Dear Editor,
AS we build up to August 12, 2021, it is inevitable that the political players will have to find means of delivering their message to the electorates.
From times of antiquities up to the advent of multiparty democracy, the Zambian political landscape has been accustomed to the traditional rallies as a way of communicating political message to the voters.
However, the advent of the Covid-19 virus seems to provide a turning point on how the political players ought to interact with their electorates.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has given guidance through the highly consultative Standard Operating Procedures that the long held norm of political rallies should not be taken as the preferred method of political communication.
The Zambia Police is another electoral stakeholder that has echoed the suggestion from the electoral body.
On the political front, the Patriotic Front secretariat has issued guidance and imposed restrictions on the holding of political rallies. As unpopular as it may appear among the zealous supporters, the decision has shown that the PF as a political party cherishes the health of its citizens even if that is at the expense of power.
The party has been exceptional and exemplary in so far as encouraging the adherence to Covid regulations. For instance, on May 17, 2021, PF Presidential candidate and Republican President Edgar Lungu was filing in his nomination to recontest as President. Although the PF has sufficient support base and representation in all the wards in Lusaka, the party machinery restrained itself from giving solidarity at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre, a venue that was designated and appointed as a nomination centre.
President Lungu had all the authority to direct the party functionaries to be there but he opted to be accompanied by a few senior members of the party.
On the other hand, one opposition leader on May 20, 2021, took the event of the filing in of his nominations as the opportunity to hold the inordinately large crowds.
It is unfortunate that he could not exercise personal responsibility as a leader to prioritise the health of his members. The leaders must revisit their insatiable appetite for power ad emulate President Lungu who prioritised the health of his members.
The Information Communication Technology infrastructure should be utilised for the sake of balancing between political interests and the health of the citizens.
While it is not in dispute that some countries held the elections and campaigns in the midst of the pandemic, consideration must be given to the realities back home. The nations which held electoral campaigns may have some other social advantages over Zambia.
Politicians must therefore not substitute the political ambitions over the need to preserve the health of citizens.
MARVIN CHANDA MBERI,
Kanchibiya.
Author
