By: Ollus Ndomu
As a publication with keen interest in promoting the cause of democracy and social change in Africa, we appluad Zambia’s new President Hakainde Hichilema for prioritizing public interest over self-gratification. From his victory, innaugral and maiden parliament speeches, President Hichilema has reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the rule of law, fighting graft, reviving the economy and promoting freedom of expression.
On Wednesday this week, Hichilema outshinned all his predecessors when he appeared on radio to interact with the public and answer some questions people had on pertinent issues of governance. While the former ruling Patriotic Front -PF- members say the President’s radio program confirmed a communication crisis at State House, we hold a completely different view.
In our view, what Hichilema did was unpresidentedly impressive. We may not have agreed with some of his philosophized answers pertaining to the campaign promise of free education, but no man can take away the fact that what the President did was nobly record breaking, revolutionarily singular and honorable. Africa comes from a background where presidents are shielded from the concerns of the people, from the cries of the people. We are glad that Hichilema is alive to the fact that a president’s innercycle often creates barricades to filter what reaches his/her ears.
This innercycle succeeded in manipulating Hichilema’s predecessor, Edgar Lungu whose perception of governance did not go rise above unsubstantiated praises from bootlickers. Lungu’s ministers and allies behaved like monkeys and treated Zambia like a maize field. They looted national resources with impunity while majority Zambians remained in poverty. These criminals filled Lungu’s ears with unnecessary praise so that he failed to read between the lines that he had become an enemy of the people.
Like other well meaning publications, we are happy that Hichilema knows that among his appointees, there are crooks who are cutting deals with corrupt elements which led the PF to its eventual downfall. Like in the Lungu administration, these hyenas are always seeking to obtain proceeds of crime from various tenderprenuers; thanks to the president’s good political will, sanity and normalcy is slowly returning in institutions of governance.
While we praise Hichilema for doing certain things right- which other past Presidents could not do, we appeal to him to expedite his economic recovery efforts. Zambians expect alot from his government. Hichilema was voted into power with people hoping to see a rebound in the economy, rule of law, employment and sanity in government institutions.
His campaign message resonated well with the people and since an election was won, now is the time for the President to show his muscle. While we know for sure that not each and every one of his campaign promises will be fulfilled, we ask Hichilema to make the August 12 change of government meaningful to Zambians.
