UNITED Nations Secretary General António Guterres has made an apt observation that democracy is under threat while authoritarianism is on the match, hate speech on the rise and inequalities growing.
Mr Gutteres was speaking during the opening session of the 78th Session of the United Nations General Assembly General Debate in New York this week.
Although Mr Gutteres was not directly referring to Zambia, it is important that Zambians take serious note of his speech for much of what he said is of relevance to the Zambian situation.
It is important that Zambians do not regard the speech as being directed at “other countries” for democracy is a global issue.
This year’s General Debate is being held under the theme; “Rebuilding trust and reigniting global solidarity: Accelerating action on the 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals towards peace, prosperity, progress and sustainability for all.”
Mr Guterres said in the face of increased threats to democracy, authoritarianism and the continued rise of hate speech among individual nations, the world still needed statesmanship and not gamesmanship and gridlock.
“Our world is becoming unhinged. Geopolitical tensions are rising. Global challenges are mounting. Democracy is under threat. Authoritarianism is on the march.
Inequalities are growing. And hate speech is on the rise. In the face of all these challenges and more, compromise has become a dirty word. Our world needs statesmanship, not gamesmanship and gridlock.”
Mr Gutteres’ speech must evoke debate in Zambia as opposition parties have accused the new dawn administration of paying lip service to upholding democratic tenets.
Opposition parties and civil society organisations have complained about the diminishing democratic space in the country in which the opposition is not allowed to hold public meetings.
A case in point is the refusal by the Zambia Police Service to stop the Patriotic Front from holding a mass rally in Lusaka at which they planned to launch their manifesto.
Police cancelled the meeting citing security concerns. When the PF said they would go ahead with the meeting, Police marshalled more than enough officers to seal off the venue earmarked for the rally.
In the meantime, the ruling United Party for National Development was hold to stage solidarity marches on the Copperbelt.
More worrying however is the manner that the country’s sixth President, Edgar Lungu has been treated by the government, sparking heated debate.
Mr Lungu was prevented from attending a church-organised gathering in Ndola citing vague security concerns, and that he did not have a permit to attend.
Even before the issue had died, he was stopped from travelling to South Africa for a medical review.
To cap it all, Mr Lungu was stopped from travelling to South Korea for a world peace conference to which he had been invited – after all the airport formalities had been done.
Emeritus Archbishop Telesphore Mpundu said Zambia was fast sliding into authoritarianism because those in leadership were doing nothing apart from harassing, humiliating and persecuting former President Lungu in their wicked pursuit of vengeance.
Zambians must therefore protect the country’s reputation as a beacon of peace and democratic model by heeding the UN chief’s counsel and protect democracy.
