Maravi

The ball is in Levy's court

The ball is in Levy's court
By Editor
Sunday April 15, 2007 [04:00]

The Oasis Forum’s assembly yesterday on the way forward for Zambia to have a new constitution as soon as possible should be sustained into a force that should compel our government to give in to the people’s desire. We hope the Oasis Forum has now awakened from their slumber to serve society. Looking at the composition of the Oasis Forum, that is the Church, Law Association of Zambia and the Non Governmental Organisation Co-ordinating Council supported by our political parties, one can safely say it is a fair representation of Zambians from all walks of life. And if this is the case, we can say with confidence that the Oasis Forum is representing the wishes of the majority of our people.

And we know that any democratic government is put in place by the people so that the rulers in government can fulfil their desires and wishes. This is the definition of democracy. It is the rule of the people by the people for the people. So there is no need for the government to stick to their roadmap on the Constitution when the people also have their own roadmap.

What is required now is an open and honest dialogue between the government and the people’s representatives since it is clear that the government is representing its wishes and not the people that elected them. There is need for the government and the people’s representatives to strike a compromise on this matter and do what is good for the majority out there.

The need for a new constitution cannot be over-emphasised. Many people, including ourselves, have argued this matter so well in the recent past. It is clear that our people are angered by the government’s inertia on this matter. When our people talk about organising demonstrations to force government into submission over this matter to do with the Constitution, they are just confirming that mass action is a peaceful form of channelling their anger. And with determination, this can be achieved. As long as our people have an iron will, they can turn misfortune into an advantage.

Nelson Mandela says “there is no easy walk to freedom” and that “too many people have suffered for the love of freedom” and “no power can stop an oppressed people determined to win their freedom”. Mandela further says that it is only through hardship, sacrifice and militant action that freedom can be won. We are certain that such words can encourage our people to rise to the challenge and give themselves a constitution that will stand the test of time.

So our government should not take people’s wishes for granted.

They should be reminded that no matter how much they want to manipulate things, the people’s wishes will always carry the day. The will of the people is the basis of the authority of government and it is a principle universally accepted and acknowledged as sacred throughout the civilised world. And this constitutes the basic foundations of freedom and justice. And if this is the case, we do not expect President Levy Mwanawasa and his administration to be adamant or stubborn on the issue of the Constitution.

Anyway, this is what happens when there is no serious opposition to the government. The government becomes too arrogant and too confident of itself. That is why Levy can afford to tell off the Oasis Forum or indeed anyone else objecting to his roadmap for the country. But this kind of arrogance and stubbornness is also a form of corruption.

Levy might be busy presenting himself to the world as some anti-corruption man merely by focusing on the kind of corruption that involves cash. But we think that Levy is being corrupt by insisting that only his will on the Constitution should prevail because it is clear that he is representing his own interests and not the interests of those who gave him the mandate to rule as President of the Republic of Zambia. However, Levy should realise that he cannot suppress our people’s legitimate aspirations because they have the majority voice.

There were some mistakes that Dr Kenneth Kaunda made on this issue of the Constitution, just as Frederick Chiluba did. It is therefore expected that Levy has learned from these mistakes and he should now perform to our people’s expectations. He should not wait to learn from his own mistakes.

Why do we study history? Is it to deride human action or to weep over it? We think that any wise person should study history to learn from it, to understand it and avoid pitfalls in future.

But Levy doesn’t seem to be eager to learn from Dr Kaunda and Chiluba’s mistakes. That is why he even wants the new Constitution to carry his wishes and not the people’s desires and wishes as submitted to the Wila Mung’omba Constitution Review Commission. It is an illusion for Levy to think that he can unite the country single-handedly. A country can only be united by the citizens collectively, just like a bundle cannot be fastened with one hand.

Levy should know that a leader who relies on authority to solve problems is bound to come to grief. He keeps saying he has the mandate to rule and make decisions on behalf of the country. But when those who gave him the mandate to rule attempt to engage him in dialogue, clearly making it known to him that they are not with the same mind on the issue of the Constitution, Levy insists on having it his way.

Levy should be told, if he doesn’t know, that people are their own liberators and one day soon, they will liberate themselves. They will succeed on this matter.

If Levy wants peace and prosperity for Zambia, let him provide the rain so our people can feel contented as they concentrate on ploughing their fields and enjoying good fortune. The rain we are talking about is the new Constitution.

With the new and good constitution in place, we are sure that our people will feel contented and therefore will go about their work without bothering Levy with anything as they enjoy the good provisions in the Constitution. So the ball is in Levy’s court.

Labels: EDITORIAL, OASIS FORUM

posted by MrK @ 4:19 AM