Tue, 18 Apr 2017 06:31:05 +0000
ZAMBIA today needs the courage and wisdom of its eminent sons and daughters to calm the nerves of ordinary citizens and lower the political thermometer that has been.
The passionate appeal for calm, peace and love made yesterday by Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) executive director Pukuta Mwanza is the kind of soothing oil Zambians need to calm the political waters. He needs support.
Reverend Mwanza rightly appeals to the leadership of the two largest political parties to take centre stage in fostering unity and avoid the temptation to issue partisan statements that will only help inflame the situation.
Besides, there are too many party ‘‘spokespersons’’ all vying for media space and making all sorts of unfounded allegations and provocative observations which do not add value to the need for unity and oneness that the country sorely desires.
The allegations by the UPND lawyer Jack Mwiimbu that Mr Hichilema has been poisoned and was sick was uncalled for coming from a senior lawyer and politician who should know better. It has since been proved that the incarcerated UPND leader has not been poisoned, is not seriously sick and his health is constantly checked by his personal physician at Lilayi Police College where he is detained.
But no-one can diminish the damage that has been caused to both the Government and the police who are looking after Mr Hichilema. It is this kind of reckless disregard for truth which has sparked public disorder and anarchy in some countries.
Mr Mwiimbu must be ashamed for being the messenger of falsehoods that could only help endanger the security of his own country.
This is the time for all those who love their country to come forward and offer counsel that may reduce the tension and eventually lead to dialogue among the political contenders. There are still many elder statesmen in this country whose voice is respected.
The Church too can play a part to reconcile the politicians and sit them down to listen to one another regardless of their divergent views and opinions. It is better to agree to disagree than refuse to listen to the views of your adversary.
After all there are no permanent enemies in politics. There are only contestants in a game of political chess. Tomorrow the scenario could change and former opponents will be in the same camp, talking the same language.
That is why it is important that Zambians must try by all means to cross this dark, temporal patch in our history and look to the future. There is so much promise ahead of us that we cannot fail to seize the opportunity and match forward for the benefit of posterity.
That is why, as Mr Mwanza says, all politicians across the political divide must make every effort to ensure effective management of their cadres and tone down their confrontational rhetoric. Only those mandated to speak on behalf of the political parties should be allowed to make statements.
This free-for-all manner of commenting on sensitive issues should be curbed. This is no time for hired guns or agent provocateurs who have nothing to lose because they are paid to set Zambians at each other’s throat.
More than anything else, politicians need to dialogue to ease the tension. We need each other.
