FROM the time it lost power in 2021, the Patriotic Front (PF) has been drifting like a ghost ship with no crew and without a captain.
And largely, the ship has appeared to be headed for the cliff, with no one to steer it away from impending danger.
Of course after suffering electoral defeat, it is not unusual for party members and their leaders to become disillusioned and for the party to lose direction.
In fact for many political parties, especially those galvanised around an individual, they tend to lose all relevance and eventually go into oblivion. It is the fate that the United National Independence Party (UNIP) suffered after it was ousted from power in 1991.
Even when it tried to get back to power, riding on the popularity of its leader Dr Kenneth Kaunda, it could not do so. Eventually, the party drifted into a political abyss, and although it still exists today, it has very little bearing on the nation’s politics.
But we firmly believe that with new ideas and fresh leadership, a political party can rejuvenate and regain its appeal to the public.
However, it does not help when the party’s leader hangs on to the radar when the ship is sinking.
Those who wield power – no matter how great – must understand that there always comes a time when one must lay down the sceptre and pass it on to others. In fact that is the hallmark of good leadership – to raise successors. To think that one is the alpha and omega is the biggest deception in politics with great consequences.
Leaders must realise that they are not demigods who cannot be replaced or challenged.
They must give chance to others to steer the ship.
We, therefore, support calls by some parliamentarians within the former ruling party urging Mr Lungu to retire from active politics following the court judgment that ruled that he is ineligible to stand in future elections.
Yesterday, following the Constitutional Court ruling, 20 PF members of Parliament held a press briefing where they asked Mr Lungu to finally retire from active politics.
Speaking on behalf of the parliamentarians, Kantanshi MP Anthony Mumba said: “We would like to express our gratitude to President Edgar Lungu’s leadership and contributions to our country during his tenure of office. His legacy will undoubtedly leave lasting impact on Zambia.”
He added: “However, in light of this court ruling, we respectfully appeal to President Edgar Lungu to finally retire from active politics and assume his rightful role as a true statesman and to support his brother President Hakainde Hichilema and Government in delivering development to our country.”
We hope that Mr Lungu and the general party membership will take this call by the parliamentarians seriously. It may not be too late to rescue the stricken boat and set it on a new course.
We do not wish the PF to suffer the same fate that UNIP suffered after losing power, for that is detrimental to our democracy. But political parties must be relevant to society and not merely exist.
Time for new captain
FROM the time it lost power in 2021, the Patriotic Front (PF) has been drifting like a ghost ship with no crew and without a captain.
And largely, the ship has appeared to be headed for the cliff, with no one to steer it away from impending danger.
Of course after suffering electoral defeat, it is not unusual for party members and their leaders to become disillusioned and for the party to lose direction.
In fact for many political parties, especially those galvanised around an individual, they tend to lose all relevance and eventually go into oblivion. It is the fate that the United National Independence Party (UNIP) suffered after it was ousted from power in 1991.
Even when it tried to get back to power, riding on the popularity of its leader Dr Kenneth Kaunda, it could not do so. Eventually, the party drifted into a political abyss, and although it still exists today, it has very little bearing on the nation’s politics.
But we firmly believe that with new ideas and fresh leadership, a political party can rejuvenate and regain its appeal to the public.
However, it does not help when the party’s leader hangs on to the radar when the ship is sinking.
Those who wield power – no matter how great – must understand that there always comes a time when one must lay down the sceptre and pass it on to others. In fact that is the hallmark of good leadership – to raise successors. To think that one is the alpha and omega is the biggest deception in politics with great consequences.
Leaders must realise that they are not demigods who cannot be replaced or challenged.
They must give chance to others to steer the ship.
We, therefore, support calls by some parliamentarians within the former ruling party urging Mr Lungu to retire from active politics following the court judgment that ruled that he is ineligible to stand in future elections.
Yesterday, following the Constitutional Court ruling, 20 PF members of Parliament held a press briefing where they asked Mr Lungu to finally retire from active politics.
Speaking on behalf of the parliamentarians, Kantanshi MP Anthony Mumba said: “We would like to express our gratitude to President Edgar Lungu’s leadership and contributions to our country during his tenure of office. His legacy will undoubtedly leave lasting impact on Zambia.”
He added: “However, in light of this court ruling, we respectfully appeal to President Edgar Lungu to finally retire from active politics and assume his rightful role as a true statesman and to support his brother President Hakainde Hichilema and Government in delivering development to our country.”
We hope that Mr Lungu and the general party membership will take this call by the parliamentarians seriously. It may not be too late to rescue the stricken boat and set it on a new course.
We do not wish the PF to suffer the same fate that UNIP suffered after losing power, for that is detrimental to our democracy. But political parties must be relevant to society and not merely exist.