By Daily Revelation Editor
This week, Wednesday, we carried a story in which former president Edgar Lungu complained to British High Commissioner to Zambia Nicholas Woolley that Zambia’s democracy is being trampled upon by the Republican President Hakainde Hichilema. According to our impeccable sources, Edgar had a meeting with High Commissioner Woolley during which he complained that opposition leaders are being slapped with questionable charges, and the police are abusing the Public Order Act (POA) to stop the opposition from holding rallies and mobilising support. Edgar further went on to criticize the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), accusing them of making it impossible for the biggest opposition PF to participate in elections.
Much as we agree with Edgar on most of the issues raised regarding the declining democratic space in the country, we have serious problems with Edgar’s level of hypocrisy. It is clear to us, like many other Zambians who say that politicians are the worst shrewd hypocrites.
Yes, we do not agree with Hakainde on most of the issues bordering on enhancing democracy and what he is doing against the opposition, however we are puzzled that Edgar is complaining about the same things he used to do. We would like to remind Edgar about some of the worst social and political evils his administration committed against the people of Zambia during his time in power.
Firstly, Edgar was known for cracking down on the opposition during his time in office. He used various tactics including the same draconian POA, and the police to suppress and stifle political opposition. One of the most notable instances of Edgar’s crackdown on the opposition was the use of POA to restrict the activities of the opposition parties. Even during campaign periods his administration tried to make it impossible for the opposition, especially Hakainde to campaign. We all remember those videos and images of police unleashing teargas canisters on the opposition. During Covid time, while Lungu was free to mobilise huge crowds to walk with him, the same was not allowed for the opposition.
In Edgar’s government, he deliberately attempted to limit the opposition’s ability to mobilise support to challenge PF. He restricted public gathering and protests; he used state agencies and institutions such as the police to target opposition leaders and activists. The police were heavily used to intimidate and harass opposition members, while the judiciary was biased in favour of PF.
The media were not spared too. Edgar used state controlled media censorship and restrictions on freedom of expression. Independent media outlets were targeted and some closed down. A classic example is the Post Newspaper and Prime Television. Journalists critical to Edgar and his government were subjected to arrests and prosecution.
His crackdown was a concerted effort to consolidate power and maintain his grip on the presidency. He famously said that he was going to hand power to himself, not knowing that Zambians had other plans. There was total erosion of democratic rights under Edgar, as evidenced by unruly PF caderism – that rapidly undermined not only Zambia’s democratic institutions, but also its reputation as a stable and free democracy.
We have consistently advised politicians that power is temporal; power resides in the people. When you are in power, use it wisely to serve and better the lives of the people, and not to abuse it to safeguard one’s personal interests. This is what Edgar did during his reign. Instead of respecting the will of democracy by using political power to serve Zambians, Edgar and his cohorts abused it.
It is laughable that today Edgar can go to the British High Commissioner to complain about democracy. It is the same Edgar who locked up Hichilema on trumped up treason charges, for months. At least Hichilema has not reciprocated just yet and never should he because he was not elected to seek revenge but to save Zambians
It is therefore always essential for any government to respect the rights of its people including opposition political parties, civil society, and the media to ensure a vibrant and pluralistic democratic system.
Use your time in office to improve society. If Edgar had worked to ensure the effectiveness of state institutions like police and ECZ during his time in power, he would not be complaining today. We hope Hakainde is listening.
Related
By Daily Revelation Editor
This week, Wednesday, we carried a story in which former president Edgar Lungu complained to British High Commissioner to Zambia Nicholas Woolley that Zambia’s democracy is being trampled upon by the Republican President Hakainde Hichilema. According to our impeccable sources, Edgar had a meeting with High Commissioner Woolley during which he complained that opposition leaders are being slapped with questionable charges, and the police are abusing the Public Order Act (POA) to stop the opposition from holding rallies and mobilising support. Edgar further went on to criticize the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), accusing them of making it impossible for the biggest opposition PF to participate in elections.
Much as we agree with Edgar on most of the issues raised regarding the declining democratic space in the country, we have serious problems with Edgar’s level of hypocrisy. It is clear to us, like many other Zambians who say that politicians are the worst shrewd hypocrites.
Yes, we do not agree with Hakainde on most of the issues bordering on enhancing democracy and what he is doing against the opposition, however we are puzzled that Edgar is complaining about the same things he used to do. We would like to remind Edgar about some of the worst social and political evils his administration committed against the people of Zambia during his time in power.
Firstly, Edgar was known for cracking down on the opposition during his time in office. He used various tactics including the same draconian POA, and the police to suppress and stifle political opposition. One of the most notable instances of Edgar’s crackdown on the opposition was the use of POA to restrict the activities of the opposition parties. Even during campaign periods his administration tried to make it impossible for the opposition, especially Hakainde to campaign. We all remember those videos and images of police unleashing teargas canisters on the opposition. During Covid time, while Lungu was free to mobilise huge crowds to walk with him, the same was not allowed for the opposition.
In Edgar’s government, he deliberately attempted to limit the opposition’s ability to mobilise support to challenge PF. He restricted public gathering and protests; he used state agencies and institutions such as the police to target opposition leaders and activists. The police were heavily used to intimidate and harass opposition members, while the judiciary was biased in favour of PF.
The media were not spared too. Edgar used state controlled media censorship and restrictions on freedom of expression. Independent media outlets were targeted and some closed down. A classic example is the Post Newspaper and Prime Television. Journalists critical to Edgar and his government were subjected to arrests and prosecution.
His crackdown was a concerted effort to consolidate power and maintain his grip on the presidency. He famously said that he was going to hand power to himself, not knowing that Zambians had other plans. There was total erosion of democratic rights under Edgar, as evidenced by unruly PF caderism – that rapidly undermined not only Zambia’s democratic institutions, but also its reputation as a stable and free democracy.
We have consistently advised politicians that power is temporal; power resides in the people. When you are in power, use it wisely to serve and better the lives of the people, and not to abuse it to safeguard one’s personal interests. This is what Edgar did during his reign. Instead of respecting the will of democracy by using political power to serve Zambians, Edgar and his cohorts abused it.
It is laughable that today Edgar can go to the British High Commissioner to complain about democracy. It is the same Edgar who locked up Hichilema on trumped up treason charges, for months. At least Hichilema has not reciprocated just yet and never should he because he was not elected to seek revenge but to save Zambians
It is therefore always essential for any government to respect the rights of its people including opposition political parties, civil society, and the media to ensure a vibrant and pluralistic democratic system.
Use your time in office to improve society. If Edgar had worked to ensure the effectiveness of state institutions like police and ECZ during his time in power, he would not be complaining today. We hope Hakainde is listening.
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