Sat, 23 Dec 2017 10:22:32 +0000
IT is not often that we agree with Cosmo Mumba, the National Revolution Party (NRP) president, who at times tends to be eccentric.
But this time around, we believe he has made a very valid point that all Zambians should take note of, that ignorant politicians are a danger to the country’s democratic dispensation.
Mr Mumba argues that politicians are in danger of losing respect because of their unwarranted and unsubstantiated statements on national affairs, often times not based on facts.
There is this belief that being in opposition means opposing anything that those in government are doing – even where you stand to gain as an individual.
It is a fact, sadly though, that opposition figures do not think and believe that they are part of the governance system in the country.
That even if they are in the opposition ranks, they are also part of the leadership with a stake in the running of the government.
They ought to realise that the same high moral test that is demanded of those in government also applies to them.
As Mr Mumba has pointed out, the current trend of mere politicking was not helping Government to develop the country. He said political party leaders would slowly lose respect if they continued issuing irrelevant statements for the sake of cheap publicity.
We do not need to mention any names for the people know who these are. These opposition figures do spit venom each time they open their mouths.
The public know their propensity for seeking publicity and have stopped to take them seriously. Yet, this should not be the case.
Zambians want an opposition that will engage the ruling party on how best to move this country forward. There are many problems that Zambia faces as a nation those in government benefit from the wisdom, counsel and expertise from the opposition.
Government ought to be able to consider alternative ideas from the other side of the political divide. But it can only do so when there is mutual respect between the two sides.
In the same vein, what should stop the opposition parties from engaging those in government if they think they have a meaningful idea to propose?
An idea presented on an ant-hill, with an arrogant attitude of “Mr Know-it-all.” will of course not receive serious attention.
Let there be constructive engagement between those in government and the opposition. You definitely do not need to sit around a conference table to know and agree how to be civil – it should come naturally.
