WHAT IS THE EU RESOLUTION ON ZAMBIA’S POST-ELECTION ISSUES? – LET’S GET IT RIGHT.
Authored By; Mupishi Jones
For a long time I have said this – Zambia’s biggest problem is not that we don’t talk. We talk too much. The problem is, people who know very little shout the loudest, and people who know the truth keep quiet. And when the wise go quiet, lies become loud.
The latest noise about the European Parliament resolution on Zambia is exactly that.
On 17th September, the European Parliament passed a motion on Zambia’s post-election situation. Immediately, some opposition voices and Facebook analysts jumped on it like Zambia has been sanctioned, like EU has cut funding, like our economy will collapse tomorrow.
Ba Zambia, let’s calm down and understand what we are talking about.
First, what is the European Parliament?
The EU is not one man. It is not one office. It has three big institutions – The European Parliament, The European Commission, and The Council of the European Union
What passed on the 17th is a resolution by the European Parliament. In EU language, a resolution is a political opinion. It is not binding law. It is not a sanction. It is not trade policy.
If EU wants to sanction a country, cut aid, or change trade – that decision must come from the European Commission and the Council. Not Parliament alone.
So to tell Zambians that “EU has punished Zambia” is simply not true. It is misinformation.
Second, Zambia is a sovereign state.
I keep saying this – Zambia is not a district of Brussels.
Yes, we listen to international partners. Yes, we have good relations with the EU. We need them, they need us. That is diplomacy.
But our elections? Our court cases? Our Constitution? Those are Zambian matters, to be solved by Zambian institutions – our courts, our Parliament, our media.
A resolution in Brussels does not govern Zambia.
Zambia is governed by Zambians, under the Zambian Constitution.
So what should we do?
Government must continue governing. Work on the price of mealie-meal, fuel, jobs.
If opposition has genuine concerns about elections or governance – and they have every right to – then bring them to our courts, to our Parliament, to our people. Don’t outsource our politics to Europe.
At the end of the day, let us not confuse noise with power.
A resolution can make headlines.
But only the Zambian Constitution makes laws for Zambia.
Let’s keep our eyes on what matters.
Mupishi Jones
Political Analyst
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