Tue, 19 Sep 2017 10:38:13 +0000
CONSTRUCTIVE criticism and debate are arguably progressive ingredients in any well-meaning democratic dispensation and should be encouraged.
But criticism for the sake of it, or rather criticism which does not add value to the country’s development agenda is not only retrogressive but inimical to the norms and values of our country.
It is disgraceful and downright disingenuous that people with fake degrees worth US$5000 and no iota of analytical expertise oppose such a project.
Logic demands that those who criticise should do so objectively and offer solutions to issues they disagree with.
But this is not the case with some sections of our society, opposition political parties inclusive who whine and lash out at everything the government is striving to achieve.
While it is undoubtedly the duty of opposition parties to offer checks and balances, it is preposterous for them to condemn everything the government of the day is doing – criticism must be objective and void of insults.
A case in point in the planned US$1.2 billion Lusaka-Ndola dual carriageway which has raised so much brouhaha with some opposition political party leaders claiming the road project is a scandal because it is overly and unnecessary expensive.
No sooner than President Edgar Lungu unveiled the road project in Lusaka two weeks ago than a barrage of gratuitous criticism became rampant.
It is not a secret that infrastructure development is the backbone of any economy and we have no doubt this road will bring about numerous economic benefits such as reducing the travel time between Lusaka and Ndola, among others.
But this is not so with our opposition political party leaders who are not looking at this from a broader perspective but a myopic view. All they see is scandal and negativity!
It’s not therefore surprising that these leaders are condemning the project for the sake of disparaging the government of the day, hence rendering themselves to being armchair critics.
However, with Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Ronald Chitotela’s detailed explanation of the components of the road and the great economic benefits which it will spur, our grouchy opposition leaders must have eaten humble pie.
The road, we are told has a component of by-pass towns and infrastructure development such as fillings stations, among others. Naturally, these will not only create employment for locals but will help stop the unnecessary migration of people to Lusaka.
If this is not good enough for our opposition leaders, then it begs the questions: do they really have the people for who they claim to represent at heart? On whose behalf are they speaking for?
What these leaders should know is that Zambians are no longer gullible and can no longer be fooled by any politician on matters of national development.
The nationwide road network that the PF government has built has opened up the countryside, and it is an open secret that people in rural areas are happy because it has become easy to travel as well as to conduct business.
Maybe the PF should remind their detractors of the party’s campaign slogan – “Sela tubombeko” literary translated, meaning give us room to work.
