Economic Front (EF) leader Wynter Kabimba says there is clear public anger against the UPND, although not really sure if it has reached groundswell levels yet. However, what is clear from his analysis is that there is public discontent against the ruling UPND, but there is the absence of a clear opposition alternative to whip up that discontentment. Kabimba said while the previous elections held in the country before had had clear contenders, with PF and UPND being among the main protagonists, and MMD in the mix until the 2011 general elections, the same was missing now. He said the opposition needed to sufficiently mobilise to pose a challenge to the ruling party, as the risk was that if the UPND got a majority they may use the parliamentary majority to change the landscape of the country’s democratic benefits, by amending the constitution to consolidate power to themselves. Kabimba may actually have a point, as six months before the elections, people are still looking out for an alternative in the opposition. The random people one meets who don’t support the UPND, will often say that they are angry with the ruling party but they are not really sure who they will vote for in the opposition. They are still in the search of the person they will vote for. This is totally different from the previous elections where people had ready choices in terms of which political parties to vote for. Levy Mwanawasa and Frederick Chiluba’s MMD had Anderson Mazoka. Afterwards, Mwanawasa’s MMD had Michael Sata and also Hakainde Hichilema’s UPND. Thereafter, Rupiah Banda’s MMD had Michael Sata. After Sata died and Edgar Lungu assumed office, he had Hichilema’s UPND for three consecutive elections. The situation is not the same now. Which means that those in the opposition have their work cut out right now. Probably Chawama, whether the outcome results in a victory for the UPND or any of the opposition contestants, will give a hint in terms of which direction the nation is heading towards. This is so because Chawama is an urban constituency, which has some Peri urban tilt to it as well. But the result may only provide a hint and not the ultimate picture. It therefore means that since it is already seeming impossible for the opposition to unite, especially the few promising ones such as the SP, CF and even PF, they have a herculean task to prove to the people that they are the real alternative. Of course PF may stake a claim to that. However, the internal chaos in the former ruling party, some of it state sponsored, has wounded the former ruling party badly. It’s not even clear whether the real PF, not one recognised by the government, but the real one led by Given Lubinda, will even be allowed to contest the election given the inertia to move on the court cases involving them. It may just turn out that a lot of precious time could have been wasted by the time the court matters would be concluded. CF, SP among others are promising. But they always leave one with a sense that their countrywide mobilisation drive is still way short to be sufficiently ready for a national election in 8 months time. We actually may be wrong but that is how we view the political scenario currently at play. Anyway, surprises may just happen if the public discontent Kabimba is referring to will be sufficiently whipped up by any alternative that will come along by the time of the election.
By Daily Revelation Editor
Economic Front (EF) leader Wynter Kabimba says there is clear public anger against the UPND, although not really sure if it has reached groundswell levels yet. However, what is clear from his analysis is that there is public discontent against the ruling UPND, but there is the absence of a clear opposition alternative to whip up that discontentment.
Kabimba said while the previous elections held in the country before had had clear contenders, with PF and UPND being among the main protagonists, and MMD in the mix until the 2011 general elections, the same was missing now.
He said the opposition needed to sufficiently mobilise to pose a challenge to the ruling party, as the risk was that if the UPND got a majority they may use the parliamentary majority to change the landscape of the country’s democratic benefits, by amending the constitution to consolidate power to themselves.
Kabimba may actually have a point, as six months before the elections, people are still looking out for an alternative in the opposition. The random people one meets who don’t support the UPND, will often say that they are angry with the ruling party but they are not really sure who they will vote for in the opposition. They are still in the search of the person they will vote for. This is totally different from the previous elections where people had ready choices in terms of which political parties to vote for.
Levy Mwanawasa and Frederick Chiluba’s MMD had Anderson Mazoka. Afterwards, Mwanawasa’s MMD had Michael Sata and also Hakainde Hichilema’s UPND. Thereafter, Rupiah Banda’s MMD had Michael Sata. After Sata died and Edgar Lungu assumed office, he had Hichilema’s UPND for three consecutive elections. The situation is not the same now. Which means that those in the opposition have their work cut out right now. Probably Chawama, whether the outcome results in a victory for the UPND or any of the opposition contestants, will give a hint in terms of which direction the nation is heading towards. This is so because Chawama is an urban constituency, which has some Peri urban tilt to it as well. But the result may only provide a hint and not the ultimate picture.
It therefore means that since it is already seeming impossible for the opposition to unite, especially the few promising ones such as the SP, CF and even PF, they have a herculean task to prove to the people that they are the real alternative.
Of course PF may stake a claim to that. However, the internal chaos in the former ruling party, some of it state sponsored, has wounded the former ruling party badly. It’s not even clear whether the real PF, not one recognised by the government, but the real one led by Given Lubinda, will even be allowed to contest the election given the inertia to move on the court cases involving them. It may just turn out that a lot of precious time could have been wasted by the time the court matters would be concluded.
CF, SP among others are promising. But they always leave one with a sense that their countrywide mobilisation drive is still way short to be sufficiently ready for a national election in 8 months time. We actually may be wrong but that is how we view the political scenario currently at play. Anyway, surprises may just happen if the public discontent Kabimba is referring to will be sufficiently whipped up by any alternative that will come along by the time of the election.
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