WE agree with the Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Davies Chama who said that the PF is humbled by the Movement for Multiparty Democracy’s (MMD) willingness to form a pact with the ruling party.
This is after MMD president Nevers Mumba said his party was willing to form a partnership with the PF and his revelation that the National Executive Committee has mandated him to find out more about the finer details of the planned alliance ahead of the August 11, general elections.
Like Mr Chama, we feel that if PF worked with the MMD, it would create strong ties and ensure the Zambian people were served better by a united force instead of inter-party squabbling that has characterised our country’s politics recently.
The former ruling party can share a lot of ideas with the PF since the latter had been in Government before.
The MMD should also appreciate the invitation made by President Edgar Lungu, since some other presidents would have sidelined the former ruling party pushing it into oblivion forever.
This is the second time after assenting to the most ambitious Constitutional Bill, that President Lungu is showing that he is a democrat who is not afraid of working with other political parties to ensure development is achieved.
We say this considering that some critics of Zambian politics have accused the PF of being a predominantly “repressive state,” where leaders in the ruling party impose sufficient repression on opposition political parties in order to keep them weak and maintain their power.
President Lungu does not fit this accusation since he has more than once adhered to enough democratic formalities that stand him out as a true democrat and patriot.
Here we are witnessing history unfolding before our eyes bringing together seemingly strange bedfellow for the sake of Zambians.
As Mr Chama has noted, the value of politics can only be measured if it makes a difference in the lives of people through development.
We are also echoing the secretary general’s clarion call for other political parties willing to work with the PF to come aboard the party’s ship for the sake of Mother Zambia.
Let’s face it, after the 1000 supporter’s requirement clause, very few political parties and alliances in Zambia will meet this prerequisite.
The only way for them to survive is to join the PF boat and sail ashore to political relevance when the ruling party wins the August elections.
In countries like India, the country’s political journey is replete with the instances of political parties forming alliances to run the country.
We feel Zambia should take a leaf from that by joining hands with the main political players as the only way out for the smaller parties to be politically relevant.
Alliances of political parties, are beneficial because when two or more parties come together and gain executive powers, they find themselves in a better position to serve the diverse interests of the people.
With the national parties forging a coalition with the regional parties, it becomes easier for the opposition to find an individual space in the national agenda.
Moreover, in an alliance, all the parties involved become conscious of their public image and practice discretion in their actions.
It is expected that a new political alliance will refrain from repeating the mistakes committed by the past political parties since diverse political entities forge a union with promises of a higher chance of them succeeding, since they concentrate on solutions and garner voters’ support.
For Zambia, it is time that other political parties willing to work with PF, heed Mr Chama’s words by coming on board and work together, for the betterment of this country.