‘POLITICAL ENTITLEMENT TO RULE IS DANGEROUS’ – CHIFIRE

‘POLITICAL ENTITLEMENT TO RULE IS DANGEROUS’ – CHIFIRE

Governance expert Gregory Chifire has warned against what he describes as a dangerous sense of political or tribal entitlement, where some groups believe that power belongs inherently to their political grouping or region.

Chifire says such a mindset poses a serious threat to Zambia’s democratic development because it encourages citizens to reject election outcomes when their preferred political side loses.

“There is a certain, I don’t know, can I call it political hegemony or tribal hegemony, that believe they’re entitled to rule,” Chifire said.

He argued that the problem was evident even after the 2021 general election, when, according to him, some people struggled to accept that the country had elected a new president.

“Even after the 2021 election, the same did not accept that there was a new president. They feel that they are the ones, or their grouping, or their region, is supposed to rule,” he said.

Chifire warned that viewing political power as the preserve of a particular group or region could deepen divisions and undermine national cohesion.

“This is dangerous for the nation,” he said.

He further argued that refusing to accept political reality does not change the outcome of an election but instead risks causing harm to those who maintain such a position.

“Even if they don’t accept that there is a new president, it is to their own detriment. It is detrimental to their own health,” Chifire said.

The governance expert said political leadership should be understood as a constitutional mandate derived from the electorate rather than an entitlement attached to a particular region, tribe or political grouping.

He also stressed the importance of accepting electoral outcomes and allowing democratic institutions to function, regardless of which political party emerges victorious.

Chifire’s remarks come amid continued debate over Zambia’s political divisions and the extent to which regional and political loyalties influence attitudes towards national leadership. His comments underscore the need for political tolerance and acceptance of democratic transitions as essential elements of national unity.

– Kumwesu | August 27, 2026