The Vacancy Left by RB Must be Filled Urgently
Former Zambia’s President, Rupiah Banda (RB), passed away at his home in Lusaka last evening, 11 March 2022. The cause of death is cancer.
He was 85. RB had a long and illustrious career in public service, including as President, Vice President, Foreign Minister, Ambassador in three missions (Cairo, Washington and New York/UN), MP for Munali, District Governor and parastatal CEO.
He was a trained Economist, who studied in Ethiopia and Sweden, and a diplomat who served at very high levels during the turbulent years of international relations and frictions in Southern Africa, particularly in Angola, Namibia, Rhodesia and RSA. His depth of knowledge of diplomacy and width of networks amongst important players on the global arena was remarkable.
Back home his statecraft, communication prowess, administrative skills, governance experience, conflict resolution techniques, wisdom, humility, tolerance of diverse views, teamwork and grasp of economic management were recognized as rare strengths. Under his reign, governance looked simple because almost all fundamentals were firmly under control: GDP was growing, inflation was in single digits and dropping, debt was under control, exchange rate was impressive, industrial output (esp the mines) was on the upward trajectory, exports were on the rise, press freedoms were respected and opposition parties were given space to operate. His formula for governance was very basic: he picked the best and brightest and made them his advisors, Ministers and Permanent Secretaries, then allowed them to work.
The departures of KK and RB in a short period have created a big gap, on the bench of elders of the nation, which needs to be filled urgently. Our society functions better when there are such moral voices that watch over what we do and in times of crises they can render a hand, apply their wisdom, utilize their moral authority and exert their experience to influence society to return to normalcy.
The period prior, during and after the general election last year was one such time when our society stood on the verge of disintegrating into chaos, including the possibility of getting engulfed into a civil war.
President RB spoke before elections asking the nation to observe peace and requesting politicians to respect the will of the people.
After elections, the country was tense, the army were deployed and were armed, the pressure on ECL from his militant supporters was intense, the anxiety in HH and the impatience in the battle-ready UPND supporters had risen to explosive levels. Both PF and UPND had militias, some of them armed.
The police had lost all moral authority and/or professional independence or capacity to maintain law and order RB made an important judgement and summoned his entire weight of experience as a diplomat to resolve the standoff.
He calculated well that only ECL and HH were capable of resolving this matter by sitting and discussing. To pile the moral pressure on the two, he requested that other statesmen, including former President of Tanzania and former President of Sierra Leone be present. Within hours, the nation was watching pictures of ECL and HH laughing and exchanging jokes.
A catastrophe had been averted. That’s the power of wisdom and the significance of elders.
That leadership is not spontaneous. Someone must rise over a period of time and be accepted by the nation.
When KK died last winter, RB quickly assumed the unofficial moral position of Father of the Nation.
The qualifications for that job are simple but not simplistic: one must not be a divisive figure, one must be wise, one must be elderly.
The question now is who takes over that position? Zambia is never short of good and wise elders. All they need to realize and do, like RB quickly did, is to refrain from being divisive and petty. It’s a pity that among our elders are some whose health is slowly failing with age. That nonetheless, as happened with RB, shouldn’t deter them from filling the vacancies left by KK and RB as the moral compass of the nation, the force for unity and the benchmark for patriotism. The candidates are many.
However, a little work and a learning curve are needed before they can fill the big shoes shoes left by our fallen heroes, KK and RB. The candidates are many: ECL, VJ, ABC, Archbishop Mpundu, King Lubosi Imwiko, Dr Nevous Mumba, Bishop Joe Imakando, Inonge Wina, Guy Scott, General Kingsley Chinkuli, General Peter Zuze, Patrick Chisanga, Justice Silungwe, Justice Ngulube, Sketchily Sacika, Leslie Mbula …. can individually and collectively help to provide the wisdom and leadership the country requires to unite and build a more prosperous and peaceful Zambia where, unlike today, the future will always be better than the past.
As for ECL, his growth is needed much more than any of the elders above. Another similar or worse standoff is possible in 2026 or earlier.
He has a moral obligation to participate in resolving it, not fueling it. His immediate task is to earn the trust and confidence of the 58% of the population that were against him up to August. The formula is that he should rebrand into a national leader that thinks, talks and does things that are beneficial to all Zambians. It starts by small things such as he should desist from hosting such divisive visitors like Lusambo or Kambwili before cameras.
The Bible says, show me your friends and I will show you your future. ECL should start us better friends. As part of rebranding, at every important national commemoration or event, ECL should issue a statement befitting of a statesman. In times of disasters, he should take time to visit victims.
On all important national or international issues (Ukraine, Climate Change, rising suicide rates, impending drought…) his office should issue a statesmanlike position rich in moral content. On his part, President HH must help ECL to rebrand and transition into the new role of a statesman. All he needs to do is to respect him in a practical and visible way; he can be asked to represent the Head of State or Zambia on any local or international assignment. He can also name something significant (a new barrack, bridge school…) after ECL. It might look insignificant; however, it’s important for the sake of tradition, stability and national unity that elders, among whom ECL is one of the prefects, are taken on board when leadership over the country is exercised. During his reign, ECL managed to destroy so much and harm so many people.
However, rehabilitating and rebranding him is not about ECL, it’s about the country. He should be prepared to play a role to ensure that no more damage is done to Zambia and no harm is done to innocent Zambians again.
On a personal level, I was once invited to be on state visit to Zimbabwe during which; President RB was to officially open the 2009 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo.
His host, President Robert Mugabe delivered one of his trademark speeches to a parked audience in the main arena. It was one of the best speeches I heard from Uncle Bob. When RB was called to give his keynote speech, against all our fears, he did not disappoint; just after the salutations in English, RB pushed away the written speech and spent the next few minutes delivering a speech in Ndebele.
The whole audience was upstanding and clapping. That was the highlight of the visit. As you might remember, during the reign of LP Mwanawasa, he had publicly issued a statement against Uncle Bob and his land reforms.
That statement had jeopardized relations with our southern neighbor. Thanks to RB, he normalized the relationship using very simple tactics of diplomacy and knowledge of cultural sensitivities. He understood Zimbabwe very well because he was born in Gwanda, in Matebeleland and lived there as a child. I always had respect for RB, his knowledge of international relations and skills in conflict resolution. I will miss him.
My condolences to Mrs Thandiwe Banda, President HH, the Banda family, FAZ President, MMD President, the Zambian people and Africa at large on the passing of a liberation icon, a football administrator, a distinguished politician, a respected pan-Africanist and a statesman of international repute.
May the soul of our beloved Rupiah Bwezani Banda rest in eternal peace.