The crumbling alliances

By Daily Revelation Editor

In a constitutional democracy, the opposition political parties, particularly the main ones, are usually referred to as the government in waiting and their leaders as the government leaders in waiting.

This is because the opposition political parties are expected to come up with alternative and better policies as they offer checks and balances to the ruling party.

This is done to inspire confidence in the electorates who install national leaders every five years. No wonder organised opposition parties come up with a shadow cabinet that even sometimes prepares alternative national budget just to demonstrate how ready they are to govern better.

However, such a government in waiting or the alternative government is expected to demonstrate competence and capability all round, not just in viable policy formulation. They have to demonstrate competence and capacity in the area of leadership and management of both personal and national affairs, among others.

In the next sixteen months, Zambians will participate – yet again – in the presidential and general elections. And clearly, the country has in earnest gone into an election mode. That’s why we are seeing strategic alliances being forged both by the ruling party and those in opposition. The ruling UPND has gone into alliances with Nevers Mumba’s MMD and Wynter Kabimba’s Economic Front, among several others.

On the other hand, the opposition are calling for unity of purpose to avoid splitting votes in their quest to dislodge the ruling party hence their formation of alliances.

In the last twelve months, two main alliances have been formed. The United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) and the Tonse Alliance.

While this is a good thing, as we could tell from the reactions of many Zambians who embraced the unity of purpose because they are looking for viable options to weigh against the ruling party, the recent happenings in these two alliances appear to be giving many well-meaning Zambians some goose pimples, not out of

excitement but fear. They are fearing for the future of the country because the government leaders in waiting are not showing any leadership to inspire confidence.

The rate at which these alliances are crumbling is scaring and exposing those men and women involved as lacking in leadership and management skills. If they can’t manage whatever differences they are facing or experiencing in those relatively small groupings, what confidence are they giving Zambians that they are indeed ready to govern the country better after next August?

It seems to us that many political players forge alliances dishonestly by advancing national interest when, in fact, they are more concerned and worried about personal interests. Time is fast running out before the elections next year. The alternative leaders should, therefore, spend more time campaigning on the ground to demonstrate how different and better they can manage the national affairs instead of displaying their incompetence in resolving differences among themselves.

The truth of the matter is that if the opposition fail to demonstrate that they can lead better, the ruling party will be assured of an easy electoral victory even amidst such complaints of high cost of living and economic difficulties. Let the opposition quickly pick up their broken pieces and get busy on the ground to show what difference they are ready to make and inspire citizens to look at them favorably next August. It cannot be overemphasised that a viable opposition is a vital and necessary ingredient for good governance. A government that is not effectively checked or balanced by a loyal and viable opposition is likely to take citizens for granted and abuse them. The opposition are part of the governance system. So let them elevate national interest and sideline personal interests by doing things for them benefit of Zambians.

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