5 September 2008
editorial
Now, every Zambian is aware of the political calendar ahead for the nation following the death and interment of late Republican President Levy Mwanawasa.
The major looming event is of course the election of a new leader for Zambia which will be decided in November at the national polls.
Right now, the national parties have been engaged in their own processes to choose who their candidates for the presidential election will be. For the opposition parties, this process is effectively over.
For the ruling party, the same process is also approaching the end stages and soon they too would have chosen their preferred candidate.
It cannot be glossed over, the fact that certain feelings had been whipped up in the process of picking a presidential candidate for the ruling party.
In any situation, and this is particularly so in an emotive occupation as politics, there are bound to be as many opinions and schools of thought as there are players and stakeholders. Each equally entitled to their opinions, choices and preferences.
This is what has seen a lively jostling and positioning for the ruling party's and national leadership after Dr Mwanawasa.
There is nothing amiss in this process as long as it is undertaken within the prescribed norms of democracy and the constitutions of respective parties.
In this process of democracy, it is never a foregone conclusion who wins an elective position until the various stages and requirements are met and the ballots are counted. In all this, the citizens of Zambia have a crucial role to play.
No one else outside the confines of this country will have any say, influence or play any part in the election of the next president of the Republic. This onerous task is squarely on the shoulders of Zambians themselves taking into consideration the best interests of their country.
This is the point that has been echoed by none other than the Rwandese President Paul Kagame.
President Kagame who is an experienced African leader and understands the workings of the continent has urged Zambians to ensure that they elect a replacement for President Mwanawasa who will promote peace and stability as well as enhance economic development.
The message from President Kagame may not appear to be new to most Zambians, yet at this time when a major milestone has been passed by Zambia, the advice should be hearkened to by all Zambians.
This is because at every moment in the history of mankind and nations, the interests of the individual have always been subordinated to the lofty interests of nations in order for such nations to survive and forge ahead.
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