EDITORIAL - Levy's successor
Levy's successorBy Editor
Monday April 23, 2007 [04:00]
A leader is a person who rules, a person who guides or inspires others. In short, a leader is the head. So when the MMD talks about finding President Levy Mwanawasa’s successor, they are talking about a person who can rule the country and the MMD, a person who will guide and inspire others.
If we confine ourselves to this basic definition of a leader, it is clear that the MMD’s task of searching for Levy’s successor is going to be a mammoth one considering the party’s current shape. We say this task will be a mammoth one because we realise that the current top leadership of the party is not composed of men and women who can inspire others, those who can rule and guide the nation.
To inspire is to exert a stimulating or beneficial effect upon others, to animate or invigorate others. This task is not as simple as it sounds. Levy himself is struggling to be inspirational to our people, to animate and invigorate our country.
Looking at the MMD top leadership, those men and women who can be said to be Levy’s potential successors, one has difficulties finding someone who can be a leader; a person who can inspire others, a person who can inspire the country. For some years now, the MMD has had no vice-president in place. This is the second highest position in the party. The third highest position is being occupied by Michael Mabenga as national chairman, followed by Katele Kalumba as national secretary with his deputy Major Richard Kachingwe.
Of course, there are other members of the national executive committee (NEC). Before one looks at the other members of the NEC or the party in general, can one see anything inspirational in Mabenga and Kalumba? These two names are tainted with allegations of corruption and the theft of public resources. There is nothing inspirational about them, at least in the positive sense.
However, these are not the only MMD leaders or members who are not inspirational. This is a general disease in the MMD. Almost all those who have directly or indirectly expressed interest in succeeding Levy cannot pass this test. And this can safely be extended to other political parties.
However, despite this problem the MMD are still expected to find Levy’s successor at the end of the day. Life has to continue, with or without Levy.
But in searching for Levy’s successor, the MMD has to be very careful because the choice of his successor will either enhance their chances of continuing in power in 2011 or it will extinguish that chance. People know what they are looking for in their national leader or leaders.
They are not ready to embrace mediocrity. Our people are looking for leaders who will push this country to greater heights, leaders who are going to take them out of these untold economic woes. Zambians are looking for leaders of integrity with proven track records, not selfish people with questionable backgrounds and whose main agenda is to line their pockets.
Levy has complained that this process of looking for his successor is not going as smoothly as he anticipated. People are fighting to succeed him. They are busy scandalising each other, reporting on each other, all in a bid to get a seal of approval from Levy. Some have already started to engage themselves in acts of corruption in the name of fundraising and preparing for the long walk to State House.
We appreciate the desperation because some of these characters have been longing for State House for a long time now. However, these characters should realise that longing has a negative effect on a person. It makes one thinner than hunger does.
And as this search for Levy’s successor intensifies, we want to remind the MMD that a person should be born for the role of king, not to fight for it. A king is born, not created. Natural leaders are born with leadership qualities.
If a king is born and not created, we can safely conclude, therefore, that all those trying to jostle for the MMD’s number one position are not leaders. They do not have the leadership qualities. That is why they want to install themselves as kings. We think that those who were born to become kings or leaders will be identified and crowned with the leadership of the party without difficulties.
Several people have claimed this or that about themselves, that they are men of action who will make a difference for their party and the country once given the leadership positions. Nonetheless, one does not achieve greatness by claiming greatness. A man is judged by his actions; not his boasting.
This will not be an easy process for the MMD; tempers will flare up. But we know that in time, tempers cool down. A heated argument eventually subsides. The MMD should prepare to walk this path. When the tempers cool down, then they can make a decision that will not only be in the best interest of the party but also the country.
Of course, as they do this, we expect that the MMD leadership should not forget to learn from their past mistakes. Some of their mistakes were so ugly that they have left indelible dents on the party. Today, the MMD does not have the same appeal that it had when it was founded in 1991. People’s confidence in the party has been eroded over the years because the MMD has not lived up to its promises.
People’s expectations are frustrated and now they are looking for an alternative. So this is a crucial moment for the MMD. They are at a stage of make or break.
Labels: EDITORIAL, MMD, SUCCESSION
posted by MrK @ 6:05 AM
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