IN HAKAINDE THE NATION HOPES TO ‘BURY’ EDGAR’S ILK FOR GOOD

By Daily Revelation Editor 

The late statesman Nelson Mandela famously declared during his presidential inauguration in 1994, after being elected as the first president of a truly democratic South Africa, saying “Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another.”

In the same manner, Zambians, through President-elect Hakainde Hichilema, should affirmatively declare today that never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful country will again allow a chaotic, base, corrupt and chipante pante leadership that Edgar Lungu and his ilk have provided in these last seven years.

Hakainde will officially take over the reigns as this country’s 7th President today. In him the nation hopes to bury the mediocrity of Edgar’s last seven years in office. It is true that not all that Lungu did in office was bad, there were a lot of successes in fact, only that the bad he did seems to have outweighed the good. And lest it be forgotten, leaders are not elected to fail, they are elected to succeed and succeed ever more. The fact that Lungu lost and lost terribly is in itself indicative that he failed to manage the affairs of this country.

Just consider how he used his power in an undemocratic manner, closing important institutions in the democratic life, including The Post and Prime TV, and also how he entrenched a culture of impunity in state institutions. Today there are assertions emerging on how certain state institutions were used to purchase vehicles and other campaigns materials for the ruling party. While most Zambians were going without electricity in their homes as the price has become too steep for many to afford, and when  many were sleeping hungry because they simply can’t afford to buy a bag of mealie-meal, cooking oil and relish, the more that they were paying through their struggles to some of these institutions was being used to fund lavish campaigns for the ruling party.

Edgar Lungu and his party found joy in the suffering of the masses in order to fulfill their selfish ends. That is what mattered most to them. And he did this in the most subtle manner by summoning his humble outward self, and was aided in part by some of the most hungry, hypocritical and shameless men and women of the cloth in the Church, for a few pieces of silver. They traded God’s standard of “love your neighbor as you love thyself” for a few pieces of silver in the same Judas Iscariot fashion. If you follow them carefully, you will notice that in a few months – or even days – from now, they will be singing the praises of the new President and his ruling UPND. They literally have no loyalty to God and the people they are supposed to serve. Their sole loyalty is to their bellies and in making a name for themselves. Please don’t take these scavengers seriously.

Hakainde you have the best opportunity to start a new chapter today based on a country that is governed in true righteousness, zero tolerance to vices such as corruption, violence, caderism and to rebuild battered state institutions. Zambians have heard too many promises from new administrations promising to change course but have ended up going back to the same vomit they condemned in previous administrations. What Zambians are interested in is seeing the fulfillment of your promises translating to a better standard of life.

Let there be a true turnaround, Zambians don’t ever want to see a return to what has been experienced in these last seven years. They are counting on you to set the standards so high that it will become impossible to ever see the likes of Edgar and his ilk ever come closer to power again.

You will be President today and you have promised a lot of things. In addition to that be reminded that the successes, including some failures of Edgar Lungu will become yours today, including the unsustainable foreign debt of $12 billion, among others. You will be at liberty to condemn the previous administration for their carelessness and mediocrity, but you will not be at liberty to abdicate addressing these matters. The ball is now squarely in your courts. You will be expected to deliver equally to the 2.8 million that voted for you as well as to the over 1.8 that did not vote for you.

You were a victim of the unprofessionalism in the police service, defence forces, government media and other state institutions. It will be folly to allow them to continue operating in the same just because they are now under your control. If possible, grant them the legal and operational framework to operate independently as early as you get into office, as there might be a temptation to drag when some power starts sipping into the head.

Zambians, be watchful in ensuring effective checks and balances on the new administration. It is not in your interest to see Hakainde’s leadership fail, as if they do so it is the nation that will lose out, and if they succeed Zambia succeeds too.

Hakainde you have the best opportunity to open up a new chapter towards a glorious future for this country. Please take it up and run with it.