By CHARLES SIMENGWA –
JUST a few weeks ago, it was unimaginable to see some senior members of the Patriotic Front (PF) go rowing at the same time.
The succession wrangles which engulfed the ruling party following the death of the founding leader, Michael Sata on October 28, 2014, diminished the lofty position the PF has occupied since it ascended to power in 2011, and nearly symbolised its death knell.
But seeing PF president Edgar Lungu with senior officials such as Chishimba Kambwili, Given Lubinda, Mulenga Sata, and Wylbur Simuusa together at a mammoth rally in Kitwe on Saturday should have renewed hope in the party faithful, and Zambians generally.
These are some of the officials in the higher echelons of the ruling party who had contested the presidency and, from the events that followed the general conference at the Mulungushi Rock of Authority in Kabwe on November 30, anger seemed to be simmering inside them.
Prior to the conference, a lot more disagreements took place among the top leadership, and almost suggested that Zambia’s ruling party was headed for the netherworld, just after three years in power.
However, the PF, drab and dour in the past one month, seems to have once again transformed itself into a strong force.
The top leaders demonstrated retractable character at the rally in Kitwe, which represented the beginning of the campaigns for the January 20, 2015 presidential by-election.
Before the rally, it was evident that the death of Mr Sata had thrown the PF in a labyrinth of questions about the future of the ruling party, and it revealed weak places which needed to be mended before the by-election is held.
The general membership of the PF could not be faulted. Making the switch from the anchor that President Sata provided may feel awkward for some party members, but they need to reframe the way they look at change.
Mr Sata’s death has taken on a whole new meaning for the PF, and it will certainly serve a useful notice on the party members on the importance of managing change in a positive way.
From the rancour which engulfed the party as the search for a new leader took place, it was clear to see that the transition to the post-President Sata era should be managed in a sober manner, devoid of emotions which may predispose the PF to infamy or, worse, its downfall.
It is encouraging that the PF has now managed to mend its fences, for history is replete with examples of how wrangles have sent many political parties careening off their orbits, most times never to recover.
The problem for the PF leadership was always going to be that if they resisted or did not manage change well – or if they lacked adaptability – even the upcoming by-election could have been highly stressful for them.
The general membership should adequately understand the important position the ruling party occupies in national governance which should not be sullied by anyone with an unknown agenda.
It must be noted that winning is the only thing that matters to some people masterminding slash-and-burn politics.
Zambians – and the world at large – are eager to see how the PF Government will continue steering the country to safer avenues that will guarantee continued development.
Therefore, the ruling party should take decisive action on people who are out to assuage their ego and are likely to hurl the country into political turmoil.
The PF leadership should employ positive attitudes and conflict management skills to deal successfully with change.
More importantly, the party cadres, who are easily influenced by leaders representing different interests, should be equipped with tools to help them adjust their thinking. This will largely help them overcome the obstacles change will throw at them.
The PF members should be taught how to deal more effectively with unpredictable or changing situations for the greater good of the party.
Their attitude to change, from embracing it at one end of the scale to dreading it at the other, can make all the difference.
Ultimately, the PF leaders should not allow anyone with evil intentions, particularly those battling for the hearts of young people who are often used in violent acts, to soil Zambia’s reputation as a beacon of relative peace in Africa.
There are some people who will obviously attempt to intrude into the affairs of the party now that it is re-mobilising itself.
These are the crawlers, or people who will try to get Mr Lungu and other senior leaders’ favour by doing what pleases them.
But a point of note is that the well-meaning PF leaders are now in a posture to receive the pieces of advice necessary to keep the wheels of the party running.
There is something creditable in what Mr Lungu has so far declared about staving off any attempts to “auction” the party.
Zambia’s political process today is far more a marketplace in the contemporary sense of value for money received than a marketplace of ideas.
A casual observer of the contemporary culture might conclude that everything is for sale, and that the meaning of Zambia is an untrammelled market economy.
But this should not be the case. As some political and social commentators have rightly observed, it has been depressing to see the deterioration of ideals under the wear and tear of re-election demands.
Many of the power brokers representing various special interests believe that they are better at managing the affairs of the country than the voters are.
These are the superficial values political leaders, particularly those in the ruling party, should seek to dismantle.
The PF leaders have an onerous task, as the party in Government, to recant any hints of discord in their ranks, for they carry many responsibilities, including the maintenance of investor confidence in Zambia.
This is the time for them to prove that they are not only a united front, but real patriots through unity and decorous leadership.