I read through a pastoral letter issued by the Roman Catholic Bishops on the state of the nation.
There are a number of issues they raised, some of which made sense. Before I go any further, I wish to thank the Catholic church, in general, for having protected our nation, especially those few brave individuals who have confronted challenging situations. I wish also to state that not everyone among our clergymen members has stood for justice and truth in our nation. And I stand to be corrected by our Bishops. I love consistency and my problem here is that some Bishops that sounds to have a foresight today watched hooliganism in our nation being committed by those whose vocabulary is similar to the Bishops pastoral letter.

I also want to caution our Bishops not to allow some Bishops who were part of the rigging of the elections schemes to be editing such important documents to the government. How can we trust someone who wanted illegality to be the messiah today? It is impossible.

Our mothers were undressed in the presence of senior government leaders like Bo Inonge Wina, who could not help the situation when a young lady was undressed by unruly thugs sponsored by the PF administration at that time. Whenever I want to critique HH and Lungu on the space of democracy, these are things I put into practice and arrive at a better judgment. How many PF members have been attacked in the past two years for simply attending a national event? As a political scientist and governance analyst, I like comparative analysis, and I have been working on a couple of critical issues such as Russia-Ukraine and now Israel against Palestinians, applying international law.

When coming up with a judgment, I need to know who did what and who is doing what. I expected to see this in both the Bishops’ submission and that of Sangwa.

However, I had a problem with the church using PF vocabulary. For instance, their observation of a “shrinking” democratic space.

What I also expected in the pastoral letter is the Bishops reminding President HH not to take us back to the PF hooliganism were we saw citizens like Mapenzi Chibulo, Vespers, Frank Mugala, Obed Bwalya, Nsama Nsama, Joseph Kaunda, Kungo, Lawrence Banda, Kennedy Mudenda and many others their lives being cut shot because of PF and state house decisions.

I also expected to see the Bishops warning President HH not to keep criminals at state house or in his government like the way Shelby Chilekwa was protected. These are critical issues that shouldn’t miss in any discussion of our democracy.

The choice of language or words can expose the agenda one represents. It is not shocking that the letter came out a few days after John Sangwa’s juvenile law analysis was published. At least, it was clear that Sangwa was very shallow and waffling, reflecting the challenges of every person with a hidden agenda. Apart from good English, John sounded like a first-year law student.

If truly HH has brought dictatorship, how many media houses has he closed? How many thugs has he allowed to terrorize his opponents despite their sinful nature? Let us talk more about his economy which really needs attention. But governance wise unless one is looking at things from the hooliganism perspective. And again I will say this be extra careful Mr. President. Not everyone in your system means well. You feed most ungrateful human beings who go to plan evil against you sir! be extra careful!

I don’t know about you, but as for me, the word “shrinking” is used mainly in comparative analyses, the opposite of which is expanding.

According to the Bishops guided by God, or so they claim, they have observed that a democratic space in Zambia is shrinking.

The question is, when was it expanding? What this means is that, in the PF-led government, according to Bishops, the democratic space had expanded, and they were happy.
The Bishops were content with a government or governance system that killed people for expressing divergent views.

They were happier with a PF government that charged opposition members with capital offenses of aggravated robbery during campaigns for merely unearthing illegal NRC issuance, like the case of Mr. Mucheleka.
The government that burnt markets to implicate members of the opposition made the Bishops very happy.
During burials of opposition members, graveyards turned into battlefields. Cadres sent by Edgar Chagwa Lungu attacked members of the opposition.

But, according to the Bishops, that was an expanded democratic space. National events were the preserve of ruling party officials and their cadres.
HH, in the then expanded democratic space, followed the burial of KK on TV. He was barred from attending it.
How can you explain the issuance of an unprecedented number of Nolle Prosequis during PF’s reign of terror?
During the treason allegations, the Bishops remained mute. It had to take a retired Bishop to voice out.
Trust me, that pastoral letter is edited by the PF LUNGU’s or so, I suspect.

Unless someone tells me that it is, in fact, the Roman Catholic Bishops responsible for editing or writing PF speeches. Without that clarification, that pastoral letter is written by PF and John Sangwa and read by the Bishops.

If the Bishops continue to sound like PF Lungu’s faction, they risk being suspected not to be speaking for God but for their friend and his faction of PF.

