By Isaac Zulu
There are a lot of educated fools in society that cannot even articulate issues and there are a lot of uneducated people that have good leadership qualities and can provide credible leadership, but are denied the opportunity to be part of the country’s governance system because of lack of academic qualifications, says Cloudias Musoma.
Commenting on the European Union Election Observer Mission report that has recommended the Zambian goverment should consider doing away with the grade 12 qualification requirement for one to vy for political office, Musoma, who is a revolutionarist activist and immediate past Socialist Party Central Province spokesperson, said that politics is not about academic qualifications but about having a “heart to serve the people.”
He said that the grade 12 qualification requirement for one to contest for a mayoral, parliamentary and Presidential position was crafted by “selfish politicians who want to perpetuity their stay in the political arena.”
“You know that the so called grade 12 qualification requirement for one to contest for any political position was recently introduced. Of course by selfish politicians who want to perpetuity their stay in the Zambian political arena. Politics is not about academic qualifications but about having a heart to serve the people. We have a lot of uneducated people in the country, but have good leadership qualities and are capable of offering credible leadership,” explained Musoma in an interview. “And for lack of a better term, I can say that we have a lot of educated fools in society who cannot articulate issues and we have uneducated people that have good leadership qualities and can offer credible political leadership, but are denied the opportunity to be in the governance system.”
Musoma explained that people that are capable of finding solutions to problems being faced by members of the community.
“In the past, we have had members of parliament that were not educated, per say, but were able to debate effectively in parliament. Equally, we have people that have been finding solutions to problems being faced by members of the community,” said Musoma.
He further proposed that there is need to introduce local languages.
“Going forward, we need to bring life to parliament. There’s need to allow parliamentarians to debate in their own local languages in order for them to debate effectively and express themselves fully while on the floor of the House,” said Musoma. “Most of these parliamentarians are popular on the ground because they are constantly in touch with the people in their respective localities.”
Meanwhile, Musoma has welcomed the recommendation by the European Union Election Observer Mission for the Electoral Commission of Zambia to reduce on nominations fees for political candidates.
“That proposal by the European Union Election Observer Mission is also very welcome. That will allow the poor masses to take part in the governance system of the country. The reduction in nominations fees for political candidates will also enable the youths, the marketeers and groupings,” added Musoma.
