PILGRIM

ON BACK TO REALITY:

[The curious case of Zambian Political standings today]

Fellow Pilgrim, it has really taken long from the last time I did my political analysis.
I have been watching from the terraces the political dynamics in the Country,but today, it has dawned on me to say just a little bit on the happenings in the political realm.
Note: Kindly allow me to speak only on 3 relevant Political Parties today.
1- The Ruling Upnd .
2- The Opposition PF.
3- The Opposition Sp.

1- On the Ruling Upnd.

• I must confess that from the time I started understanding Politics this is the first time I’m seeing a week Ruling Political Party. Wether members of the Party agree with me or not, this is just the Truth and it shall remain so.

Why do I say so?

1] The Ruling Upnd Party and it’s Leadership has been totally sidelined from Governance. Ministers who are in Cabinet have also distanced themselves from the Party as if it’s not the same Party that put them where they are today.

• President Hakainde Hichilema has paralyzed the Party by distancing it from Governance. He has given more Power to the Civil Service while ignoring the fact that the Upnd should be the one leading the Government.
• The Party and it’s Government term is not what is happening under the Upnd.
  In as much as we appreciate the fact that Cadreism should not be condoned in the Country we should also not forget that we have a Political System in Zambia which forms Government. And let us not forget that Political Activism is a backbone of every Political Party.
• The Upnd Party has made it’s members to be the Weakest Politicians in the Country today. If a Upnd National member can be treated as a nobody by the Civil Service, what of a Ward or Branch Chairman?
  Today, it is not fashionable to belong to the Ruling Party because it is the most weak Party.
• It is high time that President HH realizes that his being Repubican President is through a Political Party Called Upnd. Zambian Governance is through a Political System.
  2] Upnd Media Team is also one of the weakest of all time. I don’t remember the last time we heard even just a single Statement from the so called Media Team. Most of us don’t even know who the Media Director is. Citizens are getting information direct from the President’s Facebook page as if it’s a Mulyookela Party. Some information is coming from Praise Singers who can’t even prove their information when tasked to do so..
  -The Chief Government Spokesperson is equally a miscalculation. She has only said 12 words from the time she was appointed. Sometimes you may even wonder why Bally is keeping her there such an incompetent Lady.
  What the Upnd members are not aware is the fact that Opposition Politics is far much easier as compared to Ruling Party Politics? It is hard and more difficult to be in the Ruling compared to being in the Opposition.
  -The Upnd SG is equally in his own World, little does he know that it’s dangerous to run a Ruling Political Party without Defections. When a Ruling Party stops attracting new members then that should Worry the Party Leadership. Ruling Parties must always be attractive.
  Finally on the Upnd.
  I’m not going to talk about the Failures and archivements of the Upnd lead Government today.
  That’s a topic for another day, but they must stop the blame game thing because it is hammering 🔨 them more.

2- On the Opposition PF:

-The Opposition PF needs serious humbleness and Rebranding. It is a Party that if managed properly can get back to Power in 2026 especially looking at what is happening on the ground today.

• What ever is happening under the Upnd lead Government today is a total opposite of what Citizens expected when Voting for them. PF doesn’t need the Rebranding of those Chaps being Paraded as Presidential Candidates.
  I.e
  -How can CK of all the people be on the Presidential Candidates list?
  Steven Kampyoongo with his Fire 🔥 Tenders? Gbm with his instability? Chitalu Chilufya of all the people honestly with his ambulances?
  IF truly Ndambo was to join the Opposition PF then he’s a game Changer and the rest should forget. Him or some brands like Emmanuel Mwamba and Dr Canisius Banda can help change the face.

3- On the SP:

• Fred has never been considered as a good person for Zambian Leadership ever since. Every Citizen knows this fact.
  Today, his Party has become the most attractive Political Party in the Country because of Socialism.
  -All Political Parties that thrive on Socialism do Prosper. MMD under the late Frederick Chiluba began as a Capitalist which nearly costed its hold on Power until it changed to Socialism.
  Involving Citizens in Governance is the only way one can survive.
  This is what is costing the Upnd today, it is not only Upnd Members who are being sidelined but Citizens at large. President HH is a Capitalist and this is why he will Govern for one Term if Not Careful.
  -Zambia belongs to Zambians 🇿🇲 and they must be part of the Governance period!
• What we should all bear in mind is the fact that Fred Membe and his SP are likely to break the record of being the first Political Party to have Formed Government in its second General Election attempt. under Democratic Governance in the Country Zambia.
• Take note that as things stand, it is the most attractive Political Party in the Country today.

Note: To all those Political parties that are not mentioned here must start dissolving and re aligning themselves to the 3 mentioned Political Parties rather than wasting their time.

Aluta Continua!

By Charles Chikoko Malembeka.