Zambia’s regional voting
A citizen casting her vote at Kamwala South School
Zambia’s regional voting is not different from many other countries in Africa and SADC region in particular. In other parts of the region, ethnicity is highly pronounced while in Zambia we call this as tribalism.
Tribalism tones are understated if it practised by some tribes while in other tribes it is over stated and everyone is made to be believe that some tribes are tribal. Politicians have created this divide which in actual sense does not exist because we co exist in many facets of life.
In our neighbouring countries like Zimbabwe, we all know the historic rivally between the Shonas and Zulus. The election results for example between MDCT (Morgan’s Party, a Shona) and ZANUPF (Robert’s party) clearly shows where these leaders come from. This is exactly the same with what we are witnessing in Zambia today.
We must also not step on the past, where individuals from certain tribes were suppressed in terms of national leadership. For Shonas it is about Josua Nkomo. Here in Zambia we know the pre interdependence alliances which ended up be abused by some leaders. Im not calling for paying back, Im calling for mutual respect and co-existence among our diverse trible backgrounds.
No political party in Zambia has a tribalism philosophy and but is highly amplified by simplistic minds who value tribe more than people. From my tribe we have a proverb,
; Mwine pabo tabipilwa masha”- meaning when you dance at your home place, your people would clap for you. Our home is Zambia, divided into provinces. We need to mutually respect each other and avoid hate speech against each other from various tribes. There is NO superior tribe in this country! We must all be proud of being Zambians and respect our common and individual identities as a nation as well as tribes as an ethnic classifications.
Promoters of music such as “Alalila Oweee, Chikonko mwikate” promote hatred and undermines modern democracy and our value of One Zambia One Nation. We must participate in politics not as a matter of life and death but we must be ready to accept defeat when our opponents win elections. For this to happen electoral bodies must be trustworthy and government institutions must facilitate democracy rather than being accomplishers of dictatorship and suppression of other players in democracy.
Leaders must avoid to impose on citizens. Elections must serve as the voice of the people and our leaders must be kin to listen to the voice of the people which is the voice of God.
GOD BLESS YOU,
Lewis Mwape
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