Wed, 14 Jun 2017 11:09:08 +0000
By SANDRA MACHIMA
CALLS by First Lady Esther Lungu, urging cordial relations between the ruling party and the opposition in order to promote development in the country, is a welcome move that should be embraced by all Zambians, Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) executive director Chimfwembe Mwenge has said.
Mr Mwenge said the First Lady’s advice must be taken seriously and welcomed if Zambia was to defend her status as a beacon of peace and a pioneer of multi-party democracy in Africa where politics were not perceived as an arena for achieving personal interests.
Mr Mwenge said it was time for Zambians, including leaders and members of political parties, to respect the meaning of the concept ‘‘political party’’ and take it as vehicle for national development and institution formed for the purposes of advancing the common good, guided by clear manifesto and ideology.
He said the First Lady’s observations after her recent visit to Uganda should be embraced by all peace-loving Zambians and were in line with the many appeals by stakeholders for dialogue and coexistence among politicians to resolve differences and promote unity.
“FODEP believes the calls by the First Lady are well meaning and timely and should be contextualized to help the country settle politically.
‘‘We feel it is time for Zambians including leaders and members of political parties to respect the meaning of the concept ‘political party’ and take it as vehicle for national development,’’ he said.
Mr Mwenge said FODEP believed Zambia’s democracy was still growing and political actors must appreciate such genuine calls for harmony and coordination among political parties if the tenets of democracy were to mature.
He said the organization was of the view that the calls for harmony and coordination should be translated into institutional measures and conduct that promoted dialogue and conflict resolution in line with the 2016 Constitution preamble and Article 60, which provide for a sustainable political order, and political parties that show national character.
“The organization is hopeful that as more and more Zambians join Mrs Lungu to demand for coordination and harmony among political parties, the ruling party and the opposition parties and their members will take practical steps in ensuring that political parties are taken as vehicles for national development, that advance democracy, than personal interests,” he said.
He said it would be pleasing to see a situation where the ruling party and opposition parties were seen harmonizing efforts, adding that the essence of coordination and harmony among political players, as espoused by Mrs Lungu, should be encouraged and include the wider context of Zambians exercising the ability to demand social accountability, service delivery, and undivided interests from those elected and political parties.
