LAST Saturday, Zambia attained the age of 45 and in this era, how apt was the theme of good neighbourliness and reconciliation for this year's Independence Day commemorations!

The past few years have unfortunately seen an unprecedented rise in acrimonious political debates which have heaped insults on the leadership, including the presidency, rather than on issues, a precedent which could spell trouble for this country.

Some of the media are at the centre of 'sponsoring' such unpalatable language between political foes as if enjoying the spectacle unfolding. Sadly, if left unabated, this culture may expunge the strides that Zambia as a nation has attained so far.

Zambia having been declared a Christian Nation naturally sets certain high social and moral benchmarks which denote a certain unwritten leadership code among politicians of avoiding the kind of waywardness in word and deed that could plunge the nation in turmoil.

Of late, we have seen political leaders vent their anger in such callous manner that their words cloud the very messages they wish to communicate to the nation.

The hate and anger which has so far been displayed by some of our political leaders in their quest for political power or what they purport is an effort to effect positive political, economic and social change, have instead become fertile ground for possible violence and anarchy.

This unfortunately is what may have led to the growing number of inter-party violent skirmishes.

The great responsibility that goes with the media in shaping public opinion and ultimately the mood of any nation is either grossly underestimated or deliberately being used to effect certain negative results.

No matter how much the media may want to disassociate itself from the 'running battles' that have increased in ferocity and incidence, they could also be found culpable for fuelling some of them.

Lest we forget the atrocities committed in Rwanda not so long ago, the media was at the centre of such hate campaigns as it over time managed to harness the detestation of man against man until it reached critical mass, culminating in the senseless butchering of people.

Zambia is no more special than Rwanda and the leadership has a duty to ensure that we do not have repeats of what happened there due to the intolerance of the political party leadership.

It is shocking, whatever happened to the renowned friendly Zambian disposition and rich smile that was much talked about everywhere you went in the world. In a few years all the richness of the happy Zambian culture seems to have faded into oblivion.

I would hate to even for once imagine that the 'One Zambia One Nation' aphorism which enjoyed much publicity and inculcated oneness and patriotism in the minds of Zambians in the early 70s and 80s could only flourish in a one party State?

Our founding fathers, especially those who are still alive today still have the challenge to continue with the work that has united us this far, ensuring that even in mutli-party politics, the underlying factor which holds us together as a people is not in any way compromised.

Former president Frederick Chiluba in the aftermath of an election once remarked that "Zambians must keep in mind that those who have won elections are just as Zambian and just as interested in the welfare of this country as those who may have lost.

"Let us put aside our differences and instead embrace each other for our spirit of unity and a shared destiny, let us put aside the bitterness and look for the best in one another.

"Today we look to the future, all the recrimination and the bitter words must be put to rest, consigned to the deep recesses of history, to the valuable archives of experience that constitute wisdom."

Such wise words can only be repeated bearing in mind that those who really feel for this country can take a leaf and in reflection ask themselves if their militancy in bearing all the insults and bad blood in public can give any positive change for the young that they claim to lead.

On democracy which preaches co-existence tolerance and reconciliation of people of divergent views, the late Tanzanian president Julius Nyerere once said democracy was being touted as if it were something that could be cloned like 'Dolly the Sheep' and used anywhere and everywhere.

"We disagree and argue in vain that we must manage our own democratic development and change. For democracy to work properly, we argue, it must shape its mechanisms to suit the culture, the conditions and current circumstances and also the nature and purposes of its people.

"This is how democracy has developed in all Western countries. American democracy, British democracy, Canadian democracy, and Swiss democracy are all democracies but they are not clones of some proto-type, they are all different," the Mwalimu argued.

Similarly, the Zambian type of democracy draws its unique kind from the cultural norms of society going way back in history which bordered first on respect of one another as human kind and importantly, respect for the leadership.

What is being seen today is the polarisation of the democratic process which has been hijacked by a clique of few vocal power brokers who by hook or crook want to wrestle power and in the ensuing confusion have introduced this spirit of bad blood and intolerance.

The good thing about it is the realisation by Government that something needs to be done to reverse this dangerous trend and hence, the theme of this year's Independence celebrations.

This theme, it is hoped, will guide the nation through the year by providing deliberate forums such as the Inter-Party Dialogue meetings which can offer an informal platform to deliberate pressing national matters across the political divide.

Forty-five years down the line and Zambia still stands at the cross-roads of complete political and economic emancipation.

One of the most critical challenges being faced is finding an ability to foster good neighbourliness and tolerance for one another as a pre-requisite for peace and national development.