‘We are not in a dancing but leadership contest’

By Revelation Editor

“When choosing leadership, you don’t choose the one who is making the most noise. It’s not about choosing the one who has gathered the most musicians to sing and dance. We are not in a dancing contest, we are not in a song contest. The contest is about choosing leadership,” said Socialist Party (SP) leader Fred M’membe during a radio appearance over the weekend in Mufulira.

Before we delve deeper into the message M’membe shared, we first need to put it on record that there is literally nothing wrong with musicians participation in the campaigns, especially when it comes to their mobilising effect to draw masses to rallies and to any particular course or cause. Artistes also help in terms of creatively driving across any particular message through singing and dancing.

It cannot be discounted that their role helps in driving masses to a particular cause. For instance, those seeking to drive the masses towards rallies have found the mobilising effect that musicians have useful. For instance, who wouldn’t want to see Yo Maps or Chester perform free of charge in their localities? We are sure multitudes will buy into that.

And as earlier attributed to, musicians have their own effect in terms of popularising causes. Already during this campaign season, we have noted some hit songs, which even those who do not intend to vote for the candidates being promoted in the songs, are finding it irresistible to ignore. And we can also say that some have even been swayed towards some candidates causes by the songs. Some candidates have also benefited in terms of the outreach the same arts have contributed in growing their popularity.

However, while all these factors are appreciated and must be encouraged, M’membe is right when he says that the contest before this country is not about singing or dancing. Therefore, while the electorate is tuned in to the music, we must not forget the underlying and sole purpose of the season we are in. 

After people have sung and danced, we urge the electorates to listen carefully to the messages and promissory notes the competitors are offering. Because what matters at the end of the day are the bread and butter issues that will dominate people’s homes once the music and artistes have left the stages. This country is faced with infinite and deep socio and economic challenges that need to be addressed by the people offering themselves to lead. What workable solutions are they offering on agriculture, mining, manufacturing, national unity, energy, tourism and so on and so fort? These are the matters that should preoccupy the electorate amidst the music and the dancing.