Socialist party too radical – Canisius

Wed, 31 Jan 2018 10:14:00 +0000

By BENNIE MUNDANDO

A FRAMEWORK which allows citizens liberty and the full expression of their capabilities is what we need to overcome our challenges and not a radically socialist regime, says former UPND vice president for politics Canisius Banda.

Among the aims and principles of the newly formed Socialist Party, led by Cosmas Musumali, is to promote and defend the class interests of the Zambians and build a socialist state in Zambia because capitalism had allegedly brought misery and oppression among citizens.

According to the party principles, real changes in the miserable social, cultural, economic and political lives of the working masses cannot come only through parliament and a few reforms but through a revolution made by the majority of working masses.

But in an interview with the Daily Nation yesterday, Dr. Banda said Zambia should neither embrace capitalism nor socialism in their most pure and radical forms as they had their own flaws and that it would be folly for anyone to brag about an ideology as what was important was whether people had access to their basic needs.

He said just like unbridled capitalism concentrated wealth in very few individuals, unbridled socialism took away liberties from citizens and eroded their sense of responsibility. “Unbridled capitalism concentrates wealth in very few and it is behind today’s gross income inequalities which now threaten global peace and stability. Unbridled socialism takes liberties from citizens, erodes the sense of responsibility which people ought to nurture and hold dear, and makes a mockery of reward based on merit, a practice which kills competition, motivation and breeds laziness. This also leads to conflict in communities and revolutions.

“The answer is that Zambia should neither embrace capitalism and socialism in their most pure and radical forms. What works in the end, the perfect model for the political and economic governance of a people, is that framework which allows citizens liberty and the full expression of their capabilities with due reward in an environment of required regulation for common wellbeing,” Dr. Banda said. He said both thoughts (socialism or capitalism) were so flawed that they must be avoided in their absolute states, adding that it was misleading for anyone to brag or claim to be a capitalist or socialist in today’s world as no one should be.

“It is also utter folly to view both capitalism and socialism as evils that must be avoided. Their flawed condition then moves today’s leader to cherry-picking from both those principles that optimally benefit both the state and its citizens. What then is required is a careful amalgamation of all available thoughts for the sole purpose of ensuring that people survive, thrive, prosper and enjoy life. Capitalism alone will not work. Similarly, socialism alone will not work.

“In the end it is not an ideology that matters. What matters in the end is whether all citizens have access to clean and safe water, are nutritionally secure, they work and are equitably paid for their work, have access to quality education services and healthcare, are housed and have disposable income for recreation. All people must have unhindered access to the basic needs of life,” he said.