To the UPND government, my advice is that carefully examine the issues the Bishops have raised and respond accordingly and professionally. Do not be like the past administration that told Bishops to concentrate on preaching the word of God. But be careful because not everyone who says father!father! Will enter the kingdom of God.

By Sikaile C Sikaile ( Facebook post)
Concerned Citizen

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are opinions of the author and do not represent anyone nor any organization and you are most welcome to disagree with me or vice versa.

By Daimone Siulapwa

In the realm of Zambian politics, the return of Edgar Lungu to the forefront has sparked discussions about his role and the potential impact on the country’s political landscape.

However, a closer examination suggests that while he may be making political noise, Lungu’s influence might be more about filling the void left by the absence of a strong opposition rather than posing a genuine political threat. The damage his regime inflicted on Zambia is too huge to be forgotten and forgiven in just a few years.

While there may be a yearning for an alternative government in the face of potential UPND total failure by 2026, the prospect of reverting to the PF regime is akin to embracing a regressive past—an analogy Zambians are understandably hesitant to entertain.

Edgar Lungu, as the former president, represents a faction eager to reclaim lost glory and political power. His return, characterized by political manoeuvring and vocal engagement, seems to be driven by a desire to capitalize on the current void in the opposition or just a sheer desire to cause political confusion and send UPND into panic. UPND must ignore Lungu at all cost and not fall for his bait, as he is a spent force who is now politically impotent to make much meaningful difference, but his political shrewdness must not be underestimated at any cost.

It is crucial to understand this dynamic not as a resurgence of a formidable political force but rather as an attempt to leverage past influence for future gain. The association between Lungu and those formerly in power raises concerns about the motivations behind this political resurgence.

it is now clear for all to see that, lungu is being influenced by many of his former appointees facing corruption charges, seeking a return to power as a means of escaping legal consequences of their past actions and as for Lungu, he is banking on the immunity granted to former president as a shield to peddle his political shenanigans at a cost of national unity and progress.

A deeper analysis unveils the potential dangers of granting the Patriotic Front (PF) another opportunity to govern Zambia. The specter of vengeance looms large, reminiscent of the Rwanda genocide, with implications that could jeopardize the peace, stability, and prosperity of the nation. The unmistakable evidence suggests that a PF return may unleash a pursuit of retribution, posing a grave threat to the well-being of Zambia.

However, the prevailing sentiment among citizens also indicates a reluctance to welcome back the PF, even in the face of discontent with the UPND.

It’s noteworthy that while there is discontent with the UPND, the sentiment toward the PF, under Lungu’s leadership, is not overwhelmingly positive. This nuance provides an opportunity for the UPND to address its inefficiencies, rectify issues causing dissatisfaction, and consolidate its position.

The year 2026, while seemingly distant, provides a critical timeframe for the UPND to implement strategic reforms. The focus should be on actively engaging with citizens, understanding their grievances, and formulating policies that resonate with their needs.

Corrections must be made to ensure that the party not only retains its current support but also attracts those disenchanted with the present political climate, including its own loyal members who are now lost, hungry, broke and suffering in the wilderness of Zambia’s current poverty.

The absence of a strong opposition doesn’t absolve the ruling party from accountability. Instead, it underscores the responsibility of the UPND to rise above the current challenges, strengthen its foundations, and emerge as a more cohesive and responsive political force.

In navigating the political terrain leading up to 2026, the UPND has an opportunity to turn the discontent into a catalyst for positive change.

By addressing internal inefficiencies, fostering transparency, and actively working to meet the expectations of the citizens, the party can not only secure its position but also fortify the democratic process in Zambia.

While Edgar Lungu’s political noise may echo in the current void, the real challenge and opportunity lie within the UPND’s ability to course-correct and address the grievances of the people.

The road to 2026 is indeed long, but with strategic corrections, the UPND can not only withstand any potential challenge but also emerge stronger and more attuned to the needs of the electorate.

The return of Edgar Lungu may be a notable presence in Zambian politics, but the real challenge and opportunity lie within the UPND’s capacity to address internal inefficiencies and respond to the concerns of the people.

*Daimone Siulapwa is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of The Voice Newspaper. He is also a political analyst, an advocate for tribal unity and Citizen Economic Empowerment. Send your comments to [email protected]@gmail.com*