operate splinter or personality parties. I must hasten to mention that I have a soft spot for Father Frank Bwalya. He has showed us that he a fearless politician who takes the stance of battle and is ready to fight. Although it is too soon to measure his success, he has the charisma and the ability to stir the hearts of others.
If finding a sole leader is impossible, at least find some sort of alliance. Imagine for a moment Hichilema, Mumba, Chipimo, and Father Bwalya in a joint force. Imagine them creating a coalition for change, and mapping a winning electoral strategy. Imagine them in one bus driving across the country holding joint rallies and at every stop, and in a unitary voice, stressing economic instability and insecurity, and the incompetence of the ruling party and its leader. They would be welcome in all the provinces. But sadly, this would only be possible if they put the country before their personal ambitions and sectarian interests, struck a common political agenda and swore a covenant to beat the incumbent and form a coalition government in 2016. Coalition politics is a common and very successful strategy around the world.
HH our only hope. We have tried the rest, now its time to try the best.
Ni HH fye chabe. One thing we know is that President Sata wont stand in 2016. None from PF can be compared to HH. Its only Sata.
And looking at the current state of affairs in Zambia, PF is not going anywhere. It will disintegrate just before 2016, into two camps.
Mu 2016, PF will be substituted just as we did with MMD. 2016, PF ku SABULA. PF off to the bench.
THEY H H STOLE MONEY WHEN HE WAS DOING PRIVATISATION. HOW CAN HE RULE?
Who told you tonga that we can waste our precious vote on a minor
HH…another dictator, this man has been president for ‘his’ party since the death of my man Mazoka… UNDP is just like PF- a one man party…YOU are the hope of Zambia, you young men and women learning, studying and living within Zambia and abroad…enough of this tribal and one man muzungu anikonde politices…
Trust me once his in office HH you will be the first to outer your disappointment of him like most of us PF we are now….politics just turns everyone bad…I think we should learn to push for more regulatory constitutional closes to force accountability and lessen autocratic powers certain position in government including presidency have so whoever comes in power we can use such against him/her and are not played for fools…my view
Rubbish.HH can be the next president.Elias Chipimo is not tribal he can rule
HH will never rule Zambia. It will be suicidal to vote for a Tonga prsident. Tongas are all shameless tribalists. God will never give the presidency to anyone from Southern province bcos God sees the heart of a person. Tongas are very primitive people who always talk and concerned about what tribe one is. Shame!
Field has written quite well, given that he is analysing events from abroad. My only addition is: the level of education and unemployment is so high among the electorate that they do not analyse current affairs at the level Field is advocating. So, they may still vote PF in 2016. Zambia has one of the lowest human capital skills in the world. Sadly, these “lumpen proletariat” are the ones who vote! Most of the highly skilled Zambians have left Zambia … and that tells its own story.
Dream On
@1 common sense,
Wansekesha! ati HH the only hope. Ist hope in bitterness, envy or ist feeding zambians with his aromatic alderhyde and formalderhyde beef or ist in privatising companies killing bundles and bundles of poor zambians? Which is which?
@ Chikhake, that’s your opinion leave God out of it. I am bemba will vote for HH. The same God you refer to allowed the devil we have in plot 1 right now. the man has failed in verything, the only success is increasing his salary 3 times yet he is a standard 4 drop out. he understands nothing about the economy that is why he fails to appear on tv to sell his policies to the nation. I would rather vote for a learned person HH with his tribalism as you say as long as in the end he will come and stir the economy forward not the rubbish we are seeing….the man cant even control vendors and and worse the fightings in his party.
Ni HH fye chabe. One thing we know is that President Sata wont stand in 2016. None from PF can be compared to HH. Its only Sata.
And looking at the current state of affairs in Zambia, PF is not going anywhere. It will disintegrate just before 2016, into two camps.
Who can even vote for ka chipimo. Only some people from his tribe. This guy will never rule Zambia.
Equally HH will never rule Zambia
Only his Tonga tribilist can vote for him
Very well written and boldly expressed opinion.
The trouble with Zambian political leaders is hat they put their own ambition before the ambition of the Nation. They get away with it, because the world is huge and hardly anyone knows about Zambia, and more so, what is happening within it. Like for a Zambian it seems that nothing happens in Malawi and that’s why even when a political calamity strikes in Malawi, no one cares. This fact of ‘no one cares’, has helped a few Zambian politicians take advantage of a chaotic situation and fill their own vault.
Very unfortunate, as when Sata will go (and he will definitely go it looks like), the Zambians will be left to deal with a Tonga representative, an ‘Never’ someone and an immature Chipimo to deal with.
YOU TALK AS IF SATA WILL GO TOMORROW. THE OLD AND THE YOUNG GO.. MAY BE YOU CAN GO FIRST… IN YOUR CAR, IN AIDS, AEROPLANE ETC… AND ALSO NOTE THAT THERE OTHERS WHO CAN RULE THE COUNTRY THEY ARE IN THEIR PARTIES NOT EVEN TALKING. WE DO NOT WANT THEORIES FROM FAILURES STAYING OVERSEAS. ALL PEOPLE WHO HAVE RULED ZAMBIA WERE IN ZAMBIA ALL THE TIME.
There is no hope from any of the present crop of politicians. May be we shall ask the Queen to send her emissary to rule us. Ruled and mistreated by a foreigner is not that painful as is by my own bemba monkey.
Ruwe’s analysis is lopsided and lack of wisdom. Starting the culture of insults, name calling and violence is not good. Two wrongs do not make one right.
We need level headed but development oriented leadership. And for that matter if God can be kind to give us a selfless President, we would not ask him for anything more for this century.
