By MILDRED KATONGO –

THE ruling Patriotic Front (PF) will win the 2016 general elections because the opposition movement in Zambia does not inspire people anymore, Zambian Voice executive director Chilufya Tayali has said.
The poor performance by the opposition political parties in terms of providing checks and balances to the Government places them in a disadvantageous position compared to the PF’s.

. Tayali

Mr Tayali accused the opposition in the country of failing the masses and was now bent on merely condemning and perpetrating physical and verbal abuse.
Mr Tayali said the opposition political parties should find means of looking after their members other than mobilising them for alleged engagement in violence during elections and other political platforms.
He said in a statement yesterday that the UPND, being the largest opposition political party, should show admirable examples in terms of good governance, social justice and respect for human rights, as it offered its checks and balances.
Mr Tayali said his organisation believed that for good governance to flourish, there had to be a strong opposition, adding that, unfortunately, the opposition in the country was losing ground which would make the PF have an easy victory next year.
“A country needs a strong opposition. Unfortunately, the biggest opposition seems to be losing ground, making the PF have an easy ride on a number of issues,” Mr Tayali said.
He said it was unfortunate that some opposition political parties wanted to exclude themselves from the respect of the rule of law and respect for human rights in the guise of fighting for political power.
Mr Tayali said although Zambia was having difficulties economically, it remained a peaceful nation.
He, however, said that in such times it was of concern that some opposition parties were now focusing on creating discontent in the country by being negative and not offering credible advice.
Mr Tayali said that good governance did not only entail the respect of the rule of law and human rights by the Government, but also checks and balances from the opposition members.
He commended President Edgar Lungu’s commitment to empowering Zambians through various initiatives and policies as pronounced during his speech to Parliament during the official opening of the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly last Friday.
Mr Tayali said only the change of attitude, investment in power generation, industrialisation, public-private partnership, good governance, international policy and prudent expenditure, which the
President alluded to, would improve the lives of the people.
“We can only insist on engagement with all stakeholders on this point.
The Government should not assume the know-it-all attitude, which has been the trend in the past. The speech was very inspiring and has a prospective future if it is supported by all citizens,” he said.