By NDUBI MVULA –

IN his book Democracy: An Analytical Survey, Jean Baechler says as a political regime, democracy is grafted on leadership.
It eliminates recourse to violence between citizens, whether in the public sphere or in private agories.
In explaining further what agories are, Professor Baechler says an agory is a regulated social space, removed from violence and ruse, where at least supply and demand meet, whereas the primary meaning is more of political while the economic meaning is secondary.
However, Prof Baechler further explains that violence is reserved for foreign enemies, domestic delinquents and criminals.
He goes on to say that the delicate point is not the apparent contradiction between just pacification, whose virtues are attributed to democracy, and the perpetual cacophony that real, and no longer ideal, democracies turn out to be.
Professor Baechler qualifies his argument that the delicate point is raised by the positive definition of peace as a spirit of peace that blossoms into friendship among citizens, adding that citizens must want to live together.
As to what can democracy offer for implanting and sustaining the desire for citizens to live together, Prof Baechler says it’s nothing more than a contract.
“This contract is defined by the regime’s very nature, by the nature of the leadership that gives it its substance: citizens are united by a contract renouncing violence between themselves and setting forth rules of the game which permit them to attain the common good and realize their particular interests transmuted by agories into mean interests,” he says.
Every democracy experiences unending conflict, is constantly full of ‘sound of furry’, and to the superficial observer, it would always seem to be on the brink of plundering into confusion or even civil war.
“But the observer is superficial, because he is thinking only in the short term, overlooking the empirical data on the longevity of democracies and the reasons for this longevity,” he said.
Nevertheless, Prof Baechler’s viewpoint leads to what is now being observed internationally after its official declaration by the United Nations (UN) in November 2009.
It is the Mandela Day, which, in line with the UN declaration, falls on July 18 and the first UN Mandela Day was  held on  July 18 2001, though it is not a public holiday.
“What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will  determine the significance of the life we lead,” Nelson Mandela once said.
The Mandela Day is a global call to action for citizens of the world to take up the challenge and follow in the formidable footsteps of
Madiba, a man who transformed his life, served his country, South Africa, as its first black president and freed his people.
Its objective is to inspire individuals to take action to help change the world for the better and in so doing, to build a global movement for good.
It is noted that Nelson Mandela followed three rules throughout his life, which he did at great personal sacrifice; free yourself; free others and serve every day.
But getting back home,  as Zambia gears up for the forthcoming presidential and general election scheduled for August 11, 2016, a lot is going on as various political parties are all out  canvassing for votes as they sell their manifestos to would-be voters.
The campaigns have not been plain sailing with a number of skirmishes recorded to an extent of one person losing her life as well as some people sustaining injuries.
President Edgar Lungu is on record repeatedly calling for peaceful and issue-based campaigns as the country prepares for the August polls.
He has told the Church to organise a day of national prayer that should be held before the elections as a means to prepare Zambians with a mindset that will set them to approach the election day with the spirit of peace, love and unity.
However, as Prof Baechler points out that democracy offers nothing more than a contract, hence the need for peace and unity, the civil society, the Church and politicians have not relented in championing the clarion call for peaceful campaigns.
Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) acting executive director Chimfwembe Mweenge says his organisation joins Africa and the world in celebrating the Nelson Mandela Day that was declared in honour of Nobel peace prize laureate Nelson Mandela, who was a campaigner for democracy, peace, unity and reconciliation.
“Mandela International Day, annually celebrated on July 18th, which is Nelson Mandela’s birthday, is a global call to action that celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world and the ability to make an impact,” he says.
In this vain, Mr Mweenge is calling on political party leaders and all citizens in Zambia to emulate Nelson Mandela’s legacy of peace, unity and reconciliation as well as engage in activities that promote peace and unity especially during the period of campaigns towards the August 11, 2016 elections.
He says Zambia currently faces the challenge of violence and intolerance, owing to the occurrence of political disturbances that prompted the recent suspension of political campaigns in Lusaka and
Namwala districts. That suspension has since been lifted.
As a civic and non-governmental organisation dedicated to the promotion and strengthening of democratic governance in Zambia through advocacy and civic education programmes, FODEP calls on Zambian citizens to embrace Nelson Mandela’s virtues of tolerance and peaceful co-existence that will help promote reconciliation and end violence in Zambia.
He is urging leaders and members of political parties to reflect on their differences with the view of promoting reconciliation, unity and peace in Zambia.
“FODEP urges all political parties to sign the pledge for peace initiated at the previous meeting of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for presidential candidates. FODEP urges all political parties to commit themselves to peace and unity by not only appending their signature to the document, but to show real commitment through actions that promote peace,” he says.
UPND vice-president for politics  Canisius Banda describes Zambia as an oasis of peace which accommodates people from divergent backgrounds.
The Republican Constitution is in place and President Lungu’s responsibility is to see that there is peace in the country and continues to exist in that manner.
“He must ensure law and order; he must ensure peace. Let us celebrate our diversity; let us unite and harness the diversity we have,” he said in one of the live programmes on the privately owned Radio Phoenix.
According to the pastoral letter on the forthcoming elections, the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) has called upon all Zambians who registered as voters to turn up and cast their votes during the voting day.
The bishops said voting is not only a right but also a duty to the country to help identify and put in place credible people who will make the State function in the promotion of the common good.
“Never get tired of voting, as your apathy will only give greater chance to opportunists to carry the day. Take interest in voter education conducted by non-partisan civil society organisations (CSOs), attend rallies of various political parties and candidates and listen to what they have to say,” the letter reads.
And to the political leaders, the bishops have advised them with a biblical teaching taken from the book of  Mark 10: 43-45 which reads,
“Whoever would be great among you must be your servant and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For the Son of Man himself came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”.
The bishops have appealed to political parties to respect the views of others. They said if the party leaders truly want to be chosen for national governance, they should show commitment to the common good that transcends partisan interests.
“If elected, you will have a duty to all, including those who are not your members or did not vote for you and your party,” the bishops advised.
After all is said and done, it is the prayer of the bishops that all voters, political party leaders and their cadres have at heart the needed passion and commitment to espouse peace and avoid all forms of violence.
“As St Paul exhorts us, ‘Do everything possible on your part to live in peace with everybody’ (Romans 12:18),” reads the pastoral petter.