THE Government should never budge on the introduction of the grade 12 clause in the amended Constitution.
Even in the face of desperation that has seen some people forging the documents, we feel the clause should stand to ensure we set high standards that will improve political representation.
We say this knowing for sure that knowledge cannot be substituted with wisdom since the former is obtained in school while the latter is largely attained from experience.
Politicians without grade 12 certificates should be made to understand that modern politics is hinged on knowledge which one can never acquire no matter how intelligent they are.
Whether we like it or not, a modern politician should have some level of minimum education if they are to be effective and understand the intricacies of leadership.
Absolutely, minimum education qualification for any political office should be mandatory if we are to improve political representation.
It is surprising to note that some people expect people applying for jobs in the civil service to have minimum academic requirements and yet question the grade 12 clause.
One would wonder why there should be no need in the education of people who are elected to govern the people.
We should know that no man is complete without knowledge since whatever skills he has will only result in failure if he/she does not know how to take the correct decision at the correct time, which is only possible through education.
In Zambia for one to work in the civil services they are required to have a high level of education and yet councillors and members of Parliament can serve people with no such academic demands.
The debates in Parliament and various legislative assemblies like council chambers will only improve if we have parliamentarians and councillors with some minimum academic background.
In the absence of an enlightened and educated opinion, all debates drift onto issues that have no relevance with the topic.
This anomaly is already evident in Zambian politics, where some discussants, whether in the council chamber or Parliament, waffle and stumble lamentably.
This is the clique that the grade 12 clause will bar from sharing ignorance with the people they serve since their job is a special one and thus calls for minimum academic qualifications.
Look at their desperation in trying to forge grade 12 certificates. Isn’t this the behaviour an academic qualification can limit?
Like any other career, politicians need some minimum education if the communities they represent are to develop.
Even what people call natural intelligence or amano yachifyalilwa – among the Bembas, has limitations if it is not nurtured by some academic achievement.
While it is not right to say there are no intelligent people among those who have not acquired some academic qualifications, we can be quoted that in modern leadership one should go to school if he/she has to hold any political office.
This is even truer in Africa, a continent that is still struggling to catch up with the rest of the world in what is termed as the ‘global village.’
Once more we are calling on the Government to uphold the grade 12 clause no matter the hullabaloo that is coming from some sections of the country.
The Government should also act harshly to punish those who are forging the document just to remain relevant in a society that feels their representation is academically wanting. Opinion