. Sondashi

By CHARLES SIMENGWA –
THROUGH his Forum for Democratic Alternatives (FDA) party, Ludwig Sondashi is seeking to offer an alternative style of leadership for Zambia.
Some Zambians view Dr Sondashi as an enigma, more so that he combines rare scholastic abilities which have seen him go beyond his law career to navigate complex diseases.
He is the founder of the herbal drug – Sondashi Formula (SF-2000) – which is still under examination for its efficacy in the treatment of HIV/AIDS.
This sort of innovation has distinguished him as a man of exceptional skills. It has revealed his culture of hard work which he so much desires to promote among the Zambian people, and he sees it as a measure to humanise the political system in the country.
He has a deep-seated desire to “sell good health”, for in the Sondashi Formula, he believes he has found a cure for HIV/AIDS and, with it, a gateway to a prosperous Zambia.
It may be regarded as an obscure political party, but Dr Sondashi does not mask his confidence that the FDA could truly make a difference in the lives of Zambians.
The bubbly veteran politician, who was the guest on Radio Phoenix’s ‘Let the people talk’ programme last Tuesday, dispels the notion that older people should step aside and leave the younger generation to take over leadership positions.
He is convinced that old people have a lot to contribute to Zambia’s development and democratic processes.
He derives his confidence from his vast experience both as a lawyer and a political leader to be able to make a good president.
Armed with three degrees in law – specialising in constitutional law – and a diploma in local government administration and good governance, Dr Sondashi has served in the three administrations of Kenneth Kaunda, Frederick Chiluba, and Levy Mwanawasa in a career spanning more than three decades.
Having served as district governor in Monze District in Southern Province and years later as a Cabinet minister, he prides himself on the “selfless service I have offered to the people of Zambia.”
The former Legal Affairs and Works and Supply minister speaks proudly about his uprightness in all the administrations under which he worked.
“I have been a clean person throughout my working years, so I qualify to rule Zambia because I anchor my values on honesty.
“I resigned twice from Dr Kaunda’s Government because I opposed the one-party State, and I quit the Chiluba administration because I was uncomfortable with some corrupt elements, so I am selfless and the right person to be voted for,” he said.
Old men – and women – still in active politics are often awarded the epithet ‘finished’, but at 73, Dr Sondashi says he has a lot to offer towards Zambia’s well-being.
He argues that age should not be an obstruction to one’s democratic right to aspire for leadership, and neither should one’s state of health.
“Leadership is not about age, it’s about wisdom. The question should be whether or not you have the right qualities to run a government.
“Some young people have never even been leaders at the lower levels of their parties, but they want to rule Zambia. Of course I know that there are some old people who cannot manage the affairs of the country,” he said.
Dr Sondashi cited former United States of America president Franklin Roosevelt, who he said was elected into office on a wheelchair, to support his notion that the state of one’s health or physical condition should not be the basis for being excluded from aspiring for the presidency.
According to him, Roosevelt proved his worth and was re-elected into office during the following elections.
“Is it not true that these days, old people are even living longer than younger people? So why should we politicise one’s health?” he asked.
“It is not a question of being sick, but a matter of delivering results. Leadership is not even about gender; there was a woman in Malawi at the top but she messed up things.”
However, he contradicted himself when he said presidential aspirants should be subjected to medical tests to gauge their suitability for public office.
Dr Sondashi was energetic in his defence of the Barotseland Agreement which he said he would restore if he were elected as Republican President on January 20, 2015 to replace Michael Sata, who died on October 28, this year.
He said the people of Western Province were angry and felt cheated when Dr Kaunda’s administration cancelled the pact without any consultation.
“I will reinstate the agreement and it will be up to the people in that area to decide whether or not to remain a part of Zambia, and I will be comfortable with that as president.
“The term secession should not even apply because those people were not a part of Northern Rhodesia, which is the present-day Zambia, in the first place; they were already on their own,” he said.
He said after 50 years of independence, Zambia had not achieved much due to lack of quality political leadership, hence his motivation to take up the challenge and enforce the necessary change for the good of the people.
If elected into office, Dr Sondashi would enact a new Constitution and use it as a stepping stone for major reforms.
His prime target would be the reduction of what he termed excessive presidential powers which have undermined national development.
“Our presidents have used these powers to fortify their positions, but I will make sure that power is shared with a prime minister, who will run the Government, while I remain as head of State as is the case in the developed world.
“Presidents must not be head of State, head of Government and head of the ruling party. One cannot manage all these positions without falling afoul of the law,” he said.
Dr Sondashi also favours a system where Parliament has the power of veto to make Government accountable to the people.
He said his administration would introduce a federal system of government while maintaining Zambia as a unitary State.
This, according to his party manifesto, is to allow people to govern themselves, with quicker decision-making processes.
He said his wide-ranging reforms would include re-introduction of the windfall tax in the mining sector to attract more revenue to the treasury.
“We will also ensure that we improve the crop marketing system so that food does not go to waste,” he added.
The callers to the programme were divided between offering support to Dr Sondashi’s vision for the country and criticising him, slicing his ideas as lacking merit.
Some described his vision as an ineffectual attempt to reform Government, but he was resolute in highlighting the steps he intends to take to achieve his goals.
Despite not having satisfactory answers on his perceived failure to constantly engage with his supporters, and on the strength of his party structures, Dr Sondashi said time was ripe for him to serve Zambia as president.