On Monday, we carried an article in which Alliance for Community Action Executive director Laura Miti had difficulties differentiating the ruling UPND and opposition Patriotic Front (PF) politically. Interestingly, the human rights defender was able to distinguish Hakainde Hichilema and Edgar Lungu from a leadership point of view.
This is what she said in summary: “I always say UPND na PF [ni ma] first cousin; chimozi mozi. It is at the top where there is a difference. [Former] president Lungu and HH [ni] night and day, in terms of leadership style, [and] their competence. Night and day, you can’t even compare. But I have not seen anything that makes me believe UPND as a party is better than PF, other than cadres of course.”
And comparing between Edgar and Hikainde, Laura had this to say: “I think President Hichilema is the best we could have now for the economy. I puzzle to imagine where we would be if PF had won, if Fred had won, if Kalaba had won….because you know when I look around, I don’t see anybody as economically astute as President Hichilema.”
What is most interesting is that Laura was expressing herself at Emmanuel Mwamba’s podcast platform. Emmanuel is Edgar’s firm supporter; and a serial critic of Hakainde and the UPND government.
Well, in delving into Laura’s perspective: we note two fundamental dimensions she brought out. Firstly, she sees no difference between UPND and PF from a political standpoint. We agree with Laura on this core – obviously for many reasons. One of which is the governance approach. PF was criticized and removed from power due to authoritarian tendencies; crackdown on dissent, corruption, and abuse of power etc. We have seen UPND doing exactly what PF was doing; things that the Zambian people did not want PF to do being done and implemented by the UPND government. Maybe, except for one political sin: unleashing cadres to harass Zambians. The rest of the evils and ills, UPND have carried on. We have also seen opposition leaders being arrested on flimsy grounds; being denied space to mobilise support for their parties; being pursued by the ACC and DEC, while offenses committed by the UPND supporters and sympathisers are taking ages to be investigated, some ending in natural deaths. No action taken at all!
It is from this perspective that Laura is referring to the two main political opponents as first cousins; chimozi mozi. Laura is candidly being honest about what she says. We would like to remind the UPND that the path they have taken is politically costly and deadly. As the saying goes, “if you want to perfect the future, learn from the past.”
UPND as a party seems not ready to learn from the past; from what happened to the PF.
However, where Laura sees the difference is in the leadership styles of Hakainde and Edgar. Well, there is a debate to be had on that one as both have exposed glaring weaknesses in the manner they have handled national matters, of course with some worthy achievements scored by both. What may give Hakainde the urge over Edgar is that he has got just over two more years to make the most of the good he is able to master during his time in office and if Zambians decide in 2026, another five years to achieve more good than bad.
Our advice to Hichilema and his government is that they should not go to sleep. Zambians are taking stock of every step of their action. Any lack of adherence to the cries of the Zambian people will cost them dearly.
By Daily Revelation Editor
On Monday, we carried an article in which Alliance for Community Action Executive director Laura Miti had difficulties differentiating the ruling UPND and opposition Patriotic Front (PF) politically. Interestingly, the human rights defender was able to distinguish Hakainde Hichilema and Edgar Lungu from a leadership point of view.
This is what she said in summary: “I always say UPND na PF [ni ma] first cousin; chimozi mozi. It is at the top where there is a difference. [Former] president Lungu and HH [ni] night and day, in terms of leadership style, [and] their competence. Night and day, you can’t even compare. But I have not seen anything that makes me believe UPND as a party is better than PF, other than cadres of course.”
And comparing between Edgar and Hikainde, Laura had this to say: “I think President Hichilema is the best we could have now for the economy. I puzzle to imagine where we would be if PF had won, if Fred had won, if Kalaba had won….because you know when I look around, I don’t see anybody as economically astute as President Hichilema.”
What is most interesting is that Laura was expressing herself at Emmanuel Mwamba’s podcast platform. Emmanuel is Edgar’s firm supporter; and a serial critic of Hakainde and the UPND government.
Well, in delving into Laura’s perspective: we note two fundamental dimensions she brought out. Firstly, she sees no difference between UPND and PF from a political standpoint. We agree with Laura on this core – obviously for many reasons. One of which is the governance approach. PF was criticized and removed from power due to authoritarian tendencies; crackdown on dissent, corruption, and abuse of power etc. We have seen UPND doing exactly what PF was doing; things that the Zambian people did not want PF to do being done and implemented by the UPND government. Maybe, except for one political sin: unleashing cadres to harass Zambians. The rest of the evils and ills, UPND have carried on. We have also seen opposition leaders being arrested on flimsy grounds; being denied space to mobilise support for their parties; being pursued by the ACC and DEC, while offenses committed by the UPND supporters and sympathisers are taking ages to be investigated, some ending in natural deaths. No action taken at all!
It is from this perspective that Laura is referring to the two main political opponents as first cousins; chimozi mozi. Laura is candidly being honest about what she says. We would like to remind the UPND that the path they have taken is politically costly and deadly. As the saying goes, “if you want to perfect the future, learn from the past.”
UPND as a party seems not ready to learn from the past; from what happened to the PF.
However, where Laura sees the difference is in the leadership styles of Hakainde and Edgar. Well, there is a debate to be had on that one as both have exposed glaring weaknesses in the manner they have handled national matters, of course with some worthy achievements scored by both. What may give Hakainde the urge over Edgar is that he has got just over two more years to make the most of the good he is able to master during his time in office and if Zambians decide in 2026, another five years to achieve more good than bad.
Our advice to Hichilema and his government is that they should not go to sleep. Zambians are taking stock of every step of their action. Any lack of adherence to the cries of the Zambian people will cost them dearly.
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