“IT’S OKAY TO LOSE” — ALICE MUSUKWA WARNS AGAINST MISUSE OF POWER
By Giant Reporter
Alice Rowlands Musukwa has warned that democracy and the misuse of political power can have a “very thin line”, questioning the decision by some former Members of Parliament to petition election results after losing their seats.
Musukwa says while every candidate has a constitutional right to challenge an election where there is credible evidence of malpractice, that right should not be used simply because voters chose another candidate.
She argues that losing an election does not automatically mean votes were stolen or that the Electoral Commission of Zambia failed.
“Sometimes the simplest explanation is that the people rejected the candidate,” Musukwa said.
She further notes that voters have the democratic right to support a President from one party while electing a Member of Parliament from another, adding that such a decision should be respected.
Musukwa has urged political leaders to present evidence where genuine electoral irregularities occurred, but to accept the outcome with dignity where no evidence exists to show that the result was materially affected.
“It’s okay to lose. You are not the gods of our land,” she said, calling on leaders to respect the vote, the people and democracy.