Maravi

Our political parties

Our political parties
By Editor
Monday April 21, 2008 [04:00]

Zambia Centre for Inter-party Dialogue board member Clementine Chipeta is truly right when she says political parties are a bedrock of functioning democracy. The election campaigns which our political parties conduct may sometimes be silly and their leaders may sometimes be cantankerous in their conduct. But the function of political parties is deadly serious: to provide a peaceful and fair method by which the citizens can select their leaders and have a meaningful role in determining their own destiny.

Political parties recruit, nominate and campaign to elect public officials; draw up policy programmes for the government if they are in the majority; offer criticisms and alternative policies if they are in the opposition; mobilise support for common policies among different interest groups; educate the public about public issues; and provide the structure and rules for society’s political debate.

We are aware that political parties and politics in general are of great importance in the promotion of justice, peace, development and community for all. And all those who join political parties should regard politics as a vocation, a way of building up society for the common good. Our participation in political life should be guided by noble ideas and authentic values.

We also agree with Chipeta’s observation that “political parties provide a framework for citizens’ participation in governance, in making choices among alternative programmes and above all, leadership selection”. And we, as citizens, must vote wisely, when the time to vote comes, and only for people who are known for their honesty, ability, dedication, and concern for the welfare of all. We shouldn’t forget that citizenship demands a positive contribution of everyone, old and young, to build our nation’s future.

This includes running for political office and voting in elections, among other things. And everyone should make full use of his or her right to vote when the time comes and consider it a citizenship responsibility to do so.

Chipeta goes on to say: “while we appreciate competitive relationship as political parties, we also appreciate that we have a higher calling when it comes to matters of national importance such as the constitution-making process.” This means that the competition we have in elections should not be seen and taken as a fight for survival. It should be seen and taken as a competition to serve. And therefore, political competitors should not see each other as enemies.

What this means is that political competitors don’t necessarily have to like each other, but they must tolerate one another and acknowledge that each has a legitimate and important role to play. No matter who wins an election, both sides must agree to cooperate in solving the problems of their country and their people.

And when it comes to the Constitution, it must be realised that this should never be taken as a political party or partisan document or undertaking. The Constitution of the country is a national document of the highest importance.

As the supreme law of the land, it must be recognised and respected as embodying the sovereign will of the majority of the people. And in the Constitution, there must be a clear distinction and autonomy of powers in a state. This is the principle of the rule of law, in which the law is sovereign, and not the arbitrary will of individuals. The foundation of a good government must be established on the sound basis of laws.

The pursuit of justice must be a fundamental norm in this process. It should always be recognised that in a democratic state, authority comes from the people who have the powers to elect their leaders.

It is clear that politics demands high values and virtues and politics needs only people with high credibility. This is because we cannot call others to virtues which we ourselves do not make an effort to practice.

Political parties and politics deal with people’s lives. It is political parties that form government. And as we all know, the government is the instrument by which people cooperate in order to achieve the common good; an authority is needed to guide the energies of all towards the common good. Therefore, citizens must be conscious of their specific and proper role in the political community.

It is said that “… whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all” (Mk 10:14). Clearly, there is need for a conversion of heart and for the transformation of our country’s politics in order to build a better nation that is more just, fair and humane. And a good constitution, which reflects the wishes and aspirations of the people, is at the heart of the nation-building process.

The rights of all individuals, families and organisations and their practical implementation must be acknowledged, protected and fostered, together with the public duties binding all citizens.

If our country is to move forward, honest political participation – whether as candidates in elections or as voters - is demanded of all of us.

We value the democratic system in as much as it ensures the participation of citizens in making political choices through their political parties, guarantees to the governed the possibility of electing and holding accountable those who govern them, and of replacing them through peaceful means when appropriate.

Through our political parties, we should come together with different interests to work for the common good. Through political parties, all our citizens are called to participate actively and responsibly in the affairs of their country. And through political parties, individual citizens are obliged to make their specific contributions for the common good. We citizens can make a difference if we get fully involved in national affairs.

Political parties and politics are very important and we should not allow them to be relegated to trivialities chosen precisely because they salve the consciences of the powerful and conceal the plight of the powerless.

And we must always be mindful of the fact that the ultimate strength of our country will lie not in infinite resources but in the unity of our people. This we believe very deeply. Our politicians should realise that they are free men and women, they are Zambians, public servants, and members of their political parties, in that order always and only. They should put the unity of our people first.

They should put it ahead of any divisive partisanship. And in these times as in times before, it is true that a house divided against itself by the spirit of faction, of party, region or tribe, is a house that cannot stand. So, we ask all our politicians, whatever their personal interests or concerns, to guard against divisiveness and all its ugly consequences. What we won as a nation when all our people united just must not now be lost in selfishness and politics among any of our people.

It is an arduous task to ensure a better life for the 11 million Zambians and to build our economically poor country into a prosperous one. And it is precisely in order to be able to shoulder this task more competently that we should work to improve the policies and organisation of all our political parties and constantly rid them of whatever is wrong.

Labels: CLEMENTINE CHIPETA, PARTIES

posted by MrK @ 4:35 AM