HH is no a solution. He is part of the problem. I worked for Grant Thornton and know how they milked Luanshaya Mine (Binani group) and shortchanged creditors (including Zanaco who appointed them as Receivers). No moral and qualms when it…
@adenda, we tole ni webo.
We dont want to be stuck with the same ifisushi fi PF
HH is no a solution. He is part of the problem. I worked for Grant Thornton and know how they milked Luanshaya Mine (Binani group) and shortchanged creditors (including Zanaco who appointed them as Receivers). No moral and qualms when it comes to money. His dealings with Intercontinental Musi-o-Tunya (privatisation and sitting on the board of Zambezi Sun, recommendations and pursuading Chiluba to give the whole track of land on Zambezi river facing the falls to one Investor)
fuloti, litole
@adenda, we tole ni webo.
We dont want to be stuck with the same ifisushi fi PF.
And why cant you take the evidence to court….or we take it you were an accomplice. Chi sata keeps on saying the same thing, he forgets that he is president and can order that hh be arrested but since he knows he has no evidence chibwatabwatafye kwati chipuba….
I know Field Ruwe as a comedian. Many Zambians have come from over seas with theories but failed. Some have failed to run the Rail line. Some died when they spent all the money they earned from overseas. they thought people would say ”yes this one is from America”. We as ordinary People are the Voters and we are seeing what the MAN OF ACTION is Doing we can give him another contract. as Ordinary People we are dismayed by these Pastors who think they are the only men of God. If one can Steal Church money what more for the country. Others are Tribalists they even insult tribes who are not their neighbours. I WANT TO VOTE FOR SATA IF HE WILL STAND
There’s time for everything
u might think the President is siding with Kabimba and yet he is waiting for more revelations
its healthy for a leader to take time to react
for me the pf is jst on the right track
most of the people unpleased are those who belonged to mmd and upnd
they are still in deep shock
believe pf is ruling until 2016 or even beyond
stop dreaming
one day these squabbles will end
remember its always easy for a fan than for a player in the playing field
TRY YOUR LUCK IN 2016
WORDS OF THE WISE
That’s what these fools should be told, the truth. Do you think that we voted for PF to our country for a single term, what most of you should know that the Banda era was just that BAD and the man and his party had to leave and there no regrets about that from anybody. The writer’s assessment of who is next points in itself that there is no one capable of taking of the reigns of this nation, not just yet. So whether you like it or not .
CBM!! Sense!! walasa!
Democracy is about numbers whether you like or not. Check your voting pattern in Zambia.
Ba Ruwe we are also PHD students, someone can read the fine lines in your script. Its that easy…
I concur with Field Ruwe.Many people of goodwill have always argued that the opposition parties in Zambia should form a coalition in order to strengthen the fight against PF misrule.For example,the MMD and the UPND must never compete against each other in any by-election; opposition leaders must exhibit a spirit of give and take to avoid splitting the vote.The opposition must wage relentless campaigns and expose Michael Sata’s poor governance record.As Field Ruwe has correctly stated,opposition parties and other stakeholders all over the world do team up to campaign for any political changes.Sometimes when opposition leaders can’t agree on the selection of a presidential candidate,they do manage to find a compromise candidate.What’s important is to bring about positive political…
This site i see it to be the best. The probrem is the brogers we have the tiypcal of tribalist.When we choose peaple2 leadus letus not look @ whos tribal but the capability of the peson and don’t generalise. Now acording the wind,HH IS THE NEXT PRESIDENT.
Unfortunately the wind has to cover the whole country.
First let Field Failed Comedian Ruwe finish his PhD. May be, and only may be, I can listen to him. Otherwise, the guy is hallucinating and knows little about what PF under Sata is doing back home, despite the squabbles in PF.
LIKE IT OR NOT PF IS DELIVERING AND DONT SAY YOU WHERE NOT TOLD. IN 2016 PEOPLE WILL NOT BE TOLD WHAT PF COULD DO BUT WHAT IT WOULD HAVE DONE. IN LIVINGSTONE PF HAS DELIVERED AND IS STILL DELIVERING. FIND TIME OFF AND VISIT LIVINGSTONE DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON AND USE YOUR EYES TO SEE HOW THIS COUNTRY WILL BE WILL CONTINUED GOOD VISIONARY LEADERSHIP. PEOPLE NEED DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE AND NOT EMPTY TRIBAL POLITICS
LIKE IT OR NOT PF IS DELIVERING AND DONT SAY YOU WHERE NOT TOLD. IN 2016 PEOPLE WILL NOT BE TOLD WHAT PF COULD DO BUT WHAT IT WOULD HAVE DONE. IN LIVINGSTONE PF HAS DELIVERED AND IS STILL DELIVERING. FIND TIME OFF AND VISIT LIVINGSTONE DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON AND USE YOUR EYES TO SEE HOW THIS COUNTRY WILL BE WITH CONTINUED GOOD VISIONARY LEADERSHIP. PEOPLE NEED DEVELOPMENT WHICH IS CURRENTLY BEING DONE AND NOT EMPTY TRIBAL POLITICS
PF is delivering growth and results are there for all to see.
Livingstone is shining. It is a clean model town. Highways are coming up across Zambia.
PF for life.
I read this at Zambianwatchdog
Today, I went to the beach front with my children. I found a sea shell and gave it to my 4 year old daughter and
said “You can hear the ocean if you put this to your ear.”
She put the shell to her ear and screamed. There was a hermit crab inside and it pinched her ear.
She never wants to go back! LoL I know this
is totally off topic but I had to tell someone!
my site … download 300 [Ivory]