THE EFFECTS OF THE BAD PRECEDENCE SET BY OUR RULING POLITICAL PARTIES WHEN IN POWER. CHISHALA KATEKAPresident – New Heritage Party We have had four political parties and seven Presidents in power since we attained political independence. Each time we have changed leadership for reasons other than death, it is payback time – it becomes […]

THE EFFECTS OF THE BAD PRECEDENCE SET BY OUR RULING POLITICAL PARTIES WHEN IN POWER.

CHISHALA KATEKA
President – New Heritage Party

We have had four political parties and seven Presidents in power since we attained political independence. Each time we have changed leadership for reasons other than death, it is payback time – it becomes a period for retribution and revenge. Each new party learns from the bad example set by their predecessor and in fact, find new and extreme ways of conducting themselves.

The effect is what we are seeing now. A downward spiral into being a failed state.

State machinery is weaponised, individuals in state institutions are heavily compromised, there is division along party and tribal lines, the elite, who are few in number, are the ones to benefit through deals from the national cake at the expense of citizens and the ruling party bend the rules and laws, especially in the lead-up to and during election time, to perpetuate their stay in power.

At the end of the day, it is the citizens and the country, that suffer. This leads to high levels of poverty and dependence among the citizenry. Poverty becomes deeply engrained and which in turn leads to poverty-mindsets amongst us Zambians. The effects of this poverty mindset is a continuous focus on scarcity and survival. This focus on immediate survival and instant gratification limits long-term planning and growth. Having the majority of Zambians in this state is very dangerous and leads to stunting in terms of national development.

Decisions made from this poverty mindset tend to be retrogressive and self-harming. At election time, examples of this behaviour abound. People sell their vote to one that will pay, even when they know that person will not improve their lot, rather than voting for someone that is able to improve their livelihoods.

Unfortunately, even a number of our leaders have this poverty-mindset and tend to make decisions that lead to instant gratification. When someone with a poverty mind-set suddenly comes into wealth, the mind-set and the behaviours still remain. They begin to try and amass great wealth for themselves, even by corrupt means, for fear of sliding back into poverty and all this at the expense of the greater good.

How long shall we continue on this trajectory? When will we break this cycle of bad behaviours by parties in power in our country?

Unfortunately, this starts with leadership.

The current leadership of the UPND, sadly, missed a golden opportunity to be that leadership that Zambia so desperately needs.

They are incapable of doing what the country needs as they have demonstrably failed to resist temptation but have fallen to the allure of absolute power, vengeance, sectarianism (along tribal and party lines) and worse, failed to resist the temptation of perpetuating their stay in office. They have done this by changing laws to those that speak to their agenda and putting people who are their lackeys, in charge of state institutions. These are compromised and have wanton structural damage to our state institutions. They have, in cases managed and in others are in the process of reversing, the gains made by this country since independence.

This is why it would be extreme folly, to give the UPND and its president another term in office. The structural damage to our state institutions, the increased use of the military, the arbitrary abductions and arrests, the holding of those incarcerated without the due process of the law and the selective justice being applied, are all a clear indication of the shape of things to come.

Agreeing to extend UPND President Hichilema’s tenure is akin to seeing a lion approaching and you continue walking towards it thinking that it will not devour you.

A President that will truly put Zambians above self (including business) interests. A President that will make it his/her life’s mission to ensure that Zambians partake in their God given wealth and one that protects that wealth for every Zambians and their posterity.

Zambia is in great need of a reset. Continuing along the trajectory that we are on, will continue to yield the same results that we have been seeing, high levels of poverty, a divided nation and an angry people.

29 September 2026