THE UPND SG IS MISUNDERSTOOD: BUT WHAT’S HIS POINT?
Mr Batuke Imenda, Secretary General (SG) of the United Party for National Development (UPND), in modern language, he is currently trending. He is awash in the media. Tabloid banners and social media platforms are screaming his name. He indeed is the man of the moment.
There are many reasons why any man would trend as Mr Imenda is trending currently. However, many the reasons maybe, they can just be classified into two categories. It is either Mr Imenda has done something brilliantly right or something awry and actually appalling.
I am not in any position to criticize, fault or blame anyone for whatever position they may have formed or taken on the SG. I am equally not in a position or possess the power to argue with the media. I am but a small man. However, I believe I am also entitled to form my own opinion on the issue, just like any other Zambian has done. It is from this firm understanding that I pen these words.
From the front page banner of the Wednesday, 9th February 2022 edition of the tabloid, News Diggers, as well as other social platforms, the issue is that the UPND SG, Mr Batuke Imenda said “We Didn’t Sign a Contract….that we will employ you after forming government.” This has not gone well with a lot of people, especially the youth, UPND Youth, who in turn took to the media to air their displeasure, and maybe disappointment, in the SG.
Following the release of the tabloid and the news of the statement of the SG becoming awash, the SG held a press conference to dispel the allegation. In his words, he stated that the reporter in question quoted him out of context. He further charged and challenged the reporter in question to avail the said recording to the press in order to clarify the said accusations.
In a dramatic turn of events, Mwebantu featured an item that seems to come from News Diggers. It simply read: Dear UPND SG Batuke Imenda, Challenge accepted. Signed Editor. In accepting the challenge, a short audio of a voice purporting to be that of the UPND SG is clear, answering a query from a youthful voice. …”all we did as a party is to declare that we are going to change government and create employment. But sometimes people have their own agendas. We were saying we are going to create employment, we did not sit down with anyone; and write a contract and then say when we get employed, you will be a lecturer at the University of Zambia. Or when we form government, you will be working at the stations. Or when we form government, you will take over markets. No, we did not sign a contract with anyone in that line.”
If this is what has caused the media uproar, I ask myself a question: was the SG wrong so to say? I then answer myself: No. The reason is that I do not recall any one time did the UPND, from the time of the late Anderson Mazoka when it was said that “vote for UPND and in turn, you will take over the running of a bus station.”
Besides, although the News Diggers Journalist gladly accepted the challenge and posted the audio, you will agree with me that, the challenge was but in part. The audio which I have quoted above was only less than 3 minutes. It does not give clear background or circumstances of the whole issue, which led to the issuance of the words of the SG. Hence, the audio, clear as it maybe, leaves us in a state of: “blind men and the elephant.” We only know half the truth but we want to assume it’s the whole truth. Additionally, the backlash of the media and populace, in my view, ignores what the other voice was asking the SG. The voice said, “…what is your view on youths who feel entitled to….”
In view of such a question, is it really wrong for the SG to answer as he did?
Those who are saying the SG is wrong in his statement, are they advocating the return of the Patriotic Front (PF) manner of running public affairs? Is that not what we all voted out on 12 August 2021, to liberate the country from the strangle of the party and it’s cadres? Are we still advocating for the party youths to stretch their feeling of entitlement to an extent of capturing your Government once more as the case was under the PF?
Clearly, we now have a complete separation of the government and the party, which the SG has been a strong advocate for. Those closer to the SG and the UPND will understand that whilst he is a man of few words, he is a very caring parent that has allowed the youths in the party to take centre stage and express their leadership in line with his well known agenda of identifying and building the leaders of tomorrow in the UPND party.
It is in affirmative within the party that Mr. Imenda has ably provided the fatherly-figure leadership and held the youths within close check to avoid the return to PF days when the youths took over the running of markets and bus stations and broke the sacred hall that existed between the Government and the party. The SG has always preached restraint and many times called on youths to give the UPND time to roll out the policies that would create employment and alleviate poverty in the country.
Suffice to mention that the SG was merely echoing the vision of the republican president and the party that the many jobs being created by the New Dawn Administration are blind to political affiliation as they are not specially reserved for the UPND youths, but all Zambian youths. I am certain it is within his right, as the party SG, so to do in order to tame his party youths.
Yes, Mr. Imenda is so soft and calm as many people think, but we cannot ignore the fact that he is also firm and very thoughtful in his decisions. This is absolutely what has made him a successful SG for the party and enabled him to contain the eagerly expectant UPND youths who are desperate for jobs, benefits and other opportunities perceived to come with the change of Government.
Those of us that have lived and worked so closely with Mr. Imenda know for sure that he is a man of peace and exquisite personality. He is very tact, a good listener, considerate, and a gifted thinker. Many that have worked under various Secretary Generals in the party rrecognize Mr. Imenda for his brevity, accommodating nature, and amazing foresight. Simply put, he is not a man who can utter careless remarks that would hurt the very youths that he fondly cherishes and tirelessly speaks for them both within the party and Government circles.
Just in case, some of you still feel offended, how about forgiving such a gentle soul that loves peace and has indicated to all of us that his intended message to the party youths had been misconstrued? Do not judge him from an incidence of failed communication, Mr. Imenda is a man of the people, youths and everyone else.
Prof. Omedy Mweene
Vice Chancellor
Supershine University