WE hail President Edgar Lungu’s directive to the newly-appointed Defence Minister Richwell Siamunene to ignore baseless criticism and concentrate on transforming the operations of the defence forces.
This is in view of numerous armchair critics that have mushroomed in Zambia.
In April this year, Government spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili
accused some opposition political parties of working with some tabloids to maliciously discredit President Edgar Lungu and the Government.
Mr Kambwili lashed out at what he called ‘loose cannons’ whom he accused of being used by some political figures to damage the image of President Lungu, the Government and the Patriotic Front (PF).
To be a leader in Mr Lungu’s position calls for a thick skin
considering the wolf pack that are up to no good but to tarnish the image of Presidency and the Government.
The newly-appointed Defence minister is entering a lion’s den and needs courage to operate efficiently.
It is strange to note that the bulk of people who are incessantly attacking the Government performed poorly in the last elections and thus don’t have the mandate to be spokespersons of Zambians.
Surprisingly, it is these sheep in wolves’ clothing who are shouting the loudest, deafening the ears of the populace on how the Government should be ran.
Usually they belong to political clubs, NGO-backed organisations or simply individuals with a bone to chew with the Government.
It is sad to note that the same people who were in bad books with some tabloids have now joined hands with their old sworn enemies in their
unholy pact of discrediting President Lungu and his Government.
In the name of what can be termed as anthill democracy we have a cabal of self-appointed spokespersons of Zambians talking non-stop about the
President and Government.
Who has given them the mandate?
The Oxford Dictionary defines the word mandate as the authority to carry out a policy, regarded as given by the electorate to a party or
candidate that wins an election.
If this is the case, many so-called Zambian politicians who are purporting to speak for citizens are doing this without any mandate either from the people or their parties.
Although some political analysts call this circus progressive, the proliferation of many parties in a young democracy like Zambia has just created chaos with everyone talking for the people.
The mere fact that 11 political parties sponsored a candidate in the last presidential election slated for January 20, 2015 is an example of how chaotic Zambian opposition politics has become.
Apart from the ruling PF, the former ruling party, the
Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), the main opposition party,
the United Party for National Development (UPND), the other eight political parties are of a club-like nature.
These include the Forum for Democratic Alternatives, Green Party, Forum for Democracy and Development, National Restoration Party, the
4th Revolution Party, United National Independence Party, Heritage Party, the newly-formed Rainbow Party and the Christian Democratic Party.
Out of this list, we can cite some leaders who once served in
Government and know how the system operates.
It is surprising then to note that these high priests and priestesses of liars and demagogues are leading the wolf pack in telling the country fat lies about President Lungu and the Government.
Considering the levels opposition politics has reached, we feel the presidential directive to Mr Siamunene is timely and should be taken
with the seriousness it deserves.
Does one need a degree in political science to note that these misguided leaders are championing their own selfish agenda while purporting to speak for Zambians?
They are like a headless chicken that runs not realising that it has no head.  Opinion