Sat, 16 Sep 2017 10:34:28 +0000
The presence of the UPND members of Parliament was in tandem with President Edgar Lungu’s upbeat mantra of a national vision that towered above artificial schisms.
The President envisioned a Zambia that was bound together by love humility, truthfulness, selflessness and integrity being at the core of a national ethos.
For far too long we have allowed a section of Zambian society that is driven by hatred and bitterness to divide and balkanize the country. This negative vision has undermined the common purpose of combatting the ills of poverty and under development.
The artificial differences driven by instrumental ethnism whose sole purpose is to wrestle power regardless of the cause, is dangerous
Politics of ethnism are not only a bane to Africa but are a serious digression that has impeded the development of many promising countries whose economic potential remained stunted as sideline issues rather than patriotism took centre stage.
There is no doubt that Zambia is at the crossroads as the country reverses years of regression occasioned by many factors including the sustained decline in commodity prices which took a toll on the economy rendering thousands jobless and therefore fracturing the very foundation of our nationhood.
With foresight and intuitive leadership the mining industry is once again providing requisite resources including jobs to stir once again and resuscitate the dream of a greater Zambia ready to take its place on the global plane of rapid development.
This drive requires the undivided loyalty of all Zambians regardless of political affiliation or indeed ethnic extractions because Zambia is bigger than individual actors or indeed collective stake holders.
Zambia requires an era of tranquility, peace and wellbeing to achieve the many ambitious goals as enunciated by the Seventh National Development Plan which has painted an all embracing broad economic social and political direction, which has room for all.
Therefore, divisive politics bred in men by misinformation, malice and outright calumny cannot be countenanced because they add no value to national development and only seek to raise emotions, divisions and differences.
Politics of ethnicity must be eschewed towards purpose driven engagement that adds value to national dialogue and debate.
Clearly we cannot all agree on policy direction or indeed micro economic preferences but this should not lead to civil war, insurrection or determined sabotage as exhibited by torching down power lines and utilities with the intention of crippling industry.
Such wanton acts of sabotage are by nature malicious and therefore affect innocent citizens including those who may indeed serve as a reservoir of opposition cadres.
Sabotaging power to the mines will not only affect the miners directly employed in the industry but will include their dependents and those business enterprises that supply to the mines.
There is need for patriotism among all citizens to work and strive for the betterment of the country.
If Zambia prospers there will be less need for fractious debate that leads to violence and destruction of infrastructure.
As the citizens of one country we must share a common purpose that also embraces diversity
