DON’T CASUALLY DISMISS KHAMA’S OBSERVATIONS- Fred M’membe

DON’T CASUALLY DISMISS KHAMA’S OBSERVATIONS

The Socialist Party notes with grave concern the recent remarks by former Botswana President General Ian Khama, who characterised Mr Hakainde Hichilema as “Africa’s newest dictator” during an official parliamentary session in Gaborone.

While the diplomatic language utilised by a foreign former head of state is a matter for regional reflection, the underlying substance of his observation cannot be casually dismissed. General Khama’s assessment is not an isolated critique; it serves as a stark external validation of a deeply concerning domestic reality. For several years, the Socialist Party has consistently documented a systematic regression in Zambia’s democratic infrastructure, a trajectory that has now inevitably attracted international scrutiny.

The current administration has progressively replaced institutional consensus with executive overreach. We continue to witness a disturbing pattern of governance characterised by the weaponisation of the criminal justice system and the routine violation of constitutional boundaries.

This is typified by the prolonged, arbitrary detention of opposition leaders and critics far beyond the legally permissible 24-hour statutory window without formal charges or court appearances. The state’s current handling of political figures held under broad charges of treason and sedition, without a corresponding readiness to efficiently and fairly prosecute, violates basic tenets of due process.

These actions do not reflect a robust, self-confident democracy; rather, they signal a calculated effort to insulate power by neutralising legitimate political competition.

Crucially, this democratic contraction has begun to compromise the independence and functionality of our core institutions:

• The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ): The integrity of our democratic processes has been severely challenged by unprecedented administrative decisions, including the highly controversial nationwide suspension of vote counting and result announcements during the August electoral cycle. The ECZ must operate as an impartial, transparent referee. It cannot allow its constitutional mandates to be compromised or weaponised in a manner that destabilises public confidence in the electoral system.

• The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) and Judicial Autonomy: The rule of law requires unhindered access to justice. We echo the serious concerns raised by the Law Association of Zambia regarding recent post-election security maneuvres, including the unprecedented physical sealing and barricading of court premises. As LAZ rightly emphasised, security measures must remain lawful, proportionate, and structured to preserve, rather than obstruct, judicial independence and citizens’ fundamental access to legal remedies.

Resorting to dismissive public relations or personal counter-attacks against external critics does not address the fundamental governance failures occurring within our borders. A state’s international standing is ultimately a reflection of its domestic conduct. No amount of diplomatic posturing can obscure the visible erosion of constitutional guarantees and political freedoms inside Zambia today.

The Socialist Party remains unshakeably committed to constitutionalism, the rule of law, and the preservation of our republic’s democratic heritage. We urge the current administration to view this international reprimand not as an occasion for defensive rhetoric but as a critical moment for deep introspection and an immediate reversal of its authoritarian trajectory.

Fred M’membe
SP President